New Ground 131
July - August, 2010
Contents
CDSA Convention
Greider @ the Dinner
YDS
Labor Support Work
Living Wages
The 2010 US Social Forum
New Ground
131.1 - 08.02.2010
0. DSA News
Red Letter
1. Politics
Emergency Action for Jobs
Sitting Down, Hotel Workers Rise
by Bob Roman
TIF-ed Off
Green Party
2. Ars Politica
Elegy to
Steinbrenner by Hugh Iglarsh
3. Upcoming Events of Interest
New Ground
131.2 - 08.16.2010
0. DSA News
Frothing
and Foaming Mouths by Bob
Roman
1. Politics
It's an
Emergency. Where Are the Jobs?
by Bob Roman
2nd City
Glenn Beck Has His Moment of Honesty and Clarity
Labor in the Pulpit
Vacant Properties Ordinance
2. Democratic Socialism
Socialism is the Alternative
The Quiet Revolution
Envisioning Real Utopias
3. Upcoming Events of Interest
New Ground
131.3 - 09.01.2010
0. DSA News
Democratic Left
DSA in the News
The Diet of Wurts: the 2010 YDS Summer Conference
1. Politics
Social Insecurity Again
Hotel Workers Add 3 Chicago Hyatts to Boycott List
Warehouse Workers for Justice
2011 Preliminary Budget Public Hearings
1963
Beyond Repair
Jobs Conference
Democracy Now!
2. Ars Politica
Homage to Forgottonia
3. Democratic Socialism
Exploring Ecosocialism as a System
of Thought
4. Upcoming Events of Interest
Village
Board Gags on Justice
by Tom Broderick
As far as the current Oak Park Village
Board of Trustees is concerned, there will be no living wage
ordinance for Oak Park. On Tuesday, July 6, 2010, the Village
Board met for the first time to consider the report generated
by the Community Relations Commission (CRC). In January 2009,
the Village Board assigned the CRC to study the impact that a
living wage ordinance would have on Oak Park.
The CRC was tasked to study this because
in November 2008 there was a referendum on the Oak Park ballot
asking if the Village of Oak Park should enact a comprehensive
living wage ordinance covering workers who were either directly
or indirectly paid using Village dollars. During our great recession,
the voters of Oak Park said "YES" by a 20% margin.
Taking their responsibility seriously,
the commission spent thirteen months working through the ramifications
that a living wage ordinance would have on our Village. John
Murtagh, who was the CRC Chair, said this was the first "meat
and potatoes issue" the commission had dealt with in some
time.
Commissioners did individual research
and held a conference call with Dr. Amy Glasmeier of Pennsylvania
State University. She developed the PSU Calculator, which is
used to calculate what a living wage would be in various geographic
areas. The commissioners wanted to better understand the methodology
behind the calculator.
Thirteen months of struggle and two
public forums later, the CRC voted seven to two to submit their
report to the Village Board. That report included a recommendation
that the Board enact a living wage ordinance. As the vote took
place, there were many strong endorsements that a living wage
ordinance was good public policy and represented the values of
our community. Commissioner Bob Kane said he had voted against
the referendum but now felt strongly that this made for good
public policy.
After the vote, Murtagh, who voted against
the report, said that the commissioners on the CRC were likely
the most knowledgeable people in Oak Park on the issue.
So what happened? Bias and ignorance
took center stage at the July 6th Board meeting.
Cecil Hunt, the current chair of the
Community Relations Commission made a very good presentation
of their report, including the recommendation that the Village
Board enact a comprehensive living wage ordinance.
After Hunt made his presentation, the
Board allowed three speakers in support of and three speakers
against the ordinance proposal to address the Trustees. They
also allowed Bamshad Mobasher, co-author of the CRC report to
make a short statement.
Ron Baiman, co-chair of Chicago DSA,
who drafted our original proposal, discussed the studies made
on existing living wage communities and how little negative impact
had been recorded. Rich Pokorny, chair of the Unity Temple Social
Mission Committee addressed the positive aspects of government
intervention and oversight, raising the question "Where
did our great recession come from?" Pokorny also gave the
Board 500 post cards signed by Oak Park residents who still think
a comprehensive living wage ordinance is a good idea. Reverend
C.J. Hawking, Executive Director of ARISE Chicago spoke of the
moral imperative of paying wages that lift workers out of poverty.
She also provided a copy of Living Wage: Building a Fair Economy,
a book written by Robert Pollin and Stephanie Luce, to each of
the Trustees.
Martin Noll, chair of the Oak Park Development
Corporation (OPDC) said that OPDC is "unalterably opposed"
to a living wage ordinance. Kim Goldschmidt, President of the
Oak Park~River Forest Chamber of Commerce and Bob Loro, owner
of Loro Auto Works in Oak Park also spoke against the proposal.
One of them actually said enacting a living wage ordinance would
be an insult to those workers who already make one.
They were all willing to talk about
how few workers would benefit from the proposed ordinance, but
it took Village Trustee Colette Lueck to elicit that very few
businesses would be impacted -- only some of those receiving
Village dollars.
There was much confusion and concern
over enforcement of the ordinance. There was concern over the
difficulties that businesses would face in living up to the agreement.
There was concern that the CRC proposal did not cover workers
with disabilities. There was concern that the CRC proposal exempted
workers who worked fewer than 20 hours per week. The Village
Board had many questions and concerns. How did they address them?
At least six of the Trustees thanked
the CRC for their hard work. Then President David Pope asked
for a motion to receive the report from the CRC. Trustee Ray
Johnson asked for an amendment to receive the report but strip
it of the recommendation to enact a living wage. After brief
discussion, Trustee Jon Hale seconded with a declaration that
the referendum that received a 60% "YES" vote was "thankfully
non-binding." "This isn't California," he continued.
