The Worker, Vol. 38, Number 9
Contents:
I. Dispelling the Anti-Social Election Propaganda
II. Letter to the Editor
I. Dispelling the Anti-Social Election Propaganda
II. Letter to the Editor
Note from the editor:
A year ago we published a Special Edition of The Worker to start a campaign slogan. Members, friends and supporters of the Workers Party are encouraged to take part in the campaign by reciting the slogan "If you are illegal, then I am Illegal!" with others in any language while shaking hands and looking into each other's eyes. Do it with love in your heart. We'd be happy to learn more from you about all your experiences with it. WorkerspartyUSAChicagoBranch@gmail.com
Dispelling the Anti-Social Election Propaganda
With the Democratic Party presidential convention over, Kamala Harris is the candidate vying to be the alternative to Trump. However, this is not a real alternative as the Biden administration has joined its predecessors in a bipartisan policy of war and militarism.
Trump's war program was inherited from the Democratic administration of Obama, as Obama's was inherited from Bush. Throughout this time frame, both chambers of Congress have consistently prosecuted a continuous build-up of arms outside the country, a "covert" war in Iraq, and military operations which seek to maintain control in the Philippines, Colombia, and elsewhere. The Democratic party, along with the Republican have also prosecuted a continuous build-up of arms and support for Israel as a regional military surrogate. The U.S. government is taking steps to expand its empire, which is controlled by the capitalist class. It is shoring up NATO and forming new alliances, using its military to quell liberation movements worldwide and provoking war with its main economic rivals - Russian imperialism and Chinese imperialism.
Both the Republicans and Democrats serve the interests of the capitalist class. They are preparing new wars and "finishing the job" of old wars in order to maintain their world empire. The working masses at home and abroad are the ones who suffer the consequences of these wars.
Inside the U.S. the monopoly capitalists rely on militarism to build up the repressive apparatus of the state and increase state intervention in the economy for maximum profits. This militarization is widely advertised by the trade union misleaders, social democrats, revisionists, and the capitalist economists as a way to temporarily alleviate the economic crisis by creating artificial markets and ensuring super-profits for the capitalists. The social democratic and revisionist economic theories claim to address the crisis of capitalism (and even establish socialism!) through increased state intervention. However, these theories are essentially a way to camouflage the harsh economic dominance of state monopoly capitalism with "socialist" phraseology. They are appeals for the conclusion that the state apparatus exists separate from politics, transcending social classes and standing apart from the existing social relations.
The immediate program proposed by social democracy and revisionism focuses on government aid to rebuild America's industries and boost exports, which is essentially a repetition of previous capitalist strategies for reindustrialization. These programs heavily rely on state-provided capital to modernize and improve profitability in different industry sectors. The revisionists and social democrats conveniently overlook the fact that this capitalist economic program does not alter the fundamental class nature of the state. These strategies divert vital resources from productive uses and investments in the people, leading to the ruin of the economy as a whole.
As is well known, the machinery of the capitalist state is a product of history and consists of bureaucratic officialdom, police, courts, prisons, and the army, all working together to subordinate all aspects of life to the interests of the exploiters. The state is a complex system with various organs and institutions, laws and directives, and methods of work, all designed to align with the views, practices, interests, and aspirations of the ruling classes. The modern bourgeois state is essentially the organized power of the wealthy landowners and capitalists, aimed at suppressing the exploited classes such as peasants and workers. It is the machine by which capital suppresses labor.
The harsh economic dominance of state monopoly capitalism is also a frightening instrument that entangles and drains the vitality of the economy by robbing and militarizing the public treasury. The government has plenty of money at its disposal, as every worker can see just by looking at the taxes taken out of every paycheck. Yet, the government has been cutting vital social programs and public services. Robbing the people, the government uses the public funds to support the profits of capitalists in various ways, including privatizing the infrastructure such as schools and parking meters, while funding the Pentagon and corporate research.
The militarization of the economy and robbing of the public treasury sacrifices the vital needs of the people for capitalist profit-making and death. Getting rid of militarism requires dismantling the exploitative capitalist system and prioritizing the rights and progress of the people. It requires that the people organize to demand an end to arbitrary taxation and to insist that the power of the public purse belongs to the people. It requires continual follow through to create and expand a public sector of the economy in order to provide guarantees for such basic rights as education, health care, income support for the poor, and so forth.
To achieve these demands we must reject the current elections. The American workers and people are in need of an alternative to the war program led by the capitalist class and the two major political parties, the Republicans and Democrats. This alternative can only be achieved by the masses themselves. It requires a determined struggle that unites millions of working-class individuals against the capitalists in order to stop their aggressive plans. The development of our struggle depends on the establishment of a genuine working-class political party and independent organizations that oppose war and militarism. By actively participating in this struggle and building up such organizations, we can create a real and effective alternative to the capitalist war program.
