The 2012 US Election

Tuesday’s election was a win for the incumbent, Barack Obama, and a continuation of near the same balance between parties in Congress. In reality though, it was a vote for the status quo. What does this election mean? How is the rabid right wing taking it? And what is going to happen to the USA?

Rabid Response

The response of the GOP crazies to the election was over the top and over the edge. Tea party poster child and former SNL star Victoria Jackson took to twitter to lament that “America has died.” she also gave a tongue lashing to Christian for allowing Obama to be reelected. Donald Trump, poster child for worst hair on a public personality ever, called for revolution. Just against whom, I can’t imagine seeing since he already has millions of dollars and is firmly in the capitalist class that rules the country. Rabid squirrel brain having Ted Nugent,\ went on a badly spelled twitter rant, yelling that “pimps whores and welfare brats” voted for “economic and spiritual suicide”. He also called anyone getting government assistance “subhuman”.

The talking heads on Fox “news” went into a spiral of depression and denial Tuesday night, as Karl Rove tried to deny that Obama had won. Bill O’Reilly lamented the death of a “traditional” “White” America. He also equated this demographic shift to laziness, and wanting handouts.

While it is not surprising that the rabid right responded to this election with racist rants and old rich white people feeling sorry for themselves, I would not recommend anyone breathe a sigh of relief. See, contrary to popular opinion, Barack Obama is really not all that progressive, and not much of a leftist. He’s not a socialist. He is most definitely not a communist. I’ll tell you what he is.

Barack Obama is a war mongering capitalist imperialist.

Guantanamo Bay, still open. Afghanistan, still being fought. Thousands and thousands of dead and wounded soldiers, with more being wounded almost every day. The US is maintaining more than 750 bases all around the world, in more than 150 countries. We are helping the human rights abusing rebels in Syria, giving Israel more ammo to drop on Palestinians, we are still embargoing Cuba, we are still threatening Hugo Chavez, we are continuing NDAA, the PATRIOT act, drone surveillance of our own citizenry,
and on and on and on.

Obama is in effect, Dubya 2.0. So there must be a reason that the GOP, and the neocons hate him. Oh right, he’s black. Forgot about that.

I hope these gun wielding crazy assholes do start something. If the US is too busy destroying its own government then it cannot attack other countries. I hope it all devolves into a anarchic chaos filled pile. But it probably won’t, because Americans are afraid to fight for their own political future. They’re too scared to actually press for systemic change, and even the brain damaged reactionaries on the right are all talk and no walk. No surprise there.

So what’s the plan now? Oh, I suppose another 4 years of the status quo? What are you going to do about it? Nothing?

What Next?

On a recent blog post here on the Communist Daily, a reader keeps insisting that I don’t have a plan for an economy, and that the best way to win battles for the working class is through electing Democrats. Here, I will show why he’s wrong about socialism, and dead wrong about the democrats.

Elections in the US of A

America’s form of government is technically a “Federal Republic.” What does that mean? Well, it means that we’re a union, or federation of states under a central government, and that we elect officials to represent us. It sounds nice. It sounds democratic. It’s not very accurate. What we have in the US is a dictatorship of the capitalist class. What does that mean? It means that the capitalist class controls and owns every aspect of political life in this country. Don’t believe me? Well, let’s look at the facts.

Interesting Facts about the American Political System

Less than 1% of the American population are millionaires. About 47% of congress members are millionaires. The median net worth of congressional members was an average of  $2.56 MILLION.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/11/47-of-congress-members-millionaires-a-status-shared-by-only-1-of-americans/

Women make up about 50% of our population. How are they represented in congress? As of 2011, in the 112th congress, they represented just 16.8 % of the seats in the House of Representatives, and only 17% of the seats in the Senate.

Source: http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/fast_facts/levels_of_office/Congress-CurrentFacts.php

Who is controlling government? Do we the people really have the power? Not according to the facts we don’t. Throughout our government are members who have close ties to companies like Goldman Sachs, and politicians have received millions of dollars in financial contributions from them. Here’s a good source where you can see just how pervasive this corruption is:

Source: http://littlesis.org/list/39/Government_Officials_with_Ties_to_Goldman_Sachs#members

Spending in Elections: In 2010 both parties broke records for amount of money raised and spent on getting themselves elected. Hundreds of millions of dollars wasted to win a popularity contest.

