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WORLD SOCIASLIST PARTY (NEW ZEALAND)Meeting held at 51 Weymouth Road , Manurewa and 15 Tanera Cres , Wellington (via phone) DATE : Sunday 04th September 2016****** CHAIRPERSON: T. Lovatt Moved : G. Coffey 2nd : J. Ryder************** OPEN: 2.47pm****** PRESENT: M. Grayson M. Gribble T. Lovatt J. Ryder******** G. Coffey C. Malins VISITORS: G. Lovatt********* APOLOGIES : None*********** PREVIOUS MINUTES/ERRORS & OMISSIONS/MOVE & SECOND :********************************************************** : Correction – It was J. Ryder who was going to contact Kenny Walsh (not Benny)Correction – Jin should be JimDiscussion re asking for explanation as to lack of progress of the Party (Didn’t explain why) Errors or Admissions . M. Gribble moved the minutes be accepted. 2nd G. Coffey. Previous minutes accepted DISCUSSION ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES : none********************************************** MOTIONS OF WHICH NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN; None******************************************** CORRESPONDENCE INWARD & OUTWARD : none**************************************** RATIFICATION OF MEMBERSHIP FORMS : None************************************** REPORTS OF SUB-COMMITTEES : None****************************** TREASURER’S REPORT AND ACCOUNTS TO BE PRESENTED:****************************************************** 1 SPGB account cleared2 T. Lovatt presented invoice for computer.3 M. Gribble moved report be accepted and accounts paid . 2nd T. Lovattseconded LITERATURE SECRETARY’S REPORT :***********************************1 M. Grayson to post S/S ASAP. Moved: M. Grayson Seconded: J. Ryder NEW NOTICES OF MOTION : None************************* GENERAL BUSINESS:*******************Obituary sent to SPGB regarding V. Lovatt sent in 2014 – no notice seen.C. Malin put forward signed proposal to clear arrears (donations) .Radio station (Radio Imagine 88.3FM) cost $681. G. Lovatt , T Lovatt’s son , has spent long hours setting up programme – T. Lovatt has contributed one whole day’s programme for the new radio format – each member is asked to set up a day’s listening if possible.C. Malins said the internet should be back on , by 22nd September.M. Gribble , on behalf of the WSPNZ, thanks G. Lovatt for all the time and effort he has contributed to the new radio format.M. Gribble proposed that the WSPNZ puts $30 / month towards cost of internet when we use that facility. Moved : M. Gribble seconded : G. CoffeyM. Grayson apologies for early exit from meeting. NEXT MEETING : Sunday 2nd October 2016**************** MEETING CLOSED : 3.30 pm*****************
WORLD SOCIASLIST PARTY (NEW ZEALAND)Meeting held at 51 Weymouth Road , Manurewa DATE : Sunday 06 August 2017****** CHAIRPERSON: T. Lovatt Moved : M. Gribble 2nd : J. Ryder************** OPEN: 2.43pm****** PRESENT: C. Malins M. Gribble T. Lovatt J. Ryder G. Coffey******** VISITORS: none********* APOLOGIES : M. Grayson*********** PREVIOUS MINUTES/ERRORS & OMISSIONS/MOVE & SECOND :*********************************************************Not available DISCUSSION ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES :**********************************************n/a MOTIONS OF WHICH NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN; None******************************************** CORRESPONDENCE INWARD & OUTWARD :*****************************************1 : SPC April/May/July/August Minutes.Accept inwards: J. Ryder Seconded : M. Gribble RATIFICATION OF MEMBERSHIP FORMS : None************************************** REPORTS OF SUB-COMMITTEES : None****************************** TREASURER’S REPORT AND ACCOUNTS TO BE PRESESENTED.1 : M. Gribble moved report be accepted and accounts paid . 2nd J. Ryder LITERATURE SECRETARY’S REPORT : Not Available NEW NOTICES OF MOTION : None************************* GENERAL BUSINESS:*******************1 J.Ryder discussed topic on Cruelty to animals . Can /do we send them (SPCA) message of support?2 G. Coffey was asked if C Matene could help correct a few things regarding Radio Imagine Advert?3 C Malins understands how to work Radio station properly now but can’t correct the hourly advert we have (C. Malins) accidentally removed.4 Can C Matene re-record her Advert regarding contact info (change phone number)5 T. Lovatt suggests we contact other organizations with like minded views, with suggestions on how we can work towards the same goals.6 T. Lovatt sent Catherine Delahunty of the Green Party an email and got a reply. She is an anti-capitalist who’s leaving the Green’s as she is not happy with policies etc. Interesting. C. Malins said to give her an invitation to our meetings, maybe we will make more sense to her.7 Discussion on why 40% of the population is not voting at elections – interesting discussion.8 Big discussion on reforms and ideas – can the Party agree , if they would be good ideas to agree with the Government. NEXT MEETING : Sunday 3rd September 2017**************** MEETING CLOSED : 3.45pm*****************
Greetings Everyone, Hoping you are all well.
