ThinkSocialist

Vacation

2006-06-17T05:53:00.000-07:00

I'll be in the wonderful land of Texas for the next week, so don't expect anymore exciting news on the wonderful world of Socialism. As you may know, they have yet to bring the magic of electricity and computers to Texas, so I'll be technologically isolated. Have a good week. I'll still be checking my e-mail occasionally if you need to contact me: mike@thinksocialist.com

Obrador Gains Traction in Mexican Election

2006-06-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of the Party of the Democratic Revolution has regained his lead in the polls in the Mexican Presidential race. Obrador, who had led for two years prior to the election, overtook Nation Action Party's Felipe Calderon in polls released this week. A poll performed by the newspaper Reforma gives Obrador a 3.2% lead over the right-wing Calderon. Obrador has regained support upon news that his opponent gave out government contracts to relatives.

During his tenure as Mayor of Mexico City, Obrador positioned himself as a champion of the poor. Calderon, on the other hand, is a favorite of the business class and the Bush Administration. Calderon's only real tactics in the race seem to be ad hominem attacks and baseless accusations. Perhaps the attack that most damaged the Obrador camp most was the accusation that he was in bed with Hugo Chavez, despite the fact that there was no substance behind it. Calderon has also labeled Obrador a "radical" and a "socialist".

Even the conservative Financial Times is predicting a win for Obrador, which is a positive sign for Mexico's poor. We can also only hope that upon his election that Obrador will stop the campaign of violence against the poor in Chiapas and against the Zapatistas.

Mexican Government Attacks Striking Teachers

2006-06-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

The Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) and the Other Campaign has released an informative bulletin regarding the repression of the Oaxaca Democratic Teachers’ Union in Oaxaca. According to EZLN leader Subcomandante Marcos, on June 14th at 4:30 in the morning, a group of police raided a camp where striking teachers were sleeping. The teachers were striking to "demand better working conditions and against the authoritarian government of Ulises Ruiz."

Teachers face off against Mexican police.

In addition to attempting to break the strike, Mexican police have also destroyed facilities owned by the EZLN and the Other Campaign, including the building housing alternative radio station “Radio Plantón". The Special Forces Police Unit has arrested 12 teachers, injured several people, and possibly forced a pregnant women to miscarriage with tear gas. According to the report, the teachers have retaken the town center in Oaxaca City and are holding it.

These actions by the Mexican government comes after waves of state repression in the city of San Salvador Atenco in early May. Riots began in Atenco after police beat and arrested native flower vendors who set up stands on the of property of a soon-to-be Wal-Mart. The EZLN has been deeply involved with assisting the victims of both of these incidents. Marcos is calling on all alternative media outlets to give these striking teachers and their EZLN allies a voice.

Remembering Che

2006-06-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

Today is the 78th anniversary of the birth of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, the great guerilla leader. Che began his life as an Argentinian doctor who traveled South America giving care to the poor. After seeing the destitute situations that so many Latin Americanss suffered, Che became convinced that the only remedy to poverty was revolution. He soon became part of the Cuban Revolution and the liberation of Latin America. On October 9th, 1967 he was shot by U.S. operatives in La Higuera, Bolivia.

"I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves." - Che Guevara

Today, Bolivia's socialist President Evo Morales is celebrating Che's legacy. In order to commemorate Guevara, Morales will be outfitting the La Higuera hospital where Che's body was displayed after his death new medical equipment. Morales also opened a new literacy center in the city which was donated by Cuba.

"Che was the most complete human being of our age." - Jean-Paul Sartre

U.S. Attempts to Block Venezuela Security Council Bid

2006-06-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

On his weekly television program "Alo Presidente", Hugo Chavez reprimanded the United States for trying to block Venezuela's bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council. Using Jack Abramoff style lobbying tactics, President Bush and U.N. Ambassador John Bolton are trying to coerce as many U.N. member states as possible to vote against Venezuela in the upcoming vote for a seat on the Security Council. Chavez said of the American effort, "We will go after this with all our force. This is like David versus Goliath.''

Since one of the seats on the Security Council is traditionally reserved for a Latin American nation, U.S. officials are pushing Guatemala as the opposition candidate to Venezuela. This endorsement of Guatemala comes despite allegations that the Guatemalan government is involved in human trafficking and slave trades at its highest level. Guatemala is also notorious for its corruption and graft. However, for American elites trying to preserve the capitalist status quo, its better to support a nation that is creates a free human slave market than one that is trying to create an equitable socialist society.

The Sexiest Socialist Alive

2006-06-12T09:16:00.000-07:00

Segolene Royal of France's Socialist Party has been crowned the sixth sexiest woman on the planet by FHM. Royal even managed beat out traditional choices including Liz Hurley and Penelope Cruz.

Segolene Royal (right) with her worthy oppoenents

This 52 year old mother of four quickly became the sweetheart of French politics in March after she helped lead the movement to defeat the first job contract law (CPE) that allowed employers to arbitrarily fire workers under 26 without justification. Royal, along with being official the official MILF of every leftist on the planet, is a Presidential favorite for the 2007 French elections.

Bush Slanders Chavez and Venezuela

2006-06-07T15:19:00.000-07:00

Hugo Chavez and George Bush have never had a particularly good relationship. In 2002, Bush helped overthrew Chavez's democratic government and attempted to install a Pinochet style dictatorship that served U.S. interests. In response, Chavez has labeled Bush a terrorist, an imperialist, and an alcoholic - all three of which are undoubtedly true looking at the man's personal history and the Geneva Conventions. Today, Bush crossed the line of petty insults and viciously attacked Chavez and, more importantly, the Venezuelan people. At a press event today, Bush said that Chavez has been doing a "great disservice to the traditions and people" of Venezuela.

The attitude that this statement reveals is Bush's backward, colonial, and racist ideology. The rhetoric use by Bush is not unlike that of the "White Man's Burden", which was the turn of the century concept that it was the white man's responsibility to rule over all of the other "lesser" races on the planet. Not only is this a racist attack on the Venezuelan people and their ability to autonomously choose their own leader democratically - without U.S. intervention - but it is a clear attack on democratic values. How dare Bush - a man who violates the constitution on an hourly basis and has an approval rating below 30% - attack a leader who actually follows the will of his people (Chavez's approval rating rarely dips under 80%).

It's not for Bush to decide whether or not Chavez has done a "disservice" to Venezuelan tradition. What the hell does George Bush even know about Venezuelan culture? I would be willing to bet my first born son that Bush couldn't find Venezuela on a map, let alone speak the language or comprehend its history.

Garcia Wins Peru Elections

2006-06-06T12:16:00.000-07:00

Liberal centrist Alan Garcia of the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance has declared victory in the June 4th Peruvian elections, which he won by an estimated 10%. During the 1980's, Garcia led Peru into economic disaster in which the country experienced 7000% inflation. The outcome of the election was accepted by Garcia's opponent, leftist nationalist Ollanta Humala, who many business leaders in Peru and American feared because of Humala's ties to socialist leaders throughout Latin America.

Humala's defeat is by no means a rejection of leftist or socialist ideology in Latin America, despite what some conservative columnists may claim. It was quite remarkable that Humala, who was a political nobody before this year, was able to garner over 44% of the vote. While the outcome may not have been ideal, the fact that a socialist candidate was able to rally so many around him in a country as conservative as Peru is impressive. Humala told his supporters today, “This is a day of victory: we’ve managed in such short time to awaken so many consciences... we’ve garnered a large social majority and today we are renewing our commitment to work and serve the country, defend the nation and its natural resources”

Garcia's success may be more of a referendum on international meddling in election than a true win for Garcia. Humala's standings in the polls fell sharply after the Garcia campaign accused Venezuela's Hugo Chavez of funding the Humala campaign. This is not to say that Peruvian are hostile towards Chavez or his politics, but rather that they reject intervention - whether it's from Venezuela or the United States - in domestic elections.

Land Revolution in Bolivia

2006-06-03T20:57:00.000-07:00

Evo Morales put a program into action today that will redistribute 7.8 million acres of land to the poor in Bolivia. The land will be seized from wealthy farmers and landowners, whose land often goes largely unused. By giving Bolivia's peasants a piece of agriculturally viable land, Morales is doing more than any capitalist welfare system ever could: a constant source of income and economic empowerment.

Of course, as with any revolution, the Morales' land revolution does have its counter-revolutionaries. Those whose land is being seized are forming militias to prevent the redistribution. Of detractor from the process has been the Catholic Church, which owns 90% of all farmland in Bolivia. Nearly all of this land is unproductive and idle, making it a perfect candidate for expropriation by the state. Resistance from the elite class is no surprise, but a few wealthy men can't stop a revolution. As Morales told a crowd today, "The historical enemies of the poor must accept this land revolution."

The Bolivian government intend to redistribute 48 million acres of land by 2011.

Lopez Obrador Pulls Ahead in Election Polls

2006-06-01T14:57:00.000-07:00

Mexican Presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador regained his leader position in polls released today. Obrador was the populist mayor of Mexico City and has taken a many soft-socialist positions in his presidential campaign. After a few weeks hovering below 30% in polls, Obrador managed to overtake his conservative opponent Felipe Calderon by 0.5%. Such a lead is well within the margin of error, but it does indicate that Obrador is a contender in the elections, something that has been in doubt recently.

Obrador, who is from the Party of the Democratic Revolution, saw a substantial drop in the polls over the past several weeks as his opponents have been using dirty and sometimes illegal tactics. Current President Vicente Fox has been supporting Calderon, which is questionable under Mexican election law. Calderon has also run overly aggressive and deceptive ads, which he was forced to stop after an inquiry by the government.

For his part, Obrador has been the target of attacks from not only other candidates, but also many corporations who see his pseudo-socialist policies as a danger to business.

Morales Claims Assassination Attempt By United States

2006-05-31T11:38:00.000-07:00

Bolivia's Evo Morales claimed on Tuesday that the United States has been organizing teams to carry out an assassination attempt against him. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez first brought the issue to attention in a statement last week in which he said Venezuelan intelligence had discovered evidence of an attempt on Morales' life. "I've been informed recently how the U.S. had organized teams - groups to persecute Evo Morales, to kill Evo Morales. They haven't been able to and now we're organized, from unions to this political party and they can't stop us anymore," said Morales.

Murdering and deposing democratically elected Latin American leaders is nothing alien to American policy in the region. In 1973, the United States government sponsored the assassinations of Chilean General René Schneider and Chile's socialist President Salvador Allende. During the 1980's in Nicaragua, after the Sandinistas toppled the Somoza regime, Ronald Reagan illegally funneled money to a group that murdered several members of the government and thousands of civilians.

What prompted both of these anti-democratic terror campaigns? It was the American reaction to socialist economics in Latin America. In the case of Allende, the mining industry had been nationalized to the detriment of several United States corporations. Under the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, the government redistributed land and nationalized natural resources. Today in Bolivia one sees a similar situation; Evo Morales announced on May 1st that he would be nationalizing Bolivia's hydrocarbon (natural gas) sector. American and European companies threatened to sue Bolivia and George W. Bush called his actions "anti-democratic". It's only logical to assume that the Bush Administration, with it's reverence for Reaganite foreign policy, will emulate past American policy by making attempts on the life of Morales and the stability of Bolivia's government. "These historical enemies, that privatized our natural resources, especially petroleum, are conspiring, not against Evo Morales but against the changes that we've started," Morales told reporters.

Canadian Union Calls for Boycott of Isreal

2006-05-29T16:32:00.000-07:00

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Canada's most powerful union, voted overwhelmingly on on May 27th to support a campaign against the Israeli occupation of Palestine. CUPE's campaign will first focus on tearing down the "apartheid wall" that herds Palestinians into impoverished ghettos. The wall was deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice in June of 2004, but as usual Israel ignored international law

CUPE will be using boycotts, strikes, and political pressure to stop Canadian compliance with Israeli terror. Katherine Nastovski, chairwoman of the CUPE Ontario International Solidarity Committee noted, “Boycott, divestment, and sanction worked to end apartheid in South Africa. We believe the same strategy will work to enforce the rights of Palestinian people, including the right of refugees to return to their homes and properties.” CUPE will work to end the free trade pact that Canada has with Israel, and specifically the import of Israeli wines, which are often produced in occupied territories.

The International Solidarity Movement has the full text of the resolution passed by The Canadian Union of Public Employees.

Humala Gains Support from Leftist Groups

2006-05-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

Ollanta Humala, the socialist/nationalist Peruvian Presidential candidate, has lost his early momentum in recent weeks on news that Hugo Chavez may have been meddling in Peruvian politics. He has fallen behind former President Alan Garcia in the polls, but with the election looming, many leftist groups in Peru are throwing their weight behind Humala.

