Fight Trump’s racism, Clinton’s militarism
By Deirdre Griswold, Workers World, September 24, 2016.
People in other countries are
probably scratching their heads, wondering what is going on with politics in
the United States.
probably scratching their heads, wondering what is going on with politics in
the United States.
A bare six months ago, it looked
possible that a self-proclaimed socialist could win the Democratic nomination,
something unheard of in U.S. history.
possible that a self-proclaimed socialist could win the Democratic nomination,
something unheard of in U.S. history.
Now there are dire warnings that
an erratic, boastful, racist, misogynist, anti-immigrant billionaire could be
elected president and drag everything to the right.
an erratic, boastful, racist, misogynist, anti-immigrant billionaire could be
elected president and drag everything to the right.
Capturing headlines at the moment
is the dismay of Democratic Party leaders that many of the politically active
young people who have been involved in struggles like the Fight for $15
movement, Black Lives Matter, immigrant rights, the environmental movement, the
Bernie Sanders campaign, the LGBTQ movement and even the women’s movement might
not vote for Hillary Clinton.
is the dismay of Democratic Party leaders that many of the politically active
young people who have been involved in struggles like the Fight for $15
movement, Black Lives Matter, immigrant rights, the environmental movement, the
Bernie Sanders campaign, the LGBTQ movement and even the women’s movement might
not vote for Hillary Clinton.
Politicians and liberal
establishment voices like the New York Times are conducting a no-holds-barred
roundup to drive these potential Democratic voters into the fold. They are
bemoaning the fact that when Sanders stumps for Clinton now, he attracts about
one-tenth of the crowds he used to.
establishment voices like the New York Times are conducting a no-holds-barred
roundup to drive these potential Democratic voters into the fold. They are
bemoaning the fact that when Sanders stumps for Clinton now, he attracts about
one-tenth of the crowds he used to.
Their argument, of course, is
that if these young progressives don’t vote for Clinton, they could be held
responsible for Trump winning the presidency.
that if these young progressives don’t vote for Clinton, they could be held
responsible for Trump winning the presidency.
Two-party system works — for the
rich
rich
For more than two centuries, the
two-party political system devised by the early slave owners, bankers and
industrialists to run this country has been highly effective in maintaining the
rule of the wealthy few, while roping in the support or at least acceptance of
the many.
two-party political system devised by the early slave owners, bankers and
industrialists to run this country has been highly effective in maintaining the
rule of the wealthy few, while roping in the support or at least acceptance of
the many.
In its early days the system
served the interests of the Northern industrialists and bankers at the same
time as the Southern plantation owners — until the two systems collided in a
great Civil War.
served the interests of the Northern industrialists and bankers at the same
time as the Southern plantation owners — until the two systems collided in a
great Civil War.
But having resolved the issue of
slave owner versus capitalist, chattel slavery versus wage slavery, the two
parties revived their collaboration in the interests of profit with the
betrayal of Black Freedom in 1876-77, ending the short-lived Reconstruction
era.
slave owner versus capitalist, chattel slavery versus wage slavery, the two
parties revived their collaboration in the interests of profit with the
betrayal of Black Freedom in 1876-77, ending the short-lived Reconstruction
era.
The two-party system survived the
challenge of the Populist movement toward the end of the 19th century, as well
as the great labor struggles of the Depression. All along, both parties have
held imperialist wars sacrosanct, making sure that the military-banking-industrial
complex comes first, even in times of severe budget crises.
challenge of the Populist movement toward the end of the 19th century, as well
as the great labor struggles of the Depression. All along, both parties have
held imperialist wars sacrosanct, making sure that the military-banking-industrial
complex comes first, even in times of severe budget crises.
So what about the current
quadrennial election? What’s new about this one? As ever, it mainly features a
Democrat versus a Republican, although the candidates do provide a more
striking contrast than in earlier presidential contests.
quadrennial election? What’s new about this one? As ever, it mainly features a
Democrat versus a Republican, although the candidates do provide a more
striking contrast than in earlier presidential contests.
Moving left or moving right?
As the capitalist stagnation that
has devastated so many areas drags on, the resulting widespread suffering is
undermining the political status quo.
has devastated so many areas drags on, the resulting widespread suffering is
undermining the political status quo.
