MARCH 2013, VOLUME 40, NO. 3 DONATION $1 Occupy Detroit members and supporters prepare for a march and rally in downtown Detroit to protest the economy, unemployment and dictatorial Emergency Manager laws in the state of Michigan. Photo/daymonjhartley.com INSIDE: Stop violence against women 2 Economic disastEr coming: Time for oversight of drones 4 Green Party campaigns 6-7 Time To bail ouT Healthcare: Why are we denied this basic right? 8 The people Robots, jobs, and Read story on page 3 the new economy 9 An economic system that doesn’t feed, clothe and house its people must be and will be overturned and replaced with a system that meets the needs of the people. To that end, this paper is a tribune of those struggling to create such a new economic system. It is a vehicle to bring the movement to- gether, to create a vision of a better world and a strategy to achieve it. Labor-replacing electronic technol- ogy is permanently eliminating jobs and destroying the founda- tion of the capitalist system. The people’s needs can only be met by building a cooperative soci- ety where the socially necessary means of production are owned by society, not by the corporations. We welcome articles and artwork from those who are engaged in the struggle to build a new society that is of, by and for the people. We rely on readers and contributors to fund and distribute this paper. The People’s Tribune, formerly published by the League of Revolu- tionaries for a New America, is now an independent newspaper with an editorial board based in Chicago. Valentines Day ONE BILLION RISING Dance Party Rally in Washington DC. Photo/elvert Barnes Protest PhotograPhy PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE EDITORIAL POLICY: Articles that are unsigned, such as the cover story and editorials, WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: STOP THE RISING reflect the views of the editorial board. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors, and may or may not reflect the views of the TIDE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN editorial board. they’re fighting against the kill- about women—that upholds and This is a perfect seed-bed in Deadlines for articles and art: The EDITORIAL ings of young girls and women. perpetuates a society in which which fascism can flourish. Hu- deadline for articles, photographs In the Middle East they led ral- women are not allowed to be man life no longer has the value it and other art is the first of each lies and marches during the Arab equal to men. There is a long once had. This has its roots in an month for the issue that comes out at the beginning of the following We need to address the epi- Spring. There are countless more history of violence used to con- economy which no longer needs month. For example, the deadline demic of violence that is un- examples. trol women. In the U.S. today, very many workers, now that ro- for the June issue is May 1. Articles leashed against women around The ruling class aims to dis- there is a reported rape every bots and computers are replac- should be as short as possible, the world, and the urgent need to arm women leaders and make 6.2 minutes. A woman is beaten ing them by the millions. We are and no longer than 500 words. We take action to stop it. Because of them examples to hold back every nine seconds in this coun- calling on our readers to begin to reserve the right to edit articles to their position in society, women these struggles. This new trend try. It’s the number-one cause develop a culture to oppose this conform to space limitations. are leaders of many of the move- of governmental violence against of injury to American women. deadly fascist culture that is kill- People’s Tribune Editor: Bob Lee ments for economic and social women is part of their strategy Two million women are injured ing our people. When we are con- justice that are appearing ev- to disrupt movements for social annually, with more than half a fronted with attacks on women Editorial Staff: Bob Brown, Brett Jelinek, Sarah Menefee, Shamako erywhere. Women are poorer change. These perpetrators of million requiring medical atten- we all must speak up—and step Noble, Chuck Parker, Nelson than men in all racial and ethnic State violence manhandle, beat, tion. Last year over 1000 women up—to stop them. We must all Peery, Sandra Reid groups. The attacks on women’s and even rape and kill women were murdered by their spouses make sure that we are not holding Photo Editor: Daymon Hartley standard of living as a result of protestors in demonstrations, ral- and ex-spouses. Many of these on to ideas or attitudes that wom- cutbacks in federal and state aid lies and marches. It is part of the crimes go unreported because en are inferior to men, because People’s Tribune, P.O. Box 3524 programs is leaving millions developing culture of fascism, women are afraid that their at- this will prevent our movement Chicago, Illinois, 60654 homeless and in abject poverty. and like the other forms of that tackers will hurt them worse if from forming the unbreakable e-mail: [email protected] Phone: 773-486-3551 Women led the teachers’ strike culture, it rises from historical they do, and because they know bond of unity that we need. We Toll Free: 800-691-6888 in Chicago, and are leading wa- roots. that courts are often prejudiced must fight for women’s equality Fax: 773-486-3552 ter struggles in Detroit, and the The attack on women is jus- against them. Therefore, many now, so we can win a society that Web: www.peoplestribune.org fight against foreclosures in the tified by male supremacy—a violent crimes against women go provides for all, where that equal- U.S. In Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, centuries-old cluster of ideas unpunished. ity can be won and secured. Publisher: People’s Tribune ISSN# 1081-4787 Reach us at: Chicago 773-486-3551 Why The movemenT needs a Press Ann Arbor, MI From the editors [email protected] We are sometimes asked “Why does the movement to build a new America need a press?” The answer has to do with this moment Atlanta, GA [email protected] in history. People are struggling just to get the basic necessities of life. Historical forces beyond anyone’s control have set the stage Carbondale,IL for a new society to be built, but from this point on, how things turn out depends on what people think. This means that those of us [email protected] who are seeking fundamental change are engaged in a battle of ideas, a struggle to win the hearts and minds of the people. If we Detroit, MI 313-438-6115 don’t raise the consciousness of the people and unite them around a vision of a better world and a strategy to achieve it, then we’ll Houston, TX fail in our effort to build a just and free society. To win the battle of ideas, we need a press. P O Box 231281, Houston, TX 77223-1281 Los Angeles, CA 310-548-6491 Visit us on the web at www.PeoplesTribune.org Oakland, CA [email protected] 2 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | MARCH 2013 www.peoplestribune.org Economic disaster coming–Time to bail out the people COVER STORY The corporate media and pol- iticians claim the US economy is in a “slow but steady recovery,” but the average person knows better. And the people are rightly asking, “Where’s our bailout?” Wages and benefits contin- ue to fall, the price of gasoline, health care and everything else continues to rise, and jobs are scarce. By one estimate, the actual unemployment rate is about 23 percent, meaning some 35 mil- lion people are unemployed or underemployed. Only about 180,000 new jobs are being cre- ated each month, far below what is needed. Millions who are working can’t make enough to live on. We are well in to a 40-year process of computers and robots replacing labor in the workplace. The combination of job-elimi- nating technology and globaliza- tion of production is permanent- ly wiping out jobs and driving down wages for those still em- ployed. The result is fewer and fewer customers for business— the market is being wiped out. In addition, the US is heav- Yet austerity isn’t just a choice much more profitable than the must be rejected. cartoon/andy WIllIs ily tied to Europe economically, that the capitalists are making; slaughter of cattle. There is no future for the and as Europe’s economy falls, profits are falling as the markets Right now, the people’s de- people under capitalism. Labor- it will drag the US down further. dry up, and from the capitalists’ mand is that the government replacing technology is not com- Contribute to the Far from being in a “slow recov- view, they need austerity to guar- bail out the people, not the cor- patible with capitalism—the People’s tribune: ery,” we are on the road to eco- antee their profits. The money porations and the wealthy. This elimination of jobs only fuels nomic disaster. The current stock that is saved by cutting public is the only way to stabilize the poverty, war and fascism. In the 100% volunteer run market bubble in the US is only spending will be funneled into economy in the short run.