SPC Newsletter Jan 2018 – Mar 2018
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Fraternal Greetings Everyone,
Hoping your holiday season has been good and 2018 will see a greatly increased awakening of our fellow workers to chuck capitalism.
Please find attached our January 2018 Monthly Report for your interest and review.
Two items to note: 1) nominations are open for a GAC spot until close of day January 5th; & 2) our 2017 year end financial report.
If you have news or views you want to share with readers please send
your correspondence to spc@worldsocialism.org
Have a great New Year, All!
Yours for Socialism, John, Mehmet, Steve & GAC members
---
General Secretary, Socialist Party of Canada
PO Box 31024 Victoria BC Canada V8N 6J3
https://twitter.com/spc_newsTHE SOCIALIST PARTY OF CANADA
worldsocialism.org/canada | spc@worldsocialism.org | twitter.com/spc_news
Secretary's Report for January 2018
Email Report
– WSP (India) EC meeting minutes No. 182, Sunday, December 3, 2017, received with thanks.
Good of the Movement
– One introductory package sent out.
– SPC Toronto Branch public meeting December 27 (tentative), 6:30pm – 8:30pm, The Second Cup Coffee House, 324 Bloor St W, Toronto.
– Visit Toronto Branch Facebook for further details: https://web.facebook.com/Toronto-Branch-Socialist-Party-of-Canada-1120836671294008/ & our website https://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/ ; Toronto Branch email spc.toronto@worldsocialism.org.
General Admistrative Committee 2017-2019
– Nomination for vacant GAC seat: Comrade Ames nominates Comrade Muirhead for the remaining vacant seat on the General Administrative Committee. Last day for nominations: close of day January 5, 2018. As our Party Constitution & ByLaws do not speak to filling GAC seats in between GAC elections, the General Secretary seeks input from members who may wish to further nominate members for this remaining GAC opening. The Secretary suggests this nominating period be open for 30 days from receipt of this Monthly Report, and unless mermbers direct this to be a longer time priod, nominations would close January 5, 2018. If more than one candidate is nominated an election for the position will be decided upon by vote of the membership. If no further nominations come forth, and no direction is given to the Secretary to leave nominations open for more than 30 days, Comrade Muirhead will be acclaimed.
Financial Secretary's Report to the Socialist Party of Canada. 29 December 2017.
The Party started 2017 with $2,638.42 and will end it with about $2,593.30. The actual ending balance will not be available until sometime in January 2018. I've included estimated interest for December 2017 in the above end of year figure. The deficit for 2017 will be about $45.12. I thank General Secretary John Ames for convincing the bank (credit union) to waive the bank's monthly service fee of $9, starting in October 2017. This will, thenceforth, save the Socialist Party of Canada, $108 per year. Dues remain at $25 per year, per member. Dues have not increased in more than 3 decades. The Socialist Party of Canada had 6 dues-paying members in 2017. Total dues received was $150. It is not a new situation, but this lack of members should be alarming to all 6 members and to anyone who wants the Socialist Party of Canada to survive, work for socialism, and grow. Dues for 2018 are payable on 1 January 2018. One member has already paid dues for 2018. Donations of $175 were received from John Ayers.
– For Socialism
– Steve Szalai, Financial Secretary
Dues – $25 per year or $2 per month. Funds are used to conduct Party work such as post, photocopies, public meeting expenses and internet url services. All other Party activity is voluntarily run. Members needing dues waivers please contact our treasurer or general secretary to arrange.
F ood for T hought – views & contributions to spc@worldsocialism.org
● Reports from groups such as United Way, the Childrens Aid Society of Canada and the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants contain data on the shocking disparities between the richest and the poorest of Canadians and the challenges facingnewcomers and the lack of affordable child care in Ontario, to name a few problems. Particularly appalling is the fact that 475,000 children, or 17.2 per cent are living in poverty, while Ontario's poverty rate is the lowest its been since 2008. The Children's Aid report warns that unless political parties pledge to end child poverty during the next provincial election any ''gains'' over the last eight years could be lost! Pardon my confusion, but I seem to recall a provincial election in the 1990's where the new government said they would abolish child poverty by 2000; but then why abolish child poverty? Wouldn't it be better to abolish poverty for everyone?
● Justin Trudeau obviously believes in hitching his wagon to a rising star as evidenced by his overtures to China. During his report to the House of Commons, he said,'' We know that engaging with China, to be able to set the rules and ensure opportunities for Canadian businesses to succeed in a globalized world is just the right thing to do.'' It may seem like it, considering China has the world's second largest economy with a gross domestic product in 2016 of $14.9 trillion. Furthermore China wants what Canada has to offer such as raw materials for its construction projects. According to Sarah Kutulakos, executive director of the Canada China Business Council, the Canadian economy will grow by $7.8 billion and add 25,000 jobs within 15 years of signing a free trade deal with China. Sounds great right? But you know what it may not be so great. Ken Neumann, the head honcho of the United Steelworkers Union said there are concerns in some industries, such as steel production, that the massive capacity of Chinese production could allow China to flood the Canadian market and kill businesses here. Though he didn't say it, one doesn't need to be a genius to figure it will cause unemployment in some industries. A typical capitalist situation — if its beneficial for some, it's a disaster for others.
● Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada data show that asylum claimants have increased in Ontario since 2015. Then it was 11,000, which jumped to 15,300 in 2016. As of October of this year there have been 26.500. The hardest hit are the youth many of whom cant speak English and have no relatives in Ontario, besides having the abnormal problems of finding accommodation and a job. Therefore great press coverage was given to the purchase of a house by the Christian City Church International, in December, in which 5 unaccompanied youth refugees will live rent free. It will be run by Matthew House, a non profit charity that helps refugees with their settlement needs. To quote Karen Francis, executive director of Matthew House,''These kids don't just need a bed or a room, they need a community, they need a family, they need a place to belong.'' Well she's right about that, but its a case of, ''Hey Lady how about a society where everyone feels like part of the human family, instead of using a band aid when a major operation is needed?''
● Round this time of year we hear a lot of talk about our old friend jolly St.Nick. I guess I'm way behind the times; I recently heard that a few years back the Eastern Orthodox Church Canonized Czar Nicholas II and his wife and kids who were shot by the Bolsheviks. So that makes 2 of them. Its as logical as capitalist logic gets that Nick should be made a saint; look what the guy did. He sent millions to a senseless death in WWI many of whom were forcibly conscripted; he had defenseless protesters shot down; he ordered pogroms against the Jews; he refused to initiate reforms to improve the standard of living and maintained a ruthless and brutal police state. In other words the guy was a poster boy for capitalism. What I don't get is, if we apply the same logic Nicky's church does, why they don't go all the way and make murderers like Hitler and Stalin saints.
● Recently I happened to journey through parts of Toronto where I haven't been for some years and was dismayed at the changes I saw. What were pleasant residential areas have now become a mass of condos. Also in some of the business areas, what were once buildings with character had been demolished to make way for massive glass and steel monsters. The midtown Yonge-Eglinton part, in which construction is continuing, is similar to the concrete canyons of New York. It's safe to assume that the above is happening in other big cities. It's all so drab and depressing, but if that is the result of real estate tycoons making money that's how it will stay; at least as long as capitalism lasts.
● NDP leader Jagmeet Singh came in for some harsh criticism, early in December, from Justice for Migrant Workers, a group which advocates for better conditions for farm workers. They accused Singh of cozying-up to Windsor area greenhouse owners which, '' are part of an industry that systematically exploits racialized migrants for profit.'' Singh had previously said he would address their problems in an upcoming party platform. He said he is using his time to travel and visit communities to build momentum for his parties brand and ideas. Perhaps that does mean he has to confer with capitalists, especially if he wishes to administrate capitalism. Here is this man who has been NDP leader for a short time and hasn't a seat in the House of Commons, who obviously wants a long and successful career in political life in trouble at the start. It will be interesting to see how he gets on in the years ahead.
● One would hardly call the Readers Digest a radical journal, therefore it was surprising to see an attack on a social evil in their last edition. Though student debt is a well known problem, many may not know the extent of it. "There are roughly 44 million in debt to their educations. Their average bill is $32,731.'' Some years back the government gave private companies a, ''piece of the action,'' and now banks and private investors are making a killing on student loans, which grow by some 80 billion a year. All this makes for a docile working class; a worker up to his/her eyes in debt isn't likely to make waves. So either way the capitalist class win.
● According to an Ontario Human Rights' survey released on December 8, negative feelings towards those on social assistance was surpassed only by the Muslims who were disliked by 21 per cent of the 1501 respondents. The questionnaire found 63 per cent thought race or colour to be one of the most common reasons for discrimination on Ontario, followed by sexual orientation, 34 per cent, disability 25 and creed or religion, 24. This hammers home clearly what a divisive system capitalism is pitting workers against each other in the competition for jobs and homes, which is an excellent reason to abolish it.
● Its all in the open now, Loblaws and Weston have been price fixing for 14 years and during most of that time denying their workers a raise. And what you may ask are the authorities going to do about it, and the answer is zilch! — and why should they since they are there to administrate capitalism and Loblaws and Weston haven't caused any problems for them.The line ups at the post office in Shoppers' Drug Mart this time of year are very long, because they are understaffed. When packages are delivered the help haven't the time to check them because they are serving customers. So whats the connection? Loblaws own Shoppers! But they are so full of remorse they are offering 25 buck gift cards to be used at grocery stores across Canada: now ain't they all heart. Doesn't it make you want to use the F.O. expression in response to their ''generosity.'' You may want to, but shouldn't, instead translate that into action in relation to crapitalism as a whole.
