Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/625/9556
From The Socialist newspaper, 19 May 2010
USA: Putting forward a Socialist Alternative in Seattle
More than 140 people came to discuss socialist ideas for changing the world at the socialism conference, organised by the CWI-affiliated organisation Socialist Alternative and held at Seattle University, which marked a big step forward for socialists in Washington State.
Socialist Alternative reporters, US CWI
The discussion "Where is the change Obama promised? - resisting war and cuts in jobs and education" featured prominent anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, who set up a camp outside George Bush's Texas ranch in 2005 to ask him why her son Casey was sent to die in Iraq.
Cindy explained how she had concluded that capitalism is the root cause of wars and the economic crisis we face.
The discussion dealt with the role of the two-headed "war party", as Cindy termed the big-business Democratic and Republican parties that dominate the US political system.
Cindy spoke about how Democratic Party leaders promised her that if she helped get them elected, they would end the war. However, after they took control of Congress in the 2006 elections, they failed to follow through on their promises. In 2008 Cindy decided to run an independent, anti-war campaign for Congress against Democratic Party House leader Nancy Pelosi, coming in second place and winning an impressive 17% of the vote.
The discussion also featured Richard Curtis, an independent left-wing Washington candidate for the US Senate, as well as Philip Locker, a national organiser for Socialist Alternative. Philip explained how the working class anger has led to many opinion polls showing a growth in support for socialist ideas.
Another session, "Capitalism in Crisis and the Case for Socialism", featured Matt Gonzalez, the vice presidential running mate of Ralph Nader in 2008 who nearly became the first Green Party mayor of a major US city in 2003 in San Francisco.
Matt argued that the many injustices in society made it "easy to critique capitalism" and talked about the need to push for far-reaching reforms in society. This sparked a debate that helped clarify the need to fight for immediate reforms as well as for a socialist world.
The day finished with a debate between Tea Party blogger Keli Carender and Socialist Alternative organiser Ramy Khalil. The Tea Party movement, supported by Fox News and other corporate backers, has an echo for its ideas amongst a significant minority of Americans particularly because of their opposition to the Wall Street bailouts.
Keli made the case that capitalism is "the only moral system" for the protection of individual rights and argued that "big government" was the main problem in society. But Ramy argued that, under capitalism, the government was a tool of the corporate elite who always seek to increase their profits at the expense of working people.
The conference's success is reflected in the collection of over $1,800 in donations, and dozens of people signed up to get more information about Socialist Alternative.
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In The Socialist 19 May 2010:
Action needed to save our services
Workplace news
Vote Roger Bannister in the Unison general secretary election
British Airways: Another intolerable court judgment
Youth fight for jobs
Youth need job creation, not job slaughter
Socialist Party election analysis
Time for the fight of our lives
Socialist Party news and analysis
Building Coventry Socialist Party after the election
Support for socialists Ian Page and Chris Flood
Packed out London meeting looks to fight against cuts
International socialist news and analysis
Initiative for a week of European-wide protests
Italy: ControCorrente socialists support CWI
Thailand's government orders bloody crackdown on protesters
Kazakhstan: "Thanks comrades for support"
USA: Putting forward a Socialist Alternative in Seattle
Marxist analysis: history
The Tragedy of the Chinese Revolution by Harold Isaacs
Obituary
Peter Hadden - an inspiring life for socialism
Socialist Party workplace news
Communication Workers Union conference: Hands off Royal Mail!
Bus workers gear up for action
RMT ballots Tube Lines workers
National Shop Stewards Network conference: International rally planned
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