RESPONSE - Himelgrin
Marea Himelgrin (himelgri@Free-Net.Mpls-StPaul.MN.US)
Tue, 1 Nov 1994 12:06:36 -0600 (CST)
RESPONSE: Himelgrin
Question #2: People are saying Congress is broken; our government isnt working.
Do you agree? In general terms explain why or why not.
Congress is functioning in the manner to be expected of an institution devoted
to facilitating the exploitation and oppression of working people in the
interests of enriching a handful of wealthy families.
However, what is breaking down are the profit rates of the ruling rich. When
the U.S. government came out of the slaughter of World War II on the top of the
imperialist heap, profit rates for capitalists in this country rose
dramatically, peaking in 1950 with an average rate of profit of around 15%. This
rate of profit has been falling ever since and is between 3-5% today.
It is this bottom line reality which drives the downsizing, union busting ,
slashing of the social wage and imperialist war moves which we see taking place
today.
The constant back and forth between the capitalist candidates in this election
about balancing the budget simply reflects debates on how hard and how fast the
government should drive against working people.
The question which objectively confronts working people and our allies like
youth and family farmers, is not trying to repair the government but trying to
overthrow it.
What we need to do is to press our demands on the government through militant
and disciplined protest actions.
We have an excellent opportunity to act in solidarity with our fellow workers in
Cuba by joining a broadly sponsored demonstration in Washington, DC on November
12. March demands include: End the U.S. Economic Embargo of Cuba! Normalize
Relations Now! Stop Using Hunger as a Weapon! Lift the travel ban! and U.S. Out
of Guantanamo and Haiti!
These demands aid the struggle by millions of working people in Cuba to defend
their independence, sovereignty, and the socialist course that they have chosen.
The march begins at 12:00 noon at Malcolm X Park followed by a rally at
Lafayette Park across from the White House.
We should also pay close attention to the recent victory won by members of the
United Autoworkers union at the Buick City complex in Flint, Michigan. They
struck against forced overtime and didnt return to work until the company
agreed to hire an additional 500 workers. This is a good example of the kind of
jobs program advocated by my campaign.
Finally, supporters of the Socialist Workers candidates in the California
elections actively participated in the October 16 march of 70,000 in Los Angeles
for immigrant rights. The march was called to protest the reactionary
Proposition 187, an anti-immigrant proposal on the November ballot in
California.
Working people born in other countries who have moved to the United States are
fighting the same battle as striking workers at Caterpillar. Their battle
reinforces todays union struggles, and helps combat the attempt by the
employers and the government to create a rightless, unequal section of the
working class.
Socialist Workers Campaign
2490 University
St. Paul, MN 55114
612-645-1674