Attached is our October 2017 Monthly Report for your review and interest.
News or views to share with members? All correspondence to spc@worldsocialism.org
Yours for Socialism,
John, Mehmet, Steve & GAC members
—Greetings Everyone,
Hoping you are all well.
Attached is our September 2017 Monthly Report for your review.
Views and news you'd like to share in our reports? – write in 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_newsGreetings Everyone,
We hope you are all well.
Attached is our August 2017 Monthly Report for your interest and review.
Our Spring/Summer 2017 Imagine is now out and can be found at our website or by email.
Please also note our Comrades across the Atlantic have published a fine new video, An Introduction to World Socialism – A Post-Capitalist Society. Find details how to locate it in this month's report.
Keep also directing your correspondences to our Twitter account, SPC@spc_news – https://twitter.com/spc_news, and making new socialists.
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_newsGreetings Everyone,
Attached is our May Monthly Report for your interest and review.
Our Imagine Spring/Summer 2017 is being compiled so please send in your draft (or topics for) articles to our GAC for inclusion.
Our Twitter acct is proving very active for uploading your thoughts and views to help us along with the good work of making Socialists!
Direct your correspondences to SPC@spc_news – https://twitter.com/spc_news.Yours for Socialism,
John & all GAC members
Socialist Party of CanadaOur candidate in Islington North (Corbyn's constituency), Bill Martin, will be interviewed on the Jeremy Vine (not to be confused with Jeremy Kyle) programme on BBC Radio 2 on Wednesday 17 May between 12pm and 2pm. It will be the usual two-minutes allowed to "other candidates".
We had three enquiries immediately after the broadcast direct to Head Office email asking for more information . One wrote:
Quote:Just seen a member of your party on the daily politics. Well done to him. He came across well. Just a shame that a so called impartial programme and ignorant people have to share the air waves. Is your party based on the work Jacque Fresco promotes and if not do you share the same future as what he would like to see unfold? If so i would be interested in joining your party.THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF CANADAGeneral Secretary's Report for April 2017Email Report- WSP (India) EC meeting minutes No. 173, Sunday, March 12, 2017, received with thanks.- WSP (India) Spring School held 4 March, Saturday, 2PM – 8PM & Annual Conference 5 March, Sunday.- Academia.edu WSP (India) growth 36,882,115 academics on May 1, 2016 to 48,973,844 to March 12, 2017: Our sister party states that the "platform [is] very useful for uploading and propagating world socialist ideas which are being viewed by many. So our comrades should make use of this platform."- From the Report of the Proceeding of the Spring School & Twenty Third Annual Conference of the WSP (India): B. Sarkar presented his talk on the scheduled subject: Who’s to blame for capitalism? To begin with, he upheld the Marxian method of evaluating any situation. He analysed the three basic and interrelated principles of Marxism: the materialist conception of history, class struggle and the theory of surplus value. Under any circumstances Socialists – the scientists of the working class – must appropriately apply these principles to get hold of the facts.Without hesitation one must also bring Marx and Engels – the initiators of Marxism – into the focus of this method.B.Sarkar then applied this method to bring out historical implications of the present state of affairs of class struggle, pointing out that the workers of the world are still vacillating to will and organize towards the much necessary World Socialist Revolution because of their utter confusion created and imposed by all capitalist ideologies and all-pervasive propaganda. However, this historical task necessarily rests on the working class and in no way on the capitalist class. Under this circumstance it is an uphill task for us socialists to rouse class consciousness and organize our class. However, he urged, we the socialists have to accomplish this uphill task of emancipation to usher humanity on to the realm of freedom.- Cormade Matt Culbert (SPGB Blog Committee) requests SPC members use our Imagine Blog, as it has been dormant since November 2010. Suggestion is for members to post several times per week, including some of our well appreciated Food for Thought comments from Steve, as the blog is well positioned for internet traffic. Members, please write in and use this free site, which can be found at The Imagine Bloghttp://imaginespc.blogspot.co.uk/- Imagine Winter 2016. Visit our website for downloading https://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/Good of the Movement- Three introductory packages and one member application sent and completed: M/S/C as accepted.