Shut Down Wisconsin!

By Andrea Pason and Billy Wharton

It has just been reported that Wisconsin Republicans have approved the provision in Governor Scott Walker’s Budget Repair Bill that strips public employees in Wisconsin of their collective bargaining rights.  Collective bargaining is necessary to the functioning of trade unions and is a right that should be held by every worker in both the public and private sectors.  As socialists, we condemn Governor Scott Walker and the Republicans in Wisconsin.

We call on students, workers, and all who are opposed to this decision to converge on Madison tomorrow to protest.  We support the resolution passed by the South Central Federation of Labor (Wisconsin) that calls for a general strike of all workers in the region.  We support the immediate formation of strike committees by all union and non-union workers in the state.  We support all acts of civil disobedience and non-compliance to protest and reverse this Bill.

Workers and students, shut down Wisconsin!  As popular movements throughout the world claim their democratic rights, Walker and the Republicans have trampled on workers in Wisconsin.  By building on the spirit of Tahrir Square, Madison can be the site where a new militant workers' movement is built.  Our democracy is not contained within the Assembly Houses and State Capitols; we build it in the streets!

For a General Strike of All Wisconsin Workers!
Kill the Bill!
Build Democracy in the Streets!

Happy Valentine's Day!

"The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved - loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves."

-Victor Hugo

Charlottesville Passes Resolution Opposing Anti-Immigrant Legislation

Charlottesville City Council passes unanimous resolution opposing long list of anti-immigrant bills in the General Assembly

Charlottesville's regular first Monday City Council meeting saw dozens of people showing up to make sure that a resolution pertaining to statewide immigration legislation would pass.

In the unanimous vote, the Council expressed its "strong opposition" to a long list of bills directed towards undocumented people, stating that "Charlottesville recognizes that all people living or working in Virginia are entitled to respect and inalienable human rights regardless of residency status."

Some of the bills being opposed would deny public services, higher education, use of the Virginia Employment Commission, and driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.  Other bills allow Virginia police to act as federal immigration officials, set up a system through the Department of Homeland Security to check residency status, allow police to stop anyone suspected of being here illegally, remove local oversight of federal immigration investigations, put Virginia in charge of detaining and paying for immigrants awaiting deportation, and mandate all parents to verify residency when enrolling children in public schools.

Opponents of the legislation, who now include the Charlottesville City Council, say the legislation is a full on assault on immigrants in their community.  They say that denial of public services and education contributes to a less safe and prosperous community, erodes civil liberties, and will cause chaos in the immigrant community.  They further note that many of the bills require the Commonwealth and it's localities to pay for doing the job of the Federal Government.

In attendance at the Monday night meeting were many members of the "Southwood Alliance" of immigrants in Charlottesville, one of whom spoke, through an interpreter, about how the proposed legislation would "cause chaos" in her community.  Many others in attendance also spoke in favor of the resolution, and no one expressed any opposition.  When asked to stand in support of the resolution, the entire room of attendees of the meeting stood up, with only two or three people remaining seated.

One speaker asked the council to actively "engage the public" on this issue, another pointed out that the legislation "legitimizes discrimination."  Mayor Dave Norris responded to Maria Jiminez's comments that the legislation is an assault not only on her community, but the entire community.  The resolution itself points out that immigrants awaiting deportation are often held in detention for 8 months or more.

To hear the resolution being read out loud in full, visit (at minute 53:00) http://charlottesville.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=612.

For more information on the growing opposition to anti-immigrant legislation in the General Assembly please visit Virginia United Against Oppression.

To schedule an interview, contact:
Brandon Collins
(434) 249-3312
brandoncollins@comcast.net

SP-CVA Statement on Anti-Immigrant Legislation

By Aaron Smith-Walter

The Socialist Party of Central Virginia recognizes the fundamental worth and dignity of each and every human being, and the basic human right associated with the ability to travel unencumbered.

The Socialist Party of Central Virginia also recognizes that each and every person is entitled to the means to earn a decent living through meaningful work, and that this right is contingent upon nothing other than membership in the human community and does not respect limitations based on narrow divisions associated with national citizenship.

The Socialist Party of Central Virginia supports the vision of a United States which opens its arms and its borders to the very individuals whose labor is the fundamental ingredient in the material benefits that we enjoy.

In light of these values that place the value of people over profits, the Socialist Party of Central Virginia calls upon our fellow Virginians and our elected representatives to oppose the following legislation, which, when taken in its totality, amounts to a full frontal assault on some of the valued members of our communities for crass political gain.  Instead of focusing on the incredibly low level of corporate income tax in our commonwealth, or the fact that corporations intent on hyper-exploiting overseas laborers have shipped millions of jobs overseas to the detriment of workers in our country, as reasons that our educational system and social services are under-funded, our legislatures have chosen to try to balance the budget on the backs of some of the least powerful persons in our Commonwealth.

