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When I posted the old RBB colloquy onLabor yesterday afternoon, I did so fo=
r two reasons.With the exception of the issue of =E2=80=9CCommunism=E2=80=
=9D=E2=80=93 at least then a favorite bogeyman of the right wing of DSA =E2=
=80=93 all of theissues raised remain vital today for Labor:there should be=
vastly more organizing money, less funding for politicalaction, there=E2=
=80=99s the continuing importance of targeting Dixie, and there=E2=80=99sal=
ways business unionism v socially conscious unionism (or even left unionism=
) =E2=80=93and more.
Labor sank huge amounts of money intothe Obama and related campaigns.Itexpe=
cted Labor Law Reform and a national health program with at least a publico=
ption.Labor got Zero.
The other reason for posting thatpiece is simply to illustrate the kind of =
productive discussion that frequentlygraced RBB=E2=80=99s place in the Cosm=
os.
There are occasionally =E2=80=93 very occasionally=E2=80=93 those sparky an=
d beneficial discussions around burning issues. But there arenot many. (And=
we have members on RBB who virtually never post.)
Let=E2=80=99s hope the malaise ethos changes and thatwe work back into the =
old productive pattern.
Labor is well worth discussing.Thanks to Michael Marino for his post.
And there has been, in contrast tothe war situations in the early years of =
this new century, virtually nothingdiscussion-wise on the fact that the U.S=
. is now in yet another war, a veryexpensive war, and a war that could easi=
ly escalate.I=E2=80=99ve voiced my opinion that =E2=80=9Cwe=E2=80=9D should=
n=E2=80=99t bein the Middle Eastern context at all =E2=80=93 Oil,of course,=
looms large -- but I don=E2=80=99t seem to recall any other opinions, pro =
orcon, on that point.
The national peace movement died whenObama took office.There are still some=
valiant local efforts.
Yes, I like reasonably sensible thirdparties =E2=80=93 including the Social=
ists and the Greens and the Libertarians.With all due respect to the latter=
=E2=80=99s critics,and I genuinely mean that, I say, if the Libertarians ar=
e seen as pro BigBusiness for seeking the removal of controls, then they ca=
n be accused of beingpro-Labor because they seek to remove controls from th=
at dimension. That=E2=80=99s alittle different than the blind support given=
capitalism by the two oldparties.All of this is, I grant, ratheracademic a=
t this point.But I like theLibertarians since they do their best to combat =
repressive legislation such asthe Patriot Act and all its kin andgoafter in=
vasions of privacy and, as I see it, consistently take on the repulsive =E2=
=80=9Cbody police=E2=80=9Dstuff.
But, as I=E2=80=99ve said, if Idaho=E2=80=99s 2016ballot has a reasonably l=
eft third party choice, I=E2=80=99ll go that trail.
American capitalism remains at leastfairly strong =E2=80=93 supported by Fe=
deral monies and eclectic DC policies atcritical points =E2=80=93 and by it=
s overseas hunting grounds.But there is also the fact that belief incapital=
ism is still very widespread all over this country, often linked to =E2=80=
=9CAmericanism=E2=80=9Dand, in any case, bolstered constantly by our basic =
social institutions.The latter, sadly, includes much ofLabor.As Thurman Arn=
old put it in hisclassic, The Folklore of Capitalism (ca. 1937) . . . .
Capitalism won=E2=80=99t last forever.And something else will replace it =
=E2=80=93hopefully something vastly better.But,Whatever, it=E2=80=99ll be o=
nly as good as people make it.
And perhaps we should do a re-read ofAldous Huxley=E2=80=99s Brave New Worl=
d Revisited =E2=80=93 warning of the grave dangers posedby massive populati=
on growth.The bookwas relatively new when, in 1960, I took on my first coll=
ege sociology teaching positionat Superior, Wisconsin.
Back then, we had three billionhumans.Now we have seven billion. Hell, mayb=
e even more.