He also said that if those who voted for the referendum were
Trustees, perhaps they'd think and act differently.
A vote was taken to strip the CRC report
of the recommendation to enact. Trustees Ray Johnson, Jon Hale,
John Hedges and Jan Pate voted "yes." A special note
on Trustee Pate: she is the Board liaison to the Community Relations
Commission. At the July 6th meeting, she said she had been "kept
apprised" of the commission's work. Pate didn't make it
to one of the CRC's regularly scheduled meetings during the thirteen
months they spent deliberating the proposal.
President Pope and Trustees Colette
Lueck and Glenn Brewer voted against stripping the recommendation
from the report. The recommendation to enact was removed.
President Pope then called for a vote
to accept the report as amended. The vote was identical. The
report without recommendation was received. Unless any Trustee
wants to pursue a living wage ordinance for Oak Park, the issue
will go nowhere under this Board.
Instead of trying to find out the answers
to the questions they were raising, instead of accepting the
judgment of the body they asked to research the issue, the very
body that Murtagh said probably said knew more about the issue
than anyone else in Oak Park, our Village Board decided to say
"NO" to the voters and say "Thanks but no thanks"
to the CRC.
What next? This is a setback, but not
necessarily a defeat. The three co-sponsors of this fight are
Greater Oak Park DSA, Unity Temple Social Mission Committee and
Oak Park Coalition for Truth & Justice. We must figure out
how to broaden the coalition and move forward.
We must also keep an eye on the next
election for Village Board Trustees. Some of the Trustees who
chose to disregard the "YES" vote by the people of
Oak Park may want to seek their support in the next election.
We will assess our commitment to the
issue and deliberate on ways to broaden and strengthen support
for a government policy that improves the lives of human beings
in measurable and meaningful ways. This is a proper function
of a democratic government.
Mobilizing
for Jobs:
National March and Rally
by Bill Barclay
One of the prominent themes at the US
Social Forum was the need for a jobs program appropriate to the
scale of the jobs deficit: a loss of 8.2 million existing jobs
since December 2007 plus the 7.3 million already unemployed at
that time (as of June 2010 there were another 8.6 million underemployed,
working part time but wanting full time work). An important outcome
of both the USSF and the larger political discussion of employment
is the call for a national Jobs Rally and March in Washington
D.C. on October 2, 2010. Several groups are already involved
in organizing for the rally, including Jobs with Justice, NAACP,
and several unions. More information is available at http://onenationworkingtogether.org.
Ideas for local actions in early August are also under discussion.
Chicago DSA is considering organizing
a bus to go to the rally. If
you are or think you might be interested in going to the rally,
please let the Chicago DSA office know. We estimate the cost/person
at $75, not including food, if we can fill a bus. Call us at
773-384-0327 if you are interested in joining people across the
country for this extremely important rally. It's our chance to
get the political and the pundit classes focused on the real
deficit: the jobs deficit.
These mobilizations are urgent and important.
While private sector jobs are indeed being added to the economy,
at the current rate of increase, it will take decades to replace
the jobs lost during the formal recession. For a look at the
numbers, see this PowerPoint presentation prepared by the Chicago Political Economy Group
: http://www.cpegonline.org/multimedia/JobsProgramNow.ppt
.
Other
News
compiled by Bob Roman
CDSA Convention
A synopsis of the membership meeting
is on page 2, but in summary, all the incumbent officers were
re-elected without opposition, except for the female co-chair
position for which there were no candidates at all.
The meeting also adopted a truly skeletal
yet deficit budget, anticipating a loss of about $3,000. We do
have the reserves to cover this, and deficit budgets have been
typical for the Chicago local though we sometimes end up pretty
much breaking even or even adding to our reserve. The big variable
is our annual dinner. In June, it's very hard to predict the
next year's dinner gross or net. The years we've done well have
been covering for the years we've not.
It may not show in the synopsis, but
the meeting was not happy with our fiscal condition. The deficit
is not so bad except that there is also not much money for doing
things, including replacing some of our aging computer equipment
and software. This kind of budget worked, after a fashion, last
year. It might work this year. It's not a tenable situation for
much longer.
T-shirts will not solve the problem,
but they could be a fun and useful contribution anyway. So we're
going to have union-made Chicago DSA t-shirts for sale,
and we're going to have a contest for the design. Email
(chiildsa@chicagodsa.org
) or mail your design entry to the Chicago DSA office. Entries
will be judged on aesthetics, practicality, humor, and politics.
What will you win? A t-shirt, at least, but maybe more. Deadline?
To be announced but sometime 2010.
Greider @ the Dinner
CAN TV recorded William Greider's talk
at the 2010 Debs Thomas Harrington Dinner for later broadcast
to Chicago cable subscribers, but it's now available to all on
the web: http://www.cantv.org/VIDEO-BringAmericaHome.htm
.
YDS
The Young Democratic Socialists have
a new national organizer, Andrew Porter. Porter is a graduate
of the College of Wooster, where he had begun a campus group,
Ice Cream Socialists, that quickly affiliated with YDS. Since
graduating, he's worked at a number of green organizing and policy
jobs, so he's not so green, in a manner of speaking.
The annual YDS Summer Retreat will be
held August 5 through 8 at the Valley Brook Inn in Wurtsboro,
New York. For more information, go to http://www.ydsusa.org
.
Labor Support Work
The Chicago Department of Aviation is
putting the O'Hare Airport concession contracts up for bid. UNITE
HERE Local 1 has contracts covering the workers at some of these
concessions, and Local 1 and friends have been petitioning Commissioner
Rosemary Adolinoto to include a living wage in the request for
proposals to be sent out. See http://www.chicagodsa.org/ngarchive/ng130.html#anchor338961
for more details. Chicago DSA members are involved in this campaign,
and we may be asking for your help too.