Echoes from our past . . .
I recently had the pleasure of reading Dennis Hardy's well-researched and supported book, Alternative Communities in Nineteenth Century England (1979). Covering the communities of utopian and agrarian socialism, sectarianism and anarchism, Hardy lays out a history of socialist thought well worth searching for a library or used copy to add to your Socialist reading list. Hardy, not overlooking the role scientific socialists also had in the development of workers readying themselves to give capitalism the final toss, one marvels at the simplicity and vigour of the ideas set by early socialist Diggers how to do this:
The earth is to be planted, and the fruits reaped, and carried into barns and storehouses by the assistance of every family; and if any man or family want corn, or other provision, they may go to the store-houses, and fetch without money. If they want a horse to ride, go into the fields in summer, or to the common stables in winter, and receive one from the keepers, and when your journey is performed, bring him where you had him without money. If any want food or victuals, they may either go to the butchers shops, and receive what they want without money; or else go to the flocks of sheep, or herds of cattle, and take and kill what meat is needful for their families, without buying and selling. And the reason why all the riches of the earth are a common stock is this, because the earth, and the labours thereupon, are managed by common assistance of every family, without buying and selling . . .
Gerald Winstanley c.1652
S ocialist literature for your interest
– History of the Socialist Party of Canada (1973). By J. M. Milne
http://www.socialisthistory.ca/Docs/SocialistParty/HistoryofSPC.pdf
"Making Socialists": Bill Pritchard, the Socialist Party of Canada, and
the Third International. Peter Campbell.
http://www.lltjournal.ca/index.php/llt/article/download/4852/5725
– WSM An Introduction to World Socialism – A Post-Capitalist Society –
a brief, well produced video of the case for Socialism.
Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZonz0YE50A&feature=youtu.be
– History of Universal Suffrage. INR₹100 / CAD$2.
– History of Economics: A Scientific Investigation into the Political
Economy and Its Swindler 'Economics.' INR₹50.00 / CAD$1.
To purchase contact World Socialist Party (India) 257 Baghajatin ‘E’ Block (East), Kolkata – 700086
Email: wspindia@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.worldsocialistpartyindia.org
– Socialist Studies Educational Materials http://www.socialiststudies.org.uk/
YouTube Channel Marxian Economics https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXq0kw9sU6xvrr34yezA_Tw
– Socialist Party of Canada Facebook public page https://web.facebook.com/socialistpartycanada/& members' page https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012582758245
– Red Lion Press:
Revolutionary Socialist: Life of the Socialist Party of Canada and the OBU, 1910-1922.
Fred Casey's Thinking: An Introduction To Its History and Science.
Method in Thinking: An Introduction to Dialectics.
Costs: $3 for Pritchard, $6 each for the Casey's plus postage costs. Contact E-mail: redlionpress@hotmail.com or enquire with the publisher: https://web.facebook.com/search/more/?q=Larry+Gambone&init=public
– Introductory socialist education WSPUS member website http://www.whatissocialism.net/
For socialism, Steve, Mehmet, John & contributing members of the SPC.
Greetings Everyone,
We hope you are all well.
Please find attached our February 2018 Monthly Report for your interest and review.
If you have news or views you want to share with readers please forward to spc@worldsocialism.org
Yours for Socialism, John, Mehmet, Steve & GAC members
---
General Secretary Socialist Party of Canada
PO Box 31024 Victoria BC Canada V8N 6J3
https://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/
https://twitter.com/spc_newsTHE SOCIALIST PARTY OF CANADA
worldsocialism.org/canada | spc@worldsocialism.org | twitter.com/spc_news
Secretary's Report for February 2018
Email Report
– WSP (India) EC meeting minutes No. 183, Sunday, January 14, 2018, received with thanks.
Good of the Movement
– Introductory package and new membership application sent out.
– SPC Toronto Branch public meeting Wednesday, January 31, 6:30pm – 8:30pm, The Second Cup Coffee House, 324 Bloor St W, Toronto.
– Visit Toronto Branch Facebook for further details: https://web.facebook.com/Toronto-Branch-Socialist-Party-of-Canada-1120836671294008/ & our website https://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/ ; Toronto Branch email spc.toronto@worldsocialism.org.
General Admistrative Committee 2017-2019
– Comrade Muirhead acclaimed January 6, 2018 to the General Administrative Committee. Welcome Comrade Muirhead!
Financial Secretary's Report
Both PayPal and e-debit are now available on our main webpage for campaign and event donations, and membership dues payments. PayPal taking approximately 3% service fee, e-debit is recommended.