In Solidarity,
Hunter Bear
HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR] Mi'kmaq / St. Francis Abenaki / =
St. Regis Mohawk=20
Protected by Na=C2=B4shdo=C2=B4i=C2=B4ba=C2=B4i=C2=B4=20
and Ohkwari'=20
Check out our massive social justice website:=20
www.hunterbear.org
Member, National Writers Union AFL-CIO=20
The Stormy Adoption of an Indian Child [My Father]:=20
http://hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm
(Photos)=20
My expanded/updated "Organizer's Book,"=20
JACKSON MISSISSIPPI -- with a new 10,000=20
word introduction by me. Covers much of my=20
confrontational social justice organizing life to=20
date. Contains much how-to grassroots organizing=20
methodology: http://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm
If you=E2=80=99re a militant and radical organizer: http://www.crmvet.org/c=
omm/hunter1.htm
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<div><font face=3D"Verdana" size=3D"2"></font></div>
<div><font face=3D"Verdana" size=3D"2"> </font></div><div><font size=
=3D"2"><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></font></div><font size=3D"2"><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b s=
tyle=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; fo=
nt-size: 14pt;"><font face=3D"Calibri">When I posted the old RBB colloquy o=
n
Labor yesterday afternoon, I did so for two reasons.<span style=3D"mso-spac=
erun: yes;"> </span>With the exception of the issue of =E2=80=9CCommu=
nism=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=93 at least then a favorite bogeyman of the right wing of DSA =E2=80=
=93 all of the
issues raised remain vital today for Labor:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes=
;">
</span>there should be vastly more organizing money, less funding for polit=
ical
action, there=E2=80=99s the continuing importance of targeting Dixie, and t=
here=E2=80=99s
always business unionism v socially conscious unionism (or even left unioni=
sm) =E2=80=93
and more.</font></span></b></p><div><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"=
3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 14pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">Labor sank huge amounts of money into
the Obama and related campaigns.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> <=
/span>It
expected Labor Law Reform and a national health program with at least a pub=
lic
option.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Labor got Zero.</fo=
nt></span></b></p><div><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 14pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">The other reason for posting that
piece is simply to illustrate the kind of productive discussion that freque=
ntly
graced RBB=E2=80=99s place in the Cosmos.</font></span></b></p><div><font f=
ace=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 14pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">There are occasionally =E2=80=93 very occasionally
=E2=80=93 those sparky and beneficial discussions around burning issues. Bu=
t there are
not many. (And we have members on RBB who virtually never post.)</font></sp=
an></b></p><div><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 14pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri"><span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let=E2=80=99=
s hope the malaise ethos changes and that
we work back into the old productive pattern.</font></span></b></p><div><fo=
nt face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 14pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">Labor is well worth discussing.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes;"> </span>Thanks to Michael Marino for his post.</font></span></b=
></p><div><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 14pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">And there has been, in contrast to
the war situations in the early years of this new century, virtually nothin=
g
discussion-wise on the fact that the U.S. is now in yet another war, a very
expensive war, and a war that could easily escalate.<span style=3D"mso-spac=
erun: yes;"> </span>I=E2=80=99ve voiced my opinion that =E2=80=9Cwe=
=E2=80=9D shouldn=E2=80=99t be
in the Middle Eastern context at all =E2=80=93 <span style=3D"mso-spacerun:=
yes;"> </span>Oil,
of course, looms large -- but I don=E2=80=99t seem to recall any other opin=
ions, pro or
con, on that point.</font></span></b></p><div><font face=3D"Times New Roman=
" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 14pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">The national peace movement died when
Obama took office.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There ar=
e still some
valiant local efforts.</font></span></b></p><div><font face=3D"Times New Ro=
man" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 14pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">Yes, I like reasonably sensible third
parties =E2=80=93 including the Socialists and the Greens and the Libertari=
ans.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With all due respect t=
o the latter=E2=80=99s critics,
and I genuinely mean that, I say, if the Libertarians are seen as pro Big
Business for seeking the removal of controls, then they can be accused of b=
eing
pro-Labor because they seek to remove controls from that dimension. That=E2=
=80=99s a
little different than the blind support given capitalism by the two old