In light of these facts, the Socialist Party of Central Virginia opposes the following bills now working their way through the Virginia Assembly:

• Senate Bill 789 (Senator Watkins): Would require the Virginia Employment Commission to utilize the federal E-Verify program.
• House Bill 1468 (Delegate Albo): Would require individuals to prove citizenship or legal presence in order to receive public assistance; it would also require that any proof provided by an individual is subject to verification.
• House Bill 1420 (Delegate Albo): Would allow the Virginia State Police to enter into agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  This would have the effect of allowing Virginia State Police to enforce federal immigration laws.
• House Bill 1421 (Delegate Albo): Would require that localities follow Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement rules.
• House Bill 1482 (Delegate Cleaveland): Would require use of birth certificate in order to receive a driver’s license.
• House Bill 1574 (Delegate Garrett): Would require mandatory self-identification; failure to identify oneself to a law-enforcement officer would result in the individual being guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
• House Bill 1465 (Delegate Peace): Would require legal presence for admission to institutions of higher education.
• House Bill 1775 (Del. Gilbert): Would require parents enrolling students in public school to verify citizenship.

Taken together, these bills, if passed, amount to a wholesale assault on many individuals in our communities.  The politicians will, no doubt, attempt to frame the issue as one in which “illegal immigrants” have broken the laws of this country and are therefore not entitled to access to higher education, driver’s licenses, or public services.  We must ask ourselves if we seriously believe that this will solve any problems at all?  Will these actions, instead, not make everyone in our Commonwealth more at risk, more divided, and less free?

Consider, if police can now require anyone to identify themselves or be guilty of committing a crime, doesn’t this make us less free to resist arbitrary state authority?  If individuals are prevented from getting access to the medicine they need, doesn’t that open the door for epidemics to explode in our communities because basic medical services aren’t available?  If individuals are prevented from attending higher education, perhaps because their parents may have brought them from another country when they were mere infants, what possible gain can we reap from denying an individual an opportunity to better themselves and give back to the community?  If we make state and local law enforcement proxies for the Federal ICE agents, aren’t we just creating a situation whereby communities will become more dangerous since people will fear contact with law enforcement because they might be undocumented?  How many crimes will go unsolved because witnesses will refuse to contact the police with information?  How many public servants and teachers will become informants?  Families will be hard hit by this legislation.  Requiring parents to verify citizenship when they enroll their children in school means less children in school; more parents being verified means more broken families.  Imagine for a moment what it must be like to be a child who is a citizen having their parents arrested and detained.  The basic necessities for life should be met for all people, not just citizens of the US.  Our communities remain safe when everyone has access to food, housing, employment, and education.

In sum, the Socialist Party of Central Virginia opposes this proposed legislation and calls upon all Virginians to contact their State Senators and Delegates and encourage them to vote against these bills, which threaten to weaken our communities.

Furthermore (from the Socialist Party of Central Virginia Minimum Legislative Agenda):

• Immediate repeal of Chapter 829 of the Code of Virginia that establishes English as the official language of Virginia.
• Allow undocumented people to apply for and be issued driver’s licenses.
• Allow immigrants expanded and greater access to work visas.
• End imprisonment for immigrants awaiting deportation.
• Allow habeas corpus rights for all immigrants, including the undocumented.

(from the Socialist Party USA Platform)

• The Socialist Party works to build a world in which everyone will be able to freely move across borders, to visit and to live wherever they choose.
• We recognize the central role global capitalism plays in forcing the immigration of people from the less developed to the more industrialized countries, often leading to further economic and social injustice.
• We support secular democratic states, assuring equal rights to every citizen and resident in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• We oppose the militarization of the United States/Mexican border, and an increase in the service budget instead of the "military" budget of the INS.
• We defend the rights of all immigrants to education, health care, and full civil and legal rights and call for an unconditional amnesty program for all undocumented people.  We oppose the imposition of any fees on those receiving amnesty.
• We call for an end to the use of "secret evidence" in deportation hearings, a ban on all immigration detentions and military tribunals, and full due process and habeus corpus rights in US courts for all non-citizens on US territory or in US custody.
• We demand an end to police raids in areas where immigrants congregate.
• We oppose "guest worker" programs.  We call for full citizenship rights upon demonstrating residency for six months.

And we insist that human beings can only perform illegal actions, hence, no human being can rightly be deemed illegal simply for existing.

Stop Anti-Immigrant Legislation in the General Assembly

State-wide effort underway to stop anti-immigrant legislation in the General Assembly

Virginia United Against Oppression says it aims to stop "all out assault" on undocumented people and workers in the Commonwealth.

A new group called Virginia United Against Oppression has formed a statewide campaign in Virginia to fight racist anti-immigration and anti-worker rights legislation in the General Assembly.  The group has organizers statewide building a campaign against the "massive attack on all people living in Virginia."

You can visit the website for Virginia United Against Oppression at http://virginiaunitedagainstoppression.wordpress.com/ or visit them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Virginia-United-Against-Oppression/146569948730890.

Several anti-immigrant bills are expected to move through the short session of the General Assembly over the next two weeks, ostensibly to get them to the floor before public opposition is increased.  A similar process exists for the bills pertaining to workers rights.

Activists and citizens are mobilizing across the state to bring attention to these issues pointing out that:

• The bills are a full scale attack on undocumented people in Virginia, turning state police and all public employees into immigration enforcement officers, denying services and education to immigrants, and encouraging racial profiling.
• Along with legislation designed to limit workers abilities to file workers compensation claims, legislators will also be moving to embed Virginia's "right to work" laws in the state constitution, laws that already exist as statute, but harder to repeal if added to the constitution.  In addition, another constitutional change is being proposed adding language that mandates a "secret ballot" when workers try to form unions and leaves the decision of how and when a union forms in the hands of business owners rather than employees.

