The Worker, Vol. 36, Number 1
Contents:
I. The Dismantling of Public Education Can Only Be Stopped by Taking Up Independent Working Class Politics
II. Contradictions of U.S. Occupation of Iraq Intensify
III. Congress Votes in a New War Budget
I. The Dismantling of Public Education Can Only Be Stopped by Taking Up Independent Working Class Politics
II. Contradictions of U.S. Occupation of Iraq Intensify
III. Congress Votes in a New War Budget
The Dismantling of Public Education Can Only Be Stopped by Taking Up Independent Working Class Politics
One of the root problems with the public school system in the U.S. is that its main financial base comes from local property taxes. This is the direct result of the federal government's denial of responsibility for education. This funding system results in gross inequalities between school districts. Wealthy districts with a high tax base have modern school buildings with the best equipment, up to date books, and one teacher for every fifteen or twenty students. Poor districts have crumbling buildings, supply shortages, and overcrowded classrooms. Some districts spend $25,000 per pupil, while others are able to spend only $8,000.
This whole problem of education funding stems from the fact that education is not recognized as a fundamental right.
The same government officials who choose to underfund public schools so that they crumble, now are maintaining their old claims that privatization is the cure. . . . The past result of these plans have already been exposed as an intensification of a dual school system. The power of the politicians to promote a two-tiered educational system - one which lavishes funds on schools for the rich while condemning the children of the workers to crumbling schools - is traditionally based on the fact that schools are funded by local property taxes; such privatization schemes as charter and voucher schools only intensify the well-established disparities of this dual school system.
The children privileged enough to enjoy the education provided by well financed schools acquire the most advanced education, while the children of the working class are relegated to impoverished schools, denied the high quality of education that is their birthright.
These growing privatization drives in public education deny social responsibility for education. It denies that society has any permanent interest in deciding what kind of education children should receive, or ensuring that all children receive education equally, or even ensuring all the modern amenities available for public schools. In fact, it guarantees that there will be inequality in education, with the children of the workers receiving the least and worst education, while the children of the rich attend the best schools. It represents a return to the days of privilege, when only the propertied classes had access to real education, and overturns completely the advances of the past two centuries.
The crises that grip education are rooted in the so-called "free market" system which elevates profit above the needs and rights of the people, including the right to education. By taking up the slogan that education is a right, all the many movements for improvement of public education and against privatization can be united into a powerful, independent political movement which represents the aspirations of the people. The renewed unity of this historic movement will further the ongoing struggles waged by the American people aimed at ensuring that education is not just a prerogative of the so-called enlightened classes, but a means by which all people and society as a whole can be enriched.
This whole problem of education funding stems from the fact that education is not recognized as a fundamental right.
The same government officials who choose to underfund public schools so that they crumble, now are maintaining their old claims that privatization is the cure. . . . The past result of these plans have already been exposed as an intensification of a dual school system. The power of the politicians to promote a two-tiered educational system - one which lavishes funds on schools for the rich while condemning the children of the workers to crumbling schools - is traditionally based on the fact that schools are funded by local property taxes; such privatization schemes as charter and voucher schools only intensify the well-established disparities of this dual school system.
The children privileged enough to enjoy the education provided by well financed schools acquire the most advanced education, while the children of the working class are relegated to impoverished schools, denied the high quality of education that is their birthright.
These growing privatization drives in public education deny social responsibility for education. It denies that society has any permanent interest in deciding what kind of education children should receive, or ensuring that all children receive education equally, or even ensuring all the modern amenities available for public schools. In fact, it guarantees that there will be inequality in education, with the children of the workers receiving the least and worst education, while the children of the rich attend the best schools. It represents a return to the days of privilege, when only the propertied classes had access to real education, and overturns completely the advances of the past two centuries.