In addition to the front page of New
Ground 130, Chicago DSA sent out over 700 postcards advertising
the 7th year anniversary picket and rally in support of the Congress Hotel strike
on June 14. We targeted the downtown zip codes and our list of
labor activists for the mailing. Nearly a dozen DSA members were
in attendance and Chicago DSA's new banner made its second public
appearance.
Warehouse
Workers for Justice tells us
that New Ground readers have contributed well over $500
and that contributions are still coming in. They're using the
money to pay warehouse worker to canvass fellow-workers on job
conditions, research that no one else has been doing, apparently.
You'll be hearing more about this in the future.
Living Wages
There's been a considerable amount of
material regarding Living Wage campaigns in Oak Park, Chicago,
and Cook County (Chicago DSA has been a part of them all) published
in New Ground. Now links to most of these articles are
available in one place: http://www.chicagodsa.org/ngarchive/livingwage.html
.
The 2010 US Social Forum
The 2010 US Social Forum was held in
Detroit from June 22 - 27th. An estimated 10,000 people attended
one or more of the USSF's hundreds of panels and workshops. DSA
and YDS sponsored 4 workshops: "A Permanent Jobs Program
for the United States," "Movement Building and the
Atlanta Fighting Foreclosure Coalition," "Reclaiming
the Ivory Towers: Students Achieving Access and Affordability,"
and "WTF is Socialism Anyway??? The Campus as a Battleground
of Class Struggle." The "Permanent Jobs Program"
workshop was conducted by members of the Chicago DSA (the presentation
can be found at www.cpegonline.org
). In addition, DSA held an "Ice Cream Socialist" open
event to meet and talk with other socialists and those curious
about socialism, DSA and YDS.
In addition to the workshops and forums,
DSA staffed a table for the entire time of the conference. This
gave us a chance to talk with other USSF attendees and to distribute
our recently completed "Social and Economic Bill of Rights
(EBOR)." EBOR is the product of DSA's Economic Security
Working Group that was established at the 2009 DSA Convention
held in Chicago. EBOR exists in both a short 4 page form, perfect
for distributing at rallies and meetings, and a longer background
version that develops rationales of each of the 10 rights described
in the short form. The short form is available from the Chicago
DSA office; the longer
paper can be found on the national DSA website , dsausa.org
.
A special thanks to the Detroit DSA
chapter for all the work they did in preparing for the USSF and
DSA/YDS participation in the event.
Bill Barclay contributed material
to Other News.
|
New
Ground #131.1
08.02.2010
Contents
0. DSA News
Red Letter
1. Politics
Emergency Action for Jobs
Sitting Down, Hotel Workers Rise
by Bob Roman
TIF-ed Off
Green Party
2. Ars Politica
Elegy to
Steinbrenner by Hugh Iglarsh
3. Upcoming Events of Interest
DSA News
Red Letter
The Summer, 2010, issue of Young
Democratic Socialists' Red
Letter is now on the web.
Politics
Emergency Action for Jobs
On Friday August 6th, the latest
unemployment figures will be released and Congress will begin
its next recess. We will be in the street demanding that Wall
Street pay to clean up the mess they created and that Congress
get to work putting America back to work before THEY are
out of a job!
Join with Chicago Jobs with Justice,
Chicago DSA and other friends and allies to demand immediate
intervention in our economic crisis!
Friday August 6th
11:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.
LaSalle and Jackson, Chicago
For more information, CLICK
HERE.
Sitting
Down, Hotel Workers Rise
by Bob Roman
On Thursday, July 22, several hundred people gathered in front
of downtown Chicago's Hyatt Regency hotel to protest the Hyatt
chain's failure to negotiate a new contract and, more to the
point, to protest management's attempt to take back gains made
in the previous contract. Management's rationale being the recession
at a time when business at the Hyatt is recovering and the enterprise
is, in any case, profitable. This action was part of a nationwide
day of action at Hyatt hotels called by UNITE HERE.
Some 17 different actions were held
in the United States and Canada. With the exception of a Thursday
morning action out at the Hyatt near O'Hare Airport, they all
featured civil disobedience leading to arrests. In Chicago, not
all those participating in blocking the street remained to be
arrested. This was done to allow some police officers time off
to attend slain police officer Michael Bailey's wake and funeral.
Not all the participants were happy about this, but everyone
behaved in a disciplined and focused manner.
This is the second time UNITE HERE has
used large-scale civil disobedience in Chicago, the first was
last fall targeting the Hyatt hotel near Chicago & Michigan.
Local 1 usually characterizes these actions as intended to call
attention to their struggle and the issues involved. As a public
relations tool, there's no denying its effectiveness compared
to a simple rally or picket line. Media were all over it.
But if it were only a PR tactic, civil
disobedience probably would not be worth doing, mostly. It's
a risky business, for one thing, no matter how well choreographed
it is with the local police. Too much can go wrong. For another,
it's also a good deal more expensive than you might think. Finally,
it can't be done too frequently before it becomes old news, requiring
its abandonment or escalation.
What tips the scale is its role in building
worker organization and solidarity. Turn the clock back to 2002,
right before the members of Local 1 won a significant increase
in wages and benefits by threatening to strike during one of
the busiest tourist seasons. As part of their campaign, Local
1 organized a march down Michigan avenue with banners proclaiming
each of the hotels where the local had representation. It was
a good march with a much better than adequate turn out. But what
was notable was the lack of confidence. Every person who showed
up was greeted not simply with pleasure but relief. The members
often lacked confidence that their fellow workers had their back.
In 2010, the dynamic was much different.
In the training sessions and rehearsals, people were still greeted
with pleasure, but it was in the spirit of "well met"
rather than "thank god you're here." There was a sense
of purpose and competence. They were people confident that their
backs are covered: by the union, by the community, and most importantly
by the people they work with every day.