For a full list of the bills being opposed, or supported, by Virginia United Against Oppression please visit http://virginiaunitedagainstoppression.wordpress.com/the-bills/.

Virginia United Against Oppression is mobilizing people statewide in a variety of ways and plans on directly lobbying legislators, educating the public, and rallying all Virginians, documented or not, to take a stand against what they say is racist and xenophobic fear mongering made into law.  Organizers point to the widespread outrage expressed over similar legislation last year in Arizona, and plan to beat legislators to the punch in Virginia.

Organizers are encouraging anyone interested in the issues to take action and to contact them for ideas and cooperation.

For more information, or to schedule an interview, contact:

Brandon Collins
(434) 249-3312
brandoncollins@comcast.net

Some more reasons to oppose racist legislation in Virginia:

• Having state police enforce federal immigration laws will be a burden on Virginia taxpayers; all public employees will be "deputized" as immigration officials, detracting from their ability to do their jobs.
• Public employees should not be forced to turn in people seeking assistance; refusal to do so puts public employees at risk of job loss and loss of conscience.
• Localities should always be aware and witness immigration enforcement in their communities, eliminating this opens the door to great abuses.
• Immigrants awaiting deportation are often detained for months, sometimes for a year, in jail cells normally reserved for criminals.  This is a great expense for taxpayers if we add to these numbers while simultaneously creating profits for private prison contractors.  Beyond the tax issue, putting more people in jail for "crimes" that are misdemeanors is a human rights catastrophe.
• No human being is illegal.  Virginia should welcome immigrants not put them in prison simply for existing.
• Social services and education for immigrants are not a drain on our society, rather, it makes for a safer society when the needs of all people are met.
• Further, many undocumented people pay into the tax system but do not file returns, thus paying more into the system than other low income citizens.
• The nation's eyes will be on Virginia.  We should not pass racist legislation when the rest of the country is appalled by racism.  Virginia's tourism industry could be severely impacted under a boycott such as has been seen in Arizona.
• Immigration is a federal issue, and should remain a federal issue.  US trade policy is the main driver of migration to the United States.
• Workers should have a right to decide how and when they form unions.
• "Secret ballots" on the surface sound fair, however, by not allowing union sign-up or card check, the law puts the control and timing of union organizing into the hands of employers rather than employees, who could still opt for a secret ballot system but by their own decision rather than the employer.
• Since "card check" isn't allowed anyways, the only reason to put this language into the state constitution is to negate any federal laws on the matter such as the Employee Free Choice Act.
• Virginia's "right to work" laws are already Virginia statute.  Putting them into the state constitution makes it harder to repeal these laws in the future.
• Both constitutional issues bolster the stated goal of some state officials in Virginia and around the country to change the US Constitution to allow states to ignore federal laws whenever they want.
• People deserve to work in a safe environment.  When accidents happen, workers should be able to be compensated for their injuries. The new legislation will shorten the time allowed for workers to file claims, limit what qualifies to receive compensation (including secondary injuries), and makes it harder for employees to defend themselves in the filing process.

There are 3 bills ("Good Bills for Workers") relating to workers rights that can be supported:

• Workers should not be discriminated against because of sexual orientation or preference, including state workers.
• Workers compensation should cover all injuries on the job, including brain injury.

Buy Nothing Day - What Will You Do?

November 26, the day after Thanksgiving, is traditionally a day where corporate dominance over our lives is asserted and our complicity in consumer capitalism is encouraged and expected. Known as Black Friday, consumers/citizens are prodded by media and business to flood stores en masse to start the holiday shopping season.

Buy Nothing Day is the resistance to this! A symbol of resistance to a symbol of consumer capitalism, ecological devastation, and neo-liberalism. Use this day as a start on reducing your consumption and ending participation in corporate expectations of you.

What will you do this Buy Nothing Day? The Socialist Party of Central Virginia is asking everyone reading this to participate in some way in the myriad of activities planned.

First off- don't buy anything on Nov. 26! Make sure you send us an e-mail before that day, or the day of, to let us know how you plan to participate.

Here are some ideas:

1. Don’t buy anything!
2. Attend, or help organize, a free store: Nov. 26- Really Really Free Market, Really Really Free Speech Zone, and Really Really Free Movie 1p.m.-8p.m. Random Row Bookstore, 315 West Main St., Charlottesville, VA. Nov. 27- Noon-3 p.m. Monroe Park, Richmond, VA.
3. Organize a gift making party or workshop- reuse goods for art!
4. Post about Buy Nothing Day on Facebook.
5. Write and call your friends and family and ask them not to buy anything on Nov. 26.
6. Visit a shopping mall and don’t purchase anything; tell shoppers to hurry up and start buying because we have a planet to consume!
7. Zombie shoppers- get some friends to dress like zombies and wander around the mall with empty shopping bags.
8. Cut up your credit cards. Offer to cut up other people’s credit cards- set up a stand at a mall, “Free Debt Reduction,” and bring scissors to cut up cards.
9. Bike or walk to work.
10. Pack a lunch for work- Thanksgiving leftovers anyone?
11. Puppet or street theater at a Wal-Mart, or other big box store, or mall.
12. Research a particularly vicious corporation and hand out fliers to shoppers at their stores.

So, what are you doing for Buy Nothing Day? Please post your ideas below and let us know!

