Sanders

[Matthew Andrews]

I agree with Bill that Sanders' affiliation with the Democratic Party
(and long-time accommodation to their politics) makes his campaign
extremely problematic. But I think we can have a nuanced conversation
with people who support him.

Here at the Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy there are a
handful of Bernie boosters who site his support for worker coops. I'm
sharing an article below from his website that outline some policy
initiatives that he has been pushing. A friend of mine was recently
hired by the Vermont Employee Ownership Center that is mentioned as a
model.

Sanders makes the case for employee ownership with very conservative
language. I believe our job should be articulate them in the context of
the class struggle against capitalism. We also must explain that these
demands must be won through grassroots organizing, and that the
Demcocratic Party is an impediment to success.


~Matt




Worker-Owned Businesses
Monday, June 2, 2014 Worker-Owned Businesses

Legislation to help workers who want to form their own businesses or to
set up worker-owned cooperatives was introduced on Monday by Sen. Bernie
Sanders. Employee ownership increases employment, productivity, sales
and wages. The two-bill package was filed in the Senate on the same day
Sanders held a news conference in Burlington, Vermont, with
representatives of worker-owned businesses.

“At a time when corporate America is outsourcing millions of
decent-paying jobs overseas and with the economy continuing to struggle
to create jobs that pay a livable wage, we need to expand economic
models that help the middle-class,” Sanders said. “I strongly believe
that employee ownership is one of those models.” He said the federal
government, however, has not done enough for employee ownership to
realize its full potential.

Under one bill in Sanders' package, the U.S. Department of Labor would
provide funding to states to establish and expand employee ownership
centers. These centers would provide training and technical support for
programs promoting employee ownership and participation throughout the
country. This legislation is modeled on the success of the Vermont
Employee Ownership Center which has done an excellent job in educating
workers, retiring business owners, and others about the benefits of
worker ownership.

A second bill would create a U.S. Employee Ownership Bank to provide
loans to help workers purchase businesses through an employee stock
ownership plan or a worker-owned cooperative. Sen. Patrick Leahy is a
cosponsor of Sanders’ legislative package.

Vermont is a national leader on employee ownership. Today, there are
more than 30 ESOPs in Vermont and about a half dozen worker
cooperatives. Nationally, there are more than 10,000 employee owned
businesses throughout the country with about 10 million employees.

At the news conference in his Senate office, Sanders was joined by Mary
Steiger, president and founder of Williston-based PT360; Jim Feinson,
president of Burlington-based Gardener’s Supply; and Nicole LaBrecque,
an employee owner and corporate director of business development at
South Burlington-based PC Construction Co .

Joseph Blasi, a professor at the School of Management and Labor
Relations at Rutgers University, also joined Sanders to speak about the
merits of employee ownership. Blasi has written 13 books, including one
titled “Employee Ownership.”

“By expanding employee ownership and participation, we can create
stronger companies in Vermont and throughout this country, prevent job
loss, and improve working conditions for struggling employees,” Sanders
said.

“Simply put, when employees have an ownership stake in their company,
they will not ship their own jobs to China to increase their profits,”
Sanders said. “They will be more productive. And, they will earn a
better living.”

[Andrew Gunderman]

Sanders isn't out of step with our priorities. As it is now, his campaign diverts most of the union support from Clinton, who rides mainly on the financial industry. I think we should support Bernie. He's the best option available.
 

> Subject: Sanders
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> Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2015 22:02:54 -0400

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[Matthew Andrews]

Andrew,

Do you live in some alternate universe? Because in this universe
Sanders is an imperialist and an Islamophobe. Those issues matter at
least as much to me as his ideas for unions and co-ops. I think being
against militarism and state violence is a minimal expectation for any
candidate who wants to represent the left.

Also, the AFT just endorsed Hilary Clinton. Here's a petition you can
sign to show your dissatisfaction:
https://www.change.org/p/american-federation-of-teachers-withdraw-your-endorsement-of-hillary-clinton-for-the-democratic-presidential-nomination

My preference would be to support an explicitly socialist candidate for
president, but even the Green Party candidate Jill Stein is better than
Bernie Sanders in every respect.



~Matt A.

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[Bill]

What is the long range view of WIIU?

It seems to be to create independent movements and 

centers of working class power in socialist industrial unions.

Trying to enter a Democratic Party primary, with long range membership in that

party, with dissolve our opposition movement.