In the U.S. today there is a growing opposition to the wars and militarism of the capitalist class. The American workers and people are actively protesting against the government's war program, with millions taking to the streets to voice their opposition to weapons buildups, the U.S.-Israeli alliance, and imperialism's interventionist wars. However, there is also a deeper revolt against imperialism and its war preparations brewing among the people. Society as a whole is deeply concerned about the threat and reality of war.
The aggressive actions and plans of the capitalist class are being denounced in meetings, discussions, and daily life. The ongoing struggles against weapons buildups, U.S. military integration in Latin America, the self-proclaimed international role of the U.S. as a world policeman and guarantor of "human rights" and "democracy" are part of a historical movement against war and imperialism. This movement has its roots in the opposition of American workers to the Spanish-American War and World War One, as well as more recent mass movements against the wars in Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq.
The American ruling class is a leader of the aggressive imperialist system, exploiting and oppressing not only the working class at home but also enslaving and dominating nations and peoples abroad. Therefore, the struggle against imperialist intervention and war is an integral part of the class struggle of American workers. This struggle is strengthened by the fact that American workers come from diverse nationalities, standing in solidarity with workers from other countries fighting against U.S. domination and intervention.
The question is not whether the U.S. government is heading towards war or if the American people will oppose it; both are already happening. The fundamental question is how to advance the struggle against war and imperialism. To do so, it is necessary to build a movement on a solid theoretical foundation that exposes the real social forces and class interests behind war preparations. Revolutionary theory helps reveal how capitalists hide their interests under slogans like "peace through strength" or "defending democracy from Islamic terrorism."
Revolutionary theory also helps understand the interests, tactics, and slogans of political parties and groups regarding war and peace. It guides decisions on strategy, tactics, methods of struggle, and forms of organization most suitable for each moment of the anti-war struggle. Revolutionary theory is the conscious means for directing this life or death struggle aimed at eliminating capitalism altogether and bringing the people to power as the decision-makers.
Trump's war program was inherited from the Democratic administration of Obama, as Obama's was inherited from Bush. Throughout this time frame, both chambers of Congress have consistently prosecuted a continuous build-up of arms outside the country, a "covert" war in Iraq, and military operations which seek to maintain control in the Philippines, Colombia, and elsewhere. The Democratic party, along with the Republican have also prosecuted a continuous build-up of arms and support for Israel as a regional military surrogate. The U.S. government is taking steps to expand its empire, which is controlled by the capitalist class. It is shoring up NATO and forming new alliances, using its military to quell liberation movements worldwide and provoking war with its main economic rivals - Russian imperialism and Chinese imperialism.
Both the Republicans and Democrats serve the interests of the capitalist class. They are preparing new wars and "finishing the job" of old wars in order to maintain their world empire. The working masses at home and abroad are the ones who suffer the consequences of these wars.
Inside the U.S. the monopoly capitalists rely on militarism to build up the repressive apparatus of the state and increase state intervention in the economy for maximum profits. This militarization is widely advertised by the trade union misleaders, social democrats, revisionists, and the capitalist economists as a way to temporarily alleviate the economic crisis by creating artificial markets and ensuring super-profits for the capitalists. The social democratic and revisionist economic theories claim to address the crisis of capitalism (and even establish socialism!) through increased state intervention. However, these theories are essentially a way to camouflage the harsh economic dominance of state monopoly capitalism with "socialist" phraseology. They are appeals for the conclusion that the state apparatus exists separate from politics, transcending social classes and standing apart from the existing social relations.
The immediate program proposed by social democracy and revisionism focuses on government aid to rebuild America's industries and boost exports, which is essentially a repetition of previous capitalist strategies for reindustrialization. These programs heavily rely on state-provided capital to modernize and improve profitability in different industry sectors. The revisionists and social democrats conveniently overlook the fact that this capitalist economic program does not alter the fundamental class nature of the state. These strategies divert vital resources from productive uses and investments in the people, leading to the ruin of the economy as a whole.
As is well known, the machinery of the capitalist state is a product of history and consists of bureaucratic officialdom, police, courts, prisons, and the army, all working together to subordinate all aspects of life to the interests of the exploiters. The state is a complex system with various organs and institutions, laws and directives, and methods of work, all designed to align with the views, practices, interests, and aspirations of the ruling classes. The modern bourgeois state is essentially the organized power of the wealthy landowners and capitalists, aimed at suppressing the exploited classes such as peasants and workers. It is the machine by which capital suppresses labor.
The harsh economic dominance of state monopoly capitalism is also a frightening instrument that entangles and drains the vitality of the economy by robbing and militarizing the public treasury. The government has plenty of money at its disposal, as every worker can see just by looking at the taxes taken out of every paycheck. Yet, the government has been cutting vital social programs and public services. Robbing the people, the government uses the public funds to support the profits of capitalists in various ways, including privatizing the infrastructure such as schools and parking meters, while funding the Pentagon and corporate research.