The Broad Leftwing Front (FAI) has endorsed Humala's Union por el Peru Party (UPP) for the June 4th elections. Humala and his UPP allies have already received support from unions, the poor, and indigenous Peruvians, but the FAI is an important part of a winning electoral coalition. In a statement the FAI said, "The FAI political organizations have decided to support Humala, in line with the popular will, with no other promise than to ensure fulfillment of the program and its comprehensiveness."

Bangladeshi Workers Revolt

2006-05-25T10:54:00.000-07:00

Bangladeshi workers set fire to at least seven textile factories on Tuesday after it was discovered that police had shot and killed a 20 year old man demonstrating for better pay and conditions. Over 100 textile workers were injured in the fight with police and private security guards. The riots began after factory managers ordered their guards to stop the peaceful demonstration for workers' rights.

Despite the fact that Bangladesh rakes in over $6billion each year from the textile industry, the average laborer in a textile mill makes as little as $22 per month. Workers are sometimes forced to work around the clock shifts and as many as seven days each week. The workers were asking for a 30% pay increase.

The government is siding with the wealthy garment and textiles executives and will be using its military force to quell the democratic uprisings. Junior Interior Minister Lutfuzzaman Babar told reporters, "The government will do whatever necessary for the protection of the garment industry."

Chavez Visits Bolivia

2006-05-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

Hugo Chavez made visited Bolivia this week for the third time since Evo Morales was elected. Chavez and Morales signed a series of treaties regarding education, health care, and economic positions. Chavez has promised to invest nearly $2billion in Bolivia's economy, most notably $1.5billion in the natural gas sector. As part of the deal, Venezuela will send 200,000 barrels of oil into La Paz each month in exchange for soy oil. Bolivia will also be training workers involved in telecommunications and transportation to improve infrastructure between the two nations.

The two leftist leaders are also seeking to promote the People's Trade Agreement and the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, alternatives to the U.S. sponsored Free Trade Agreement of the Americas.

Defending Democracy in Latin America

2006-05-23T12:22:00.000-07:00

Ever since the nationalization of the hydrocarbon industry on May 1st, President Evo Morales and Bolivian democracy have suffered a barrage of attacks from the media and the ruling class. Echoing the cries of neo-liberal pundits in the Financial Times and The Economist, George Bush launched the latest round of slander against the Morales government this week. At an address to the National Restaurant Association, Bush responded to a question about Bolivia and Venezuela, "Let me just put it bluntly - I'm concerned about the erosion of democracy in the countries you mentioned. I am going to continue to remind our hemisphere that respect for property rights and human rights is essential for all countries in order for there to be prosperity and peace.'' (I would like to pose the question: What the hell is the President of the United States doing at the National Restaurant Association while our soldiers are dying in Iraq and the economy is in a tailspin?)

Bush's comments come at a time when democracy in Latin America is at a unprecedentedly high levels. The governments of Venezuela and Bolivia seem to be the only two nations in the world who have the best interests of their people even partially in mind. The leaders of both countries - Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales - have been elected by far wider margins than almost any American or European leader in memory. The nationalization of major industries for the benefit of the people is in contrast to the actions of America, Great Britain, and China which have been involved in the complete privatization of public services. Democracy is about putting the benefits of people over those of private interests. Leaders like Bush who enjoy approval ratings of less than 30% generally fail to grasp this concept.

Bush's warning against human rights and property rights violations are absurd - nearly comical - at best. America has a human rights history that would make even the most brutal of dictators blush. Whether it's the systematic extermination of the Palestinians, American support for Sadam Hussein, or the funding of terrorists, the United States has every conceivable violation on its resume. Admittedly, Hugo Chavez has had a few run-ins with issues of free speech, but his hands are far cleaner than any American President.

The President is also throwing stones in the metaphorical glass house of property rights. Last summer, the Supreme Court ruled against Susette Kelo in the case of Kelo v. New London Development Corporation. In a landmark decision, the court ruled that the federal government could use eminent domain to seize land for the use of private corporations. To quote Sandra Day O'Connor, "The specter of condemnation hangs over all property. Nothing is to prevent the State from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory." Both Chavez and Morales have respected the rights of small property owners, while only expropriating unused land belonging to the extremely wealthy.

What this all comes down to is the capitalist version of democracy coming in conflict with socialist democracy. The capitalists intend to use democracy as just another tool for creating profit, while socialists like Chavez and Morales seek to create societies in which profit serves people.

The Bolivarian Revolution on 35mm

2006-05-22T12:42:00.000-07:00

Director Oliver Stone and producer John Daly are in the process of creating a film based around the 2002 coup against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. They will be making an official announcement about the film at the Cannes Film Festival. ""They've asked for our permission to announce it today in Cannes, and we've told them yes, that we're interested in that film being made," said Chavez. The film will focus on the anti-Chavez coup attempt carried out by a group of military officers who were likely backed by the Bush Administration. Chavez was put back in power after hundreds of thousands of his supporters took to the streets in protest of the anti-democratic coup.

This Anti-Imperialist Thing Isn't Over

2006-05-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

The corporate media is on the war path against Latin American leftists, and they're willing to use any weapons in the war against socialism. Newsweek's weapon of choice is lies and half-truths, as is displayed in Ruchir Sharma's column entitled This Chavez Thing Is Over. What Sharma and his corporate allies fail to recognize is that this "Chavez thing" isn't about Hugo Chavez at all - it's about liberating Latin America from the grip of multinational corporations and empowering them to determine their own destinies. Sharma's thesis rests on two fallacious planks: the ideas that the leftward tilt of Latin America is a new phenomenon and that this radical shift is over.

The column begins with a passionate denunciation of the nationalization of natural resources by Hugo Chavez and Bolivia's Evo Morales, and then claims that this economic restructuring isn't indicative of Latin American leftism. This is far from the truth; the socialist economic measures of both Bolivia and Venezuela have been hailed by their populations. Morales and Chavez have both had consistent approval ratings topping 80%. Both leaders are following the will of their people; Morales' nationalization of the hydrocarbon industry was the result of a 2004 referendum in which 95% of Bolivians voted in favor of nationalization. Bolivia's program hasn't been in effect long enough to see the benefits, but Venezuela's state controlled oil industry has reaped huge profits. These profits translate directly into social programs and poverty relief for the average Venezuelan, including programs stressing literacy and public health. Nationalization won't end with Bolivia and Venezuela; Daniel Ortega and Ollanta Humala, running for the presidencies of Nicaragua and Peru respectively, both promise to implement similar plans.

Of course, the concept that this trend towards socialist and radical economies is newfound is absurd. The Latin American socialist saga, and subsequent U.S. repression, began in 1951 with the election of Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán, who's successful redistribution of corporate land caused the United States to replace the Guatemalan government with a brutal military junta. In 1971, Chile's Salvador Allende nationalized the mining industry and used the revenues to pay for education and food. Allende's plan would have come to full fruition had the United States not backed Augusto Pinochet's overthrow of the Chilean government. Ronald Reagan continued the war against the economic rights of sovereign nations throughout the 1980's by waging a terrorist campaign against the leftist Sandinista Government in Nicaragua. For the past ten years or so, the United States has managed to keep a lid on Latin America's socialist heritage, but the elections of Chavez, Morales, and their kin indicate that we can't keep the lid on people's liberation any longer.

Ruchir Sharma's anti-nationalization hypothesis is clearly not derived from any political reality, but rather from a desire to keep poor Latin Americans in economic shackles so that American corporations can expand their markets and resources. This "Chavez Thing" isn't over, it's only beginning.

Affordable Oil for Africa

2006-05-18T17:39:00.000-07:00

Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, is notorious for using oil as a tool to garner support domestically and internationally. After Hurricane Katrina he offered to send discount oil to America's ghettos and poor communities. Late last year, he provided Harlem with affordable oil to heat homes. In April, Chavez made deals with leftist politicians in Nicaragua and El Salvador to provide their impoverished areas with cheap petrol. In talk with Libya's Muammar Gaddafi today, Chavez outlined a plan to help the poorest region on earth: Africa.

Chavez says that he will partner with oil-rich Libya in order to provide much needed petrol to African nations. The two nations will also be working with Cuban medical crews to provide health services to Africans. "Cuba will provide the medical crews, while Libya and Venezuela will support these crews and hospitals financially," said Libyan Foreign Minister Abdel Rahman Shalqam. This program, dubbed the "Miracle Mission", has been extremely popular and successful in a number of Latin American nations.

Subcomandante Marcos Talks: Part III

2006-05-18T17:31:00.000-07:00

The final installment of Zapatista leader Subcomadante Marco's conversation with La Journada is featured at NarcosNews. Here are a few highlights:

"There are some basic definitions of the left. One definition refers to the economic system. Then there’s the cultural left, against chauvinism, misogyny, homophobia. The political left has to be defined in relationship to the economic system, and it has to be anti-capitalist; it has to define itself fundamentally in terms of holding the system responsible, not just an administration. The Other Campaign locates itself in the anti-capitalist left, and doesn’t go farther than that. That’s why the Other Campaign talks about rebellion, and not about revolution."

"This is the Other Mexico that we are going to unite. All of that mobilization is happening outside of the political parties, because now it’s neither the Democrats nor the Republicans up there; there’s no party for them to go to. And that is part of the political crisis happening all over the world, and in order for those movements to survive there, as they are, with their latino identity, and not just Mexicans, they are also reaching that point of saying, we have to do something. And none of the organizers, none of the convokers, expected this level of participation. Things are happening that the political columnists don’t find in their textbooks, that don’t have anything to do with the traditional balances of power. No one was paying attention to what’s happening down below, no one noticed that, down below, there is a process that doesn’t depend on what is happening up above with the political parties or with the ruling class."

Chavez: Socialism the Solution to Barbarism

2006-05-16T11:55:00.000-07:00

Hugo Chavez, the widely popular and democratically elected President, proclaimed on Sunday that, "socialism is the only way to thwart barbarism." Chavez blamed capitalism and it's ideological counterparts for violence and conflict over the last few centuries, and said that socialism is the only remedy to this dangerous path. The Venezuelan firebrand made his statements at a pro-Venezuela meeting in London with British officials including London mayor Ken Livingston. Chavez continued saying, "We are faced with global challenges stemming from the genocidal, immoral, sick, and corrupt elite currently governing the United States, which appear to have no limits.”

Chavez went on to condemn the United States actions in the Middle East, especially its recent aggression towards Iran, "The outcome of such an aggression is unknown, but the Empire is going to find itself in a worse position than the one they have currently in Iraq, where they do not know what to do with the civil war that has erupted there and can’t find a way out.” He also criticized the American government for accusing others of terrorism while harboring terrorists of our own, "There they have the worst terrorist, Luis Posada Carriles, who is benefiting from US government protection, after having escaped from a Venezuelan prison 20 years ago, [awaiting trial] for his involvement in the bombing of a Cuban airliner."

Carnival of Socialism

2006-05-14T08:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the 2nd edition of the Carnival of Socialism! Unfortunately, we didn't get as many submissions as we had hoped for, but we found some posts of interest for you all nonetheless. Also, thanks again to Benjamin Solah, who published last week's edition. With that said, let's begin:

-Andrew Rihn expresses his disenchantment with capitalist politics in the form of a poem entitled Dislocate.

-The Starry Plough of the Irish Socialist Republicans remembers the great freedom fighter James Connolly. Connolly led the Dublin Brigade in the 1916 uprising against British Imperialism in Ireland. He was later executed by British soldiers for his involvement, but as the Starry Plough notes, "The job was left unfinished in 1916. The task now falls upon our shoulders. Armed with the ideas of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Trotsky - and Connolly - we shall not fail!"

-ReasonInRevolt of Fruits of Our Labor recounts his May Day 2006 experience and has a great series of photos from a pro-immigration rally in Ithaca.

-Reasons To be Impossible gives a damning critique of Tory/capitalist politics in Great Britain. To quote RTBI, "we must never underestimate the persistant, consistant, clear and conscious support that so many people give to the main parties and capitalism, we cannot simply brush it aside as false consciousness."

-The Fluffy Economist waxes philosophical on the United States failed attempts to spread top-down democracy around the world.

-Lenin's Tomb attacks the bourgeois fairy-tale that claims, "capitalism is simply the fullest augmentation, the completest development of commercial society. "

-The Sharpener discusses the Respect Coalition's efforts to bring socialism and equality to Great Britain in the horrid New Labour era.

That's it for the second edition of the Carnival of Socialism. Thanks to John Angliss for organizing this effort to spread the word. For more information visit the Carnival of Socialism website.

Ending Exploitation

2006-05-11T13:39:00.000-07:00

Evo Morales, the socialist President of Bolivia, defended the country's move towards nationalizing major industries at an economic forum in Europe today. Morales has come under great scrutiny for his decision on May 1st to nationalize Bolivia's hydrocarbon industry in order to use the profits for social programs. Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has implemented a similar system with the oil industry.