parties.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of this is, I =
grant, rather
academic at this point.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But=
I like the
Libertarians since they do their best to combat repressive legislation such=
as
the Patriot Act and all its kin and<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> =
; </span>go
after invasions of privacy and, as I see it, consistently take on=
the repulsive =E2=80=9Cbody police=E2=80=9D
stuff.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></span></b></=
p><div><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 14pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">But, as I=E2=80=99ve said, if Idaho=E2=80=99s 2016
ballot has a reasonably left third party choice, I=E2=80=99ll go that trail=
.</font></span></b></p><div><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 14pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">American capitalism remains at least
fairly strong =E2=80=93 supported by Federal monies and eclectic DC policie=
s at
critical points =E2=80=93 and by its overseas hunting grounds.<span style=
=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there is also the fact that belie=
f in
capitalism is still very widespread all over this country, often linked to =
=E2=80=9CAmericanism=E2=80=9D
and, in any case, bolstered constantly by our basic social institutions.<sp=
an style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The latter, sadly, includes m=
uch of
Labor.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Thurman Arnold pu=
t it in his
classic, The Folklore of Capitalism (ca. 1937) . . . .</font></span></b></p=
><div><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 14pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">Capitalism won=E2=80=99t last forever.<span style=3D"mso-spa=
cerun: yes;"> </span>And something else will replace it =E2=80=93
hopefully something vastly better.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> =
</span>But,
Whatever, it=E2=80=99ll be only as good as people make it.</font></span></b=
></p><div><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 14pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">And perhaps we should do a re-read of
Aldous Huxley=E2=80=99s Brave New World Revisited =E2=80=93 warning of the =
grave dangers posed
by massive population growth.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </sp=
an>The book
was relatively new when, in 1960, I took on my first college sociology =
;teaching position
at Superior, Wisconsin.</font></span></b></p><div><font face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 14pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">Back then, we had three billion
humans.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we have seven b=
illion. Hell, maybe even more.</font></span></b></p><div><font face=3D"Time=
s New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 14pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">In Solidarity,</font></span></b></p><div><font face=3D"Times=
New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 14pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri">Hunter Bear</font></span></b></p><div><font face=3D"Times Ne=
w Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></div><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-we=
ight: normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 14pt;"><font fa=
ce=3D"Calibri"><br></font></span></b></p></font><div><font size=3D"2"><font=
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">
</font></font>HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR] Mi'kmaq / St. Fran=
cis Abenaki / St. Regis Mohawk=20
<br>
Protected by Na=C2=B4shdo=C2=B4i=C2=B4ba=C2=B4i=C2=B4=20
<br>
and Ohkwari'=20
<br>
<br>
Check out our massive social justice website:=20
<br>
<a href=3D"http://www.hunterbear.org" mce_href=3D"http://www.hunterbear.org=
">www.hunterbear.org</a></div><div> =20
Member, National Writers Union AFL-CIO=20
<br>
<br>
The Stormy Adoption of an Indian Child [My Father]:=20
<br>
<a href=3D"http://hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm" mce_=
href=3D"http://hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm">http://=
hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm</a></div><div> =20
<br>
(Photos)=20
<br>
<br>
My expanded/updated "Organizer's Book,"=20
<br>
JACKSON MISSISSIPPI -- with a new 10,000=20
<br>
word introduction by me. Covers much of my=20
<br>
confrontational social justice organizing life to=20
<br>
date. Contains much how-to grassroots organizing=20
<br>
methodology: <a href=3D"http://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm" mce_href=3D"http=
://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm">http://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm</a>
</div><div><br>
<br>
If you=E2=80=99re a militant and radical organizer: <a href=3D"http://www.c=
rmvet.org/comm/hunter1.htm" mce_href=3D"http://www.crmvet.org/comm/hunter1.=
htm">http://www.crmvet.org/comm/hunter1.htm</a>
</div><div><br></div>
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Posted by: "Hunter Gray" <[email protected]=
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<br><br>
<tt>
"[C]apital comes dripping from head to foot, from every pore, with blo=
od and dirt."<BR>
--Marx, Capital, Vol. 1, Chapter 31<BR>
<BR>
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