The militarization of the economy and robbing of the public treasury sacrifices the vital needs of the people for capitalist profit-making and death. Getting rid of militarism requires dismantling the exploitative capitalist system and prioritizing the rights and progress of the people. It requires that the people organize to demand an end to arbitrary taxation and to insist that the power of the public purse belongs to the people. It requires continual follow through to create and expand a public sector of the economy in order to provide guarantees for such basic rights as education, health care, income support for the poor, and so forth.
To achieve these demands we must reject the current elections. The American workers and people are in need of an alternative to the war program led by the capitalist class and the two major political parties, the Republicans and Democrats. This alternative can only be achieved by the masses themselves. It requires a determined struggle that unites millions of working-class individuals against the capitalists in order to stop their aggressive plans. The development of our struggle depends on the establishment of a genuine working-class political party and independent organizations that oppose war and militarism. By actively participating in this struggle and building up such organizations, we can create a real and effective alternative to the capitalist war program.
In the U.S. today there is a growing opposition to the wars and militarism of the capitalist class. The American workers and people are actively protesting against the government's war program, with millions taking to the streets to voice their opposition to weapons buildups, the U.S.-Israeli alliance, and imperialism's interventionist wars. However, there is also a deeper revolt against imperialism and its war preparations brewing among the people. Society as a whole is deeply concerned about the threat and reality of war.
The aggressive actions and plans of the capitalist class are being denounced in meetings, discussions, and daily life. The ongoing struggles against weapons buildups, U.S. military integration in Latin America, the self-proclaimed international role of the U.S. as a world policeman and guarantor of "human rights" and "democracy" are part of a historical movement against war and imperialism. This movement has its roots in the opposition of American workers to the Spanish-American War and World War One, as well as more recent mass movements against the wars in Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq.
The American ruling class is a leader of the aggressive imperialist system, exploiting and oppressing not only the working class at home but also enslaving and dominating nations and peoples abroad. Therefore, the struggle against imperialist intervention and war is an integral part of the class struggle of American workers. This struggle is strengthened by the fact that American workers come from diverse nationalities, standing in solidarity with workers from other countries fighting against U.S. domination and intervention.
The question is not whether the U.S. government is heading towards war or if the American people will oppose it; both are already happening. The fundamental question is how to advance the struggle against war and imperialism. To do so, it is necessary to build a movement on a solid theoretical foundation that exposes the real social forces and class interests behind war preparations. Revolutionary theory helps reveal how capitalists hide their interests under slogans like "peace through strength" or "defending democracy from Islamic terrorism."
Revolutionary theory also helps understand the interests, tactics, and slogans of political parties and groups regarding war and peace. It guides decisions on strategy, tactics, methods of struggle, and forms of organization most suitable for each moment of the anti-war struggle. Revolutionary theory is the conscious means for directing this life or death struggle aimed at eliminating capitalism altogether and bringing the people to power as the decision-makers.
Letter to the Editor
We want to report to you on a political public meeting that took place in a summer camp for youth. We invited a political organizer from the Workers Party to come and speak to the youth in camp about Palestine. The meeting was attended by 16 youth and 6 camp councilors. The meeting started with a speech titled "Palestine will win!", and it was followed by open discussion from the group.
We wanted to say that the speech provided us with clarity about the question of Palestine. It helped strengthen the conviction of everyone about how U.S. imperialism stands as the main aggressor and organizer of genocide against the Palestinian people. The speech made it clear that the Biden administration and the ruling classes in our country are haunted by the struggle of the Palestinian people to fight for their freedom and national independence.
We also wanted to say that the event was received very well by everyone that attended. The youth in the camp told many of us that they felt that the discussion reflected their feelings about the situation in Palestine. Some of the people attending the event commented that this is the type of political discussion that more and more people need to participate in. Also, it was clear that everyone was united in opposition to U.S. imperialism, and there was a sense that we are participating in the mass struggle in opposition of war and militarism.
We wanted to express our gratitude and thanks to the Workers Party for providing the clear analysis and for leading the political discussion and organization for more and more people to come out and participate in this struggle against both political parties of war. We see the necessity to participate in building our anti-imperialist groups and developing our initiative independently of both political parties of war.
We wanted to say that the speech provided us with clarity about the question of Palestine. It helped strengthen the conviction of everyone about how U.S. imperialism stands as the main aggressor and organizer of genocide against the Palestinian people. The speech made it clear that the Biden administration and the ruling classes in our country are haunted by the struggle of the Palestinian people to fight for their freedom and national independence.
We also wanted to say that the event was received very well by everyone that attended. The youth in the camp told many of us that they felt that the discussion reflected their feelings about the situation in Palestine. Some of the people attending the event commented that this is the type of political discussion that more and more people need to participate in. Also, it was clear that everyone was united in opposition to U.S. imperialism, and there was a sense that we are participating in the mass struggle in opposition of war and militarism.
We wanted to express our gratitude and thanks to the Workers Party for providing the clear analysis and for leading the political discussion and organization for more and more people to come out and participate in this struggle against both political parties of war. We see the necessity to participate in building our anti-imperialist groups and developing our initiative independently of both political parties of war.