Morales told reporters, "For more than 500 years our natural resources have been pillaged and our primary goods exported. This has to be ended now.” Spain’s Repsol, Britain’s BG Group, and France’s Total will all be compensated for the assets that are being seized by the Bolivian government, but Morales sees no reason to compensate for lost profits since these companies have so richly benefited from hydrocarbons in Bolivia.

Morales and Chavez have attracted criticism from more conservative Latin American leaders, most notably Vicente Fox of Mexico. "Mexico’s position is totally clear, we will strive for greater integration at all levels -- for opening of markets, fair trade, stronger consumer potential that at the same time creates new jobs,” says the Mexican President. Fox has little foundation for criticizing leftist leaders in Latin America, as he has overseen years of oppression and economic collapse in Mexico. Fox may talk a good game by ostensibly endorsing "fair trade", but his support of NAFTA undercuts any credibility he can muster. NAFTA has allowed American corporations to exploit cheap labor, natural resources, and poor citizens in Mexico. Fox is a former executive of Coca-Cola, which has benefited from NAFTA at the expense of Latin Americans. Many have labeled Fox the hispanic Uncle Tom for bowing to Coke and other imperialist companies.

AP Manipulates Chavez Facts

2006-05-10T16:49:00.000-07:00

Whether by poor translation or Machiavellian manipulation, the media got the facts wrong in regards to Hugo Chavez's term limit referendum. Christopher Toothtaker of the Associated Press filed a report on May 6th stating, "Hugo Chavez said Saturday that Venezuelan voters should have the chance to decide whether he should govern the country for the next 25 years." The article goes on to imply that Chavez is seeking to be a elected for a single 25 year term, when the reality is quite different. Chavez proposed to alter the Venezuelan Constitution so that Presidents can serve for more than one six year term. In other words, Chavez would be able to run for President every six years as many times as he chooses, but still have to face reelections and democratic checks on power.

Some believe that the AP has poor Spanish-to-English translators and that the original story simply got tripped up semantically. This is somewhat unlikely, as even a Google Translation of the El Universal says, "President Hugo Chavez reaffirmed today that he could decree referendo to allow his re-election by several periods until 2031." Mr. Toothtaker and the other major news agencies that were involved of the manipulation of this story should issue public apologies and clarifications. I, for one, feel a bit silly since I bought into their lies.

Rare Interview with Subcomandante Marcos

2006-05-10T13:54:00.000-07:00

Leader of the Zapatista National Liberation Front (EZLN), Subcomandante Marcos, gave a rare interview to the Mexican channel Televisa earlier this week. Marcos, also known as Delegate Zero, criticized leftist Presidential candidate Lopez Obrador for being a sell-out to the movement and for not offering real solutions to Mexico's problems. Marcos went on to call him simply "mediocre".

Marcos also denied any involvement with street violence in San Salvador Atenco over the past week. Chaos broke out in the city when a group of poor flower vendors were arrested and beaten after trying to set up shop on soon to be Walmart property. The people of Atenco responded by setting up blockades on highways and demonstrating in the streets. Police reacted to protest by arresting 400 activists, raping at least 5 women, and killing a 14 year old boy. Marcos said the anti-government violence was the result of "people's fury" over years of neglect and repression. He also went on to say that the Zapatistas have a peaceful mission in Atenco and that they will use their legal power to have the political prisoners freed.

Indigenious Leaders Ally With Ortega

2006-05-09T13:17:00.000-07:00

Brooklin Rivera, leader of the indigenous Nicaraguan Miskito, has endorsed Daniel Ortega of the socialist Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) for the upcoming Presidential elections. Rivera says that since Ortega first fell from power in 1990, the current government has "kept us bogged down in abject poverty." The Miskito have long been subjected to colonial aggression, whether it was the Spanish empire or the U.S. backed Contra terrorists.

In a new plan signed between Rivera's Yatama tribe and the FSLN, Ortega promises to guarantee indigenous Nicaraguans "land, autonomy, and self development of the Atlantic Coast." Recently, indigenous populations have also been pivotal in the elections of other leftist Latin American leaders. Evo Morales is Bolivia's first indigenous leader, and in Peru, Ollanta Humala is slated to make a similar achievement in the May elections.

Subcomandante Marcos Speaks Out

2006-05-09T10:45:00.000-07:00

After days of fighting in San Salvador Atenco, leader of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN), Subcomandante Marcos, has declared a Red Alert. He is urging the closure of Zapatista community centers and a myriad of other security measures. The uprising began in Mexico after police brutally attacked a group of poor flower vendors who were setting up shop on soon to be Walmart property. Protestors responded by blocking off highways and stopping business in Atenco. Thus far, hundreds have been arrested, 5 women raped, and on 14 year old boy murdered by police. The EZLN has vowed to fight for the rights of workers and indigenous peoples inside Atenco and throughout Mexico. Here is Subcomandante Marcos' speech

Companeros and companeras,

A few moments ago we were watching and listening to the media and the manipulation of what was happening, the informational manipulation about what was occurring [in Atenco]. We listened to the commentators on Television Azteca imploring that law be restored, that the military enter to restore order and end what was taking place there. We also listened to the indignation of the viewers who sent letters to the station stating that the commentators pleading for greater public force were idiots.

Years ago here, in the Plaza of Three Cultures [Tlatelolco] there was a massacre and in response to this the government claimed that the army had been attacked. And much time passed until someone asked what the army had been doing at a student meeting in the first place. And now over those same means of communication, including radio, it does not occur to reporters to ask what the public forces were doing in San Salvador Atenco.

And what they were doing there was enforcing this alliance that was made between the PRD and the PRI in order to oust a few flower vendors because the municipal president of Texcoco thinks they deface the city; because he wants to put a shopping center there, a Wal-Mart in Texcoco and the small merchants bother him and because the PRD aligned there with the PRI at the state level and with the PAN at the national level, and now they will have to be accountable for this death.

As the 6th Commission of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation, signatory to the Other Campaign, we are asking, soliciting respectfully the regional and sub-regional coordinators throughout the entire country to execute actions and mobilizations in support of the Frente de Los Pueblos en Defensa de La Tierra [Salvador Atenco] beginning at 0800, eight in the morning tomorrow, the fourth of May, 2006.

As the Sixth Commission we are declaring a red alert. The troops of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation have already been declared under red alert and from that point onwards the Caracoles and Autonomous Zapatista Rebel Municipalities will be closed. Beginning at that moment, from that moment on, the new chain of command of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation will be in place. Whatever may happen to me, there is now someone else in place to make decisions. We donÂt know about everyone else, but today, we, the Zapatistas, are Atenco!

We are going to be attentive to their demands. We call for the holding of meetings by sector, by region, as you all see fit. As the Sixth Commission we are canceling all of our participation in programmed activities and we are waiting for the cue from the Frente de Los Pueblos en Defensa de La Tierra. If it needs our presence there, we will go there. If not, we will participate directly in the actions that you all program tomorrow beginning at 0800, eight in the morning.

Close the highways, close the streets, fly, paint, whatever occurs to you, in a civil and peaceful manner. Atenco cannot be left all to itself. We will not cease these actions and this situation until the companeros of the Frente de Los Pueblos en Defensa de La Tierra indicate so to us.

We are not going to pay attention to any piece of information that doesnÂt arrive directly from them. For us, they, those who comprise the Frente de Los Pueblos en Defensa de La Tierra are the Other campaign in those lands. We will respect their decisions. We will go wherever they tell us to go. They have been clear in their demands: immediate liberation of those detained and total withdrawal of the government forces that are invading their lands.

This is our message companeros and companeras. Not only for the Other Campaign in this Other Mexico, in this Other Mexico City that is rising up. It is our message to the Other Campaign in the entire country. From Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Campeche, until the two Baja Californias, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon. From the north to the south, from the east to the west so that the Other Campaign echoes in Atenco and let there be justice for those that have fallen! Thank you companeros, thank you companeras.Â

Ortega Warns of Social Outbreak

2006-05-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

Daniel Ortega, Presidential Candidate for the leftist Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), today said that the repression of medical unions in Nicaragua may cause a "social outbreak". Ortega's comments come after the Medical Federation last week began protesting abnormally low wages for doctors and nurses in Nicaragua, which run between $200 to $500 a month. When Physicians peacefully occupied the Finance Ministry last week to demand higher pay and better benefits last week, police were sent in to stop the protest. Twenty demonstrators were wounded and 88 others arrested. Elio Artola of the Medical Federation said that the union would go on general strike if doctors didn't receive a 30% pay increase.

Ortega, who was instrumental in toppling the Somoza dictatorship in 1979, said that the strike busting represented a great overstep of Presidential power, as the police were carrying out the work of the executive branch. "The Nicaraguan government is the only responsible for such regrettable, reprehensible events," said the FSLN leader. The Sandinistas will be using their legal and political influence to free the political prisoners being held by the Nicaraguan government. This ordeal is likely to boost support for Ortega in the upcoming elections.

In light of yesterday's news that Hugo Chavez will be pushing for a 25 year term as Venezuela's President, Ortega gives us great hope as a truly democratic leader in Latin America. After crushing the Somoza Dynasty in 1979, the Sandinistas held free and internationally certified elections in which Daniel Ortega was a decisive winner. In 1990, when Ortega was voted out of office he respectfully stepped down as Nicaragua's Head of State, and allowed for a peaceful transition of democratic power. Ortega had the military might needed to stay in power had he wanted to, but he respected the will his people. Chavez needs to rethink his 25 year term limit proposal and take a page from the Sandinista handbook.

EZLN Declares "Red Alert"

2006-05-07T17:09:00.000-07:00

The Mexican government has unleashed another wave of violence and repression against supporters of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN). This past week, Mexican police arrested several pro-Zapatista journalists working for NarcoNews.com during a immigrants rights protest on May Day. On May 3rd, after a group of poor flower vendors set up stands in a market in Texcoco, police beat and arrested seven of them. The citizens of San Salvador Atenco, a historically autonomous and leftist city, responded to the brutality by blocking off the highways surrounding the city. Vicente Fox sent in more than 3,000 soldiers and police to Atenco, who have now arrested at least 400 protesters. Besides arresting dissenters, police have also been involved in the rape of five women and the murder of a 14 year old boy in Atenco.

Zapatista leader Subcomandante Marcos has called for EZLN supporters to flock to Atenco to support workers' rights and political prisoners there. Marcos himself has focused his efforts on freeing Atenco and the political prisoners being held there. "You are not alone," Marcos said, "We will continue carrying out mobilizations across the country until all the political prisoners are freed."

Trouble in the Bolivarian Revolution

2006-05-07T13:50:00.000-07:00

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez made an troubling announcement today; he plans to propose a new law that would allow him a 25 year term as President. Chavez is best know for the economic progress he has sparked by nationalizing the oil industry and implementing robust social programs that provide the poor with food, education, and medicine. Unfortunately, the man who many on the Left had put so must hope in has trampled on the spirit of the Bolivarian Revolution he claims to support. In a speech to supporters in Caracas, Chavez said, "I am going to ask you, all the people, if you agree with Chavez being president until 2031."

Chavez's pronouncement is causing outrage throughout the libertarian left, who believe that any socialist economy requires a democratic political system. We can only hope that the Venezuelan people see through Chavez's political power grab and reject his nullification of term limits. The Bolivarian Revolution is not about Hugo Chavez, it's about the people of Venezuela and their economic and social rights. They don't need leaders like Chavez to stop American imperialism in Latin America, that can be done through organized resistance like that we see in Mexico.

While criticizing Chavez, we must be careful not to endorse U.S. intervention in the region, as that will inevitably make the situation even worse. If Venezuelans want Chavez to be President until 2031, they have that right, it's not for anyone in America or Europe to decide. Instead of supporting Chavez, American radicals must show solidarity with Latin American workers.

Fear of Democracy

2006-05-02T13:48:00.000-07:00

Until recently, most American politicos dismissed Latin American leftists as a minor political force with little consequence on the course of current events. Look at the front page of today's Financial Times and one can see that the corporate class is finally waking up to the realities of democracy in Latin America.

For decades, American and European companies dictated foreign policy towards Latin America. When United Fruit wanted more bananas, we toppled the democratically elected socialist government of Jacobo Arbenz in Guatamala. But honestly, what's democracy without phallic yellow fruit? In 1973, Richard Nixon's Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, overthrew Chile's socialist democracy and instituted a brutal fascist regime under Augusto Pinochet. Kissinger is noted as saying to Nixon, "I don't see why a country should be allowed to go Communist through the irresponsibility of its own people." The trend continued into the 1980's, when the CIA backed the Contras, a murderous group of druglords and thugs, in order to topple the democratically elected Sandinista government.