- Toronto Branch public meeting held on Wednesday, 29 March from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, Bloor Street Second Cup Coffee House.- Spring socialist discussion meetings until May 2017, Toronto Branch: April 26, May 24, The Second Cup Coffee House, 324 Bloor St., Toronto. Communications to: spctorontobranch@gmail.com– see Toronto Branch Facebook for further details: https://web.facebook.com/Toronto-Branch-Socialist-Party-of-Canada-1120836671294008/ & our website https://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/- Socialist Party of Canada Facebook public page https://web.facebook.com/socialistpartycanada/ & members' page https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012582758245- Migrating of spc@iname.com email to spc@worldsocialism.org with intent to phase out iname account due to plaguing techincal difficulties: M/S/C.- Survey Monkey and/or a similar product being explored to integrate into party general member and GAC voting.- Activation of SPC@spc_news Twitter account administrated via GAC: M/S/C. All Twitter correspondence to https://twitter.com/spc_news.- M/S/C One year Meetup subsription taken out by Toronto Branch to spur meeting networking and advertizing: meetup site: https://www.meetup.com/Monthly-Meeting/; Searching terms: "socialist," "socialism," "Marxism," "socialist party" etc. reveal our meetup to show up in the results.- 5 Socialist Party of Canada .CA domains renewed: Can$67.62.- Letter from Nona Tickner, reporting Larry Tickner's passing: Members with personal reflections about Larry please forward to spc@iname.com for publication in late spring/summer 2017 Imagine.- Imagine Spring 2017: expected distribution May 2017 – (members, please send in your submissions and ideas!).- Socialist education site for redistribution & hyperlinking, S. Shenfield (WSPUS) http://www.whatissocialism.net/Finances – Stationary nil; photocopies $1.82.; post $1.80. Domain renewals $67.62; Meetup one year subscription US$59.94.Dues – Several dues have been paid, but most still stand in arrears. Members in financial circumstances inhibiting dues payment may seek waiver – please contact our treasurer and/or general secretary. Other members please note dues are a modest $25 per year, or $2 per month and are required for post,photocopies, public meeting expenses, and internet services.Food for Thought● Though I haven't been to any comedy clubs lately, I would think comedians would be having a field day cracking jokes about the Toronto Transit Commission. They put machines called The Presto System in subways so passengers can buy their tickets from them and they can lay off workers. The trouble is it ain't exactly, ''Hey Presto I got my ticket'', co's ten per cent of 'em aren't working. On February 22, Toronto's Deputy Mayor, Denzil Minnan Wong, called Presto,''A horrible disaster.'' He didn't call it,''Another capitalist cock-up,'' which would've been closer to the truth. Better to have a system where the profit motive is removed and things are run properly even if the laughs are fewer.● An SPC'er recently made friends with a couple who spent many years in impoverished countries and had seen many children starve to death, (not that it doesn't happen in supposedly affluent ones), but I’ll let Graham tell it:''Pam and I were on a cruise and observed a wealthy couple help themselves to the buffet. Twice they filled their plates and each time took a couple of bites, groaned and threw the food into the garbage. I was so angry I felt like shouting, ''how can you waste food when countless millions are starving?'' The couple might have said they'd paid for the food, therefore could have done what they wanted, but nevertheless it does suggest there is something seriously wrong in an economic system where such glaring contradictions exist.● McDonald's stated on March 1 that it has lost 500 million customers in the US since 2012, and laid out its plans to get some back. These include allowing them to order and pay on their mobile phones. They also said they will more aggressively market items such as coffee and pastries. The chain said it lost some of its loyal customers to other major fast food rivals, instead of newer ones. My, My what a surprise – here is this great global giant, the epitome of what can be achieved in this wonderful economic democracy we live under and now even ''its'' having difficulties. Shades of Eatons going out of business in Canada, which shows that under crapitalism everything is temporary except, except insecurity.