The crises that grip education are rooted in the so-called "free market" system which elevates profit above the needs and rights of the people, including the right to education. By taking up the slogan that education is a right, all the many movements for improvement of public education and against privatization can be united into a powerful, independent political movement which represents the aspirations of the people. The renewed unity of this historic movement will further the ongoing struggles waged by the American people aimed at ensuring that education is not just a prerogative of the so-called enlightened classes, but a means by which all people and society as a whole can be enriched.
Contradictions of U.S. Occupation of Iraq Intensify
The Biden administration has changed its Iraq occupation posture to again reprioritize its "advise and assist" role over and above any front line role for U.S. troops. All announcements from the White House and Pentagon have emphasized that the number of U.S. forces will not decrease.
This incident reveals the growing grassroots opposition to the U.S. military mission in Iraq.
In the face of growing protests throughout the country, in which the people are demanding that the U.S. exit the land, the Pentagon continues to seek new privileges and unhampered prerogative to make Iraq's law at the point of a gun. Iraqi puppets continue to be allowed to give permission to U.S. decisions after the fact.
Such arrogance is only leading to further hatred for U.S. imperialism and its policy of maintaining a state of war with the aim of preventing the Iraqi people from regaining their national sovereignty and independence.
This incident reveals the growing grassroots opposition to the U.S. military mission in Iraq.
In the face of growing protests throughout the country, in which the people are demanding that the U.S. exit the land, the Pentagon continues to seek new privileges and unhampered prerogative to make Iraq's law at the point of a gun. Iraqi puppets continue to be allowed to give permission to U.S. decisions after the fact.
Such arrogance is only leading to further hatred for U.S. imperialism and its policy of maintaining a state of war with the aim of preventing the Iraqi people from regaining their national sovereignty and independence.
Congress Votes in a New War Budget
On December 27, President Biden signed the $780 billion dollar budget into law. That's a decision for $6,000 per working class family of four to go to the Pentagon over the year.
Biden's new war budget proves again that the government we have today is a tool for redistributing the wealth of society further in favor of the capitalists. The government's economic policy is to tax the working people to the bone and turn the proceeds over to the capitalists in the form of fat "reconstruction" contracts and outright gifts.
The Democrats and Republicans keep pouring workers' tax dollars down the military sink-hole because these political parties are nothing but goons. They are nothing but hired guns for the monopoly capitalist class.
In the face of growing protests throughout the world against U.S. wars in the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, in which the people are demanding that the U.S. military get out, lock, stock and barrel, the Pentagon continues to use its military machine to trample underfoot the entire edifice of international law and turn the clock back to the days of open colonialism and gunboat diplomacy.
The American people must heighten their vigilance and combat the grave dangers which arise from the capitalist-imperialist system. To stay the hands of the warmakers in Washington, it is necessary to wage unremitting struggles against the capitalist class and its policy of intervention and aggression abroad. To bring into being a world of peace, it is necessary for the workers to rise and overthrow the capitalist-imperialist system which is based on the enslavement of nations and the exploitation of the peoples.
Biden's new war budget proves again that the government we have today is a tool for redistributing the wealth of society further in favor of the capitalists. The government's economic policy is to tax the working people to the bone and turn the proceeds over to the capitalists in the form of fat "reconstruction" contracts and outright gifts.
The Democrats and Republicans keep pouring workers' tax dollars down the military sink-hole because these political parties are nothing but goons. They are nothing but hired guns for the monopoly capitalist class.
In the face of growing protests throughout the world against U.S. wars in the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, in which the people are demanding that the U.S. military get out, lock, stock and barrel, the Pentagon continues to use its military machine to trample underfoot the entire edifice of international law and turn the clock back to the days of open colonialism and gunboat diplomacy.
The American people must heighten their vigilance and combat the grave dangers which arise from the capitalist-imperialist system. To stay the hands of the warmakers in Washington, it is necessary to wage unremitting struggles against the capitalist class and its policy of intervention and aggression abroad. To bring into being a world of peace, it is necessary for the workers to rise and overthrow the capitalist-imperialist system which is based on the enslavement of nations and the exploitation of the peoples.