With the resurgence of democracy and revolutionary politics in Latin America after years of repression, many in America are realizing that democracy in the region means an end to United States neo-liberal imperialism. This backlash against American colonialism is no more apparent than in Bolivia's nationalization of its natural gas industry. As we recounted yesterday, Bolivians have been at the frontlines of the war against the privatization of public resources, and as a result they are using their newfound democratic powers to seize the profits away from the hands of capitalist exploiters.

Multinational corporations, which have exploited the vast natural resources of Latin America for decades, are naturally afraid. They are using all their media prowess and economic might to crush the democratic institutions that Latin America is finally obtaining. In the Financial Times and a myriad of other news sources, so-called journalists are accusing Evo Morales of being a dictator, despite the fact that not only was he elected with 54% of the vote, but that he retains an 80% approval rating amongst Bolivians. The plans of Evo Morales, Hugo Chavez, and others to nationalize major industries is indeed one of the most democratic steps any government has taken in years. In claiming that Morales' acquisition of hydrocarbons in Bolivia is authoritarian, the media is not only slandering Morales, but also the Bolivian people, of whom 95% voted to nationalize natural resources in a 2004 referendum.

It all comes full circle, and American corporations are getting the short end of the karmic stick. They should probably consider that before they draft plans to overthrow anymore more Latin American democracies.

Media Repression in Mexico

2006-05-02T13:30:00.000-07:00

On May 1st, as millions marched in the streets demanding fair treatment for workers and immigrants around the world, the Mexican government didn't fail to continue its repression of liberation movements. During what was dubbed "The Other May 1st", thousands poured on to the streets Oaxaca to support the Zapatista movement led by Subcomandante Marcos and the EZLN's campaign for indigenous rights. The Mexican Special Operations Police Unit arrested seven marchers, including the two pro-Zapatista journalists Dulce Estrella Santamaría Robles and James Daria. Both of them are affiliated with NarcoNews, one of the best independent sources of Latin American news. Of the five others arrested two were anarchists from the Somos Resistencia collective, and the other three were recording audio and video of the event. NarcoNews calls the arrests and intimidation of pro-Zapatista journalists "part of a process of criminalization of the Other Campaign on the part of government and police authorities."

We call upon all adherents to the Other Campaign and the Sixth Declaration for solidarity, upon all social fighters of conscience to support us in our demand for the immediate release of our seven arbitrarily detained comrades. We call upon you to keep watch for what might happen, as our foreign compañeros could be expelled from the country, and the rest forced to pay large fines.

-Narco News

Visit NarcoNews to find out how you can help these political prisoners!

Morales Nationalizes Natural Gas Industry

2006-05-01T13:41:00.000-07:00

Evo Morales, socialist President of Bolivia, today followed in the footsteps of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez by nationalizing the country's natural gas resources. Morales will use the revenue to benefit Bolivia's impoverished citizens.

Bolivia has a long and difficult history with the privatization of natural resources. During the 1990's, conservative leaders ignored the outcries of Bolivia's poor and privatized the hydrocarbon industry, which effectively gave multinational gas giants such as British Gas and Respol free reign over Bolivia's economic future and diverted billions out of the hands of the masses.

In 1999 the World Bank coerced Bolivia's leadership into giving American corporation Bechtel a 40 year lease to all the water - even rainwater - in Cochabamba, Bolivia's third largest city. Water privatization tripled the water bills of 500,000 Bolivians to nearly one third of their monthly income. Protests ensued, and President Hugo Banzer was forced to backdown on the deal and deprivatize the water industry. Under Morales, Bolivia's Attorney General has even gone so far as to file charges against the former Presidents involved in privatizing Bolivian resources.

"The time has come, the awaited day, a historic day in which Bolivia retakes absolute control of our natural resources." - Evo Morales, May 1st, 2006

In Venezuela, Hugo Chavez has harnessed the profits of the nationalized oil company, PDVSA, to provide everything from food to education to the poor. Morales has taken the first step to alleviating rampant poverty in Bolivia, and the trend is likely to continue in other Latin American nations as the proletariat react to western corporate imperialism.

International Workers' Day

2006-05-01T12:59:00.000-07:00

On May 1st, 1884 the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions gave the United States government an ultimatum: an eight hour work day for all American workers by May 1st, 1886. When corporate and government leaders failed to listen to the masses, labor leaders called for a general strike. The strike soon escalated into riots in Chicago and other major cities. After the Chicago police murdered two innocent strikers from the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company on their own picket line, a group of anarchists called for a pro-worker rally at Haymarket Square to be held on May 4th, 1886. August Spies, a leader of the Chicago anarchist movement, spoke to the crowd that gathered at Haymarket and encouraged them to stand up for their rights. Police soon broke up the peaceful rally, but the workers fought back in the name of free speech.

"The time will come when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you strangle today." - August Spies

The courts prosecuted 8 individuals in connection with the violence at Haymarket Square and the killing of 7 policemen, despite the fact that the government had no evidence against the eight freedom fighters. Seven of them were condemned to death. On November 11th, 1887 four of them were hung before a public audience. August Spies, Albert Parsons, Adolph Fischer, and George Engel all sang "La Marseillaise", a revolutionary anthem, as they walked to the gallows.

May Day '06

2006-04-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

Don't forget that tomorrow is May Day, the 120th celebration of the Haymarket Martyrs, a group of anarchists who died in the struggle for worker's rights. In their memory, organizers around the country are encouraging Hispanic Americans to stop buying, selling, and working tomorrow in protest of the racist immigration laws that Republicans have been trying to push through Congress. We'll have more analysis of the May Day marches and boycotts through out the week.

Italy to Pull Troops Out of Iraq

2006-04-30T16:57:00.000-07:00

Oliviero Diliberto, MP and Secretary of the Italian Communist Party, today promised that Italian troops would be pulling out of Iraq by this Summer. Italian troops were first sent to Iraq by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a right-wing Bush ally, in 2003 despite widespread opposition by the Italian people. Berlusconi was defeated in an election ealier this month by Romano Prodi who led a Center-Left coalition of Democrats, Socialists, and Communists.

Free Latin America

2006-04-30T08:42:00.000-07:00

In a speech before 25,000 Cubans in Havana's Revolution Square yesterday, Bolivian President Evo Morales urged Latin Americans to put Latin American liberation before national or sector interests. Morales praised fair trade agreements, specifically the People's Trade Treaty (PTT), because they put the interests of indigenous people over corporate profits. The PTT increases gas and oil exports to Bolivia from the petroleum rich Venezuela. Morales, Chavez and Castro also signed the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) in an effort to counteract the U.S.-sponsored Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). Chavez said, "ALBA is moving forward, and facing the aggression of the imperial projects of the free trade agreement, all we can do is attack."

The one worry many on the left have when it comes to Chavez and Morales is their alliance with Castro. Despite some of the economic gains made under the Castro regime, he is still a authoritarian leader who has little tolerance for freedom of speech.

Ceasefire Declared in Nepal

2006-04-27T13:52:00.000-07:00

The new Nepali government, led by a seven party coalition, today declared a three month ceasefire with Maoist rebels in the region. The Maoists have long been engaged in a violent revolution against the oppressive Nepali monarchy of King Gyanendra, which was toppled this week after nearly a month of mass protests in Kathmandu.

I received a few harsh e-mails from Maoists over the past few days for the anti-Maoist views I expressed in a post. While one fellow called me a "bourgeois democrat" and an puppet of the elites, I personally believe that replacing a capitalist dictatorship with a communist pseudo-democracy is no step forward, and is certainly playing into the hand of the elites. Hyper-centralized democracy, dubbed "New Democracy" by Mao, results in the preservation of oligarchy and the repression of dissent. The Cultural Revolution, despite the rhetoric of Bob Avakian and his cultish followers, shattered the lives of millions, a fact recognized by everyone except for a handful of dogmatic RCP members. Any romantic memories of that period that the left still holds should be flushed down the tubes right along with the capitalist system. Even the Maoist Revolutionary Communist Party has acknowledged that under Mao, workers almost never gained control over the means of production, a key tenant of democratic socialism and communism. Mao may have done a few good things like introduce gender equality into Chinese society, but he doesn't deserve to be on the front of anyone's t-shirt.

Of course, Mao's pitfalls don't necessarily translate into a death sentence for the Maoist movement in Nepal. Rather, the violent history of the Maoists largely discredits their movement. In the long civil war between the Maoists and the Nepali government, as many as 13,000 people are believed to have died. The Maoists have also been implicated in the murders of several pro-democracy supporters. The one thing the Maoists have going for them is a dedicated following which includes a large constituency of poor citizens. This great power means they have a responsibility to their supporters to not only comply to the terms of the ceasefire, but also to peacefully participate in democratic elections, not create a monolithic Maoist state. If the various leftist groups in Nepal - the Nepali Congress, the Communist Party (Unified Marxist-Leninist), and the Maoists - work together, perhaps peace in Nepal can become a reality.

3 Italians Die in Iraq

2006-04-27T13:42:00.000-07:00

Three more Italian soldiers have died in the seemingly endless and undoubtedly fruitless War in Iraq. Romano Prodi, Center-Left elect, says this reaffirms his support for a gradual pullout from Iraq. Italy's outgoing right-wing Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi sent 3,000 troops to Iraq in 2003, despite near intense opposition from Italy's population. Oliviero Diliberto, secretary of the Italian Communist Party, expressed the feelings of the Italian people in a statement to the press, "I express my personal grief and my party's grief for the Italian militaries who were killed in Iraq. I'm near to their families in these hours of mourning. As regards the Italian military presence in Iraq the Union's line is clear: we ask the withdrawal of our troops. This new serious and tragic attack confirms our choices are right"

Chavez Strikes Oil Deal With Nicaragua

2006-04-26T15:43:00.000-07:00

Hugo Chavez, the socialist President of Venezuela, has taken yet another crucial step in counteracting American free trade deals in Latin America. In a deal with a group of Nicaraguan mayors and local politicians, Chavez has promised to use Venezuela's massive oil reserves to help provide Nicaragua with affordable oil. Chavez made a similar deal with leftist politicians in El Salvador earlier this year.

Besides providing petroleum to Nicaragua, Chavez has also voiced his support of leftist candidate Daniel Ortega in the upcoming elections. Ortega was one of the leaders of the Sandanista National Liberation Front, who overthrew the Samoza dictatorship in 1979. Ortega was soon elected President of the new government with 63% of the vote. However, Ortega's socialist policies brought the wrath of the Reagan Administration who quickly began a secret war against the democratic government of Nicaragua. Reagan and his buddy Ollie North began funneling money to insurgent forces inside Nicaragua by selling arms to the Iranian dictatorship. The insurgency in Nicaragua, referred to as the Contras, was a ragtag group of drug lords, war lords, and terrorists. The Contras ultimately murdered tens of thousands of Nicaraguans, and the American support of the group resulted in a near unanimous condemnation by the United Nations General Assembly. Despite opposition from the United States, Ortega has a good chance at winning the upcoming elections, especially in light of the left turn that Latin American politics have taken in recent months.

Peruvians Push Humala and Garcia to a Second Round

2006-04-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

The Peruvian people have spoken and the election held on April 9th has been finalized by the government. Ollanta Humala, the indigenous left-wing candidate, will be facing off against the centrist Alan Garcia. Humala easily won the first round of elections with 30.7% of the vote to Garcia's 24.3%. The base of Humala's campaign has been the poor population in Peru which have been left out of Latin America's economic growth over the past few years.

Garcia, the former Prime Minister of Peru, oversaw the crash of Peruvian currency in the 1980's, wherein inflation was upwards of 7,000%. Garcia has also been criticized by many of Peru's leftist and poor communities for supporting a bilateral free trade agreement with the United States. Humala opposed this deal, saying it failed to address problems of poverty. In contrast to Garcia's neo-liberal economics, Humala wants to nationalize the mining industry to benefit the public.

Evo Morales Tries to Save the Andean Bloc

2006-04-24T15:24:00.000-07:00

Evo Morales, the recently elected socialist President of Bolivia, has joined Venezuela's Hugo Chavez in condemning the free trade agreements that Peru and Colombia struck with the United States last week. Morales says that by giving in to pressure from U.S. corporations, the Andean Community of Nations (CAN). Hugo Chavez said that Venezuela would be pulling out of CAN because of free trade agreements, and proposed that Venezuela and other Latin America nations seeking fair trade deals join MERCOSUR, a bloc created to balance U.S. and E.U. economic power.

Free trade policies are widely opposed in Latin America, especially since the implementation of NAFTA, which had disastrous effects on Mexico's poor. BY removing tariffs and subsidizing crops, America flooded the Mexican economy with cheap food which inflated the market and put millions of Mexican farmers out of business. Free trade also results in the exportation of American jobs, and replaces the U.S. labor force with slave labor from third world nations. Unions that have attempted to reform workers rights in Colombia, which were non-existent thanks to free trade deals, found themselves the target of an assassination campaign sponsored by Coca-Cola.