This is not entirely due to the civil
disobedience tactic. I've heard some interesting rumors about
developments in Local 1's internal organization, but since I've
no experience with these matters, let's leave it with: there's
more going on than just civil disobedience.
The dispute with the Hyatt hotel chain
does seem to be coming to a head. UNITE HERE members have voted
to authorize a strike. With the settlement of the civil war between
UNITE HERE and SEIU / Workers United, the union seems pretty
well positioned to defend its members position, if not win more.
The most disturbing news was a comment by the President of UNITE
HERE Local 2, Mike Casey: "The hotel industry is comprised
of some pretty clueless decision makers. They turn over so much
that they don't learn from history, and make the same mistakes
over and over again." Management that is unstable and expendable
tends to regard employees as even more expendable. At worst,
this suggests a period of guerilla labor war before any settlement,
and quite possibly more civil disobedience.
At least three Chicago DSA members were
among those who sat down in the street on July 22 though none
of us, I think, were among those privileged to be arrested. There
were several DSA members in the crowd supporting the sit-down,
as well. And we did a small postcard mailing of a few hundred
directed primarily at our database for the neighborhood of the
Hyatt Regency.
For more coverage of this, I'd suggest
Progress
Illinois, In
These Times, Talking
Union, and Hotel
Workers Rising.
TIF-ed Off
Not only do the TIF districts
in Chicago collect taxes totalling something close to the city's
current budget deficit, they are typically unable to spend all
that they collect. In a special report published in Progress
Illinois, Josh Kalvern tells where the money would have gone
otherwise and the options the City of Chicago has or (with legislation)
could have to spend that money. CLICK
HERE.
Green Party
The Green Party held its Illinois
State Convention at the Loyola University lakeshore campus in
Chicago July 30 through August 1. August 2nd is a bit early for
news to be posted on the Green
Party web site, but streaming video should be available HERE.
Ars Politica
Elegy
to Steinbrenner
George was rich, now he's dead.
The glory of the world is fled.
All who love the Yankees
Dab their eyes with pinstriped hankies.
He who made Captain Queeg
Look altogether minor league.
A conscience not quite clean,
But winning helped restore the sheen.
I offer this lament:
His contract's up, his payroll's spent.
-- Hugh Iglarsh
Upcoming Events of Interest
Events listed here are not necessarily
endorsed by Chicago DSA but should be of interest to DSA members,
friends and other lefties. For other events, go to http://www.chicagodsa.org/page9.html.
Wednesday, August 4, 5:30 PM to 7:30
PM
Jobless not Voiceless
Northside Action for Justice Office @ Edgewater Presbyterian
Church, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr, #310, Chicago
The first of a series of potlucks for anyone that's out of work,
worried about the economy, needing to find help or angry about
the lack of jobs. For more information, CLICK
HERE.
Wednesday, August 4, 7 PM to 8:30 PM
Understanding Municipal Budgets
Citizen Advocacy Center, 182 N. York Rd, Elmhurst
Learn how municipal budgets are made, how to access budget documents,
understand what budgets mean. For information call 630.833.4080.
Thursday, Auigust 5, 7:30 PM
Protest against Americans
For Truth About Homosexuality
Christian Liberty Academy
Sponsored by the Gay
Liberation Network. For those traveling from Chicago, meet
in front of the Ogilvie Transportation Center, 500 W. Madison,
at 6 PM sharp (just look for the rainbow flag!).
Friday, August 6, 11 AM to Noon
Emergency Action for Jobs
Start: 205 W. Randolph, Chicago; End: LaSalle & Jackson,
Chicago
Rally and march to demand Congressional action for jobs. For
more information, CLICK
HERE.
Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August
8
YDS Summer Conference
Valley Brook Inn, Wurtsboro, NY
For more information, CLICK HERE.
Sunday, August 8, 10 AM to 2 PM
People's Radio Workshop Part
I
Mess Hall, 6932 N. Glenwood, Chicago
A two-part workshop on building a low-power FM radio station
from the ground up! For more information, CLICK
HERE.
Tuesday, August 10, 7 PM
"Carbon Nation"
Pritzger Pavillion, Millenium Park, Chicago
A "green carpet" event featuring live performances,
celebrity appearances and the Chicago premier screening of "Carbon
Nation." see http://www.carbonnation.tv
Saturday, August 14, 12:30 PM
CDSA Executive Committee
Meeting
CDSA Office, 1608 N. Milwaukee, Room 403, Chicago
All DSA members are welcome.
Sunday, August 15, 10 AM to 2 PM
People's Radio Workshop Part
II
Mess Hall, 6932 N. Glenwood, Chicago
A two-part workshop on building a low-power FM radio station
from the ground up! For more information, CLICK
HERE.
Wednesday, August 18, 5 PM
"Show Us the Tax Breaks"
The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, 65 E. Huron St, Chicago
A screening of "Show
Us the Tax Breaks" followed by a panel discussion featuring
Kelly Hounshell, Professor Martin Wolfson, Rick Perlstein, Tom
Geoghegan, Jorge Ramirez. Call Elliott Mallen 312.656.5807 for
information.
|
New
Ground #131.2
08.16.2010
Contents
0. DSA News
Frothing
and Foaming Mouths by Bob
Roman
1. Politics
It's an
Emergency. Where Are the Jobs?
by Bob Roman
2nd City
Glenn Beck Has His Moment of Honesty and Clarity
Labor in the Pulpit
Vacant Properties Ordinance
2. Democratic Socialism
Socialism is the Alternative
The Quiet Revolution
Envisioning Real Utopias
3. Upcoming Events of Interest
DSA News
Froth
and Foaming Mouths
by Bob Roman
Well, keyboards anyway. For a long time, the idea that members
of the Congressional Progressive Caucus are all crypto-DSA members
has been circulating among right-wing lists, forums and blogs
like a summer flue. Very much like the flu in that it spreads
much the same way and, like the flue, it's a disease: The story
is, unfortunately, not true. Part of the myth is the assertion
that the Progressive Caucus' web site was once upon a time hosted
by DSA. The truth is somewhat more mundane. In the early years
of the web (and the Progressive Caucus, when it was chaired by
Bernie Sanders), DSA was a vocal booster of the project and had
a considerable amount of information about the Progressive Caucus
on its web site. The Progressive Caucus, at the time, had little
web presence of its own. That began to change. Around that time
(before? after? I don't recall), the right "discovered"
the somewhat one-sided relationship and began its ranting. "52
Secret Socialists in Congress," headlined the various web
pages and email posts. By that time, Bernie Sanders was no longer
the chair, and his successor essentially said: DSA? Who?