The Bird May Die

By Gary Shaw

Editor's Note: In 2009, Patrick Wilson, a reporter for the Virginian Pilot, contacted several SP-CVA members for interviews, etc. This was Mr. Shaw's response to Mr. Wilson (Wilson's resulting article being "Socialists Say Their True Beliefs Are Being Misconstrued"). The title, "The Bird May Die," was gleaned by myself from the body of Mr. Shaw's article, as it had none.

Author's Note: This was the original write-up for the Virginian Pilot article. It must have been too much truth for them, or, if published as is, Frank Batten would have battened down their hatches.

After looking up the true meaning of the word "socialist," I went on to research what the ideological, or world, view differences really were. "It's all about the money," so they say: who gets it, who deserves it. But a nagging question was "the massive debt." If our country is trillions of dollars in debt, then who exactly is in debt to whom... and why? I am a member of the Socialist Party USA, and have served as a seated delegate at the Party's National Convention; but like many members, have primary concerns. Mine is political economy.

The common people believe anything you tell them; the politicians play the term for advantage. If a socialist ever makes it into office, he is labeled an "Independent." This is the way we are told there is no alternative but the lesser of two evils.

Obama, a socialist? Certainly not. The "moderate" line has been drifting right for decades. The public is swayed by what they are going to get in the short term. We are racing into a brick wall. The question now is how hard does it have to be? Climate change, continued division of the rich and poor, exhaustion of natural resources: these are real. What in politics do we have now?

Two wings of the same bird, yet the bird cannot fly,
I call you to reason to ask yourself why?
They call the bird an Eagle, supposed to soar in the sky,
Yet there'll be a season the bird may well die.

Today we hear the word more, probably as a result of desperately grasping Republicans, warning the people that we are headed (with Obama) down the slippery slope towards - what amounts to - the "failed Soviet system." Rubbish.

Socialism is not an easy subject to understand, otherwise we would all be socialists. I wish we had more time to discuss what you actually need to spread "our gospel."

There must be a distinction between the neo-liberal agenda and that of Capitalism as a system. There are those who believe that the neo-liberal model needs adjustment; however, the basic adherence to Capitalism as an economic base must be addressed as well. Our president, as a Democrat (and not a socialist), believes our solution to the current economic conundrum is to work within the system of so-called "free enterprise" and world trade. Unfortunately, these lie at the core of the problem. To satisfy those who are in control of the current system (i.e. the major stakeholders- shareholders [Wall St.], the military-industrial complex, the media [Murdock, Turner, et al.], and others) only limited reforms within their worldview are authorized. Socialists are committed to an overhaul of the current system so that people's lives are under their own control, and they are the owners of the means of production, rather than just participants under "representation" (which we all know is not real). We believe in full-employment for those who are willing to work, not a mass of available workers in a reserve army pool of labor. Obama believes that we can tinker with a system which still favors the rights of the employer over the employed. The employed, although at the bottom of the Ponzi scheme structure of the economy, are still the entire support structure of all money-makers above them. The workers are not capitalists. To be a capitalist requires reaping the benefits of those workers who "work for you," so to speak.

The term "socialist" has become an epitaph, a term to be used among the dead. In light of the fallen Soviet Union, a bad taste has been left in the mouth of post-Cold War warriors: "Socialism [sic] has failed, and there is no alternative to the capitalist system which has triumphed [also sic]." Too many times our natural progression (invention is the mother of necessity) towards socialism, has been characterized in light of earlier experimental failures. Let it be known that there are so-called "mixed economies" (e.g. Scandinavia) which in part incorporate both economic systems. However, they are not socialist. The fact that they do succeed as Western European economies does not mean that they have incorporated that which is necessary to ensure full equality and services to their citizens. It may be instructive to look to the new South American Model (read ALBA [Bolivarian Alternative for Latin America and the Caribbean]) to understand the possible future of other developing countries.

Save WTJU, Keep It Weird!

By Brandon Collins

Those who don't listen to WTJU 91.1 fm should tune in more often. So should I. I say "should" the same way I say "I should practice Yoga more often," or "I should read more Tolstoy." For 53 years, WTJU has been bringing Charlottesville eclectic Classical, Jazz, Folk, Rock, Kid's, and Current Events programming in a way that is healthy for our minds. It is healthy because the all volunteer staff has complete freedom to select their programming, and have very specific individual shows to broadcast educational and artistic music.

All of this came under assault recently. Under the banner of increasing revenue, listenership, and student involvement; the new station director, Burr Beard, sold UVA's Office of Public Affairs on the idea that WTJU should overhaul how the station is programmed in order to become "more competitive in a commercial market." These changes, we found out rather hastily, would include switching to a mostly "Americana" format, the inclusion of playlists, the elimination of classical music programming, and the elimination of individual shows in favor of generic "block" programming.

The changes originally were slated to take place in a matter of days. News leaked out, and some announcers hit the press. The sudden attention granted the station a "temporary stay of execution," with management claiming they would open up the process to the announcers and the public. Through more leaked information, it became clear that management was not listening to input, and was planning to implement programming changes with the appearance of inclusion to quell dissent.