Dues – $25 per year or $2 per month. Funds are used to conduct Party work such as post, photocopies, public meeting expenses and internet url services. All other Party activity is voluntarily run. Members needing dues waivers please contact our treasurer or general secretary to arrange.
F ood for T hought – views & contributions to spc@worldsocialism.org
● At the Winter Olympics in Lillehamer, Norway, in 1994, the attention of sport fans, and some who were not, were riveted on the clash between Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding, in the wake of the vicious attack on Kerrigan at the American championships. Though Harding denied prior knowledge of the attack she fooled nobody, especially after notes Harding made about Kerrigans training times and location were found. Now, we have what looks to be, a successful movie," I Tonya'', about her turbulent life. A two hour documentary, ''Truth And Lies, The Tonya Harding Story'', was aired on ABC, on January 11. So now Ms. Harding, who is hardly an Angel of Mercy has become a media Superstar. This may seem baffling to some, though it should not, because notoriety sells, in fact it sells big time. Its enough to make any decent person puke their guts out, but its totally consistent with capitalism's value system – “if it makes a buck sell it!''
● On Jan 5 Stats-Canada revealed that the Canadian economy had added 80,000 jobs in December owing to an increase in part-time employment. The unemployment rate fell to 5.7 per cent, its lowest since 1976. However, it ain't time to celebrate yet folks, statistics can sometimes be misleading. They don't include people who are out of work and have used up their,''benefits'', and how can part-timers make enough to pay the bills? Furthermore if things on the employment front were as hunky-dorey as the apologists for capitalism claim, there is, nevertheless a down side. Since everything is going so well, economists are predicting the Bank of Canada will hike interest rates. That's life under capitalism; what you gain in one way, you lose in another. Boy what a system!
● A survey conducted by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram make it plain that tensions between the US and North Korea and severe weather, such as hurricanes are causing many Americans to prepare for doomsday. 65.5 % respondents have stockpiled materials to survive a political or natural disaster; 36.4% spent up to $400 on survival kits in 2017; 9.2% bought materials because of recent political events; There were a 700% increase in orders for bomb shelters. So, obviously, plenty of folks are worried and what is more obvious is the world is falling apart. Don't look for the answers within capitalism folks, because its capitalism that's causing all this crapola.
● As anyone who has been in Toronto recently knows, it has been hit with a harder than usual winter. Its been a case of heavy snowfalls, bitterly cold weather or freezing rain; mild days have been rare. In the last week of December the City opened a shelter at the appropriately named Better Living Center, but reported it was half full. On the night of Dec. 27 only 55 of its 110 cots were occupied, whereas other shelters had a 95% occupancy rate. Cathy Crowe, a street nurse and advocate for homeless people blamed the empty cots on the lack of awareness of the new shelter. She added, ''The city does a lousy job with communication and the city staff and local media should do outreach work with images showing nice cots, blankets and hot food being served, like you would in a natural disaster.'' The city did not comment. More than 5,000 people are staying in shelters in Toronto. 80 homeless people died in Toronto in 2017. Councillor Joe Mihevc said, ''Respite centers are really a bandage on a bandage.'' Of course he is perfectly right, especially when a major operation is necessary, one that requires abolishing a system where people are forced to live on the street.
● After Oprah Winfrey's speech about sexual harassment at the Golden Globe awards there is speculation, as you may have heard, about the possibility of her running for prez. in 2020. Reaction has been different, as one may expect. Some say she couldn't do worse than the twit who has the job now, but then who could? Obviously Oprah has no experience in public service, but some who have screw up. She may be a well meaning person, but then we all know the paradigm about good intentions. So in the interests of cutting the crap and calling a spade a spade, lets take a look at this woman. The differences between Oprah and Trump, besides the obvious ones of gender and colour are those of intelligence and couth; there is no way she would publicly refer to another country as a ''s…hole''. But one must seriously ask how different are they? She became famous through her show which catered to an audience mostly of women who wanted to lose weight and people who ate up the ''anyone can get rich quick'' apology for a philosophy. The most pathetic event of all was when she gave everyone a car and they later found it was taxable! In other words Oprah and Trump are a typical by-product of capitalism – hucksters. The main question is, ''does it matter who is elected? and the answer is 'yes' in matters of detail. One politician may be more inclined to pass a much needed reform than another. However it doesn't matter who is elected as far as the fundamentals are concerned, meaning we live under capitalism a system that, by its very structure, divides society into haves and have nots and no amount of ''good laws'' will change that. So let's have done with the Trumps and Oprahs of this world, and the best way to do that is having done with the system that has created them.
