Showing posts with label Working Class. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Working Class. Show all posts
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Unemployment Realities - 12/05/11
Last weeks news reported that employment in the US is lower. There are problems with this report. One is that there is an under-count in unemployment and also poverty.
The under-counts are in groups such as Chicanas and Chicanos, African Americans, Native Americans, and others. Elders are also under-counted. Importantly youth are under-counted. All of these people can be considered invisible Americans.
One thing that we don't talk about in the US is the health impact of unemployment. Being laid off is unhealthy, being under-employed is unhealthy, and being unemployed for a long time is unhealthy. Being a young person without work for a long time is also unhealthy. In England, Sir Marmot calls is a public health crisis.
The under-counts are in groups such as Chicanas and Chicanos, African Americans, Native Americans, and others. Elders are also under-counted. Importantly youth are under-counted. All of these people can be considered invisible Americans.
One thing that we don't talk about in the US is the health impact of unemployment. Being laid off is unhealthy, being under-employed is unhealthy, and being unemployed for a long time is unhealthy. Being a young person without work for a long time is also unhealthy. In England, Sir Marmot calls is a public health crisis.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Health and Justice
Here are some articles on health and politics. Privatized politics is keeping us from having universal health care. Yet many advocate for this without dealing with the political context. It is like taking some aspects of socialized medicine from another country and placing it a US context.
Our political system narrows the political choices in the US. This narrowness in political parties also limits the possibilities for policies. Policies which impact health are many. Income inequality is a primary factor in health. Education, housing, and jobs are other things that impact our health. Segregation is bad for our health as well.
It is time to focus on how politics and health relate. We need a change in our political system to create more choices. Without working-class oriented parties willing to fix the maldistribution of resources and power in our country we'll keep getting the results we're getting.
Our political system narrows the political choices in the US. This narrowness in political parties also limits the possibilities for policies. Policies which impact health are many. Income inequality is a primary factor in health. Education, housing, and jobs are other things that impact our health. Segregation is bad for our health as well.
It is time to focus on how politics and health relate. We need a change in our political system to create more choices. Without working-class oriented parties willing to fix the maldistribution of resources and power in our country we'll keep getting the results we're getting.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Who is Ordering the Arrest of Demonstrators?
During the early 20th Century the Socialist Party had about 1,000 elected officials. Over 70 were mayors. Some of them kept their police forces from attacking striking workers. Now in the 21st Century who is ordering the attack on demonstrators fighting for the working class?
"Time to Occupy the Democratic Party" says:
"But Oakland is hardly alone when it comes to Democratic mayors ordering mass arrests of Occupiers for exercising their First Amendment rights. In fact, aside from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg - a Republican turned independent - most of the mayors involved have been Democrats. Boston's Mayor Tom Menino had 141 people arrested on October 11. Under Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, roughly 300 Occupy supporters have been arrested in a series of attempts to set up a stable base camp. In Atlanta, 52 protesters were arrested on October 26 under orders of Mayor Kasim Reed, who said the “last straw” came when a man carrying an AK-47 joined the demonstrators. But the man was rejected by the Occupiers, and what he did was legal under Georgia law. Besides, no Tea Party demonstration was ever shut down because someone there was carrying an assault weapon.
The weekend after Olsen was shot in Oakland, 27 Occupiers were arrested in Portland under Mayor Sam Adams, and 25 were arrested in Denver, under Mayor Michael Hancock. The Denver arrests were particularly violent as police in riot gear attacked peaceful demonstrators with tear gas and pepper spray pellets. Dozens more have been arrested in Des Moines, St Louis, Cincinnati, Seattle, Sacramento, and San Francisco - all with Democratic mayors.
While some mass arrests have been deliberately planned, and very professionally handled by police, the predominant pattern has been much more troubling: Despite a grudging admission that people have a right to protest, Democratic mayors have generally viewed Occupy demonstrators in a negative light, and have not shown much interest or inclination in any sort of productive relationship. The city of Los Angeles was a noted exception initially, with city council members even visiting them, and passing a supportive resolution, but more recently both the mayor and an initially enthusiastic councilmember have begun to talk about shutting them down."
At least Albuquerque has some support from City Council, even though the police have helped to shut down Camp Coyote and arrested people. It is time to get out and vote as Left as possible while staying in the streets that are ours!
"Time to Occupy the Democratic Party" says:
"But Oakland is hardly alone when it comes to Democratic mayors ordering mass arrests of Occupiers for exercising their First Amendment rights. In fact, aside from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg - a Republican turned independent - most of the mayors involved have been Democrats. Boston's Mayor Tom Menino had 141 people arrested on October 11. Under Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, roughly 300 Occupy supporters have been arrested in a series of attempts to set up a stable base camp. In Atlanta, 52 protesters were arrested on October 26 under orders of Mayor Kasim Reed, who said the “last straw” came when a man carrying an AK-47 joined the demonstrators. But the man was rejected by the Occupiers, and what he did was legal under Georgia law. Besides, no Tea Party demonstration was ever shut down because someone there was carrying an assault weapon.