Simultaneously, some announcers looked for help. One announcer, and former Wobbly, contacted IWW in Richmond, which then contacted the Socialist Party of Central Virginia. We quickly set to work trying to get the announcers to organize in some fashion. There was no time for a formal organization to be formed, so an organizing committee had to suffice. That took some doing. The announcers were emotionally frazzled, overworked, and freaked out, and they had a lot to discuss. An organizing committee finally formed and began keeping all announcer discussions and meetings outside the ears of management. They decided to stand in solidarity to protect the different genres and unique nature of the station, rather than defend their individual turf. Points of unity were discussed and a plan of action formed. The announcers came up with their own proposal to make changes to increase revenue, listenership, and student involvement without destroying what is best about WTJU- that it is eclectic, diverse, and grants announcers the freedom to decide what to play. Added to the list of goals was protecting the station's mission statement, which quite specifically states that the station is to be run free from the restraints of commercial competition.

It was determined early on that a highly visible and vocal pressure campaign from the community was needed as well. The idea was to make the issue visible everywhere; and to put pressure not only on management, but on their bosses at UVA. It was thought that creating any kind of hassle for UVA administrators could be very effective. Bringing negative attention to UVA's assault on the arts and academic freedom would also gain us some ground. A solid show of unity could convince the bosses that we were prepared to continue the campaign at all costs.

We did this through e-mail "bombs" and rallying any community members we could find. We had musicians address their audiences at every turn. One recently resigned DJ addressed the large crowd gathered at Fridays After Five, a weekly concert series at the Charlottesville Pavilion. Handbills and fliers went out everywhere. We got around 250 people to attend a community input session with management. It was an inspiring meeting. The community was unanimous in its support of the announcers. Community speakers were not organizers in this effort, just regular folks who see the importance of retaining one of the last bastions of true art dissemination in the country. After hearing from very prolific and moving speakers, management not only succumbed to the announcers' demands but are now genuinely prepared to be advocates for the unique nature of the station and strong supporters of art for the benefit of all, rather than as a commodity in a commercial market. WTJU will remain freaky and in the hands of a capable volunteer staff!

The whole campaign came at us fast and furious. As is all too often the case, problems arose that needed a workers'/volunteers' union to confront. No such organization existed, though at some point in the past the idea had been raised. From the standpoint of a socialist, being able to assist workers organizing on their own behalf is a victory in itself. The volunteers have managed to remain organized and are actively engaging in promoting their station as is. Even more interesting is that the community understood the need for solidarity, and that the concept of market driven art and education is completely abhorrent to the majority of the people! This too is a victory. I truly believe that if the Socialist Party of Central Virginia had not been known and available, the station I love would have been destroyed. We have made many contacts since our founding, some of those being IWW members in Richmond. We greatly appreciate the advice we were given and look forward to working with them in the future (see "Joint Statement"). Again, another victory, but none of this tastes as sweet, or sounds as beautiful, as an activist win for something meaningful and vital to our community- that is weird, educational, and inspiring art from WTJU 91.1 fm.

SP-CVA Secretary, Brandon Collins, discussing the WTJU campaign:

Austerity: What is to Be Done?

Joint statement on austerity and the September 29th general strike in Europe from the SP-CVA, the Richmond IWW, and the VCU SDS.

By Brennan S. Chambre

austerity - an economic policy in which nations reduce living standards and development projects, and shift revenue out of the economy, in order to satisfy the demands of outside creditors

On September 29th, 2010, Europe’s finance ministers met in Brussels, Belgium, to discuss fiscal policy for the European Union in response to the global financial crisis.

On that same day, so did workers all over Spain, and all over Europe, to discuss fiscal policy of another sort. In response to austerity measures passed by the Spanish state which chip away at the hard fought rights of working people, no surprise being touted as “labor reform,” workers all-over the country are calling for a general strike to oppose these attacks and fight for true labor reform.

Since May of this year, in several European countries, most notably and inspiringly in Greece, workers have been organizing and taking to the streets to take back their lives directly from the capitalists in charge who seek to balance national budgets on the backs of the working class.

We in the United States are no strangers to this situation, and ought to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Europe, and elsewhere. For how many years has the government forsaken working people in America in order to enrich themselves and the bosses? How many factories here have we seen closed or safety measures ignored in order to make a few extra bucks? How many cuts to social programs and education are handed down every year, while corporations get tax breaks and military spending rises like the national debt? And then of course there are the ironically titled “right to work” laws which do everything they can to impede just that right. All of these measures are presented, both in Europe and in America, as “necessities” in order to recover the country and prevent any further slide into economic collapse. Yet, all they actually serve to do is to rescue the elites from their own mess and leave common people out to fend for themselves, a situation which has appropriately been called “socialism for the rich, capitalism for the poor.”

What we do seem to be strangers to, however, is the response with which our European comrades meet these measures.

While they march through their streets, we write letters to our out-for-your-vote Congresspeople. While they occupy buildings, we file grievance forms. While they are forming community self-help programs, we are asking for help from the very monster that put us in this mess in the first place. In short, while they strike, all we do is vote. While they demand, we ask.

Of course, this is not at all to trash-talk the labor movement in America. Certainly we have fought long and hard for everything we have gained, and there is much to be commended. But the general attitude toward social progress among a great many of Americans indeed seems to be top-down, that all that we have gained has been mercifully bestowed upon us by a kind and benevolent state. The logical conclusion of this mindset is that any ills we see in society can be easily fixed by merely voting out the “bad guys” and voting in the “good guys.” If voting is the extent of democracy, then there is no hope for any of us.