● The main news on the Labour front in Ontario is Premier Kathleen Wynne's government increasing the minimum wage from $11.40 an hour to $14.00. This has caused many small business owners to get their panties in a twist claiming it will either bankrupt them or cut into their profits. An owner of a cheese shop said it will cost her $50,000 a year. Some have threatened to cut hours, lay off help, put up prices or not hire. Surprisingly the most vocal in opposition isn't a small fry capitalist but the multi-billion dollar coffee-and-doughnut chain Tim Hortons, or as they are,''affectionately'', called Timmies. Some Ontario franchisees have eliminated paid breaks, fully covered health and dental plans, and have made it clear to customers that they must not tip the help. None of these changes violate Ontario labour laws, though Ms.Wynne said it was, ''not decent'', as if Timmies had broken some rules in a game. As Socialists we do not oppose workers attempts to improve their lives, but realize such improvements within capitalism is not the answer to their problems. At the time of writing it is too soon to tell how it will play out, but one thing's for sure – in a society based on from each according to his ability to each according to his needs the above chaotic situation could not occur.
● There was a time when many spoke of Sweden as having the ideal society, blending the best features of capitalism and socialism, though meaning enlightened reforms. Anyone who still harbors such illusions would be well advised to read Jonas Jonasson's novels. The Swedish humourist digs deep into the dark underbelly of the perfect society as his main characters are not the kind you'd want your kids to marry; such as con artists, violent criminals, junkies, pushers and hookers. In this respect, if one can use the word, his most recent book is outstanding- ''Hitman Anders And The Meaning Of It All'', Harper, $17.99.
● Despite any improvements in the condition of the working class, the gap between the amount of wealth they enjoy and that of the capitalist class has continually got wider. The Canadian Center For Policy Alternatives, (I wonder if they've ever suggested Socialism?), has been monitoring this gap for the past eleven years. Their findings are that the average workers pay increased in 2016 by 0.5%, whereas the average increase for Canada's top 100 CEO's was 8%. The average annual income for the Canadian worker in 2016 was $49,738; for the top CEO's it was $10.4 million. Some may think the working class are very considerate in allowing their bosses to exploit them to such a great extent, but I don't think they are considerate enough. The most considerate thing the working class can do for them would be to write ''Socialism'' on their ballot papers, then all the ex-capitalists can start living lives as useful, productive members of society, not as leeches.
● Pressure has obviously been put on Patrick Brown to resign as leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, in the light of allegations of sexual misconduct. With an impending Provincial election it was obvious the PCs could not win if he didn't step down. Brown's career is now over and his future is one of disgrace, and yet the man has not had his day in court and is condemned merely by accusation. On this whole matter of sexual misbehaviour things have snowballed out of control since Harvey Weinstein was accused. It is witch hunts all over again, a return to the days of McCarthy where one was presumed guilty until proven innocent and good luck with that buddy. It's easy enough to say it isn't fair, but who said life under capitalism should be fair?
Echoes from our past . . .
John Keracher was friend to life long World Socialist Party of the United States' member, RAB. Both thinkers shared knowledge on a wide variety of subjects, including monist materialism, theology, and, of course, economics. Easily accessible and to the point for any reader, Keracher's writings have always been useful additions to any Socialist's library. From 1935, Keracher's Producers and Parasites:
The Individual Worker and the Boss
Some individual workers get ahead by allowing themselves to be used as tools against the others. The individual worker, however, who becomes militant and goes to the boss with his demands, if he is able to reach the boss at all, usually gets turned down and sometimes gets fired from the job altogether. When the workers go individually to the employer, hat in hand, they are met with the sharp interrogation “What do you want?” A tongue-lashing is often their reward for their individual efforts. It is more often the other way about when the workers bargain collectively. When the representatives of the workers enter the inner office of the capitalist they are not met with “What do you want?” The employers understand the power of organisation; that is why they fight the unions so hard. That is why they hire stool pigeons and struggle to obtain or maintain the open shop. When the representatives of the workers approach, the capitalists, aware of the thousands standing behind the leaders in the unions, use different tactics. Their attitude is “well, what can I do for you?” “Have a cigar.” “Sit down, let’s talk it over.” Negotiate – temporise – arbitrate – compromise; these are the weapons the capitalists are obliged to resort to. They know that the workers have one thing they can not take away from them. That is their numbers. Organisation is the greatest weapon that the workers have at their disposal. All that the workers have ever gained has been through the power of organisation.
S ocialist literature for your interest
– Producers and Parasites (1935). By John Keracher
https://www.marxists.org/archive/keracher/1935/producers-parasites.htm
– History of the Socialist Party of Canada (1973). By J. M. Milne
http://www.socialisthistory.ca/Docs/SocialistParty/HistoryofSPC.pdf
"Making Socialists": Bill Pritchard, the Socialist Party of Canada, and
the Third International. Peter Campbell.
http://www.lltjournal.ca/index.php/llt/article/download/4852/5725
– WSM An Introduction to World Socialism – A Post-Capitalist Society –
a brief, well produced video of the case for Socialism.
Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZonz0YE50A&feature=youtu.be
– History of Universal Suffrage. INR₹100 / CAD$2.
– History of Economics: A Scientific Investigation into the Political Economy
and Its Swindler 'Economics.' INR₹50.00 / CAD$1.
To purchase contact World Socialist Party (India) 257 Baghajatin ‘E’ Block (East), Kolkata – 700086 Email: wspindia@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.worldsocialistpartyindia.org
– Socialist Studies Educational Materials http://www.socialiststudies.org.uk/
YouTube Channel Marxian Economics https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXq0kw9sU6xvrr34yezA_Tw
– Socialist Party of Canada Facebook public page https://web.facebook.com/socialistpartycanada/
& members' page https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012582758245
– Red Lion Press:
Revolutionary Socialist: Life of the Socialist Party of Canada and the OBU, 1910-1922.
Fred Casey's Thinking: An Introduction To Its History and Science.
Method in Thinking: An Introduction to Dialectics.
Costs: $3 for Pritchard, $6 each for the Casey's plus postage costs. Contact E-mail: redlionpress@hotmail.com or enquire with the publisher: https://web.facebook.com/search/more/?q=Larry+Gambone&init=public
– Socialist education website from a WSPUS member http://www.whatissocialism.net/
For socialism, Steve, Mehmet, John & contributing members of the SPC.
Greetings Everyone,
We hope you are all well.
Attached, please find our March 2018 Monthly Report for your interest and review.
If you have news or views to share with readers in the Monthly Reports please forward to spc@worldsocialism.org
This month we have a special request from Comrade Muirhead, of which his email is copied in full below for your offer to participate. If you have been thinking about writing and collaborating with more Comrades on Party work, this is an opportune time to make this happen. Thanks Comrade Muirhead for getting this going!
Note, we are seeking articles, opinions, and news submissions for our Summer 2018 Imagine. Submissions are open to all Party members and non-member contributors alike.
Yours for Socialism, John, Mehmet, Steve & GAC members
- Comrade Muirhead Email to SPC - Date 2018-02-05 19:45
Good day fellow members.
My name is Dylan Muirhead. For the past few years I've been writing literature in regards to furthering Socialist understanding.
I was first wondering what the party's stance is on publishing pamphlets, or simply getting it to readers and those wishing to learn?
Also I was considering getting feedback on some of my work, and who better to get feedback from than the Socialist Party of Canada and its intellectual members?
If anyone is willing to read through my latest work and either make notes on what may need to be worked on, or give me pointers, that would be much appreciated.
You can email me personally at worldsocialismbc@outlook.com
I'd love to contribute some literature to our community and to aid in understanding and knowledge.
Thank you for your time, and I hope to hear back from anyone.
Your fellow Socialist
Dylan Muirhead
---
General Secretary Socialist Party of Canada
PO Box 31024 Victoria BC Canada V8N 6J3
https://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/
https://twitter.com/spc_newsTHE SOCIALIST PARTY OF CANADA
worldsocialism.org/canada | spc@worldsocialism.org | twitter.com/spc_news
PO Box 31024 Victoria B.C. Canada V8N 6J3
Secretary's Report for March 2018
Email Report
– WSP (India) EC meeting minutes No. 184, Sunday, February 4, 2018, and 104 page pamphlet entitled: History of Universal Suffrage, received with thanks.
Good of the Movement
– New membership application accepted: welcoming Comrade Degendorfer.
– Meeting held on Tuesday, February 27th 6:30pm – 8:30pm, The Second Cup Coffee House, 324 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1W5.
– Visit Toronto Branch Facebook for further details: https://web.facebook.com/Toronto-Branch-Socialist-Party-of-Canada-1120836671294008/ & our website https://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/ ; Toronto Branch email spc.toronto@worldsocialism.org.
– Autumn 2018 'Word on the Street' public event, Toronto, booked – $187 cost. Creation of a new party banner /flag in process.
– Comrad Muirhead looking for collabators / peer reviewers for a number of articles he has waiting to go. Write to worldsocialismbc@outlook.com for details.
– Call for article submissions, opions, news for our Summer 2018 Imagine: Comrades, fire up your Gestetners!
Financial Secretary's Report
– PayPal account updated to correct internal email related errors.
– Socialist Party of Canada's PO box ($174.30) and 5 internet domains ($ 72.87) paid – Total $247.17. Cheque #271, $247.17 reimbursement to Financial Secretary.
PayPal and e-debit are now available on our main webpage and hyperlinked Toronto Branch site for campaign /event donations and membership dues payments. PayPal taking approximately 3% to 10% service fee: e-debit is recommended – remit to spc@worldsocialism.org.