● I drive school bus and notice differences between students as they age. The younger ones laugh and chat amongst themselves. The older ones are on their lap tops, playing computer games or listening on their I-pods; there is very little conversation. More and more the synthetic world is becoming the real world to them. A recent study showed one fifth of theplayers in an online game felt the real world was only a place to eat and sleep, that the synthetic world was their true residence. In one respect both groups are similar, social skills are sadly lacking. A friendly, ''Good Morning,'' receives a blank stare – returning something left behind doesn't get a word of thanks. It may be that life under capitalism with its advanced technology is making young students alienated. Imagine what they'll be like as adults.● Trump Junk – You will all have heard, or heard of Trump's speech to the Congress on February 28. To sum it up briefly, what he really said was,'' Look guys, were all in this together. If workers and capitalists forget their differences and pull together we will make America great again.'' Whether Trump is sincere or not is meaningless because the fundamentals of capitalism mean that worker and capitalist have nothing in common economically. Workers struggle to improve their conditions, which means winning some concessions from their bosses who are trying to keep down costs to maximize profits – simple, ain't it? Two more aspects of Trump's trumpeting deserve comment. He proposes a massive $54 billion increase in military spending . The military budget already exceeds the military budgets of the seven highest spending countries combined. Though $54 billion could go a long way if devoted to welfare programs and fighting poverty in general, it wont be, because of capitalism's crazy priorities. Defending their property ownerships and capturing raw materials and markets are paramount to the capitalist class and if the working class have to suffer, so be it. Trump refers to the press as,''the enemy of the people''. Of course he's right, but contextually wrong. What he really means is its the enemy of Donald Trump. Since the capitalist class own the press and the media as a whole it will reflect the interests of capitalism in a broad general sense. Some newspapers will advocate the particular interests of the owner, but no newspaper, owned by capitalists, will advocate its abolition. The proof of that is the history of the Toronto Star, which has been widely analyzed in these reports. So certainly, the press is the enemy of the people. When capitalists use the expression "free press", they mean freedom to criticize anyone they perceive to be doing an inadequate job for their interests, which is exactly the case now. The fact that Trump isn't highly thought of by his fellow capitalists should not mean anything to the working class, whose main interest should be the overthrow of a society that creates people like him.● We needn't fool ourselves that messing with the environment is a recent thing. Frederick Engels in his work, ''Labour In The Transition From Ape To Man'', had plenty to say about it. ''Let us not , however, flatter ourselves overmuch on account of our human victories over nature. For each victory it takes its revenge on us. Each of them, it is true, has in the first place the consequences on which we counted, but in the second and third places it has quiet and different, unforeseen effects which only to often cancel out the first. The people who in Mesopotamia, Greece, Asia Minor and elsewhere, utterly destroyed the forests to obtain cultivable land never dreamed that they were laying the basis for the present devastated conditions of these countries, by removing along with the forests the collecting centres and reservoirs of moisture. When the Italians of the Alps used up the pine forests on the southern slopes, so carefully cherished on the northern slopes, they had no inkling that by doing so they were cutting at the roots of the dairy industry in their region; they had still less inkling that they were thereby depriving their mountain springs of water for the greater part of the year, and making it possible for them to pour still more furious torrents of it on the plains during the rainy seasons. Those who spread potato in Europe were not aware that with these farinaceous tubers they were at the same time spreading scrofula. Thus at every step we are reminded that we by on means rule over nature like a conqueror over a foreign people, like someone standing outside nature – but that we, with flesh, blood, and brain, belong to nature and exist in its midst and that all our mastery of it consists in the fact that we have the advantage over all other creatures of being able to know and correctly apply its laws. Since this has been happening for so long its about time we had a society that will put an end to it.