The English peasant revolutionary John Ball once made a speech to his comrades in which he said, “Let us go to see King Richard. He is young, and we will show him our miserable slavery, we will tell him it must be changed, or else we will provide the remedy ourselves. When the King sees us, either he will listen to us, or we will help ourselves.”

It is time to tell our kings and queens, as well as each other, that either they will provide for the needs of working people everywhere, or we will provide the remedy ourselves.

It is time to start demanding, and stop asking.

Report on the Socialist Party of Central Virginia - Summer 2010

By Brandon Collins

The Socialist Party of Central Virginia continues to work for justice and socialism in Virginia! May Day 2010 was a success. Attendance at our workshop was healthy; we had many inquisitive folks participate, offer radical perspectives, and we gained some new interest in our local from folks around the commonwealth. The parade itself was quite inspiring; about 300 radicals, leftists, anarchists, socialists, and activists took to the streets with huge puppets and great energy. SP-CVA met a lot of new folks, and, in the process, continued to build our relationship with the Richmond IWW. Video of our workshop and the speeches can be found on our blog, under the post "May Day 2010."

Moving forward from May Day, we endorsed and participated in "Brown Bag Vigils" in Charlottesville at Rep. Perriello's office, demanding an end to funding the Afghan War. As we began to re-evaluate directions for our local, a solid campaign to keep WTJU in the capable hands of radio announcers got underway. Ultimately victorious, we began to strengthen our relationship with the Richmond IWW (see "Save WTJU, Keep it Weird!").

As we move forward into fall we are determining where our focus should be. This is a time to analyze and build our local. So far, we have agreed to focus on bringing labor activism to parts of Virginia where worker's movements don't exist and work to bring a radical perspective to those places where there is already healthy labor organizing. We will be strengthening and continuing our anti-war work in various ways, but really need to discuss what types of action will best bring a socialist perspective to anti-war organizing. It is our hope to become involved in stopping the assault on immigrant rights in Virginia. Again, more analysis and thought needs to be done on this in the coming months, but rest assured we will be there in solidarity with our undocumented sisters and brothers. In all of these things, members of our local overwhelmingly feel more direct action is needed. Join us as we move forward through the fall and into winter in coming up with creative ways to actively assert a socialist perspective in Virginia.

We've planned a workshop, "Roads to Democratic Socialism," in Charlottesville Sept. 26; a screening of Rethinking Afghanistan and anti-war discussion in Richmond late October/early fall; the launching of workers' organizing websites for Tidewater and Charlottesville; and participation in IWW organizer training in November. Stay posted on these events and more by visiting our website and Facebook page. As always, we invite you to participate and organize with us for a democratic socialist future!

Joint Statement of the Socialist Party of Central Virginia and the Richmond Industrial Workers of the World

The members of both the Socialist Party of Central Virginia and the Richmond Industrial Workers of the World would like to extend their deepest congratulations to the announcers of WTJU and the community of Charlottesville for their recent victories in retaining democratically selected programming at the radio station, and we share in your celebration!

We wholeheartedly recognize, and respect, that this struggle was waged by the dedicated volunteers at WTJU and the listeners that support them; we are happy to have been able to contribute in some way to that effort!

Additionally, we wholeheartedly recognize, and respect, that this struggle is far from over. We stand prepared to remain in solidarity with the announcers and community supporters as they continue to ensure that WTJU remains a place where culture and education is in the capable hands of people who are intrinsically aware of the delicate and important place community run radio holds worldwide.

It is our belief that the arts are an integral part of daily life; that music treated as a commodity, produced or dispersed purely for financial gain, is antithetical to true artistry; and that attempts to make educational, cultural, and musical institutions more competitive in a commercial market is folly to the highest degree. In short, we hope you might agree that art should be produced and disseminated not for profit, but for the bettering of our lives. We acknowledge that WTJU may be the last of its kind in resisting musical hegemony, and commoditization of the arts, and we applaud your hard fought battle as being a part of a larger, worldwide, struggle to promote the arts and arts education as something being worthwhile, and a necessity for a better life for all.

Furthermore, we are inspired when we see workers (yes, volunteers are workers too) gathering in unity to better their situations and workplaces. Even more inspiring is when workers are not only exerting their authority and expertise over their own workplaces, but actively struggling for a better community and world. The announcers of WTJU have done an incredible service to musical and educational culture. Not for profit, but to better the world. Your efforts are a testament to the natural desire of humanity to live in peace and prosperity despite what their bosses want.

We urge you to continue to struggle to make this victory a long lasting one. We highly encourage you remain in solidarity with one another and to organize into some kind of organization, be it an IWW union, or simply an organization of volunteers. We also encourage you to remember this fight whenever you see workers engaged in efforts to better their lot in life. Remember all of the people who took action to support your efforts, and remember to return the favor to your fellow workers involved in struggles everywhere. Please recognize that activism and worker solidarity are worthwhile efforts and bring about changes that not only affect individual workplaces, but also better humanity and our world.

You don't have to be a union member or a socialist to enjoy the benefits of organizing, but please recognize that your struggle is a grand example of the type of organizing our two groups believe are the most important, that is that workers and communities should hold the ultimate authority over their workplaces and communities, not bosses, not corporations, not profits.