A Word of Caution

2006-04-23T17:47:00.000-07:00

The small country of Nepal has been grabbing headlines this week as the people struggle for a democratic society and the overthrow of King Gyanendra. The left-wing of Nepalese politics has seen a boon from this conflict, and the prospects for a democratic socialist society are promising. The Nepali Congress Party (a member of the Socialist International) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist) have been leaders in the Nepalese Revolution, but a third "left-wing" group threatens stability and democracy in the region - the Maoist rebels.

For decades some leftists have held onto the notion that Maoism is a legitimate and viable system, we need to disavow ourselves of that illusion. Mao Tse-Tsung's crimes and misguided policies are tantamount to those of Hitler and Stalin. While I have no doubt that most modern Maoists are good people, they are horribly misguided. Mao's theory of "New Democracy", which the Nepali Maoists plan to implement, is little more than dictatorship under another name. The Maoist rebels in Nepal have managed to gain support amongst portion of the peasant population by promising them democracy and an end to poverty, but this is simple deception.

If the Nepali people can't settle for the pseudo-socialist dictatorship like China did in 1949. Today, as King Gyanendra promises to restore the Parliament and give up executive power, Nepal has the chance to do away with poverty, but Maoism isn't the answer. Instead, the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist) must provide a democratic solution to the problem.

Latin American Economies Growing

2006-04-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

After decades of American economic colonialism and corporate exploitation, Latin America markets have finally found a model that works for them. Despite the cries of Milton Friedman and his Chicago Boys, hyper-capitalism isn't the solution; Latin American leaders have implemented policies that harness the power of national resources to benefit all, resulting in not only unprecedented growth rates, but also a more equitable economy. A report just released by the International Monetary Fund show that Latin American economies grew 4.3% in 2005.

The two nations who have most embraced the socialist economic model, Argentina and Venezuela, both saw growth rates higher than 9%. Argentina also saw a 7.5% increase in industrial output in March of 2006. Mexico and Brazil, the two nations who bent over backwards to please Washington, saw the lowest growth rates, both under 3%.

The indigenous peoples of Latin America are still missing out of much of the growth in the region, which is a catalyst for radical market restructuring and the elections of leaders like Evo Morales and Ollanta Humala. "When you still have 52 percent of Peruvians living in poverty, it's hard to convince people these policies work," said Luis Benavente of the University of Lima in Peru.

While economic indicators are heading in a positive direction for much of Latin America, Lori Wallach of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch reminds us that high numbers don't always mean better lives for the masses, "If your growth rate is achieved by the privatization of a huge national asset, it looks good on paper, but if people lose out who depend on that employment, the quality of life declines."

Salman Rushdie

2006-04-22T15:26:00.000-07:00

This morning I had the privilege of dragging my ass out of bed at 8:30 to go see the great Salman Rushdie speak. Rushdie is infamous for his book The Satanic Verses, which challenged faith, especially Islam. The work was so controversial that the government of Iran put a $2.8 million bounty on his head. He's a great speaker, and if you ever get a chance to see him, take advantage of the opportunity. I even got my copy of the Satanic Verses signed.

Rushdie also championed Latin American independence in The Jaguar Smile, which chronicled the story of the Marxist Sandanista rebels in Nicaragua.

An Alternative to Chavez

2006-04-21T16:10:00.000-07:00

Hugo Chavez has been a beacon of hope to many of us on the left. He has proven that revolution is still possible and that the poor masses haven't been marginalized into complacency. He's implemented sweeping social programs that have helped bring many Venezuelans out of poverty. He does, however, have his flaws. Many in Venezuela, even on the left, consider him to be a bit of an authotarian when it comes issues of personal liberty, such as the freedom of the press. Teodoro Petkoff, the newest horse in the race for the Venezuelan Presidency, looks like he may give us the best of both worlds: a libertarian society with socialist economics.

In his youth, Petkoff was a member of the communist guerilla insurgency focused on toppling dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez and later Romulo Betancourt. In 1971 he left the communist insurgency and formed the Socialist Party of Venezuela. Since then, he has unsuccessfully run for President three times. Recently, he has opened the Tal Cual newspaper, which has consistently provided a socialist critique of Chavez's policies. Petkoff wants to expand the oil industry in Venezuela to create much needed jobs. He does however fall behind Chavez in the polls - 72% to 28%.

I'll do some more research on Mr. Petkoff later, as he appears to be a viable alternative to Chavez.

Chavez Kicks the CAN

2006-04-21T11:59:00.000-07:00

Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's anti-imperialist firebrand, just announced that Venezuela will be dropping out of the Andean Community of Nations (CAN) in response to new free trade deals made between the United States and other CAN countries.

CAN has always had a controversial history in regards to the free trade movement. In 1989, CAN created a free trade zone amongst its members which had horrific economic repercussions. Between 1980 and 2000, growth in the region slowed to one eighth of its pervious rate. With the recent trade deal raitified and signed by out-going Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, Chavez has grown more frustrated with CAN's colonialist direction.

As he has distanced himself from can, Chavez has been pushing for Venezuelan entry into the Mercado Común del Sur (Mercosur). MERCOSUR's goal is to provide a counter-weight to America's historic economic hegemony in the region, and is primarily composed of nations that have rejected the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA).

Royal Presidency Gains Momentum

2006-04-20T15:44:00.000-07:00

Ségolène Royal, the presumed Socialist Party candidate for France's 2007 elections, saw another surge in the polls this week. She is now leading right-wing United Popular Movement Party Nicolas Sarkozy by 4%. Perhaps her biggest obstacles could be the crypto-candidates from her own Socialist Party. François Hollande, the Secretary of the Socialist Party, is trying to block her nomination to promote his own candidacy. It's unlikely that Hollande would be able to gain any traction, as most of the current Socialist Party leaders are seen as "stodgy old men".

Ms. Royal recently took her campaign online, in the vain of Howard Dean, and created Desirs Davenir (Desires for the Future), an online forum in which French citizens can voice their concerns about public policy. I, personally, will be using Desirs Davenir as a medium to propose to Ms. Royal.

Real Free Trade

2006-04-20T14:56:00.000-07:00

A group of anarchists in Newtown, New Zealand will be protesting American style free trade on May Day this year by holding a "Free Trade Festival" in which everything will be free. The group's spokesman, Mark Rawnsley, said that the purpose of the event was to bring attention to the exploitation that occurs under capitalist free trade, and contrast it to the anarchist/socialist idea of a gift economy.

"Free trade means that giant multinational corporations are able to freely move jobs to places where wages are the lowest and where environmental protections and labour laws are non-existent. It is a contradiction to call it 'free trade' because it is only money and goods that can move freely across the globe, while people seeking to better their economic situation cannot escape national boundaries. Free trade works for corporations not people."

-Mark Rawnsley

Legalize It

2006-04-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

Today is April 20th - or 4/20 - the National Day of Marijuana Celebration. And in honor of this hallowed day, I'd like to give a shout out to the good folks at the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws (NORML), who are on the frontlines of the battle for personal liberty. If you've got some extra dollars in your pocket that you haven't already spent on the ganja, send it over to NORML to help advocate for medical marijuana users and recreational users alike.

Don't forget, listen to some Peter Tosh.

Humala Backs Coca Growers

2006-04-18T14:34:00.000-07:00

The motto of any humanitarian campaign aimed at curbing drug abuse in Latin America should be the same as Ollanta Humala's: "Zero Cocaine -- Not Zero Coca". In a statement today, Peruvian Presidential frontrunner Humala came out in support of native coca growers who rely on the coca harvest for their basic income. Humala's proclamation comes in response to years of American coca-crop destruction in South America as part of the war on drugs. This past week the United States eradicated 1,600 acres of coca crops from the San Martin district.

Coca is the plant that the deadly and addictive drug cocaine is derived from. Cocaine, on the other hand, is not the only product of coca. In fact, the most common uses of the coca plant are for food and medicine. In much of South America, where virtually nobody can afford expensive painkillers, many indigenous peoples uses a coca paste to treat burns and wounds. Many pain drugs used in American hospitals would not be possible without it. Coca is also a vital source of nutrition to many Peruvians, as it contains vitamins and minerals along with a chemical that alleviates hunger pains. Coca is also used in many herbal teas and other drinks in Latin America. This tea can even be used to help cocaine users end their addictions. These uses do not get the user high or have mind altering effects.

Without the coca plant, Peruvians would see not only a source of medicine and food eradicated, but also a major part of their economy. Humala has joined the ranks of Bolivia's Evo Morales in defending legitimate growers of coca from what is essentially American eco-terrorism. The Drug Czars in America justify the destruction of coca fields in Peru, Bolivia, and Columbia by claiming that they solely produce cocaine and are destroying American society. If we are to have any sense of respect for international law and basic moral standards, this policy is flawed. Americans have no more of a right to eradicate Peruvian coca fields than Peruvians have to come and light American tobacco farms ablaze (tobacco kills far more each year than cocaine).

Coca cultivation is the responsibility of a sovereign nation, the United States has no right to meddle with Peru or Bolivia's domestic crop production. Instead, we should promote a policy of helping coca growers find other crops to produce and/or help them ensure that their product isn't used for illicit drugs. Our drug war at the moment is only exacerbating the problem, and a dramatic policy shift is needed. Eradicating one Peru's only sources of income and supplies is not the solution.

Oh, and I almost forgot, didn't our own President used to be a fan of the yeyo himself? He made Crawford, Texas, look like the final scene of Scarface.

Chilean Amnesty Law Under Fire

2006-04-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

On Monday, leaders of Chile's major political parties, including the Socialist Party, the Christian Democrats, and the Party for Democracy, introduced a proposal to nullify the amnesty given to war criminals under the Pinochet regime.

To give a brief background, Augusto Pinochet took power in Chile on September 11th, 1973. Pinochet's rise to power was sponsored by the United States, who wanted to overthrow democratically elected Socialist president Salvador Allende. The Nixon Administration, Henry Kissinger in particular, provided Pinochet with the means to murder Allende and tear down democratic institutions in Chile. After he seized power, Pinochet began a Naziesque program of torture, asassination, and torture. He primarily targeted pro-democratic leftists in Chile, including the family of current President Michelle Bachelet. Overall, Pinochet killed thousands of innocent civilians, displaced thousands more, and destroyed any hope of a democratic society. All of this happened with full funding and complacency of the United States.

In 1978, after Pinochet had solidified power and crushed most dissent, he enacted a law that gave legal amnesty to anyone who committed war crimes from 1975 to 1978. Chile's modern political parties have called for repealing the law after three of Pinochet's military officers were given amnesty in the "Caravan of Death" trial. The "Caravan of Death" occurred in the weeks following Pinochet's coup, and over 70 of Allende's supporters were murdered in just a few days.

The vast majority of Chilean citizens came out in opposition to the amnesty law over the weekend, led by Socialist Party official Arturo Barrios.

EZLN Resists Hyrdoelectric Project

2006-04-17T14:33:00.000-07:00

Subcommandante Marcos, leader of the Zapatista Nation Liberation Army (EZLN), today said that if Vincente Fox and the Mexican government pushed began work on La Parota, a hydroelectric plant, that the EZLN would be forced to respond militarily. Marcos points out that La Parota would destroy 42,000 acres of land and displace 25,000 people. The Latin American Water Court says that the only people served by La Parota are the corporations, and that both the government and the environment would be damaged in the construction of the project.

Marcos and the soldiers of the EZLN have a long history of militantly resisting neo-liberal policies imposed on Mexico's poor by the elite. In 1994 the Zapatistas rebelled against the North American Free Trade Agreement and expelled oppressive Mexican soldiers from indigenous land in the southern provence of the Chiapas. Since then they have successfully set up a anarcho-socialist system of self-governance by creating economic collectives and promoting direct democracy.

Stop the Walocaust!

2006-04-15T12:39:00.000-07:00

Wal-Mart's mega-corporate wrath came down like the Luftwaffe on Charles Smith earlier this week. Smith is the creator of the websites Walocaust and Wal-Qaeda, which seek to enlighten Americans about the evil of Wal-Mart through some very funny artwork. Their motto is "The World is Our Labor Camp".

The corporate blitzkrieg began in February when Wal-Mart lawyers sent Smith a letter threatening legal action, which culminated into a cease and desist order this week citing copyright infringement. Ralph Nader's Public Citizen and the American Civil Liberties Union have taken up the case and filed a series of counter suits defending Smith's right to free expression. If you're so inclined, head over to Walocaust and lend him your support by buying a t-shirt or dropping him a letter. And remind Wal-Mart that a few lawsuits can't stop a revolution!