● The International Peace Research Institute in March released figures on the world's arm sales. 37.9% of the world's arm sales comes from the United States: 20.5% comes from Russia, the number two exporter. There's been a 43% increase in U.S. arms sales since Obama took office in 2009. The estimated value of U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia during the Obama administration, was $115 billion. Pretty good for a peace-loving country. Some may argue that arms sales keep the economy working (to whatever extent it does work) and gives employment to lots of people. This must be the most sickening thing about capitalism: for it to work, it has to murder millions of people in the interests of competing sections of the capitalist class. Is there any better argument for capitalism's abolition?● On March 10, Stephen O'Brien, the UN's so called Humanitarian director, said the world faces its greatest humanitarian crisis since the UN was founded in 1945, with more than 20 million people in 4 countries,Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia and Nigeria, facing starvation and famine. To quote,''Without collective and co-ordinated efforts, people will simply starve to death and many more will suffer and die from disease. This is a typical example of Capitalism at its cruelest; if food, or anything else for that matter, can't be sold for a profit the people who need it go without. As for those who face death by starvation very soon, they can be saved very soon, by the establishment of Socialism which can come as soon as people want it.● In the TV Guide it said CNN were showing,"The History Of Comedy", so when this twit switched on, expecting to see something about comedy, it was always something about Trump. I may have missed the point, is there a connection? Another, ''unlikely'', connection is, on March 25, at Toronto's Royal York Hotel, there was a seminar instructing American citizens on how to give up their U.S. citizenship. It was titled, "Make Sure You Renounce the right way." The aim of the organizers, The Moodys Gartner Tax Law Company, is alright as far as it goes, which isn't far enough. It would be a fine thing if everyone gave up their citizenships in every country in the world.It's private property society that divides people into countries, races, nations, in fact, divides people against each other to compete with and fight each other in wars: all in the interests of the capitalist class in those countries, which are competing with each other over markets and raw materials. By all means, let's give up our citizenships and have one world for all people. As Charlie Chaplin said when asked if he had taken out U.S. citizenship, "I am a citizen of the world."● A recent episode of ,''Museum Mysteries'', mentioned that from the 16th to the 19th centuries 8 million native American who had been enslaved by the Spanish section of the Capitalist Class, died working in their mines through the inhalation of Mercury fumes. Nor can this be dismissed on the premise that it happened years ago; there are still millions of chattel slaves in the World today and millions more wage slaves. Yet still many think Capitalism is the best of all possible systems; wake up and smell the coffee folks.● With its usual reforming zeal the Toronto Star called attention to the plight of seniors in nursing homes, byinforming us, in its issue of March 11 that they are fed on $8.33 a day. Some, run by the province of Ontario are not for profit homes, but nevertheless have to break even. Some of these homes have contracted out to privately run nursing homes which do have to make a profit and therefore have tighter budgets. A 2015 report by the Dietitian Of Canada concluded that Ontario homes are, ''serving cheaper protein foods and fewer fresh fruits and vegetables due to budget constraints. The 320 long term care nutrition managers and registered dietitians surveyed in the report said that improved funding would result in better nutrition, which is a brilliant deduction. Compounding wage slave problems of the 'modern rage'?One can hardly expect the Capitalist Class to give a damn about workers who are no longer productive, though they can always find money to spend on weapons for war. Since money, or lack of is the issue, wouldn't it be better to have an economic system where it wouldn't exist? Then such problems would not exist.