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F ood for T hought – views & contributions send to spc@worldsocialism.org
● The Toronto winter ferocity continues relentlessly, that it makes one think the only thing worse than having a home in the city is not having one. The city, acting on the suggestion of councillor Joe Cressy bought a former rug store intending to turn it into a homeless shelter, which brought a torrent of opposition from the local yokels in the area in which it will be set up, commonly known as the Annex. These worthies who call themselves The Davenport Triangle Residents Association Inc. are fearful of crime, disease, panhandling and, as one so eloquently put it,''graffiti on my Tesla''. One may sneer and say they are,''all heart'', but nevertheless they have a POV. It's just another case of capitalism throwing up a problem and creating more as folks try to deal with the original one. That's what I like about capitalism; its so sane.
● On one newscast at the end of Jan. CBC announced the following Goodies. Yellow Pages cut another 500 jobs across Canada as it moves from print to digital directories. Campbell Soups are closing their plant in Etobicoke, Ontario next year, not that it isn't making a profit, but bigger ones could be made by sending the work to their 3 plants in the U.S. In Whitby, Ontario, the decline in sales in the housing market mean a $75 to $95 thousand decrease in price over the last year at a new housing estate. The folks who bought last year feel like chumps. Toronto's Union Station will soon lay off their red cap porters and hire "station attendants''. This will probably be young guy's they who will work for less with no benefits or pensions. Now all this on one broadcast! It's not a caseof their being something rotten in the state of Canada, but plenty rotten throughout all of capitalism.
● When Sears Canada went under it wasn't a sudden shock, people had been predicting it 4 years ago. During that time many employees had tried to protect their pensions. They wrote to Sears CEO Calvin McDonald, they met with Sears chairman Brandon Stranzl, they communicated with repeatedly with the Financial Services Commission of Ontario. They wrote to Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and to every member of the provincial parliament and met with representatives from Ontario's finance industry. All this was to no avail. When Sears Canada applied for protection from creditors in June 2017, the deficit in the pension plan was $226.8 million. Now 16,000 ex-Sears workers face a future of living on reduced pensions, but then whoever claimed that capitalism and security went hand-in-hand?
● It has recently been revealed that the morning sickness drug Dicletin is ineffective, its only beneficiary being its manufacturer Duchesnay. It is obvious that Health Canada took the so-called findings of the clinical studyfinanced by Dushesnay at face value. Just think of the profits the company reaped during the 40 years the drug was on the market. They got away with it because though the drug didn't do any good, it didn't do any harm. In a Socialist society a drug would be tested for its effectiveness and impact on the environment and not made if it failed either test; the profit motive wouldn't exist.
● At a meeting of the Toronto city council on February 9, some members got their bowels in an uproar when listening to the findings of a city commissioned study on rents. In 2017 apartment rents had their biggest increase in 15 years. A two bedroom unit costs, on average $1,426 a month. Two bedroom condos also had a big jump, with rents being $2,400, on average. The vacancy rate is less than 1 per cent, the lowest its been in 16 years. The study found that if low income residents spend 30 per cent of their annual income on housing and receive a $250 monthly housing subsidy through the city, they still can only cover 60 per cent of the rent based on average market prices. Councillor Gord Perks said,''Toronto has to make an investment in affordable housing and can use its hundreds of millions of dollars in land transfer tax revenue to do so. The land transfer tax is wealth captured in a booming real estate market.'' It may be the city has other uses for that money that have nothing to do with cash strapped residents well being. There is an answer to this mess, but it wont be found tinkering with the effects of capitalism.
● For several months Stats-Canada had been saying their were slight declines in the unemployment rate, which was probably due to production for the Christmas market, but things have sure changed as the iron-clad laws of capitalist economics have re-asserted themselves. Stats-Canada reported record part-time job losses in January that gave Canada's labour market its biggest one month loss since the recession of 2009. 137,000 part time jobs were lost, including 50,900 in Ontario. Harsh weather, (to put it mildly), affected the construction industry, (down 14,900 jobs), and the transportation industry, (5,900 jobs). So folks, enjoy the good times while they last, 'cos under capitalism it wont be for very long.
● Justin Trudeau was jubilant when he signed Canada up for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which has joined Canada to a trade deal with ten other Pacific region countries. To quote, ''Our government stood up for Canadian interests and this agreement meets our objectives of creating and sustaining growth, prosperity and well paying middle class jobs today and for generations to come.'' Not everyone was quite so estatic; Unifor prez. Jerry Dias fears Canadian auto workers will have to compete with ''cheap labour'' in Asia and the Canadian car markets will be swamped with Hondas and Toyotas. Christopher Monette, spokesman for Teamsters Canada, said Canada is giving away some of their dairy market and claimed the labour protections in the TPP were weak. It is too early to say how things will play out concerning the details, but of one thing we can be sure – the best that can happen is that some sections of the working class in Canada will find a slight improvement in their lives for a short time. How about a massive improvement in everyone's life for all time.
