Socialism is American as Apple Pie

[Starry Messenger]

http://newscentral.exsees.com/item/9c269dbbd50e3f3b267c83d28091f6ba-93322e2e5aee73f525260161cb550317

This was written by the president of the state chapter of my union, the CFT.

<snip>

Whether Giuliani likes it or not, American socialism has been an important current in American political life since the rise of the industrial age more than 150 years ago. The countless women and men who considered themselves socialists have sacrificed their lives for this country, helped shape foreign and domestic policy, created this country’s art, assembled the cars, built the highways and contributed in exactly the same way as those with differing economic and political philosophies.

Lucy Parsons, a socialist and advocate for women’s rights, was a former slave who along with her husband Albert led the struggle for the eight hour day in the 1880s. Prior to the movement for the eight-hour day, American workers routinely worked 12-14 hours daily, six days a week. Lucy’s tireless organizing helped transform the workday and bring a degree of dignity to American workers.

Helen Keller, an icon of American history, whose struggle to overcome blindness and deafness has inspired countless people around the world, was an active member of the Socialist Party of America.
Likewise Eugene V. Debs, one of America’s foremost labor leaders in the late 1800s, received nearly a million votes for president of the United States while jailed for speaking out in opposition to U.S. involvement in World War I.

<snip>

The American socialist tradition has never been monolithic in its views on a wide range of issues including the nature of China or the former Soviet Union or the strengths and weaknesses of American capitalism. Nevertheless, socialists have either led or been active in the struggles for worker and civil rights, opposition to U.S. military involvement in foreign countries and quality of life issues like social security, health care reform and the environment.

The former mayor of New York may believe that only those who remain silent about the exploitation of workers and the growing inequality of an economic system that benefits the top 1% to the detriment of the 99% warrant the mantle of patriotism. But the words of Helen Keller are as true today as when she wrote them in 1911: “the majority of mankind are working people. So long as their fair demands— the ownership and control of their livelihoods— are set at naught, we can have neither men’s rights nor women’s rights.” That’s true patriotism.

[SummerSnow]

1. thank you for posting this

[Starry Messenger]

2. My pleasure.

He's a great guy, just got reelected president. I'm lucky I belong to a really progressive union.

[TBF]

3. Some real success in the early part of the 20th century -

"The Socialist Party of America (SPA) was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization in 1899.

In the first decades of the 20th century, it drew significant support from many different groups, including trade unionists, progressive social reformers, populist farmers, and immigrant communities. Its presidential candidate, Eugene V. Debs, twice won over 900,000 votes (in 1912 and 1920), while the party also elected two United States Representatives (Victor L. Berger and Meyer London), dozens of state legislators, more than a hundred mayors, and countless lesser officials. The party's staunch opposition to American involvement in World War I, although welcomed by many, also led to prominent defections, official repression and vigilante persecution. The organization was further shattered by a factional war over how it should respond to the October Revolution in Russia in 1917 and the establishment of the Communist International in 1919.

After endorsing Robert LaFollette's presidential campaign in 1924, the Socialist Party returned to independent action. It had modest growth in the early 1930s behind presidential candidate Norman Thomas. While the party was always strongly anti-Fascist, as well as anti-Stalinist, the SP's ambivalent attitude towards World War II cost it both internal and external support. After the 1950s, however, the Party's appeal was weakened by the popularity of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal, the organization and flexibility of the Communist Party under Earl Browder, and the resurgent labor movement's desire to support sympathetic Democratic Party politicians. A divisive and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to broaden the party by admitting followers of Leon Trotsky and Jay Lovestone caused the traditional "Old Guard" to leave and form the Social Democratic Federation ... "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Party_of_America

Coincidentally this strength in socialism occurred along side membership in trade unions. Which is why the rich folks were so determined to break them & deport communists/socialists.

[rhett o rick]

4. How about Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the ACA, public owned

roads, fire depts, etc.

[99th_Monkey]

5. The early Labor Movement in the US was all about worker-owned co-operatives

Labor owning the Golden Goose, not the Oligarchs ... this was before
"collective bargaining" became the dominant motif of union organizing.

Before about 1900, Labor was on a very 'socialist' bent, even up to 1905
when the IWW (or Wooblies) were active.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Workers_of_the_World

PS - And we can see now how that Collective Bargaining thing worked out long-term <-- not so good for workers.

[bvar22]

6. We always serve a slice of Apple Pie with Socialism at our house.

*

[WillyT]

7. Huge K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[SoLeftIAmRight]

8. I like apple pie

thanks for the great post

[lovemydog]

9. Thank you Starry Messenger. I'm a democratic socialist.

I believe profit should be removed from health care and natural resources like oil & gas. I strongly support freedom of speech, privacy, labor rights, civil rights. I believe we should have a higher minimum wage and a tax on wealth.

At the same time I recognize that many are afraid of socialism, particularly if if means suppression of individual freedoms or state-run everything. I think individual freedoms can thrive and grow with a little more socialism in our country. Progressives don't agree on all issues. It's important to build unity so we get along well and present an optimistic view of our beliefs, going forward.

Every country has a mixed economy, with elements of both capitalism and socialism. I believe ours has too much unfettered capitalism that primarily benefits big corporations and the ultra rich. I believe we can improve greatly by applying more socialistic elements like free health care and free higher education. I support any policies that move us more toward equity, and toward reducing inequality.

I love apple pie. I think there's enough pie for everyone to enjoy a slice!

[vive la commune]

10. K&R

[mndemsocialist]

11. Democratic Socialists of America

I urge those reading this thread to check out DSA, the Democratic Socialists of America:
www.dsausa.org
A great group that deserves to be better known among progressives...