The Progressive Caucus material came
down, but the conservatives were high. They made the liberals
flinch. It's been a part of their mythology ever since. And in
a metaphysical sense, who is to gainsay them? "Socialist"
is a contested concept, and "socialist" to me may very
well not have much to do with "socialist" to a conservative.
The only thing that's an actual fact is that the overwhelming
majority of the caucus members have never been members of DSA.
DSA's relationship with the Progressive
Caucus has always been pretty informal and one-sided. We did,
however, have a much closer and substantive part in the organizing
of the Progressive Coalition. See
this account if you're interested.
With the November Congressional elections
approaching, radical conservatives have been coming down with
this virus more frequently, but it's been a fairly low-level
infection. Recently a "Jim
Hoft" at the "Gateway Pundit" blog posted
an article claiming "The Socialist Party of America announced
in their October 2009 newsletter that 70 Congressional democrats
currently belong to their caucus." The article referenced
a web site "American
Socialist Voter" that has an information page about
DSA, but the site is not affiliated with any political party
or DSA for that matter. It had no reference to the Progressive
Caucus. It also referenced a document posted on the publishing
site and document archive, Scribd.com,
that was a rehash of the Progressive Caucus myth and had no relation
to the "American Socialist Voter" site.
Since Hoft's lie claimed confirmation
of what conservatives dreamed of, the contagion was pretty impressive,
with several dozen conservative blogs picking it up. It's perfectly
human to accept as truth a falsehood with pedigree credentials.
One can think of other examples on every side of the political
spectrum. But it is discouraging when the "proof" is
so obviously bogus and so easily accessible. Only a few of conservative
bloggers or commenters expressed doubt over the transparently
phony documentation; most of the others were having too much
fun. One of the former is Trevor Loudon of New
Zeal, a libertarian with something of an obession with
DSA. I am so grateful for a conservative with some respect, at
least, for facts. They seem so rare these days. Too bad he's
not an American.
Politics
It's
an Emergency: Where Are the Jobs?
by Bob Roman
As lunch hour protests go, the Friday, August 6, demonstration
in Chicago's Financial District was pretty good: at least a couple
hundred people milled about in a compressed area around LaSalle
& Jackson, a place guaranteed to irritate building management
at the Board of Trade, at least. But it was a tough crowd. There
were passers-by who were supportive, even enthusiastic. But most,
even the tourists (mostly headed for Grant Park, able to afford
tickets to Lollapalooza), were at least nonplused if not downright
hostile. It was a somewhat polarized audience. And worse, media
coverage was mostly absent. See Channel
7 and Progress
Illinois.
2nd City
Actually, we're tied with Philadelphia,
with 17.5% of the workforce belonging to a union, according to
Chicago Union News:
Many people still think of Chicago as
a big "union town" -- and they're right, at least compared
to most other major U.S. cities.
Out of the 10 most populated American
cities, the Chicago region ranks second -- tied with metro Philadelphia
- for having the largest percentage of union members in
the workforce, an analysis by ChicagoUnionNews.com found.
About 17.5 percent of employees in the
Chicago area belong to a union, according to 2009 data from the
Union Membership and Coverage Database, which uses monthly household
surveys to calculate the estimates. The bulk of Chicago's membership
comes from the public sector, which is 54.7 percent unionized,
while the private sector is 11.4 percent union.
Read More
In the meantime, the Gallup Poll reports:
A slim majority of 52% of Americans
say they approve of labor unions, the second lowest approval
rating in Gallup's 70-year history of this trend, behind only
last year's 48%.
The gross numbers conceal a great deal
of polarization. For example, 72% of union members or members
of union households approve of unions while non-union households
reflect the national numbers. There are also differences between
self-identified Democrats and Republicans. Read
More.
Glenn Beck Has His Moment of
Honesty and Clarity
For one brief moment at the
beginning of his August
5, 2010, show:
GLENN BECK, HOST: You know, I'm just
sitting here, looking at something -- because I ran so late --
look at this. This is from the Democratic Socialists of America,
all these people involved with the DSA.
Just look at this. Where's camera 3
-- there it is. Look at this: "The alternative to capitalism
is Democratic socialism." Is that the change you were hoping
for, America?
I want to have a conversation with you
here. Gosh, I don't know why people watch this show. This
is the weirdest show in history, but it's just you and me.
Emphasis added.
Labor in the Pulpit
Interfaith
Worker Justice continues its annual Labor Day "Labor
in the Pulpit" program where congregations celebrate the
sacred link between faith, work, and justice by inviting a union
member or labor leader to be a guest speaker on Labor Day weekend,
or by focusing their Labor Day weekend service on worker justice
issues. To find out what's on near you, click
here.
Vacant Properties Ordinance
Action
Now reports "On July 28th, 2010 Alderman Pat Dowell,
at the request of Action Now and our allies in the Foreclosure
Convening, introduced a new ordinance that would finally charge
the banks the real cost of their actions to foreclose and evict.
This proposed legislation would hold banks responsible for the
properties they foreclose on by requiring the bank post a bond
of $10,000 on every vacant building." Read
More.