The weekend after Olsen was shot in Oakland, 27 Occupiers were arrested in Portland under Mayor Sam Adams, and 25 were arrested in Denver, under Mayor Michael Hancock. The Denver arrests were particularly violent as police in riot gear attacked peaceful demonstrators with tear gas and pepper spray pellets. Dozens more have been arrested in Des Moines, St Louis, Cincinnati, Seattle, Sacramento, and San Francisco - all with Democratic mayors.
While some mass arrests have been deliberately planned, and very professionally handled by police, the predominant pattern has been much more troubling: Despite a grudging admission that people have a right to protest, Democratic mayors have generally viewed Occupy demonstrators in a negative light, and have not shown much interest or inclination in any sort of productive relationship. The city of Los Angeles was a noted exception initially, with city council members even visiting them, and passing a supportive resolution, but more recently both the mayor and an initially enthusiastic councilmember have begun to talk about shutting them down."
At least Albuquerque has some support from City Council, even though the police have helped to shut down Camp Coyote and arrested people. It is time to get out and vote as Left as possible while staying in the streets that are ours!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Interlocking Issues
It is unfortunate that much of the response from the "occupy" people in dealing with racism, classism, sexism, homophobia and colonialism is the old line of "it shouldn't overshadow THE issue" - corporate greed. Corporate greed feeds off of the divisions created by classism, racism, sexism, homophobia and colonialism. That keeps the 99% divided. And divided it is easy to implement corporate greed.
Part of taking that on will require dealing with the isms as well as changing electoral and economic systems.
For those interested below are the "left" parties recognized in NM.
La Raza Unida de Nuevo Mejico (LRU)
New Mexico Socialist Party (SNM)
New Party of New Mexico (PNM)
Peace and Freedom Party (PAF)
Socialist Labor Party (SLP)
Socialist Workers Party (SWP)
Worker's World Party (WWP)
Part of taking that on will require dealing with the isms as well as changing electoral and economic systems.
For those interested below are the "left" parties recognized in NM.
La Raza Unida de Nuevo Mejico (LRU)
New Mexico Socialist Party (SNM)
New Party of New Mexico (PNM)
Peace and Freedom Party (PAF)
Socialist Labor Party (SLP)
Socialist Workers Party (SWP)
Worker's World Party (WWP)
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Walk to Cure Capitalism 2011
We want to extend an invitation to all Working Class people and allies to participate in the "Walk to Cure Capitalism" and the May Day event planned at the Westside Community Center.
The walk will start at noon at La Plazita Institute, 831 Isleta SW and go to the West Side Community Center, 1250 Isleta SW. Please park at the empty lot on Lopez SW. Walking from the plazita near Lopez and Isleta is allowed as well.
The purpose of the walk is to promote working class solidarity amongst all workers, – immigrant and citizen – to have fun, and to bring light to workers issues. We ask marchers to please wear red and black.
The purpose of the walk is to promote working class solidarity amongst all workers, – immigrant and citizen – to have fun, and to bring light to workers issues. We ask marchers to please wear red and black.
The Facebook Cause for the Walk is: http://www.causes.com/causes/601804-walk-to-cure-capitalism
There is also an event at the Westside Community Center that begins at 1pm. There will be food, entertainment, games for the kids and the Casa de Salud (A non-insurance low-cost health center on the corner of Isleta and Arenal) will be offering a health fair. A co-ed soccer game is also scheduled and is $5 a-person with 5-8 players. There MUST be both men and women on the team. (Minimum age is 12.)
Here is a breakdown of events:
Monday April 24th: Planning meeting at Encuentro, 714 4th St SW at 5PM. Translation avail.
Saturday April 30th: Sign making, 1PM at El Chante.
Sunday May 1st: 12-noon, Walk starts, 1pm, Event starts.
We know that capitalism cannot be "cured" - this is a lighthearted approach to the serious issues of right to organize, workers rights, income and power concentration, corporate encroachment upon our lives, immigrant rights issues and more!
Again, please wear red and black.
We know that capitalism cannot be "cured" - this is a lighthearted approach to the serious issues of right to organize, workers rights, income and power concentration, corporate encroachment upon our lives, immigrant rights issues and more!
Again, please wear red and black.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
A 2011 May Day Call To Action
The Bernalillo County La Raza Unida had been working with other groups for May Day events since the 1990s. Worker power and working class solidarity are the general themes. This year we will have an event for International Workers' Day around noon. Please save the date!
From another group:
This is a call to join a network of worker centers, community organizations, and labor unions to increase national participation and power on May Day 2011 to win good jobs, legalization, and equality for every worker. As we all know, Congress and state governments across the nation have begun to wage a relentless attack against all workers this year and in years to come, especially immigrant workers and workers of color. At the same time, the remarkable energy, turnout, and spirit seen five years ago on May 1, 2006 has yet to be duplicated.
Read more at http://maydayunited.org/2011/02/19/call-to-action/
We need to gain the spirit of the original May Day!
From another group:
This is a call to join a network of worker centers, community organizations, and labor unions to increase national participation and power on May Day 2011 to win good jobs, legalization, and equality for every worker. As we all know, Congress and state governments across the nation have begun to wage a relentless attack against all workers this year and in years to come, especially immigrant workers and workers of color. At the same time, the remarkable energy, turnout, and spirit seen five years ago on May 1, 2006 has yet to be duplicated.
Read more at http://maydayunited.org/2011/02/19/call-to-action/
We need to gain the spirit of the original May Day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)