● Those of you who have read so far may be wondering if their is any cheering news to lighten all the gloom and doom? well their ain't much, but, but, one little goodie is that church attendance is dropping in Canada, which suggests folk are giving up on religion – but lets hear from a guy who can explain it better than me. Karl Marx said, ''Religion, the family, the State, law, morality, science, art, etc. are only particular forms of production and come under its general law. The positive abolition of private property as the appropriation of human life, is thus the positive abolition of all alienation and thus the return of man from religion, the family, the State etc. to his human, ie social life. Religious alienation only occurs in the sphere of consciouness, in the inner life of man, but economic alienation is that of real life and is abolition therefore affects both aspects. Of course, the development in different nations has a different origin according to whether the actual life of the people is more in the realm of mind or in the external world, whether it is a real or ideal life.'' From Marx Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts, 1844.
● On March 10 the Progressive, (a strange word for a party that stands for capitalism), Conservative Party will choose a leader to, hopefully, help them win the upcoming provincial election. The media are ''full of it'', debating whether it will be Caroline Mulroney, Christine Elliot or Doug Ford — in fact there is so much coverage it makes one wonder when folks will finally wake up and smell the coffee, which is that it makes no great difference which party wins or who its leader is. Capitalism is a market economy and the markets fluctuate and sometimes wildly. When the economy is buoyant a government may look good, but it will not and never has lasted long because of the boom-slump inbuilt nature of capitalism. When a slump comes all the government can do is to try and grapple with it as FDR did in the thirties, though most of his ideas were suggested by his Labour Secretary. The Nazi's also grappled with it by producing for war! So let's have done with the boom-slump economy and the parties who seek to maintain it.
Musings from the past for Socialist libraries
Man ought to be able, wherever placed, to find for himself the means of existence; but I was to open a new scene of life, to remove to some distant spot, to be prepared against the ill-will of mankind, and the unexplored projects of hostility of a most accomplished foe. The actual means of existence are the property of all. What should hinder me from taking that of which I was really in want, where, in taking it, I risked no vengence, and prepetrated no violence? The property in quaestion will be beneficial to me, and the voluntary surrender of it is accomplished with no injury to its late proprietor; what other condition can be necessary to render the use of it on my part a duty? He that lately possed it has injured me; does that alter its value as a medium of exchange? He will boast perhaps of the imaginary obligation he has cofered on me: surely to shrink for a thing in itself right from any such apprehesion, can be the result only of pusillanimity and cowardice!
William Godwin, Caleb Williams, 1794.
More Socialist texts from the modern rage
– Producers and Parasites (1935). By John Keracher
https://www.marxists.org/archive/keracher/1935/producers-parasites.htm
– History of the Socialist Party of Canada (1973). By
J. M. Milne
http://www.socialisthistory.ca/Docs/SocialistParty/HistoryofSPC.pdf
"Making Socialists": Bill Pritchard, the Socialist Party of Canada,
and the Third International. Peter Campbell.
http://www.lltjournal.ca/index.php/llt/article/download/4852/5725
– WSM An Introduction to World Socialism – A
Post-Capitalist Society – brief well produced video
on the case for Socialism.
Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZonz0YE50A&feature=youtu.be
– History of Universal Suffrage. INR₹100 / CAD$2.
– History of Economics: A Scientific Investigation into the Political Economy
and Its Swindler 'Economics.' INR₹50.00 / CAD$1.
To purchase contact World Socialist Party (India) 257 Baghajatin ‘E’ Block
(East), Kolkata – 700086
Email: wspindia@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.worldsocialistpartyindia.org
– Socialist Studies http://www.socialiststudies.org.uk/
Marxian Economics YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXq0kw9sU6xvrr34yezA_Tw
– Socialist Party of Canada Facebook public page https://web.facebook.com/socialistpartycanada/
& members' page https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012582758245
– Red Lion Press:
• Revolutionary Socialist: Life of the Socialist Party of Canada and the OBU, 1910-1922.
• Fred Casey's Thinking: An Introduction To Its History and Science.
• Method in Thinking: An Introduction to Dialectics.
Costs: $3 for Pritchard, $6 each for the Casey's plus postage costs. Contact E-mail:
redlionpress@hotmail.com or enquire with the publisher: https://web.facebook.com/search/more/?q=Larry+Gambone&init=public
– A Socialist education website for hyperlinking from a WSPUS member http://www.whatissocialism.net/
For socialism, Steve, Mehmet, John & all contributing members of the SPC.
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