● On March 10 Stats-Canada said 15,300 new jobs were added last month and the Unemployment rate is down to 6.6%. Economists were quick to mention it was a sign the economy has picked up steam. As Ben Reitzes, senior economist at the BMO said, ''One more piece of evidence the economy has turned the corner''. Anyone would think we should all go out, rejoice and be exceedingly glad. There is still unemployment, which there will always be as long as Capitalism lasts, as to what extent isn't a moot point because even a low level of it means hardship for some. Furthermore the real figure will always be higher than the official ones. There are always people who have used up their EI allowance and others who can only get part time work. The time to rejoice will be when a majority of the working class has eliminated the cause of unemployment.● Toronto Housing prices continue to soar; February prices were 27.7 per cent higher than this time last year, and there seems no end in sight. The average cost of a detached home has reached the 1.5 million mark. Be that as it may, a stress test done by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation found that house prices could fall as much as 30 per cent if mortgage rates were to rise by 2.4 per cent over the next two years. This is what happened between 1989 and 1996, when Toronto house prices fell by 40 per cent. It's a bubble and like all bubbles, its just waiting to be burst and after it is those who bought homes at inflated prices will be very upset. So why go through all this nonsense? Why not opt for a world where all will have a nice place to live without any price tags on them?● Trump is preparing to roll back one of Obama's policies. His intention is to free big companies from regulations on pollution and climate change. On March 14th, he announced his plan to abandon Barack Obama's commitment on car fuel economy standards. This is not to say that Obama's plan would have solved the problems concerning environmental destruction. However, it would have been better than nothing. The point being that governments can pass reform measures that do some good, but the next government can rescind or change those measures. So obviously, reforms just don't "cut it". No reform ever attempts or ever will attack the most fundamental aspect of capitalism; ownership of the tools of production by a small minority. It's not reforms we need, but revolution.● You are all aware of the cock up at the Academy Awards. The media had a field day with it so there is hardly anyone who isn't aware. Yet over the years their have been approximately 2000 individual presentations and this is the first screw up! That doesn't seem so bad. Could it be the Capitalist media used it to divert attention from all the terrible things happening these days? Maybe I'm wrong, but I wouldn't put it passed them.● Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown, demanded, on March 7, to be informed by Education Minister, MitzieHunter, exactly how many Ontario schools are going to be shut down. He believes more than 600 schools across Ontario are being threatened with closure. Hunter replied, "I'm not going to provide you with an arbitrary number based on the question you asked." Patrick said, "After thirteen years of waste and scandal after scandal, the Wynne Liberals are trying to balance the books on the backs of our students by fast-tracking school closures." Once again, it boils down to money, or lack of. That's capitalism, folks.● The American Government said, on March 7, it had begun deploying an advanced missile defence system, [if one can call it defence], in South Korea, prompting the Chinese to warn of a new atomic arms race in the region which is on edge over North Korea's drive to build a nuclear stockpile. The US announcement came the day after the launch of 4 missiles by North Korea into the waters just off the Japanese coast which they said was a drill for striking American bases in Japan. Tensions are mounting as Capitalists on both sides want to control the South China Sea. Though we don’t know how things will play out, we do know that the Working Class in North and South Korea, China and the US have no stake in the matter.● As all of you are aware racist attacks have, recently, become rampant. The worse place being Germany where an influx 890,000 asylum seekers in 2015 have caused a backlash and a rise in anti-immigrant sentiment. There were 3,500 attacks in 2016, which led to 560 people being injured; 43 of them were children. Capitalism is a divisive system and there is no reason to think it will stop. As long as members of the Working Class blame each other for their misfortune they will not organize for the solution of a great world wide co-operative commonwealth called Socialism.● Quote of the month -"It's very shameful that people are dying of hunger in 2017. There's just too much wealth in the world and this famine situation could have been easily prevented." This was from, a Toronto resident, Hassan Ibrahim, commenting on the famine in Somalia, brought on by the on-going drought. Of course, he is perfectly right, but no one will find an answer in present-day society. The quote was from Toronto Metro News, March 28, 2017.Socialist literature for your interest & edification- WSP (India) History of Economics: A Scientigfic Investigation into the Political Economy and Its Swindler'Economics' published. 50.00 Rupees/CD$1-1.50.Contact E-mail: wspindia@hotmail.com; Website: http://www.worldsocialistpartyindia.org for more information to purchase.- Red Lion Press (re)publishing Bill Pritchard's autobiography, entitled Revolutionary Socialist: Lifeof 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 – for more information to purchase or enquire with the publisher: https://web.facebook.com/search/more/?q=Larry+Gambone&init=public