Also see BPI's "Vacant
Properties Resources."
Democratic Socialism
Socialism Is the Alternative
DSA Vice Chair talks about "building a movement to solve
the crisis" at the 2010 Social Forum in Detroit. On
the same panel, Chicago DSA's David Schweickart gave this
presentation.
The Quiet Revolution
In In These Times, Andrew
Kennis writes about the spread of participatory democracy in
Venezuela:
"Hugo Chávez, Venezuela's
megalomaniac president who has spearheaded the country's Bolivarian
revolution and garnered so much attention, is not the only one
shaking up the country's political system. A community-based
revolution is underway in Venezuela. Ordinary people all over
are changing how their communities are governed."
Read More
Envisioning Real Utopias
Britian's New Left Project
interviews Erik Olin Wright
on his new book, Envisioning Real Utopias. The first of
two parts, this part, the focus is on the foundations of emancipatory
alternatives to capitalism, and the existing practices that inform
those foundations.
Upcoming Events of Interest
Events listed here are not necessarily
endorsed by Chicago DSA but should be of interest to DSA members,
friends and other lefties. For other events, go to http://www.chicagodsa.org/page9.html.
Wednesday, August 18, 5 PM
"Show Us the Tax Breaks"
The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, 65 E. Huron St, Chicago
A screening of "Show
Us the Tax Breaks" followed by a panel discussion featuring
Kelly Hounshell, Professor Martin Wolfson, Rick Perlstein, Tom
Geoghegan, Jorge Ramirez. Call Elliott Mallen 312.656.5807 for
information.
Thursday, August 19, 7 PM
Afghanistan and Beyond: America's
Path to Permanent War
First United Methodist Church of Chicago, 77 W. Washington St,
Chicago
Andrew Bacevich, award-winning author and Boston University
professor, will appear in discussion with Jerome McDonnell,
host of WBEZ's "Worldview." Co-sponsors: North Suburban
Peace Initiative, Lincoln Park Neighbors United for Peace, American
Friends Service Committee, Logan Square Neighbors for Peace and
truth-out.org.
Tuesday, August 24, 5 PM to 7 PM
Live History: A Celebration
with Kent Foreman
Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Ct., Chicago
The Guild Complex
hosts a celebration of Kent Foreman, whose career has
spanned five decades and whom the Chicago Tribune has
called the "elder statesman of spoken word." Also appearing
are Roger Bonair-Agard, Regie Gibson and Marty McConnell.
More Information.
Wednesday, August 25, 7 PM to 9:30 PM
Race, Justice, and Resisting
the Police State
No Exit Cafe, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave, Chicago
Crusading attorney Dennis Cunningham and historian of
race David Roediger will speak on Race & Justice.
More information.
Monday, August 30, Noon
Use of Credit Checks in Employment
First United Methodist Church of Chicago, 77 W. Washington St,
Chicago
Town Hall Meeting and Congressional Briefing featuring Congressman
Luis Gutierrez on legislation banning the use of credit checks
in hiring decisions. (How is one to fix one's credit if one can't
get a job?) For more information contact Nat
Lippert at UNITE HERE Local 1, 312.663.4373.
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New
Ground #131.3
09.01.2010
Contents
0. DSA News
New Ground Labor Day Issue
Democratic Left
DSA in the News
The Diet of Wurts: the 2010 YDS Summer Conference
1. Politics
Social Insecurity Again
Hotel Workers Add 3 Chicago Hyatts to Boycott List
Warehouse Workers for Justice
2011 Preliminary Budget Public Hearings
1963
Beyond Repair
Jobs Conference
Democracy Now!
2. Ars Politica
Homage to Forgottonia
3. Democratic Socialism
Exploring Ecosocialism as a System
of Thought
4. Upcoming Events of Interest
DSA News
Democratic Left
The Summer, 2010, issue of Democratic
Left is available online. Click
Here.
DSA in the News
From the Washington
City Paper, this
snarky comment on the DC mayoral contest.
The Washington Post continues
with the snark, but aims it at the Republicans, who are apparently
not fielding a candidate for DC mayor, leaving them less influential than
the socialists?
Fox News
notes Eliseo
Medina's new position in SEIU, but wants everyone to know
just what a dangerous radical and advocate of immigrant rights
he is by also noting his post as an honorary officer in DSA.
Thank you, Fox News! In the meantime, Glen Beck
strikes again. You know those unemployed folks who are asking
for an extension of unemployment insurance benefits? They may
look like normal people, but
they're really DSA members. Well, they should be. They're
holding a banner that says just that!
Finally, our very own Chicago Reader
takes
note of the latest mutation in the "Progressive Caucus
is a bunch of DSA members" and attempts to snark it to death.
Impossible, of course. As an example, see The
Cypress Times.
Snark hunting, anyone?
The Diet of Wurts: the 2010
YDS Summer Conference
"August 2010 marked the
third time Young Democratic Socialists (YDS) held its Socialist
Summer Retreat in bucolic Wurtsboro, NY. This gathering of 40
YDS members included new members from South Carolina, Florida,
and California and veterans from established chapters at the
College of Wooster (Ohio), William Paterson University (New Jersey),
and Wichita State University (Kansas)." Read
More.
Politics
Social Insecurity Again
After decades of borrowing money
from the Social Security Trust Fund to finance the war of the
day, both Republicans and some Democrats are attempting to convince
the public that there's nothing for it. If they can't use the
money to avoid raising taxes, Social Security Benefits will just
have to be cut. The most immediate offender is Republican Congressman
Paul Ryan, whose "Roadmap for America's Future" includes
more of this tired nostrum. Coalescing around Citizen Action/Illinois,
a new "Illinois
Coalition to Stregthen Social Security" just pulled
off it's first demonstration. Nearly 100 people showed up at
Noon today outside the Four Seasons at Delaware and Michigan
on Chicago's near north side where Paul Ryan was kicking off
his campaign for his roadmap. Some were geezers and geezerettes
from Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans and from Metro Seniors
in Action, but there was also a considerable contingent from
SEIU (Healthcare, mostly, but also a few from Workers United),
AFSCME, and UE. Citizen Action, Access Living, Americans United
for Change, Coalition of Labor Union Women and Jobs with Justice
were there as well, and of course a few DSA members were there
also. Some of the press covering the Ryan event interviewed demonstrators
("balance," doncha know) and several people recorded
the entire program of speeches.