We need a strategy that creates the working class to break with the DP.

[Andrew Gunderman]

The issue that I like to raise is that politics and the parties that represent us are money-driven in a huge way. Don't you think it's significant that the unions are backing Sanders while the capitalists are all siding with Hillary? I am really all too familiar with your posture that elections are all about truth to principles and it does not fit the reality of politics in the U.S.
 
I feel like I'm living through that AT&T ad of, what is better, big or small? Then some little kid comes up with a smart answer. For me, the universe = winning the election. How much political rapport does "Jill Stein" have with likely voters? Has she even filed? Actually I can get that for you,  http://www.fec.gov/press/resources/2016presidential_form2nm.shtml
 
Please stick with the workplace democracy, we a better chance at attaining democracy at work.
 

> Subject: Re: Sanders
> From: peopl...@verizon.net
> To: workers-internation...@googlegroups.com
> Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2015 18:42:45 -0400

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[Matthew Andrews]

Bernie Sanders' political rapport is based on his bonafide credentials
as a member and representative of the ruling class. Really, nothing
else makes him special. If you want to make an opportunistic argument
for chasing after his supporters purely because there are many of them,
then I don't see how the same argument wouldn't apply to any other
Democrat. I'm more interested in quality than quantity. We can recruit
radicals by criticizing Sanders, or we can recruit liberals by praising
him. It's that simple.

I'm not going to boost Jill Stein either. But I have an insider's
perspective, so trust me when I say they are a professional operation.
She has not filed with the FEC yet because she is still officially in
"exploratory committee" mode. She's working on fundraising, ballot
access, getting in the debates, oh and securing the nomination of her
political party.


~Matt

[Andrew Gunderman]

If you want to make an opportunistic argument for chasing after his supporters purely because there are many of them, then I don't see how the same argument wouldn't apply to any other Democrat.
 

I think follow the money. It's the quality not the numbers. For elections most often settle on a choice of the lesser of two evils, the Greens are a protest vote. Submitted for your review, the means of support of Bernie S. vs. the Heir apparent,
 
 
https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cid=N00000528&cycle=2014&type=C&newMem=N&recs=100
 
https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cid=n00000019&cycle=2008&type=C&newMem=N&recs=100
 

 

you have to search mightily to find a union association in the Clinton donor list. They're most all high-powered financial firms, i.e. capitalists. Prune through Sanders' donor base and its 95% private sector union, i.e. worker associations.

 

A prime opportunity to employ divide-and-conquer the other way around obtains from additional investigation in the increasing influence of money on politics. Eight years after the 2008 lobbying reform bill, they have less registered lobbyists but they push many times as much money over the table. The rate of increase is growing.

 

At http://www.followthemoney.org/industry-influence they have an interactive service, consider it evidence that a potentially strong backlash is overdue. Nobody in the U.S. wants to vote in an oligarchy. The only recourse for is to form workers support organizations. Most workers aren't in any kind of union. W.I.I.U, can be theirs.

 

    

 

> Subject: Re: Sanders
> From: peopl...@verizon.net
> To: workers-internation...@googlegroups.com

> Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2015 19:39:40 -0400

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[Scott Wallace]

A nuanced approach to BS might be to praise the things he has right and criticize the things he has wrong. Do the same for JS, and also interject the concepts of revolutionary industrial unionism and revolutionary cooperativism into the discussion, and work to build those things. Then concentrate on recruiting people to run for congress as democratic socialists. Perhaps even offer critical support of Sanders, or Stein, while simultaneously leveling serious criticisms of them and recruiting a large number of congressional candidates to run on a truly revolutionary program.

[Andrew Gunderman]

Okay great. I start and submit Exhibit A https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/browse?sponsor=400357
 

---

Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2015 07:01:02 +0000
From: workers-internation...@googlegroups.com
To: workers-internation...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Sanders

[Matthew Andrews]

I really like Street's point that Sanders could run for Governor in
Vermont and would surely win (his most objectionable politics are on
international issues), and he could save single payer health care, which
the movement struggled for years to pass before being betrayed by their
corporate Democrat ally, Peter Shumlin. Despite his rhetoric, Sanders is
more interested in his legacy than winning reforms (let alone advancing
socialism!).

http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/07/17/interjections-on-bernie-sanders/


~Matt

On Thu, 2015-07-16 at 18:59 -0400, Andrew Gunderman wrote:
> Okay great. I start and submit Exhibit A
> https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/browse?sponsor=400357
>
>

> ______________________________________________________________________

[Andrew Gunderman]

I don't know about Street handily lumping Sanders in with Kucinich and Edwards. The congressman did get on the list as a 2008 presidential candidate but had been overshadowed, if that's a good term to use, by Sen. Obama.  With Edwards on the other hand, I don't get the connection. Some people and parties are just agitators and will never support accommodation with the system. That kind of obviates any interest they may say they have in the Presidential elections.
 