Source: http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/10/election-2010-to-shatter-spending-r.html

The solution

I could go on and on with these kinds of facts, that show that both parties are complicit in the corruption that controls our government. I could go on about how the same corporations support and defend both the Democratic, and the Republican parties, because they’re both the same, and the results are the same. I could go on about the minutiae of political interworkings, but instead, I’m going to lay out the way forward. We know that our political system is broken. Let’s not kid ourselves. Congress at last check had an approval rating of just 9%. We’re not happy with our government. The problem is that we’ve been told for so long that we’re powerless to change it. We’re told to just shut up and vote, ignoring the limited nature of our choices. Shut up and vote, ignoring the war, economic trouble and corruption that both parties represent. We’re told to shut up and vote, ignoring that our voting doesn’t really matter in a rigged system. It’s time to reject that line of reasoning. We do have a voice, we do have a choice, and it’s time we exercised our prerogative.

 

 Step One:

Demand a new government. Yes, I know that this scares some people. I know that it’s frightening to abandon the old and reach for the new. However, we must. Our current government is broken beyond repair, yet we hang on to it like it was a priceless heirloom. Let go America. Demand a government that truly represents you. Demand a government that is not controlled by money, not controlled by the capitalist class. Demand a government where you really do have a voice; one where we all really have the opportunity to pursue democracy. Before we can do anything else, the US needs a new government. Stat.

Some Plans for a New Country:

Now I am going to talk about issues. First, bring every last troop home . Every last one. Close EVERY base in foreign countries. Yes, that means close our bases in Germany, Japan, South Korea, the UK, Afghanistan, Iraq, Cuba etc. EVERY LAST ONE. Close them down immediately. Cut the military down to bare bones. Close hundreds of bases in the US, as much as possible.

Seize the wealth of the capitalist class. This means outlawing the stock market. Freeze all assets above $200,000. To build a new society, we will need to use the money that has been stolen from us for so long. The US has a GDP of around 14 trillion (with a T) dollars. Yet we cannot provide the most basic services to our citizens. This is unacceptable, it needs to end NOW.

Reform the education system. Abolish all for profit schools and seize their assets. Make education free and open to all citizens through at least the masters degree level. Education is a human right. Forgive all student loan debt.

Nationalize the health care industry. All medical care shall be free and open to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay. This is a human right as well, non-negotiable.

Redistribute the seized wealth, pay reparations to the countries we’ve invaded.

Start building an economy that works for the working class. Invest in research and development, medicine, public transport, green technology, alternative fuels.

End energy production using fossil fuels.

Destroy all nuclear weapons and make the US a nuclear free country.

Mandate that women make up half of the new government, with proportional representation and autonomy for the oppressed nations within the US. Give full unabridged autonomy to the Native Americans.

Conclusion:

These are some ideas for a new America. One free of capitalist corruption, imperialism, racism, sexism and the threat of nuclear war. A country that is truly democratic, socialist and free. I know that many Americans agree with me. They are sick and tired of the old status quo, sick of the lies and hubris of a political and financial class that walks all over them, and sick and tired of being sick and tired. We can build a new, better society, free from capitalism. The first step is to wake everyone up to the fact that we can, and must demand a new government. We are beholden to nothing but our consciences, our morals and our dreams. The planet is dying. Human beings are suffering because of this system. We can turn this around, but not until we achieve STEP ONE: A new government.

Some, like the commenter I mentioned above, think that we should settle for scraps from the table. They think that we can achieve our goals by begging the democrats pretty please. Surely they’ll listen to us. They ignore that it has been Democrats that have sent the police after activists, shot protesters in the face with tear gas canisters; Democrats were those like Obama and Rahm Emanuel that helped suppress the occupy movement. Democrats like the mayor of Seattle who has battled to protect the racist and brutal Seattle Police Dept. against Justice dept. inquiries. Democrats like Obama who have not only NOT stopped our imperialism, but have accelerated it. Democrats like the ones whose money grubbing hands are stained with the blood of innocent Iraqis, Afghans, and Palestinians. Democrats are JUST as guilty as the Republicans. Don’t be fooled. Don’t be swayed. The only way to get real change is to change the corrupt and evil system that has allowed all of these horrible things to happen, that has allowed criminals to go free while innocent Americans sit in prison by the millions. If you really believe in the courage of your conviction leftists, then stand up and demand what we have needed for so long; a new government, one that is truly of, by, and for the people.

Until we have the courage to do that, our demands will fall on deaf ears. They know that we are powerless because we make ourselves powerless. We refuse to have the courage to demand a new government, that we have no way to really pressure them.

Change that. Bring this government down.

 

 

Keep Calm and Carry On

The comedian Bill Maher had some advice for the Occupy movement recently. On his popular show “New Rules” he stated that he thinks it’s time for Occupy to change their tactics, saying :

“Instead of organizing interstate hootenannies, maybe it’s time for Occupy Wall Street to actually participate in the American political process. That means, boring stuff like canvassing neighborhoods, raising money, running candidates for office, manning phone banks and making a baby with John Edwards.”

