Jan 02 2009
Original article, by Nick Beams, via World Socialist Web Site:
Whenever a historical review is made certain years attract attention because of the decisive events with which they are associated. The years 1914, 1929, 1933, 1939 and in more recent times 1956 and 1989 are some that come to mind. The year 2008 is destined to join this group.
Dec 15 2008
I’m getting these questions about Marx, again, over on Big Orange. “You’re against capitalism; are you some kind of marxist?” they ask. To me it doesn’t really matter: either I am a marxist or I’m not a marxist, depending on whether or not the gang affiliation of “being a marxist” means a lot to the person asking the question. But here’s a diary about old Moor, his chicken-scratchings, and his legacy.
OK, so this isn’t going to go away. I wrote a long diary on this last year, but I can see it’s time for another one.
(Reposted from Big Orange (and rewritten a bit) for the viewing pleasure of the Docudharma people)
Dec 10 2008
Original article, by Paul Le Blanc, via Socialist Worker (UK):
The acclaimed Marxist historian Paul Le Blanc explains why Lenin’s political ideas are vitally important for anyone who wants to understand capitalism and struggle against it.
Dec 06 2008
Original article, subheaded Lee Sustar analyzes the roots of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression–and shows why Marxism offers the best way of understanding what went wrong, via Socialist Worker (US):
THERE ARE plenty of people who should be held accountable for turning an ordinary recession that began a year ago into a global catastrophe.
Nov 28 2008
Original article via Socialist Appeal (US):
Many workers are concerned about the present crisis of U.S. capitalism and how it affects them. Therefore, Socialist Appeal thought it might be helpful to explain some basics about capitalism and why we believe that socialism is the only solution to the crisis.
Nov 19 2008
Original article, subtitled With economic crisis sweeping the globe, many people are asking if there is a better way to organise society. Kate Connelly and Esme Choonara explain how a planned socialist economy might work, via Socialist Worker (UK):
Capitalism is chaotic and extremely destructive. War, hunger and unemployment are all permanent features of the system.
Nov 10 2008
Original article, a commentary subtitled Lee Sustar looks at the automakers’ demands for a taxpayer bailout–and what working people should demand in return, via SocialstWorker.org:
THE BUSH administration’s Wall Street bailout may be a prelude to a sweeping government intervention in the auto industry–even before Barack Obama takes office January 20.
Nov 09 2008
“Now is not the time to experiment with socialism,” said Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin at a rally in Loveland, Colo., on Oct. 20. She was wrong. This is exactly the time to experiment with socialism.
When everything is going as it should, that’s the time to play it safe. When things are bad and getting worse, doing the same thing you’ve always done is a death sentence. It’s plain to see that things are bad and getting worse; capitalism is not working as it should. It’s not creating prosperity — not even for the tiny few who were enjoying it while the rest of us worked more productively than ever yet saw our wages stagnate or fall. It’s not creating jobs. It’s not helping people start businesses and stay in their homes. It’s failing on every score except one: allowing us to cling to the idea that we’re a capitalist nation, and because we’re the best, capitalism is the best too. Our confidence in our economic system now rests solely on a faulty syllogism.
But before we can talk about experimenting with socialism, we have to get clear in our minds what “socialism” means.
Nov 01 2008
Original article, by Lance Selfa and subtitled If Obama is acting like a centrist now, it’s most likely because he is a centrist–rather than a radical posing as one to get elected, via socialistworker.org:
WITH LITTLE else to offer on its own behalf, the McCain-Palin ticket has built an entire campaign on ridiculing and demonizing Barack Obama. First, Obama was a neophyte. Then, he was a celebrity. Now, he’s a dangerous radical, even a friend to terrorists.
Oct 30 2008
Lord almighty, save us from these revolutionary socialist FREAKS who want to break up this great country of ours that has survived for hundreds of years – until now.
Holy crap – listen to what this guy says about redistribution of wealth:
Another means of silently lessening the inequality of property is to exempt all from taxation below a certain point, and to tax the higher portions of property in geometrical progression as they rise.
Kee-ripes, how un-American can you get?!?
Oct 28 2008
Crossposted from the WWL
Americans are like the retarded offspring growing at the edge of a lush and healthy European field. You know, the row of corn too close to the road commission’s weed kill spray to flourish, but not close enough to die out completely.
We just don’t get it, but think all corn should look like us. USA! USA!
When I used to speak daily with people in Sweden, Germany, and Belgium working as an Atlas Copco distributor (tooling for auto plants) they were amused and disgusted by our working conditions.
You don’t have a year off paid with your new baby? 9 weeks, unpaid? Your husband has no time off with his baby either? You don’t get a month paid Holiday in the summer? No free health care? No free College? The option for a 4 day work week?
You Americans let them treat you like slaves.
I was STUNNED, had no idea how good they had it.