In Celebration, Unity, and Solidarity,
Richmond Industrial Workers of the World
Socialist Party of Central Virginia

May Day 2010

Photos from the May Day march in Richmond can be viewed on our May Day 2010 Picasa Web Album.

Video of SP-CVA's workshop, beforehand, "Roads to Democratic Socialism":


Video of all speakers at the rally in Abner Clay Park:


CTNews' report on Richmond's May Day:


For more information visit May Day RVA.  View their photos on Flickr.

Photos of nationwide SP-USA actions can be viewed here.

State Capitol March 1/9/10

The Socialist Party of Central Virginia, as we marched on the state capitol on January 9, 2010 with the Virginia People's Assembly:

On Saturday, January 9, 2010, hundreds of activists from labor, civil rights, immigrant, prisoner advocacy, student, health, and anti-war movements and more gathered to meet, march, and rally to tell the new governor and the Virginia General Assembly: 

• Don't balance the budget on the backs of Virginia's workers!
• Raise Virginia's income tax on large corporations – the 2nd lowest in the country!
• Enact an immediate moratorium on layoffs, cutbacks, evictions, and foreclosures!
• No scapegoating of immigrants! Equality for people of color, women and the LGBTQ community!
• Money for jobs and education; not for prisons, wars, and occupations!

Call In Day Sample E-mail letter

COPY and PASTE THIS and SEND to YOUR E-MAIL LIST

Hi friends!
As part of a national response to President Obama's announcement this Tuesday to increase troops in Afghanistan by 34,000 men and women, citizens of Virginia are being asked to express their dissent by participating in a statewide call-in day to their Representatives and Senators Webb and Warner.
Call these numbers and ask to speak to elected official you are calling. If you can only speak to a staff member, that is okay, but make sure to ask if your concerns and thoughts will be passed on to the Senator or Representative. Make sure you mention that you are a voting citizen of the congressional district that you live in.

Here are some suggestions of what you might say to your elected officials:
-remind them that Congress has the power to stop the president from sending more troops by denying the funds he will be requesting.
-ask that immediate hearings be held to explore civilian and non-violent solutions to the crisis in Afghanistan.
-remind them that 40% unemployment in Afghanistan contributes to increased recruitment by the Taliban.
-ask that a cash for work program that pays Afghans to rebuild their country be instituted immediately.
-remind them that women's rights have lessened and rapes have increased under the US occupation, that the current Afghan government treats women just the same as the Taliban does, and that women's rights and democracy are only paid lip service by those who would have us occupy Afghanistan.
-demand an end to the war and occupation, and demand that war funding be re-routed towards a more productive approach in Afghanistan.

Call Senator Warner (202) 224-2023
Call Senator Webb (202) 224-4024
Call your Representative-
Rep. Wittman, 1st (202) 225-4261
Rep. Nye, 2nd (202) 225-4215
Rep. Scott, 3rd (202) 225-8351
Rep. Forbes, 4th (202) 225 - 6365
Rep. Perriello, 5th (202) 225-4711
Rep. Goodlatte, 6th (202) 225-5431
Rep. Cantor, 7th (202) 225-2815
Rep. Moran, 8th (202) 225-4376
Rep. Boucher, 9th (202) 225-3861
Rep. Wolf, 10th (202) 225-5136
Rep. Connolly, 11th (202) 225-1492

For a list of all of Virginia's representatives in Congress go to- http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml#va and click on your rep. to find their HOME OFFICE number.

You can get more information at
www.jobsforafghans.org/
www.warresisters.org/node/896
www.womenforafghanwomen.org/

PLEASE FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO OTHER VIRGINIANS, point out the link for contacts of other Virginia representatives, or do the work for your friends!

Protest Afganistan War!

SPVCA will co-sponsor actions to oppose the Afghanistan War

The Coalition of Concerned Citizens and Organizations to End the Afghanistan War and Occupation (yes, the coalition's name is this long! whew!) is a collaborative effort of the following organizations:

Charlottesville Center for Peace & Justice
Amnesty International Charlottesville Group 157
UVA Muslim Students Association
Charlottesville UU Peace Action Committee
Code Pink Charlottesville Chapter

and counting!

Events will be held in Charlottesville Nov. 19-22 and include a protest, speakers forum, cultural event, and movie screening. Check the SPCVA calendar for full event details.

For more information about the Afganistan War, visit:

Amnesty International's information about Afganistan

Friends Committee on National Legislation
*disclaimer: FCNL is not a co-sponsor of this event, but they are a trusted resource for information concerning the war in Afganistan

Minimum Legislative Agenda for Virginia

This agenda was crafted by the Socialist Party of Central Virginia to present some basic, achievable, legislative goals to the legislature, governor's administration, and people of the Commonwealth of Virginia. We readily admit that these goals are not all it takes to transition into socialism, they are merely a minimum of goals that we can work for. We hope to bring these issues into the public discussion during the election season, and beyond into the legislative session for 2010. Feel free to use the links below to contact the candidates about these issues.