In the meantime, William Greider has
this post at Labor Notes: "Social
Security: Bipartisan Fervor to Whack the Old Folks."
The issues don't seem to change somehow. Check
out this from 2001.
Hotel Workers Add 3 Chicago
Hyatts to Boycott List
"Joined by clergy and other
community supporters, Hyatt hotel workers gathered outside
Hyatt headquarters in Chicago yesterday to announce a boycott
of the Hyatt Regency Chicago, the Park Hyatt Chicago and the
Hyatt Regency O'Hare hotels. Hyatt workers, members of UNITEHERE!,
have been working without a contract for nearly
a year as Hyatt management continues in its insistence
on cutting employee health care. Hotel workers are now
boycotting 10 Hyatt hotels across
the nation." Read
More.
Warehouse Workers for Justice
In cooperation with the Center
for Urban Economic Development, Warehouse Workers for Justice
have released their study of warehouse workers in Will County,
Bad Jobs in Goods Movement. It looks to be a reasonably
solid description of such workers as its findings are pretty
consistent with information already available about people who
are regular employees in the warehouse industry. See, for example,
the information regarding wages. The study is distinctive, however,
in that it also gathers information about temp workers as well.
As you might expect, the circumstances of employment for these
people are considerably worse than regular employees ("direct
hires") -- not that this is a great way of making a living,
especially for those with a family to support.
The gist of the reports findings:
- 63% of workers in warehouses were temps;
- the majority of warehouse workers made
poverty-level wages, and temps had it worse than direct hires.
The median hourly wage for a temp was $9.00 an hour, $3.48 an
hour less than direct hires;
- 1 in 4 warehouse workers had to rely
on government assistance to make ends meet for their families;
- 37% of current warehouse workers had
to work a second job to provide for their families;
- Temps were far less likely to have
basic benefits (e.g., only 5% of temps had sick days and
4% had health insurance);
- 20% of warehouse workers had been hurt
on the job, and of those, 1 in 3 were disciplined or fired when
they reported their injury.
For a full copy of the report, click
here.
Also see:
2011 Preliminary Budget Public
Hearings
The City of Chicago Office
of Budget and Management released a revised schedule for
the public hearings on the 2011
preliminary budget estimates. The hearings are designed to
solicit feedback from Chicago residents regarding the needs in
their communities, and how they may be reflected in next year's
city budget. The three public hearings will be on the following
dates at the following locations:
- Thursday, September 9, 2010 - South
Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore D
- Friday, September 10, 2010 - Westinghouse
College Prep., 3223 W. Franklin Blvd.
- Thursday, September 16, 2010 - North-Grand
High School, 4338 W. Wabansia Ave.
All hearings begin at 7:00 p.m., with
registration from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The Office of Budget and Management also works with city departments
to develop a balanced budget plan, as required by state law.
The Mayor will present his 2011 budget proposal in October, and
passage by City Council is required by the end of the year.
1963
The 1963 March on Washington
was as much about economic justice as it was about civil rights.
A national march for jobs is being planned for October 2nd (see
"Mobilizing
for Jobs" New Ground 131). While these plans
are coming together, it's worth looking back at the 1963 march.
Beacon Broadside, a project of the Beacon
Press (affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Church)
has posted these documents of interest:
"Beck,
King, and Nonviolence"
"The
1963 March on Washington on YouTube"
"Excerpt:
Roy Wilkins's Reluctant Tribute to W.E.B. Du Bois"
Nobody
Turn Me Around: A People's History of the 1963 March on Washington
Beyond Repair
That's the death penalty, though
it could apply to any number of things in our country. The Illinois
Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty is taking the issue on
the road, and the schedule of speaking dates for the Chicago
suburbs is as follows:
St. Charles
St Charles Public Library, 1 South 6th Avenue
Tuesday, September 14 at 7pm
Naperville
St Margaret Mary, 1409 Green Trails Drive
Wednesday, September 15th at 7pm
Arlington Heights
Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 1234 North Arlington Heights Road
Thursday, September 16 at 7pm
Joliet
The Cathedral of St Raymond, 608 North Raynor Avenue
Monday, September 20 at 7pm
Quad Cities
St. Ambrose University, Davenport
Tuesday, September 21 at 6:30 pm
Schaumburg
Church of the Holy Spirit, 1451 Bode Road
Thursday, September 23rd at 7pm
For more information, click here.
Jobs Conference
In connection with October 2nd
March for Jobs in Washington, DC, the Chicago Political Economy
Group in collaboration with the Howard University Economics Department,
the National Jobs for All Coalition, The Center for Full Employment
and Price Stability, and the Center for Economic and Policy Research
is organizing a Friday, October 1 conference entitled "Jobs
and the Future of the U.S. Economy: Possibilities and Limits."
The conferencce will be held at Howard University's Armour J.
Blackburn University Center and registration for the day long
conference will be $20. This is pretty fresh, so information
may not yet be posted, but check
here for more information.
For more information on the march, click
here. We hope to have some specific
information about buses from Chicago, price, and ticket information
with the next issue of New Ground. If you want to attend
the conference, you'll have to plan your own transportation,
however.
Democracy Now!