But the question is: Are the
workers in the U.S. moving to the left or to the right? Is Trump appealing to a
new right-wing movement? Or is his campaign picking up most of its votes from
those who are not in motion, not organized, but seem to idolize a media
superstar who promises he’ll fix it all, just vote for him?
workers in the U.S. moving to the left or to the right? Is Trump appealing to a
new right-wing movement? Or is his campaign picking up most of its votes from
those who are not in motion, not organized, but seem to idolize a media
superstar who promises he’ll fix it all, just vote for him?
By constantly calling Trump
supporters “white workers,” the corporate media can make it seem there is a
reactionary shift going on in the working class. But when have they ever
described the many progressive social movements in this country in similar
class terms?
supporters “white workers,” the corporate media can make it seem there is a
reactionary shift going on in the working class. But when have they ever
described the many progressive social movements in this country in similar
class terms?
For quite a few years, many, many
people have been marching, reaching out through social media, getting together
flash mobs and other inventive forms of protest. They are largely young and
very outspoken, breaking all kinds of repressive barriers. They have stood up
to cops and security guards. And the vast majority of them are working class.
people have been marching, reaching out through social media, getting together
flash mobs and other inventive forms of protest. They are largely young and
very outspoken, breaking all kinds of repressive barriers. They have stood up
to cops and security guards. And the vast majority of them are working class.
Dynamic people of color have been
in the leadership of many of these movements, and there are also many, many
white workers — with or without jobs — who passionately hate the system and all
the forms of bigotry that divide our class.
in the leadership of many of these movements, and there are also many, many
white workers — with or without jobs — who passionately hate the system and all
the forms of bigotry that divide our class.
Streets belong to the people
The streets belong to the people
— it’s not just a slogan. The reactionaries, the bigots, are not in the
streets. Except for a tiny hardcore, they have been hesitant to air their
backward, hateful ideas for public scrutiny and criticism. But Trump and
reactionary media moguls have given them a loud platform.
— it’s not just a slogan. The reactionaries, the bigots, are not in the
streets. Except for a tiny hardcore, they have been hesitant to air their
backward, hateful ideas for public scrutiny and criticism. But Trump and
reactionary media moguls have given them a loud platform.
Since Sanders gave in and
endorsed Clinton, the movement that had looked to him for a new course has had
to rethink what to do next. They’re not going for Trump, obviously. But they
can’t have much confidence in Clinton and the Democratic establishment, either.
endorsed Clinton, the movement that had looked to him for a new course has had
to rethink what to do next. They’re not going for Trump, obviously. But they
can’t have much confidence in Clinton and the Democratic establishment, either.
They know that, after eight years
of a Democratic administration, even one headed for the very first time by an
African-American president, little has changed in the racist, anti-worker,
pro-corporate workings of the U.S. government.
of a Democratic administration, even one headed for the very first time by an
African-American president, little has changed in the racist, anti-worker,
pro-corporate workings of the U.S. government.
The jails are still stuffed with
the poor. Cops still shoot down unarmed Black people, even children.
the poor. Cops still shoot down unarmed Black people, even children.
The super-rich suck up an ever
larger portion of the wealth, while cities like Flint, Detroit, Oakland,
Chicago, Baltimore and Cleveland and many rural areas suffer unbearable levels
of unemployment, homelessness and decay.
larger portion of the wealth, while cities like Flint, Detroit, Oakland,
Chicago, Baltimore and Cleveland and many rural areas suffer unbearable levels
of unemployment, homelessness and decay.
The Pentagon-banking-industrial
complex continues to apply its expertise in killing people across the globe —
and in seizing trillions in tax dollars from the public treasury in Washington.
complex continues to apply its expertise in killing people across the globe —
and in seizing trillions in tax dollars from the public treasury in Washington.
The global environmental crisis
continues to take a back seat to the profits of the oil and chemical companies
and Wall Street portfolios.
continues to take a back seat to the profits of the oil and chemical companies
and Wall Street portfolios.
Whichever capitalist candidate
gets more votes in this election, it won’t change all this — or eliminate the
progressive movements in this country.
gets more votes in this election, it won’t change all this — or eliminate the
progressive movements in this country.
What is crucial is that the
movements stay independent of the capitalist establishment and true to their
origins, have confidence in their own strength, and not become an appendage to
the “less reactionary” of the two imperialist parties.
movements stay independent of the capitalist establishment and true to their
origins, have confidence in their own strength, and not become an appendage to
the “less reactionary” of the two imperialist parties.