Center-Left Victory in Italy

2006-04-14T14:43:00.000-07:00

Romano Prodi, Presidential candidate of the Center-Left Coalition, saw the margin widen between himself and right-wing incumbent Silvio Berlusconi as the votes continued to be counted today. Prodi's leads the Center-Left Coalition and represents the LEft Democrats, the Socialist Party, and a myriad of Italian Communist parties.

During Berlusconi's reign as the tyrannical proto-fascist President, Italian workers experienced a tsunami of oppression not seen since the blackshirt's March On Rome in 1922. In the past five years, corporate profits in Italy shot up nearly 50%. At the same time, the average wages in Italy fell 10% and unemployment rose 10%. Berlusconi also used his presidential power to manipulate media regulation laws, allowing his media empire Finivest to expand. As a result, in 2005 he jump 23 places on Forbes' list of the worlds richest people to number 25.

Besides pillaging the public trust, Berlusconi and his Northern League Party have stoked the flames of xenophobia in Italy during his tenure in office. He has pushed severe anti-immigration legislation not unlike America's own HR4437 and recently told the press that Italians don't want a "multicultural or multiracial society".

While this may be a victory for the Center-Left Coalition, there is a risk that the alliance of socialist, communists, and moderates could water down the beliefs of the more radical parties. As we've seen in the U.S. over the past few decades, revolutionaries who conglomerate into a broader liberal effort tend to become centrists and forget their roots. Italy has a strong socialist history, and Berlusconi's defeat is no doubt a victory for the working class, but they can't forget their radical roots.

"The Revolution Must Be Intensified!"

2006-04-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

Orlando Chirino, the national organizer of the up and coming Venezuelan union UNT and leader of the Committee to Promote the Construction of the Revolution and Socialism Party, gave a great interview to The People's Voice about the progress of the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela. Read the interview here.

In the first place, today Venezuela is provided with a government that's independent and autonomous in relation to imperialism. In the second place, its constitution, which was approved by the Venezuelan people, is an important advance for a process of transition toward socialism, thanks to a new autonomy of powers, numerous victories in terms of human rights, the new freedom for trade unions, the increased number of social missions with the creation of free community clinics, with the literacy campaign among the poor. In short, there are various victories that are very important.

-Orlando Chirino

More Good Signs for Royal Presidency

2006-04-14T08:35:00.000-07:00

Ségolène Royal saw more poll results released today that boost her hopes of winning the 2007 French Presidential race. Royal will run under the flag of the Parti Socialiste (Socialist Party of France). A full 71% of French voters believe that the conflict over the CPE labor laws will help Royal in the upcoming election. Only 55% believe the same thing about her UMP opponent, Nicolas Sarkozy. Royal still holds a 2% lead over Sarkozy in preliminary election surveys. Dominique de Villepin, the current French Prime Minister who masterminded the CPE, has expressed some desire to run for the Presidency next year, but even Ralph Nader is currently polling higher than de Villepin.

Chile to Increase Pensions to Poor

2006-04-13T09:57:00.000-07:00

Chile's Senate approved President Michelle Bachelet's call for higher pensions to poor Chileans yesterday. As ThinkSocialist reported yesterday, Bachelets approval rating is hovering around 72% - higher than even Hugo Chavez. The bill will fund the new pensions by preserving the 19% sales tax which creates revenues of $622 million each year.

Under the U.S.-backed Pinochet tyranny, the public trust was looted and social programs were shut down. One of Pinochet's most radical steps ws to abolish public social security and privatize the system, as was suggested by the Milton Friedman's Chicago Boys. According to the World Bank, Chile's privatization resulted in "more than half of all workers [are excluded] from even a semblance of a safety net during their old age." Viva Bachelet!

Chile's Bachelet Pleased With Approval Ratings

2006-04-12T17:44:00.000-07:00

Michelle Bachelet, Chile's first women President, joins the ranks of popular socialist leaders in Latin America alongside Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales. Polls released today show Bachelet with an impressive approval rating of 72%. Bachelet has been on the forefront of resurrecting Chile from its horrific situation under Dictator Augusto Pinochet. She has introduced new social security, health care, and other public good programs.

Of all of Latin America's important anti-imperialist leaders, Ms. Bachelet is undoubtedly the most heroic. During the early days of his administration, Salvador Allende, Chile's first socialist President, appointed her father as the Director of Food Distribution. After the U.S.-backed coup against the democratically elected Allende administration, military dictator Augusto Pinochet imprisoned her entire family. For months, Pinochet's secret police tortured the Bachelets and killed their father. Eventually, the surviving family members escaped and were exiled to Australia. Pinochet continue to rip down the social programs that Allende had established and set up Milton Friedman's neo-fascist dystopia. After returning to Chile in 1979 she set up a foundation to help the victims of Pinochet's reign of terror. Twenty-seven years later she was elected the first female President of Chile.

A hero by any measure. Did I mention that she is single? I found my dream lady.

Peruvian-American Free Trade Deal Signed

2006-04-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

Alejandro Toledo, the outgoing President of Peru, today signed a deal with the United States to establish a bilateral free trade deal between the two nations. The terms of the deal mean that large quantities of food and industrial products will be duty-free. Ollanta Humala, the frontrunner in the current election, says that Toledo overstepped his authority and that Toledo should have postponed signing the deal until the new government was ushered in in July.

Critics of the deal worry that the Peruvian-American treaty could have the same disastrous results as NAFTA had on Mexican workers. Due to the lack of tarriffs on food stuffs going into Peru, there is a risk that the market there could become so inflated with U.S. agricultural commodities that the prices of crops in Peru will be forced down. A deflation in crop prices will put the millions of Peruvians who rely on farming in jeopardy of loosing their single source of income. The treaty may also raise the price of medicines in Peru. Jeff Vogt of the Washington Office on Latin America says that the free trade deal "leaves workers to confront routine violations of their labor rights without recourse, and no incentive to the government to improve existing labor laws"

Chavez Mantains High Poll Numbers

2006-04-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

Hugo Chavez, the populist Socialist President of Venezuela, continued to show high approval rating in polls this week. The survey, done by IVAD, says that 60.2% of Venezuelans rate Chavez as "excellent" or "good". This is despite a misinformation campaign headed by the corporate shills in Washington with the intention of toppling the democratically elected leader. Chavez's high numbers put him in a positive position for the December 3rd elections quickly approaching.

Playing Taps for the CPE

2006-04-12T14:29:00.000-07:00

The French parliament officially voted down the CPE labor laws that sent France into political and economic turmoil earlier this month. THe bill was dead on a political level on Monday when President Jacques Chirac dropped his endorsement of the bill. Surveys show that discontent over the bill will translate into a victory for the Socialist Party in the May 2007 elections. Ségolène Royal, the projected Socialist Party candidate, announced her official entrance into the Presidential race today.

Approval rating of the ruling party, the Unity for Popular Movement (UMP), has seen a sharp drop in the past few weeks. Chirac's approval ratings are now lower than President Bushes - the most recent Ipsos poll showing Chirac at 29%. The same poll shows Royal beating UMP candidate Nicolas Sarkozy 51% to 49%.

Humala vs. Garcia

2006-04-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

Ollanta Humala, our personal favorite to win the Peruvian elections, has guaranteed himself a seat in the second round of elections. The man who he will most likely face off against if Alan Garcia, the former Prime Minister of Peru. Garcia, who lead the country in the late 80's, oversaw one of the greatest economic implosions in recent history. At one point Peruvian currency was experiencing a 7,000% inflation rate. His term was also plagued by violence from the Shining Path, a militant Maoist group that uses terroristic tactics to complete its objectives.

Reuters says that the votes won't be fully counted for about three weeks, and the run off voting won't occur until 30 days after all the votes are accounted for. The race between Humala and Garcia will be a tight one. Howver, I think Peruvians will realize that Humala's plan of helping the poor and redistributing wealth will beat out 7,000% inflation. Just a thought. Although, judging from the 2004 elections in America, voters can be a bit shortsighted at times.

The People: 1, The Man: 0

2006-04-10T14:52:00.000-07:00

Jacques Chirac finally came to his senses today and abandoned the CPE job law that took away job security for young workers. This represents a damning loss for Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, for whom the law was considered his greatest achievement. Chirac joins the long line of politicians including Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy who have condemned the law as destructive.

This reversal by Chirac represents a major win not only for French workers, but also for the 2007 Presidential frontrunner Ségolène Royal. As the lead Socialist Party candidate, Royal has effectively built her campaign on the resentment surrounding the laws. Taking a page from Democratic internet pioneer Howard Dean, Royal has launched a new web-based manifesto that seeks to democratize the election process even further. Ms. Royal will use her website as a forum to discuss issues important to the French and accept feedback to improve her political platform.

Humala Ahead in Peruvian Election

2006-04-10T12:14:00.000-07:00

Ollanata Humala, the leftist candidate for the 2006 Peruvian elections, is leading at the ballot box by 1.5% over conservative Lourdes Flores with former President Alan García in third. Humala is likely to face off against Ms. Flores in the second round of voting. If there is any perception of anti-Humala election fraud it will likely incite protests and even riots, says the Financial Times.

Humala has promised to initiate sweeping social reforms ranging from nationalizing the mining industries to increased funding to education. Both of his opponents are widely critiqued for their subservience to corporate interests. During Garcia's last term in office he oversaw the implosion of the Peruvian economy with inflation rates topping out around 7,000%.

Newton's Third Law of Political Science

2006-04-09T10:43:00.000-07:00

The great Isaac Newton once said that, "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." Recent developments around the globe are proving that Newton's third law not only applies to physics, but also to our politics and economics. In the past week, millions of poor and disenfranchised have taken to the streets against oppressive laws. The backlash against the global capitalist cabal are undeniable, and the results are promising.

Today, Peruvians are heading to the polls to decide between socialist Ollanta Humala and free-market conservative Lourdes Flores, and polls taken yesterday show Humala with a 4 point lead. Humala has vowed to redistribute wealth in the country to the masses, which is vital considering that Peru is the poorest country in South America. Mrs. Flores, on the other hand, wants to continue the trend of foreigners exploiting the resources and keeping the profits. Peruvians, obviously, want the former.

Italy will be making the same tough decisions today and tomorrow, as Silvio Berlusconi, or Mussolini 2.0 as we call him, will be facing off against the Centre-Left Coalition. Berlusconi is notorious for his racism, particularly towards arabs and Muslims, once telling the press, "We do not want a multi-racial, multicultural Italy.” This has prompted the Muslim community to throw their support behind the Communist Party of Italy. The Center-Left Coalition, led by Romano Prodi, is showing a slight edge in the polls. The Center-Left Coalition contains both the Left Democrats and more radical groups like the Socialist and Communist parties. On a lighter note, Berlusconi did call Romano Prodi a "dickhead" during the Presidential debates. He also accused the Communist Party of eating babies. Seriously, the guys crazier than Vito Corleone.

While the French elections may not be taking place until a year from now, the results are already looking promising. As ThinkSocialist reported two days ago, Ségolène Royal of the French Socialist Party, is crushing her opponents in the polls. Nicolas Sarkozy, Royal's primary opponent and President of the UMP Party, has fallen in the polls thanks to his support of the Contrat Premiere Embauche (CPE), or the "first job contract", which lets employers fire anybody under 26 without reason or notice. Dominique de Villepin and Sarkozy claim this will increase employment amongst the young, but this is a hollow promise that serves only to give executives and managers more power. Royal has been able to harness discontent amongst French workers, 94% of whom oppose the CPE, to become the leader for the May 2007 Presidential elections. Low support for free-market capitalism, which according to last week's Economist is about 30%, contributes to the leftward tilt in French politics. Royal will join socialist Chilean President Michelle Bachelet as the first female presidents of their respective countries.

Humala, Royal, and Prodi will be joining the ever growing international anti-imperialist alliance that is forming to oppose U.S.-U.K. colonialist economic exploitation. The revolution may have CEOs' shaking in their Italian leather boots, but what can they expect? It's just a an equal and opposite reaction.

French Revolution Redux

2006-04-07T10:58:00.000-07:00

The French government is out of touch its people. Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin's First Contract Laws (CPE) set young workers back decades and resulted in massive rioting. Jacques Chirac failed to veto the bill despite the fact that 94% of French citizens oppose the law. In times of great social, economic, and political turmoil, the French like to pull out their favorite revolutionary weapons - the guillotine. This time the heads of de Villepin, Chirac, and the corporate government in France are on the chopping block.

The only politician in France that will come out of this conflict unscathed appears to be Ségolène Royal, a leading member of the Socialist Party of France. Royal has an outstanding record on social issues including education, gay rights, the environment, and workers' rights. She is also a member of Parliament, a regional president, and one time minister.