Yes, occupy. The whole marching in the streets thing, banging drums, getting arrested, fighting fascist cops, staying out in the cold and the rain day after day that was all leading up to this moment, when we realize our real goal, our real aim, the thing we have been working so hard for, for so many months. That goal, that aim is: (Drum-roll please)

GO BACK TO NORMAL.

You see, the real problem is that there aren’t enough Democrats in office. Now, I know we’ve held power, well, still hold power in the Senate and the Presidency, but those pesky Republicans just keep throwing monkey wrenches in our gears, screwing things up for us, being the rascally little obstructionists that they are. What’s that? We had control of the house and senate before 2010? We didn’t even pass a budget while we had the chance? What’s that? Democrats voted for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? What’s that? The democrats support giving more money to the racist state of Israel? What’s that? The democrats time after time after time have reneged on their promises of social and economic progress? What’s that? The Democrats are just as corporate owned as the Republicans? What’s that? What we really need is systemic political and economic change that overhauls and replaces our current system?

No. I will not stand by while millionaire assholes like Maher whine poetic about how occupiers need to just get involved in the American political process. We can’t because to succeed in the American political process you need the support and money of the capitalist class, the class we are aiming on taking down. Do you understand that Maher? Can you get that through your thick fucking skull? We aren’t going to ask permission to have human rights, we will only get them by TAKING them. Rip what you want from the hands of the oppressor. Don’t wait for them to throw you scraps from their almighty fucking table. Knock the goddamn table over and take what you want. For too long the proletariat has been forced to produce, produce, produce, while the capitalist takes all the profit. It has resulted in poverty, war, death, starvation, strife and the coming death of our planet’s ecosystems. No, I won’t just get involved electing another lame ass Democrat into a pointless office. This whole system is rotten and corrupt to its very core. Tear it down. Burn the buildings and monuments. Stop fucking asking for permission. Kick the ass of the bourgeoisie and let’s build a better society, a better world with our hands, together.

Do you get it now Maher? We’re not the left wing equivalent of the tea party. We’re the modern, updated version of the Sans Culottes.

Nah you don’t get it.

Democrats: The Lesser of Two Evils?

As I’m sure you’re aware of, it’s election year. The bourgeois parties are having their little fight to see who will ascend to the top. There are some on the left who think that their only choice is to vote democrat, because the “ultra-right” is way worse of an option. We are supposedly held hostage by our bourgeois system, and must only hope for the least worst option. After all they say, hasn’t Obama done some good things?  Hasn’t he changed things a bit?   My long and drawn out answer to that question lies below. Warning to those easily offended: strap into your seat belt, sit down or whatever. You’re not going to like this, Dems.

What Have the Dems Done: The Clinton Years

Let’s start back in the time of Clinton. I could start much further back, and go over the internment camps of FDR, or the attacks on Cuba by JFK, or the imperialism of Jimmy Carter, but let’s just start a bit earlier for time’s sake.

William Jefferson Clinton. President of the US. I think people genuinely liked this guy, he seemed nice. Too bad that most Americans cannot seem to think deeper than that about a presidential candidate. And so the man from Hope was elected. And what happened after that? Let’s take a look.

One of the first things Clinton did in office was to perpetuate the imperialist policies of his Republican predecessor, Bush, in the impoverished country of Haiti. I’m sure that helped the people of Haiti a hell of a lot. Overthrow their government, subjugate them to the ridiculous enslaving policies of the IMF, and dictate to the Haitian people what their government can and cannot be. The result of Clinton’s attacks on Haiti was even more poverty, crime, corruption and despair. That’s a “progressive”. What else did he do? Well, to continue we’ll be getting away from Haiti, which you can read about here: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/jan2010/pers-j18.shtml

Moving on. Clinton was an imperialist, we can see that in Haiti, and many of his other actions during his 8 years in office. What else did he do? He helped lead the charge to destroy the welfare system in America. He campaigned in 1992 on the promise to “End welfare as we know it”. And he kept that promise. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Responsibility_and_Work_Opportunity_Act

Enough about him though. Read up. See what he did. He was nothing more than another in a long line of capitalist imperialist presidents.

Moving on to:

Obama: Change?

Here’s a list I found of the things Obama has accomplished so far:

1. Escalated an failing war in Afghanistan, leading to even more suffering among the civilians and the Taliban in the nation.

2. Overthrew the left-wing democratically elected President of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, since he was a threat to US interests.