Chicago
Media Action has worked for years with the staff of the daily
radio and TV news program Democracy
Now!. They've had success over the years in widening
the reach of the show and of independent media more generally,
and members of CMA have played roles in helping to get Democracy
Now! on WZRD radio, on CAN TV, and on ECTV in Evanston. They've
also been working on a campaign (now in its sixth year) to get
Democracy Now! on WBEZ, Chicago Public Radio (any time now, Torey).
And since May, Chicago Media Action
has been working on a new campaign to bring the show to one of
Chicago's PBS channels, WYCC
Channel 20. Now the campaign is online -- with this
petition on The Petition Site and with a print
copy in PDF format.
Ars Politica
Homage to Forgottonia
In New City, Hugh Iglarsh
writes:
Nobody sets out purposefully to explore
the region of west central Illinois known colloquially as Forgottonia.
The place creeps up on you as gently as a childhood memory, and
it is only later that you realize you have set foot in this unmarked
republic of corn, dust and melancholy. As its name suggests,
it is less a place than a feeling-a sense of having slipped away
from the present moment into some other time stream, which has
been dammed up by indifference and neglect and now registers
only as a trickle.
The deeply rural parts of Forgottonia,
which are everywhere, seem to exist as a refuge for the left-behind
and the going-nowhere-slowly. To the traveler, they offer atmosphere
without activity, and are conducive to nothing more strenuous
than a meditative solitude. It is the atmosphere captured so
poignantly by Forgottonia native Edgar Lee Masters in his elegiac
Spoon River Anthology. The region has always felt embedded
in a disappearing agrarian past.
Forgottonia did not achieve actual statehood,
but it did briefly crystallize as a state of mind. In the early
1970s, residents of the fourteen counties that define the western
rump of Illinois -- more or less between the Illinois and Mississippi
Rivers -- launched a satirical secession movement to protest
the region's stepchild status in Springfield.
For more, plus photos by Hugh Iglarsh,
click
here.
Democratic Socialism
Exploring Ecosocialism as a
System of Thought
The September - October issue
of Canadian Dimension is devoted to Eco-Socialism. Coordinating
Editor and Publisher Cy Gonick contributes an essay on "the
second contradiction" of capitalism. Click here to read this web-exclusive item.
The Eco-Socialist International Network
is meeting in Paris, September 22 - 25. For more information,
click
here.
Upcoming Events of Interest
Events listed here are not necessarily
endorsed by Chicago DSA but should be of interest to DSA members,
friends and other lefties. For other events, go to http://www.chicagodsa.org/page9.html.
Wednesday, September 8, Noon to 1 PM
Jane Addams Birthday Bash
Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St, Chicago
Celebration of Jane Addams' 150th Birthday. Too bad she's not
around for it. For more information, click
here.
Wednesday, September 8, 4 PM to 6 PM
A People's Block Party
Hull House Museum, 800 S. Halstead, Chicago
Sponsored by Boeing? Oh well. Celebrates the re-opening of the
museum. For more information, click
here.
Saturday, September 11, 12:30 PM
CDSA Executive Committee
Meeting
Chicago DSA Office, 1608 N. Milwaukee, Room 403, Chicago
All DSA members are welcome.
Sunday, September 12, 10 AM to 1 PM
Farm Together Now
Mess Hall, 6932 N. Glenwood, Chicago
Daniel Tucker on the new food movement in farming. For more information,
click here and here.
Sunday, September 12, 6 PM
Disordered or Just Different?
Myth, Science, and Sexuality
Center on Halsted, Hoover-Leppen Theatre, 3656 N Halsted Street,
Chicago
Presentation by Dr. Veronica "Ronnie" Drantz on the
scientific aspects of sexuality. For more information, click
here.
Wednesday, September 15, 5:30 PM to
7 PM
A Conversation with Lisa
Dodson
Jane Addams Hull House Museum, 800 S. Halsted, Chicago
The author of "The Moral Underground: How Ordinary People
Subvert an Unfair Economy" explores economic civil disobedience.
For more information, click
here.
Wednesday, September 15, 7 PM
Citizen Initiative Awards
Citizen Advocacy Center, 182 N. York Rd, Elmhurst
Honoring local citizens for their civic engagement. Featured
speaker Mary Beth Tinker. Call 630.833.4080 for information.
Thursday, September 16, 8 AM to 9:30
AM
Jane Addams Symposium
The Palmer House Hilton Empire Room, 17 E. Monroe St, Chicago
Keynote Speaker Julie L. Biehl. Women of Valor Award to Sylvia
Puente, Vanessa Rich, and Brenarda Wong. Preregistration required.
For more information, click
here.
Thursday, September 16, 9 AM
US EPA Coal Ash Hearing
Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Av, Chicago
Very technical but apparently important. Click
here for some additional information.
Thursday, September 16, 11:50 AM
Defending Human and Labor
Rights in Mexico
DePaul University College of Law, 25 E. Jackson Blvd, Chicago
Cipriana Jurado, founder of the Center for Information and Solidarity
for Working Women but exiled to the States, speaks about her
work in Mexico. Click here
and here
for more information.
Sunday, September 19, 10 AM to 1 PM
Watershed: Art, Activism,
and Community Engagement
Mess Hall, 6932 N. Glenwood, Chicago
Presentation and report back on the use of art as a form of activism
on water issues. For more information, click here
and here.
Tuesday, September 21, 7 PM
"The Day After Peace"
Unitarian Church of Evanston, 1330 Ridge Ave, Evanston
Showing of a documentary by Jeremy Gilley. For more information,
click here.
Friday, October 1, 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM
Faith - Labor - Action Breakfast
Operating Engineers Local 399, 2260 S. Grove, Chicago
Arise Chicago fundraiser featuring AFL-CIO President Richard
Trumpka, Congressman Danny Davis, and Archdiocese of Chicago
Office of Immigrant Affairs Elena Segura. Reservations by September
10. For more information and tickets, click
here.
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