Royal has also come out as a leader on the left against the CPE, which has garnished her much credibility in labor and activist circles. She called the laws "a form of violence" against workers. Last month, Royal even campaigned for Michelle Bachelet, Chile's first woman President and a dedicated socialist.

Last September Royal declared herself as a possible candidate for the May 2007 Presidential elections. Even Bernadette Chirac, Jacques Chirac's wife, has said of her, "She can be a serious candidate and can even win." Polls taken recently show her inching ahead of Nicolas Sarkozy, the current Interior Minister and UMP Presidential candidate, thanks to her vehement opposition to the CPE.

Interview with Mikhail Gorbachev

2006-04-06T18:30:00.000-07:00

Mikhail Gorbachev, the final Premier of the Soviet Union, gave a fascinating interview in USA Today yesterday. Gorbachev took many steps to institute democratic reforms in the economy and the government of the U.S.S.R., but this resulted in a coup against him by hardline Stalinist members of the Communist Party. Gorbachev's interview outlines why both authoritarian communism and authoritarian capitalism are unacceptable systems. Read it here.

Chavez's Aprroval Rating at 82.7%

2006-04-06T15:31:00.000-07:00

This morning I headed out into the beautiful, sunny Michigan morning and picked up my copy of Failed States by Noam Chomsky. From the interviews I've seen and the reviews I've read, the book is a devastating attack on the expansion of government power and the deterrence of democracy in the United States.

That got me thinking about the media attacks on socialist leaders in Latin America in which Hugo Chavez and his kin are labeled as "dictators" , "Stalinists", etc. These attacks are quite ironic, considering that these leaders actually follow the will of the people and respect the social/political contract. American and European leaders - Bush, Blair, Berlusconi, etc. - consistently belittle the demands of the populous. The results of these two dichotomy's are astonishing. A pool released today by the Venezuelan Institute for Data Analysis shows that Chavez's approval rating is 82.7%. Our own Presidents is clocking in around 36%. After doing some intense math, I've discovered that not only does Chavez maintain a 46.7% lead over Bush, but also that out media has an inherently flawed view of democracy.

Memo to Rupert Murdoch: Democracy is about what the people want, not about men in Ivory towers ruling over the little people down below.

Berlusconi Looses It

2006-04-06T10:29:00.000-07:00

Apparently, right-wing billionaires get a bit touchy when their power is challenged. If you thought politics got nasty in America, take a trip to Italy. Silvio Berlusconi makes the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth look like Mother Teresa.

In the debate yesterday between Berlusconi and his center-left opponent Romano Prodi, Berlusconi was obviously loosing. As the debate came to a close, Berlusconi made a desperate (and untrue) promise to abolish housing taxes on first homes. The icing on the cake really came when Berlusconi called Prodi a "coglioni". For those of you who don't speak Italian that means dickhead. No kidding.

But Berlusconi's kindergarten name calling didn't stop there. He then went on to attack the entire Center-Left Coalition because the coalition includes communist and socialist parties. Here's a clipping from the Reuters article:

For Berlusconi, the red flag should be a warning. The media tycoon says it is an historic fact that communists have eaten babies. "In Mao's China," he told an election rally, "they boiled them to fertilize the fields".

I think it's important to assure everyone that neither communists nor socialists have a desire to eat anyones' children. Mao Tse-Tsung was a "coglioni", as Berlusconi would say, and todays' leftists realize the man was a monster not worthy of respect. Berlusconi's cannibal accusations are indicative of any desperate, sinking fascist regime trying to hold onto power despite the peoples will.

The Anti-Humala Media Blitz

2006-04-05T14:04:00.000-07:00

Pick up just about any newspaper in the United States over the past few days and you'll notice an all out blitzkrieg against Peruvian presidential hopeful Ollanta Humala. An editorial by AP writer Monte Hayes slanders Humala by claiming that his family history makes him a Nazi, a homophobe, and a dictator. Quite the contrary, Humala is none of these.

This Associated Press editorial begins the assault by claiming that Humala's father, Isaac Humala, was "is a Marxist who praises Hitler". Any educated - even any uneducated - person knows that this is a contradiction in terms. Marxism and Nazism are like fire and water. Read a damn history book, Monte Hayes. The editorial continues by accusing his brother and mother of being racists.

This media reaction is no different from the attacks on Hugo Chavez, Salvador Allende, and the countless other democratically elected leftist leaders that have graced Latin America in the past half century. Chavez is almost always referred to as a dictator despite the fact his approval rating hovers around 70% - nearly 40% than our own President. In 1973, the media ignored the Nixon Administration's involvement with the coup against Allende and the installation of Augusto Pinochet. In summation, our media hates real democracy.

Let's go back to Humala for a moment. Family history does not define an individual, and the "independent" media shouldn't use a candidates bloodline to attack their policies. In the 2000 and 2004 elections, how many times was it mentioned that George Bush's Grandfather loaned money to Adolf Hitler? Do they mention that Bush Sr. is a religious bigot and a war criminal? While CNN reports on Evo Morales' coca-crops, do they mention that Bush is a former cocaine user?

Ah, the joys of corporate media.

Anarchist Conference Announced

2006-04-05T13:51:00.000-07:00

The Institute for Anarchist Studies and Institute for Social Ecology has announced that it will be sponsoring the Renewing the Anarchist Tradition Conference from September 29th to October 1st at Goddard College in Vermont. If you're interested in learning about libertarian socialism and anarchism and you have a free weekend in the fall, this is the place to be.

"The Renewing the Anarchist Tradition (RAT) conference, sponsored by the Institute for Anarchist Studies, will again take place at Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont over the September 29-October 1, 2006 weekend. The conference aims to provide a scholarly space in which to both reexamine and reinvigorate the social and political tradition of anarchism. RAT is meant as one contribution to the project of developing a more rigorous as well as contemporary theoretical framework for anarchism, and to assist in nurturing new generations of anti-authoritarian public intellectuals. As in the past, we hope that RAT continues to raise difficult questions in a support, participatory environment among anarchist peers."

More info at http://homemadejam.org/renew/.

Mussolini Version 2.0

2006-04-05T12:53:00.000-07:00

On October 28th, 1922 thousands of young men in black shirts poured onto the streets of Italy led by Benito Mussolini. This was the beginning of the era of fascism. At its heart, fascism is modeled on a form of hyper-capitalism wherein the interests of the state and the corporations are assimilated into one force. Fascism is also characterized by intense hatred towards outsiders, expansionism, and extreme authoritarianism. Fast forward nearly a century, and the picture has not changed.

Silvio Berlusconi is the richest man in Italy and the 25th richest on the planet. In 2001, he increased his hold on power beyond the financial arena by becoming the Prime Minister of Italy. Berlusconi has used his media group, Fininvest to run both his campaign and his administration in a way that would make Il Duce himself proud. Indeed, Fininvest commands 45% of the audience share in Italy, essentially giving the Berlusconi administration its own news network. Like Fox News on steroids.

In the lead up to the War in Iraq, Berlusconi showed his fascist colors again by directly disobeying the will of the Italian people. In spring of 2003, Italian support for a unilateral war against Iraq never rose above 11%, yet Berlusconi lent his support and hundreds of Italian troops to the U.S. led invasion.

Berlusconi showed his fascist roots again this week when he came out against teaching Islam in Italian schools. He was reacting to a statement by Communist Party candidate Oliviero Diliberto that teaching different faiths in the classroom was vital for understanding and peace. Berlusconi went so far as to say, "We do not want a multi-racial, multicultural Italy.”

It looks as if Berlusconi may share the same fate as Benito Mussolini. In April of 1945 a group of Communist freedom fighters captured and executed Mussolini for his crimes against Italy and humanity as a whole. IIn the elections coming up next week, its becoming increasingly likely that the center-left coalition - that includes the Italian socialist and communist parties - will metaphorically execute Silvio's Berlusconi's political career.

Italian Muslims to Vote Communist

2006-04-05T10:18:00.000-07:00

As American immigrant rights activists gather in the streets of Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, Italian Muslims are beginning their own campaign for freedom. The Union of Islamic Communities in Italy (UCOII) has called on Italy's Muslim population to vote for the Italian Communist Party.

In a e-mail sent to Italian Muslim leaders, UCOII member Hamza Piccardro said that Communist candidate Oliviero Diliberto has been sensitive to the needs of immigrant groups, especially Arabs and Muslims, when he was in power in the 1990's. Hazma said of Diliberto, "We spoke at length about the community's problems and needs, agreeing that the government needed to take more action on its behalf. Diliberto was extremely interested and helpful. In particular, we spoke to him about the problem of celebrating Ramadan in prisons, asking the ministry to make sure that dinner was served when [Muslim inmates] could interrupt their fast."

Diliberto is running in opposition to Silvio Berlusconi of the Northern League Party. The NLP has established itself on a xenophobic - even racist - anti-immigration policy that would hurt Muslims.

Media Blackout of EZLN's "Other Campaign"

2006-04-03T20:05:00.000-07:00

The Zapatista independence movement in Chiapas, Mexico represents one of the most important and most ignored revolutionary causes in the world. It all began during the ratification of NAFTA in 1994 as thousands of indigenous Mexicans rose up against the neo-liberal policies being forced upon them. Since then the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional, or the EZLN, has been at the forefront of creating communities based on the libertarian socialist model. The leader of the movement, Subcomandante Marcos, has also been cautious to avoid cult of personality that surrounded Mao and Stalin, by donning a ski mask to keep his identity secret. Marcos' goal is to provide a face to oppressed peoples around the world. In his own words:

Marcos is gay in San Francisco, black in South Africa, an Asian in Europe, a Chicano in San Ysidro, an anarchist in Spain, a Palestinian in Israel, a Mayan Indian in the streets of San Cristobal, a gang member in Neza, a rocker in the National University, a Jew in Nazi Germany, an ombudsman in the Defense Ministry, a communist in the post-Cold War era, an artist without gallery or portfolio.... A pacifist in Bosnia, a housewife alone on Saturday night in any neighborhood in any city in Mexico, a striker in the CTM, a reporter writing filler stories for the back pages, a single woman on the subway at 10 pm, a peasant without land, an unemployed worker... an unhappy student, a dissident amid free market economics, a writer without books or readers, and, of course, a Zapatista in the mountains of southeast Mexico. So Marcos is a human being, any human being, in this world. Marcos is all the exploited, marginalized and oppressed minorities, resisting and saying, 'Enough'!

Despite the vitality of the EZLN in resisting America's neo-feudal hegemony, the media has all but ignored the crisis in Chiapas. From NarcoNews.com:

In recent weeks, readers throughout the world — in English, Portuguese, Italian, French and German — have suffered the Commercial Media’s Information Blockade of the most important and newsworthy story emanating from Mexico: the daily march of the Zapatista “Other Campaign” through five of Mexico’s 31 states. And readers in Spanish have had to look hard for the coverage among a handful of alternative media and community radio station websites, and the important narrative provided by Authentic Journalist Hermann Bellinghausen of the Mexico City daily La Jornada, almost never on page one, buried in the “Politics” section among the flotsam and jetsam of the money-drenched presidential campaign that will culminate in Mexico in July. Narco News’ coverage by the Other Journalism with the Other Campaign has been sidelined due to lack of transportation for its volunteer reporters — a problem we hope to solve soon — but meanwhile what has happened along the rebel road? What follows is a summary based on reports, in Spanish, by our colleagues in the alternative media.

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Socialist Novelty Items on eBay

2006-04-03T20:00:00.000-07:00

A lighter in the form of a V.I. Lenin bust. This almost makes be want to be a smoker.

Noam Chomsky on Democracy Now!

2006-04-03T14:16:00.000-07:00

Noam Chomsky, the greatest political mind alive today, gave an interview with Democracy Now! about his new book, Failed States. As one would expect, Chomsky believes that the United States today shows signs of being a failed state including rampant militarism and the suppression of domestic dissent. See it at DemocracyNow.org or watch the videocast on the iTunes Music Store.

Sarkozy To Meet with French Labor Leaders

2006-04-03T14:07:00.000-07:00

Nicolas Sarkozy, France's Interior minister and president of the ruling UMP party, is meeting today with union leaders to try and find a compromise regarding the CPE contract law that would give employers the right to arbitrarily dismiss employees under 26. Anger over the bill manifested itself in a 3 million strong protest last week. Public opinion polls show that support for the bill hover around 5%. Despite this, Dominique de Villepin has ignored the CPE outrage and is trying to push the bill ahead. Sarkozy, who is positioning himself for a 2007 Presidential run wants to soften the CP and make it more "worker friendly", but labor leaders want the law completely scrapped. Even former French Prime Minister Edouard Balladur says that the CPE is dead in the water and should be buried.

