discussion of this article

Wladek Flakin said…

That was a fascinating talk by Jack Heyman. I hope it's possible for you to publish the entire video soon.

Sun 06, July 2008 @ 15:45

Anonymous said…

Jack Heymann is to be praised for his dedicated work over many years in the trade union movement. What he says about Obama's positions is absolutely true, and there is much more that he could have added, including Obama's support for Bush's reactionary FISA legislation that is a serious threat to fundamental civil liberties. However, I think that Jack's framing of the issue as whether or not to vote for Barack Obama is incorrect. The question should be whether or not the worker's movement will find any advantages under an Obama presidency that it would not find under a McCain presidency.

I think the biggest problem for Labor in the US is that we have no credible parliamentary alternative to the Democrats, and over many years of trying we have not been successful in building even the semblance of one. I do not put forward an argument that an Obama presidency would allow more space for progressive labor action and gains, but if you believe it would, then it seems to me that an Obama presidency would be preferable to a McCain presidency. My gut tells me that no group could be worse than the present greedy, crypto-fascist war criminals. What is undoubtedly true is that even the most progressive Democrat out of office will be progressive in office only when pressured by the labor and progressive movements because you don't become president of the United States unless you play ball with the corporate big boys. I would not put any faith whatsoever in the Democrats to serve labor's interests, but, if their control of the White House could create an opening for labor action, then it might be in labor's interest to promote that. Whether Obama or McCain wins the White House, labor and progressives will have to organize.

Tue 08, July 2008 @ 15:48

Steven Argue said…

What voters for Democrats and Republicans will get:

1. The media will ignore you: you will have made no protest, therefore your protest will not be noticed or reported.

2. More imperialist wars and a continuation of the war in Iraq. Count on it, unless people break from the pro-war Democrat and Republican Parties and resist imperialist wars in more substantial ways, including more anti-war strikes.

3. A collapse in the capitalist economy.

4. A continuation of environmental policies causing rapid increases in global warming.

5. McCain or Obama will build on Bush's presidential powers until the president really IS the American dictator. (Obama voted for Patriot Act, Telecom Immunity, etc. too).

6. Funding for existing social programs slashed or cut entirely, a continuation of Clinton's end of welfare as we knew it, a policy change praised by Obama.

7. Unions will be busted or made outright illegal as the standard of living for workers will continue to be driven down. This will happen unless workers fight back and stop depending on the union busting Democrat Party.

8. No real improvements to healthcare through single payer or socialized medicine.

So that's what, in active terms, you're really voting for when you vote Democrat or Republican.

Those of us voting for third parties will get the same things, but at least we won’t be dumb enough to vote for our own oppressors and exploiters, and will instead have the sense to be working for something different.

And those of us in unions should be angry that our hard earned union dues are being squandered on the Democrat Party when that money should instead be put into stronger strike funds.

Steven Argue for Liberation News

https://lists.riseup.net/www/info/liberation_news

Sat 12, July 2008 @ 16:37