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Breadline USA

'The rich get richer, the poor get poorer'; is perhaps an overused cliché, but, nevertheless, a phrase that accurately describes social conditions in the USA today.

The latest US Census Bureau statistics show that 46.2 million people (15.1% of the population) fell below the poverty line, meaning that more Americans are living in poverty that at any time since records began 50 years ago.

Millions of people are mired in poverty as a result of the capitalist Great Recession and continuing high levels of unemployment, but a wealthy minority continue to enjoy their conspicuous consumption. The Bureau reveals that median wages (ie what most workers earn) peaked in 1999 and are still 7% below that level, whereas the richest Americans' spending held constant at $1,400 billion.

Nearly one-quarter of all children are in poverty, a figure more akin to the 1960s when president Johnson announced his 'war on poverty'.

And despite the political furore over Obama's health care reforms, the number of Americans without health insurance rose by one million in the last year to a staggering 49.9 million.

Stop Uni cuts

Staff at Northampton University held a lunchtime protest on 14 September against proposals to cut support staff jobs.

Tina McGarvey, a Unison rep, spoke to the Socialist:

"They are proposing to cut 78 posts. Without the support staff of all kinds, lecturers cannot deliver, and it will ultimately affect students. UCU and Unison are standing together against the management's attempt to divide and rule. There will be a consultative ballot on industrial action and there will be further protests."

Paul Crofts, Unison rep said: "There has been a culture of fear among staff, some of whom have in the past been afraid to speak out. The university has attempted to drive a wedge between support staff and academic staff by suggesting that money saved from getting rid of support staff would fund lecturers' jobs. UCU has completely rejected that argument. They are aware that the next lot of cuts will be among academic staff. The campaign will continue."

Coventry by-election

The upcoming council by-election in Lower Stoke, Coventry, (6 October) is providing a great opportunity to direct people to real socialist ideas.

As the Labour-led council tries to force through £38 million in cuts, Coventry Socialist Party candidate, Robert McArdle, has been able to expose how Labour have become the Tory axemen.

Working class people did not cause the banking crisis and canvassing in the ward has helped get the message across that we shouldn't be forced to pay for it.

The by-election also provides an opportunity to present an alternative to this rotten capitalist system.

We need more councillors like the Socialist Party's Dave Nellist, who has a long history of standing up for workers in Coventry.

To assist in the campaign: 07530 429441

Leeds North West Socialist Party: Perspectives for the USA (including Occupy)

Hackney Socialist Party: Perspectives for the USA

USA: An 'inspiring vibrant movement'

World warming even faster than thought

Llanelli and West Wales Socialist Party: USA: Is Obama a socialist?

Occupy USA - Crisis USA - London Socialist Party video

Coventry:

Coventry: Socialist campaigner Dave Nellist narrowly loses

May 2012 local election reports

TUSC: the electoral alternative to the parties of the rich

Coventry rally: Campaigning against Labour's 'cuts-friendly bubble'

Poverty:

Review: We must look - the photographs of Don McCullin

International Women's Day 2012

Slave labour retail jobs scandal

University:

Demo against cuts at Salford university

UCU joins 10 May strike - student solidarity needed

Brighton Uni: Socialist Students five votes from victory

Northampton:

Campaign news in brief

Jarrow March for Jobs: Northampton demonstration

Jarrow March for Jobs: Northampton social