Venezuelan Government Seizes Oil Fields

2006-04-03T13:51:00.000-07:00

Continue his trend of nationalizing the oil sector in Venezuela, Hugo Chavez has repossed a group of oil fields from French and Italian corporations. Petroleos de Venezuela SA, the state-owned oil company, had recently demanded that all private firms pumping oil in Venezuela had to share 60% of their profits with PVDSA. ExxonMobile sold off its assets because of the profit sharing measures. Spanish-Argentine Repsol YPF, Royal Dutch Shell PLC, and China National Petroleum have all accepted the new operational terms put forth by the Venezuelan Congress.

PDVSA channels its profits to finance social programs that have benefited 73% of Venezuelan citizens.

Volunteer Militias Defend Bolivarian Revolution

2006-04-03T10:34:00.000-07:00

The United States has a long history of using military force to topple leftist leaders in South America: Oscar Romero, Salvador Allende, and the Sandanistas to name a few. Hugo Chavez is trying to avoid this same fate.

In 2002, the Bush administration sponsored a coup attempt to force Chavez out of office, but the coup failed, and Chavez was reelected with 77% of the vote (that;s 28% more than Bush!). Since then, various conservatives in America have been tossing around the idea of assassinating Chavez. IN order to avoid another Pinochet from gaining power in the region, Chavez has begun training a massive force of civilian militias.

These militias are all volunteer, and are equivalent to the U.S. National Guard. "I'm here voluntarily and because I adore my president," Marasierra Diaz told the Jamaica Observer. Volunteers are given a small stipend of $7.50 for every training session they attend.

Chavez insists that the force will only be used for defense against an U.S. invasion, and not for offensive purposes.

Zapatistas Perform Anti-Bush Cleansing Ritual

2006-04-03T10:25:00.000-07:00

Just a funny novelty story:

Mayan priests tonight carried out "a cleaning against the wickedness of George W. Bush", in the culmination of the first day of protests against the presence of the American leader in this city...

In the morning, the Cancun Other World Committee [Comite Cancun Altermundista] said that attendance at the anti-Bush protests could be reduced, because three buses transporting people to the marches were detained in Campeche and Yucatan.

At 3 PM, some 60 members of the Zapatista collectives Rincón Rupestre, Lucha Libertaria y Subversivo of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, had gathered at Las Palapas Park and were marching towards the hotel zone.

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Chavez Makes Bid to Peg Oil at $50 Per Barrel

2006-04-02T19:12:00.000-07:00

Most people think of the Middle East as the source of the world's oil, but Venezuela is making a bid to become the worlds new supplier. President Hugo Chavez want to permanently lock-in the price of petrol to $50 per barrel. Currently, the price of crude oil is $66.01 per barrel. Chavez's pegging of the price would no doubt lower the price of heating our homes and driving our cars by nullifying the speculation market that pushes commodity prices higher.

Venezuela is poised to make such a dramatic proposal because nearly 90% of the worlds crude oil in located under its soil and in offshore wells. Chavez claims its enough oil to power the world for 200 years, by which time the world will have hopefully moved beyond fossil fuels. Pegging the price of oil is likely to anger U.S. oil traders and Middle Eastern oil barons because it will dramatically cut into their record profits, but the average consumer will be the winner. Viva Citgo!

Redistributing the Apartments

2006-04-02T18:34:00.000-07:00

Malcolm X once said that revolutions are the reaction of the landless to the landlords. In Venezuela, Hugo Chavez's Bolivarian Revolution has taken new steps to give poor citizens access to housing. Currently, about 940,000 families live in overcrowded and unsafe conditions in Venezuela as a result of years of neglect by the government. At the same time, real estate prices have risen by 35%. The only affordable solution for poor Venezuelans is to rent an apartment or home. Caracas Mayor Juan Barreto is purchasing 400 apartment buildings and transferring the buildings ownership to the tenants. Barreto says, “The business of renting is legitimate, but it can’t be indefinite because eventually it becomes predatory. The buildings which have been paid for 5 times over should be put on the market for their inhabitants who find themselves perpetually renting." The government is also taking steps to build as many as 150,000 new homes by the end of the year.

Hopefully we'll see the United States government take steps to provide similar relief to poor families in the United States. Currently, families account for between 60% to 70% of homeless Americans. These families are forced into crowded homeless shelters that usually can't provide kids with the needed foundation for proper development. Support Hugo Chavez's revolution in Venezuela and in turn, the disenfranchised in America.

Ollanta Humala's Peruvian Presidential Hopes

2006-04-02T12:34:00.000-07:00

Latin Americans are finally beginning to react to decades of American occupation and dictatorship in the region. Led by Venezuelan Hugo Chavez, socialist candidates have democratically taken power in Chile, Bolivia, and Brazil. Thus far, these leaders have carried the torch of Chile's Salvador Allende and avoided devolving into Stalinist dictatorships like Castro's Cuba. Ollanta Humala is slated to be the newest addition to South America's revolutionary leader club in the upcoming Peruvian election.

Humala has never held public office before, but he has still managed to brand himself as a Guevera-esque hero of the oppressed in Peru. Taking cues from Bolivia's Evo Morales, Humala has promised to fight for the rights of the indigenous populations and redistribute land to the peasants Humala's opponent is Lourdes Flores, and arch-conservative freemarketeer who's longtime support of free trade has made her an enemy of the Peruvian masses.

Humala has also promised to follow in the steps of Hugo Chavez and nationalize some of Peru's gas and mining industries. As in Venezuela, these sectors have been traditionally dominated by foreign corporations who have no regard for the nations poor. By harnessing the profits of these lucrative natural resources, Chavez has managed to provide education, food, and land to the impoverished Venezuelan masses. Humala's nationalization of Peru's industries will provide similar social programs to Peru's poor.

Thus far, Ollanta Humala has managed to stay ahead of Flores in the polls. Many on the left and the right have concerns that Humala's family history may influence him into creating an authoritarian state. As socialists dedicated to democracy, we should ensure that Humala keeps his promises of democracy and progress to the Peruvian people.

Debt Relief for Latin America

2006-04-01T21:13:00.000-08:00

Evo Morales, the socialist President of Bolivia, is asking the international community to forgive $3.5 billion in foreign debts. Luiz Alberto Arce will present a proposal to the annual IDB meeting also asking for for debt reliefs to Honduras, Nicaragua, and Bolivia, and Haiti.

Massive national debts have prevented many third world countries from realizing their true potential. Most of these smaller governments don't have the tax base to pay off the full debts, and instead can barely afford to pay the interest on the debt. As a result, these nations are forced to continue racking up higher debts and also lack funding for social programs needed to bring their nations the developed world. High debts also reinforce the already rampant inflation in these nations, causing double digit inflation in much of Latin America.

A Nazi and A Republican Walk Into a Bar

2006-04-01T19:53:00.000-08:00

Apparently, Adolf Hitler and a Montana Republican Candidate have more than just an ugly mustache in common:

The only Republican running for the state Legislature here has ties to a white supremacist group.

Shawn Stuart, 24, told The Montana Standard on Friday he is Montana's contact point for the National Socialist Movement, a group that describes itself as "America's Nazi Party" on its Web site. Stewart is running for Butte's House District 76, along with Democrats Kevin Lowney and incumbent Jon Sesso.

From the Billings Gazette

My favorite line of the article:

Stuart said he believes his views align with the Republican Party.

Speaking of Chavez...

2006-04-01T18:18:00.000-08:00

In the past week, millions of Americans have taken the hint from French activists and taken to the streets to fight oppression. Although we may be fighting a different fight than the French, American immigrants are still victims of the capitalist-corporate regime. HR 4437, introduced by James Sensenbrenner, makes being an illegal alien or assisting an illegal alien a felony. Teachers who have a undoumented student in their class could go to prison for 20 years. If a doctor were to give a band aid to a Mexican with a scraped knee, he could find himself being made Bubba's prison bitch. This law goes beyond the xenophobic realm of past anti-immigration bills and crosses the border into absurdity.

Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's socialist President, is just one of the many Latin American leaders showing solidarity with the victims of this racist law. In a speech on Friday, Chavez asked how President Bush could support this "fascist" law that made criminals of 11 million innocent people.

Remembering Cesar Chavez, Embracing Hugo Chavez

2006-04-01T17:36:00.000-08:00

In Los Angeles today hundreds of hispanic workers marched to commemorate the 79th birthday of civil rights hero Cesar Chavez. Until his death in 1993, Chavez campaigned for better conditions and pay for farm workers by forming the United Farm Workers. March organizers say the march will celebrate his "legacy of non-violence and respect for working people, including farm workers." Chavez also won the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

At the same time as we honor Chavez's work with the American farmers, we need to continue our support of Hugo Chavez who has brought Cesar Chavez's legacy to Latin America. Under his rule, the Venezuelan government has raised standards for farm conditions and also redistributed land back to the landless peasants.

Socialism in The Nation

2006-04-01T17:33:00.000-08:00

Ronald Aronson proclaims that socialism needs to be rethought as a solution to the world's problems and encourages progressives to embrace it. Bravo!

Read the article here.

This Is What Happens When Workers Loose Power

2006-04-01T11:26:00.000-08:00

Alex Geana, a blogger, outlines his struggles with faulty labor laws and bad unemployment policies. This is what the French are protesting against! Read the story here.

Things Fall Apart

2006-03-31T21:24:00.000-08:00

Change, when it comes from the masses, tends to be progressive. However, when the executives and politicians advocate for "change", it is almost certainly regressive. For those of us who subscribe to The Economist, you probably read this week's absurd article encouraging France to embrace "change".

For centuries, under feudal rule, workers in Europe had few to no rights. Ideas like eight hour work days, safety regulations, and collective bargaining were still twinkles in Marx and Engel's eyes. In the 20th century, labor unions made leaps and bounds in France by passing some of the most progressive and pro-worker laws in the capitalist world. This past month, Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin passed into law a bill, known as the CPE, that would make even Benito Mussolini blush. At its core, the law gives employers the right to arbitrarily fire any worker under 26 without notice or justification. Young workers must also wait 2 years before they can receive the same job security as older workers. de Villepin pushed the law through the French legislature by claiming it will lower France's high unemployment rate. The French masses were not as easy to seduce.

In the past week, activists and unions have staged protests all over France that have driven over 3 million to the street. de Villepin has used riot police and tear gas to try and curb the protest, but French workers are undeterred. Laure Maillard, an economist at Ixis Corporate & Investment Bank in Paris, told Bloomberg, "The law is going to apply in the coming weeks and it is likely that social tensions will remain." Understatement of the century, Laure.

Besides simply being poor economists, the individuals that advocate this plan have a clear contempt for anything resembling democracy. The Milton Friedman's of the world believe that laws like this should be forced on the population without their consent. Only 6% of the people support the CPE laws. Pinochet, enter stage right.

Indeed, these riots and protests are just a precursor to the wider social revolution coming in France. At this moment, France, has more potential as a socialist nation than any other developed nation. Not only do they have a long history of democracy, but they are one of the final bastions against neo-liberal economics. The aforementioned Economist article notes that only about 35% of French citizens believe in a free market. These two qualities will prevent a French socialist state from devolving into a Stalinist, pseudo-communist dictatorship like we see in Chine or North Korea.

The French Socialist Party has filed lawsuits against the CPE that will hopefully make change work for the people, not the powerful. If you speak French, visit their website here.

Corporate Profits Rise Over 14%

2006-03-31T20:16:00.000-08:00

Headline in this morning's Wall Street Journal: "Corporate Pretax Profits Jump 14.4%". Ostensibly, higher corporate profits may seem like a much needed injection into the failing U.S. economy, but this isn't a reality. These gains are not an indicator of innovation by U.S. business, but rather, as the Financial Times calls it, a product of struggling labor unions. Weaker labor unions mean lower wages and fewer benefits, which translates into higher profit margins for executives.

The WSJ article does predict that unions will begin to regain strength in the next few months, and when they do, they must demand that workers' pay rises at the same rate as corporate profits.

2006-03-29T17:26:00.000-08:00

ThinkSocialist.com will start ramping up content production over the next few days. Be prepared.

I was considering doing a spiffy viral marketing campaign like the ones Microsoft has used to launch its Oragami and Xbox 360 projects. Then I remembered I lack a billion dollar marketing campaign - so you'll just have to tell your friends.

2006-03-21T17:33:00.000-08:00

IHatePatRobertson.com has been shut down for about a month now. In that month, I've found myself increasingly angry at the current state of affairs (as usual). Furthermore, I've come to the conclusion that having a blog that focuses on a single individual is far more work than it's worth and the research for such a site isn't worth the effort. Ergo, I give you ThinkSocialist.com.

My opinion haven't changed. I'm still the good old anti-war, anti-religious right, anti-capitalist Mike. Just a change of scenery. More coming soon.