3. Backed the failed Coup through the State Department that attempted to overthrow the disobedient left-wing President, Raphael Correa.

4. Sent various agents, trained in Fort Benning, to Venezuela to reduce the popularity of Hugo Chavez.

5. Signed a Healthcare Bill that is essentially a giveaway to insurance companies without the limitation of public option or cost control.

6. Refused to cut unfair tax cuts for those earning $250,000 and above.

7. Bombed Yemen and made an agreement to cover it up as a Yemeni government operation.

8. Set up a stronger central government in Iraq under extreme control under the US State Department.

9. Lied about closing Guantanamo Bay.

10. Refuses to do ANYTHING about climate change, as well as continuing to ignore the Kyoto Protocol.

So called communists in the Communist Party USA are supporting this man for president in 2012. He has done nothing but continue American imperialism, helped big business, hired people from Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, he’s thrown Bradley Manning in jail for exposing US war crimes, given tax cuts to the rich and rich corporations, he has threatened Iran with war for building nuclear power. He is a conservative, plain and simple. A bourgeois politician who works for the 1%.

Leftists: STOP. SUPPORTING. OBAMA. Stoppit. He is not a socialist, he is not even left of center. He is a member of the capitalist imperialist party of the democrats, and HE DOES NOT WORK FOR YOU.  Stop being swayed by the scraps they throw you from the table. Overthrow the table, set a new one up, big enough for everyone, and take your rightful place. Stop asking for permission to change the world. They’re not going to give it to you. Stop pretending that you’re making any fucking progress by supporting the democrats. Stoppit. The lesser of two evils is by definition EVIL. The democrats gave the bailouts to the banks and the corrupt car companies, BILLIONS and BILLIONS of dollars to the rich ruling class, lining their own pockets at our expense. STOPPIT. Abandon the so called democratic party and start working towards real socialism, and real change. What are you afraid of? That we might achieve something? That we might actually gain something? We will only get what we fight for. And if you’re supporting the democrats, you are not fighting for socialism. You are giving up, you are supporting a capitalist imperialist.

So, CPUSA, : Either stop supporting the democrats, or give up the name CPUSA so real communists can use it.

Rant finished.

P.S. That goes for  and other Obama supporting “communists” and “leftists” and “socialists, STOPPIT.

The Jobs Myth

You’ve heard it all before. It’s election season and the Republicans are trying to make sure that it’s their hand in the money pocket for the next few years. They scream, yell, turn red in he face with their righteous indignation. You see, corporations just aren’t getting a fair shake at things. At every turn, from the EPA to the DOE and the ever sinister boogey man the IRS, companies are just too damn stifled to hire more workers, or pay those workers a living wage. Just ask Apple.

Apple has cash on its hands. When I say cash,  I mean a shit load of freaking cash. They are overladen with it. They have to spend some of it. Well, surely they can start paying better wages to the Foxconn workers in China, right? Maybe give raises to its American workers as well? Naaaaaaaaaaaaah. It’s going to keep that money overseas, because the US government, like a bunch of meanies, will make the  company pay it’s share of taxes. Apple currently has 100 billion dollars in cash. That’s an insane amount of cash. With the US economy hurting, surely they’ll do the patriotic thing and bring that money back to the US, right? No dice was the answer from Apple CFO  Peter Oppenheimer. He says that paying any tax in the US in unacceptable. It’s acceptable for the company to use tax payer funded roads, be represented by the US government embassies overseas, to use an American educated workforce, to use electricity and water and all the infrastructure possible, but it is not acceptable for them to pay their 13% tax for bringing that money to the US. Not acceptable. Story here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/19/apple-announces-plans-for-cash_n_1362212.html?ref=business

This is just another example of why the greed and entitlement attitude of US companies is growing to disgusting levels. When a right wing idiot tries to tell you that US companies are paying too much tax, refer them to this article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/03/major-corporations-tax-subsidies_n_1073548.html Where they point out that 30 of some of the US’s BIGGEST companies paid exactly NO income tax at all, well, except for the billions they actually took from the US government. The right likes to claim that business is being stifled by the US government. It’s quite the other way around, the companies are stifling everyone with their greed.  This has to end. The slave labor, the greed and malice, the cutthroat, dog eat dog hoarding capitalism that has become the norm. Stop it. No one should feel bad for a company like Apple that pays pennies on the dollar for slave labor in China, to workers who are killing themselves because of horrible working conditions, because Apple might have to pay a little fucking tax. Fuck no.

Stop whining like a fucking wimpy asshole Apple, and pay your goddamn taxes like a fucking adult.

Jeeeeeezus.