Obama has turned out to be kind of a crony, someone looking to make connections. It will be interesting to see what becomes of him.   
 

> Subject: Re: Sanders
> From: peopl...@verizon.net
> To: workers-internation...@googlegroups.com

> Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2015 11:04:52 -0400

> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to workers-international-ind...@googlegroups.com.

[William Shakalis]

Interesting that the volunteer form for the Sanders campaign in CT

asks for your political affiliation, then lists all the options, including 

a choice from all left socialist groups, like mine: socialist party usa.

See:   http://www.berniesandersct.com/volunteer-connecticut

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wsha...@gmail.com

cell: 860 208-7273

 

[Matthew Andrews]

Perhaps there is a silver lining to the Bernie Sanders campaign. We can
now clearly see who is serious about independence from the Democratic
Party. Lots of people who throw around the label socialism are still
falling over themselves for Bernie.
Democracy in the US is a mass illusion orchestrated by the corporate
media to legitimize the ruling class. Bernie Sanders doesn't have a
snowball's change in hell of becoming the Democratic Party nominee
(despite his many capitulations to their politics). But elections are
still a platform to present a political analysis to millions of people
(there's nothing to lose by insisting on a good analysis). Done right,
it could be a vehicle for building an independent political party.
Now might be the best time to build an organization that will be firmly
grounded in political independence as a principle.


~Matt

[Scott Wallace]

I agree, " elections are still a platform to present a political analysis to millions of people

(there's nothing to lose by insisting on a good analysis).  Done right, it could be a vehicle for building an independent political party. Now might be the best time to build an organization that will be firmly grounded in political independence as a principle". 

I say, create a political movement to dispute congressional and and senatorial races. Call it a movement for democratic socialism. Use Debs' 1910 Industrial Unionism speech as a revolutionary cornerstone. Make it a campaign to also build revolutionary cooperatives, attack militarism and imperialism, and plan for industrial sustainability. Compare and contrast this democratic socialism with that of Sanders. If Sanders should win the nomination, don't challenge him in the presidential election, lend critical support.

[Matthew Andrews]

I think this is a good program. I'd just say we should always be clear
with people about Sanders' flaws and the magnitude of an error it would
be to work for the Democratic Party.

If Sanders wins the Democratic Primary, shit will hit the fan. Not
because Sanders is radical, but because the ruling class doesn't leave
anything to chance. It's hard to imagine such a situation.

For now, with Sanders in the running, those attracted to Jill Stein may
be more radical that the typical fair weather friends the Greens
attract. I'm really hoping for a decent socialist candidate and
organized campaign, but I don't see one yet.

If we run or support other candidates, would we affiliate/orient toward
an alternative political party? I'm searching for a decent option.

There is also the organizational question of the WIIU. At this point we
aren't much more than an email list. I think we could become a
functional organization, but it would only signal delusional hubris to
call ourselves a union. It's generous to call the IWW a union. I think
building a caucus in the IWW ought to be one major project. Even if
reform efforts fail, we'll meet people who agree with us.


~Matt



On Mon, 2015-07-20 at 11:54 +0000, 'Scott Wallace' via Workers'

> an email to workers-international-industrial-union

[Scott Wallace]

It's true we are merely wannabes as a union, that is undeniable. I agree we should also enter the IWW. An IWW that embraces revolutionary political action renders the WIIU superflous. Still, I hope we have some value in pointing out the nature and necessity of revolutionary unionism. I would prefer an alliance of independent socialist candidates united around a few revolutionary principles to a political party.

Let's also develop this discussion at the facebook page for The Project for Revolutionary Unity and Action.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/industrialunion/  When we see articles about Sanders on the internet, we can interject our comments and attract people to the project. I did that yesterday and a couple of new people asked to be members of the page. We should all start doing.