Minimum Legislative Agenda
of the Socialist Party of Central Virginia

Whereas, the predominant political parties in the Commonwealth of Virginia have endeavored to deny basic civil rights to our Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, and Transgender brother and sisters, and
Whereas, the sustainability of the environment has been cast aside in pursuit of fleeting profits for the energy interests, and
Whereas, workers for the public good have been unjustly denied the rights to seek common cause with one another and collectively bargain with their employer, and
Whereas, workers in the Commonwealth of Virginia have been subjected to a hyper-exploitative hourly wage of $2.13 an hour, and
Whereas, the prevailing minimum wage is insufficient to safeguard a quality of life that allows for savings, security and personal development, and
Whereas, the two major political parties have conspired to raise unreasonably high barriers to entry of third parties into the political process, and
Whereas, the Commonwealth has erected odious voter registration requirements that limit democratic participation in our representative system of government, and
Whereas, the horrific treatment of immigrants in our Commonwealth does a disservice not only to those individuals who are subject to the limitations on their liberties, but also to the memories of all the peoples of the continent, who were migrants to this land at some point in the past, and
Whereas, the existing tax code represents a retreat from a commitment to a progressive system of taxation that recognizes that those with the most can afford to give more than those with the least, and
Whereas, the Commonwealth should guarantee the safety and comfort of those who travel our public highways;
Be it resolved that the Socialist Party of Central Virginia calls for the adoption, at the MINIMUM, of the following resolutions to address some of the greatest injustices and missteps of our government, taken, in its relentless fealty to the powerful industrial, economic, and cultural interests that enshrine the wealthy as holding dominion over the public:

1) Immediate repeal of Section 15-A of the Constitution of Virginia that bans gay marriage or domestic partnerships.
Immediate passage of legislation allowing marriage rights for same-sex couples and civil unions for opposite-sex couples.

2) Immediate bans on mountain top removal mining, new coal fired plants, new nuclear reactors, and new coal ash waste sites.
Economic incentives such as tax breaks and subsidies for electricity co-ops and companies to invest in solar power and other energy alternatives.

3) Collective bargaining rights for state employees to freely and legally form unions to represent their interests.

4) Minimum Wage increase for tipped wage employees from $2.13 per hour to a minimum of $4.40 per hour.

5) Increase the minimum wage in Virginia to $8.00 per hour, with annual increases by $.75 per hour until a living wage is met, based on EPI estimations for Virginia as a whole, and with subsequent raises in the minimum to allow for annual cost of living increases.

6) Expanded access to state ballots for alternative political parties, including a reduction of the number of signatures required for ballot access, and party name identification.

7) Same day voter registration.

8) Comprehensive changes to how the commonwealth treats immigrants:
Defeat of proposed legislation that invites bias based policing such as HB 2136 and HB 1695.
Defeat of any legislation similar to HJ729 which would change the state constitution to implement English as the official language of the Commonwealth.
Allow undocumented people to apply for and be issued driver’s licenses.
Allow immigrants expanded and greater access to work visas.
End detentions for immigrants awaiting deportation.
Allow habeus corpus rights for all immigrants including the undocumented.

9) Change Virginia’s tax code from the current regressive model to a progressive model whereby the lowest earners are taxed at a lower rate, with higher earners paying a higher percentage of their incomes in taxes. $0-$30,000 pays 0%, $30,001-$44,999 pays 5.75%, $45,000-$69,999 pays 6.25%, $70,000-$99,999 pays 7%, $100,000-$250,000 pays 10%, $250,001-$999,999 pays 12%, $1,000,000 and up pays 15%

10) Reopen rest stops on our inter-state highways.

Contact the candidates!
the websites associated with these addresses contain phone numbers-Give em' a call!
Creigh Deeds creigh@deedsforvirginia.com
Bob McDonnell campaign@bobmcdonnell.com
Bill Bolling bill.bolling@billbolling.com
Jody Wagner www.jodyforva.com/contact
Ken Cuccinelli www.cuccinelli.com/action_ctr.htm
Steve Shannon www.shannon2009.com/contact

All seats for the House of Delegates are up for election,
a good list with contact info can be found at-
http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Cidate_Information/Cidate_Lists/CidatesListDistrictWide-Results.asp?ED=11/3/2009&ET=General&LOC=ALL&OFF=Member%2BHouse%2Bof%2BDelegates%2B&PTY=

and don't forget your town,city, and council elections as well! (try www.sbe.virginia.gov to find out more)

You can always drop the Socialist Party of Central Virginia a line at spvirginia@comcast.net

Virginian Pilot Article

Members of the Socialist Party of Central Virginia had their say in the Virginian Pilot, online and in print. Many thanks to our comrades in the Tidewater area for offering their thoughts on the mis-use of the term "socialist."

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/09/socialists-say-their-true-beliefs-are-being-misconstrued

SP-CVA Website

SP-CVA has found a temporary online home through Google Sites and hopes everyone will benefit from a single communication and collaboration source.

http://sites.google.com/site/spcentralva/

Please send all suggestions to spcvawebmaster@gmail.com.

Socialist Party Membership Drive - NBC29

NBC29 stopped by for a visit at the beginning of our monthly meeting.

Socialist Party Membership Drive - NBC29

New SPCVA Chair & Treasurer Elected

SPCVA is sad to see our Chair, Forrest Cook, leave us for Arizona, but look forward to hearing about his SP efforts in another part of our nation!

During the SPCVA local meeting, a new Chair and Treasurer were elected.
We welcome:

Reagan Greenfiled, Chair
and
Aaron Smith-Walter, Treasurer

The next meeting is scheduled for Sunday, September 27th.
Meeting location and time TBA.