[William Shakalis]

I think we ALSO must organize WIIU Solidarity Locals.

Put our theory into practice, not just enter other

organizations.

Organize WIIU.

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[peopleunite]

Organizing locals could be the fastest way to grow the WIIU, but on what basis do we begin? We need a clear strategy. People haven't heard of the WIIU. We don't have a newspaper or materials. We don't have any campaigns. We don't have a rank and file. All we have is some good theory and historical affinities. That might attract a certain layer, but not activists. 

I'm working locally to connect with activists already doing interesting work. Networking and coalition building. But I don't have any basis to recruit for the WIIU. How do I pitch the WIIU in a city that already has an active IWW? Starting a new group from scratch will look sectarian. 

I think people might get involved if we can first establish a working relationship on a particular project. It's a lot of work, and often heavily influenced by local conditions. Generally it's better to find what's already moving people to act and find a way to lead. For me, it will probably have to begin with the IWW and other existing campaigns.

If you already have people locally who are interested in the WIIU, by all means, start a chapter. But otherwise, you're likely to spin your wheels without traction. 

In Solidarity, 

~Matt

Sent on my Samsung Galaxy S® 5

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[William Shakalis]

To get a sense of how grass roots and extensive the Sanders

campaign is, use this finder for a Sanders meeting near you.

Try searching any state, town, city:

https://go.berniesanders.com/page/event/search_simple

I am going to an organizers meeting tonight in Windham, CT.

Should be interesting.

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[Matthew Andrews]

I would prefer a political party, but I don't think it's in the cards.
The unity of the old SPA was, at least in part, based on the national
profile and universal appeal of Eugene Debs. We have no such leader
today. An alliance of independent socialist candidates united around a
few revolutionary principles may be the best we can hope for in 2016. I
think those candidates would have to define the points of unity and
level of cooperation themselves. Our role may be to facilitate the
conversation.


~Matt




On Tue, 2015-07-21 at 15:02 +0000, 'Scott Wallace' via Workers'

> an email to workers-international-industrial-union

[Andrew Gunderman]

I can still remember locating the W.I.I.U. site by Google. Aren't there ways to enhance the site's visibility on search engines? The site itself is pretty attractive, I think. Don D. has posted a lot of features. It would be nice to make it a cooperative blog on current events, instead of Hotmail messages. It would draw continued interest to anybody visiting the site.   
 

---

Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2015 07:32:31 -0400

[Scott Wallace]

We need a plan, a list of certain actions we can take, and we need to start executing those actions. Even though we are a mere handful we can accomplish a lot if we act as together in a cohesive and intelligent manner pursuant to our internal debate and democratic decisions. I think one of the more immediate tasks is to write a more compete statement of support/criticism of Sanders and his campaign, stating specifically where we agree and disagree, and putting forth our principles. Then we should try to figure out the best ways of reaching out, using the internet, trying to communicate a revolutionary message.

[Andrew Gunderman]

The other alternative is add a participatory forum. The web site does a great historical representation that's best left to our S.P.A. experts. But with the last news update almost a year past, I think it could use a little refreshment to make it appear more active. Most of the W.I.I.U. communications are hidden within formats outside of the site.
 
Then somebody new could see what's talked about and be able to grasp where they could contribute. 
 
If I'm correct the anti-Sanders, internationalist side tends to reject accommodation to U.S. military participation and it has some merit in light of events following Debs' incarceration. There is a wave of anti-constitutional support for arbitrary arrests of U.S. citizens and, in light of the increasing compliance of politicians with business interests, don't think it couldn't happen again. Most of the conflict between the U.S. and Russia, i.e. the military preps, aren't publicized through media.
 
For example, agribusiness interests have managed to classify animal-rights activists who expose abuses in factory farms as terrorists!
 
The major issue here is the run-up of corporate influence on politicians through high-powered (market-driven) lobbying and I think Clinton manifests its epitome. 
 

---

Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2015 13:23:05 +0000

[Scott Wallace]

We really do need to update the Industrial Union News. Anyone care to contribute an article?

[Bill]

On Sunday, July 26, 2015 at 1:54:42 PM UTC-4, Scott wrote:

We really do need to update the Industrial Union News. Anyone care to contribute an article?

A good idea.

Perhaps one on basic organizing steps to build WIIU Local Solidarity Groups and RLUs.

 

...