WORLD SOCIALIST PARTY (INDIA)257 Baghajatin ‘E’ Block (East), Kolkata – 700086Tel: 2425-0208 (ISD: 091, STD: 033)E-mail: wspindia@hotmail.com; Website: http://www.worldsocialistpartyindia.org MINUTES OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING NO. 173Head Office, Sunday, March 12, 2017: Called to order: 4:00 PM Present (EC Members): Binay Sarkar, Harisadhan Ghosh, Sumitra Mondal, Pradip Singha Absent: NoneAttendee: NoneElection: Chairperson: Harisadhan Ghosh on motion of Binay Sarkar and Sumitra Mondal; Minutes Writer: Pradip SinghaEC Minutes No. 172 was read and confirmed on motion of Binay Sarkar and Pradip Singha Membership Application: Umang Gupta (Gujarat) has enquired about our Membership procedure. Correspondence: Please note that any comments in square brackets “[]” are comments from the General Secretary. Inward: – SPC: General Secretary's Report for March 2017Email Report- Imagine Winter 2016 released December 5. Visit SPC website for downloadinghttps://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/ …- WSP (India) 1000 copies of History of Economics: A Scientigfic Investigationinto the Political Economy and Its Swindler 'Economics' published. 50.00Rupees/CD$1-1.50. Contact E-mail: wspindia@hotmail.com ; Website:www.worldsocialistpartyindia.org for more information to purchase…. – Minutes of the 2nd Meeting of the 114th Executive Committee of the Socialist Party of Great Britain Held on 4th February 2017 (Note: These Minutes are not official until amendment and adoption by the EC.) – Minutes of the 3rd Meeting of the 114th Executive Committee of the Socialist Party of Great Britain held at Head Office on Saturday 4th March 2017 At 13.10 [Note: These are Draft Minutes only and are not official until adopted by the EC]- Academia.edu: Total 14 emails (during5/2/2017 to 12/3/2017). – Proletarian (PROGRAMME, BP57428, 89347 LYON GEDEX 07, FRANCE)- Sher Singh: email 4th March 2017Outbound: Responses as required to incoming correspondence. MSC: To receive and file incoming and to endorse outgoing correspondence.Matters Arising: Once again regarding approval of membership: MSC: That we keep on hold Shahazada Rahim Abbas’ membership until we receive his revised answers to our Questionnaire and once approved, he will be enrolled with effect from the date of his initial application.Reports of Executives and Committees: Advancement of the Movement: [B, Sarkar and P. Singha are going on posting and interacting on Facebook timelines.] Academia.eduThey are now displaying some 53 papers and 12 drafts 15 books (actually 15 chapters of a book) and 3 teaching documents uploaded by BS. ⃰ We see this fast growing (from 36,882,115 academics on May 1, 2016 to 48,973,844 today) platform very useful for uploading and propagating world socialist ideas which are being viewed by many. So our comrades should make use of this platform. The World Socialist Party (India)_Discussion Forum and the website: http://www.worldsocialistpartyindia.org are attracting new contacts. Facebook: Discussion Forum membership stands at 1,901Sunday Discussion: Every Sunday in the evening we meet to read and discuss Marxism, Leninism, Political Economy, Economics and other selected subjects. Literature: Party literature distribution is going on Socialist Standard: February 2017 bulk packet & single copy and March 2017 single copy arrived. Presently the SPGB may consider sending copies of the Socialist Standard to Comrades Md. Tabrez Anwer Julaha, Shahazada Rahim Abbas and Kaiser Asifi. Their postal addresses are to be found in our December, January and February EC minutes under Membership Application item. Unfinished Business: None New Business: NoneFinancial Report: Collection of Dues:Financial Report: February 2017: (Rupees)Income: 520.00Expenditure: 764.00Deficit: 244.00Deficit BF: 24,081.00Net Deficit: 24,325.00Membership Subscription & Donation: Included in “Income” above. MSC: To accept the financial report and to receive donations with thanks. Next EC Meeting: Head Office, Sunday, April 2, 2017, 5 PM Meeting Adjourned at 5.30 PM.
WORLD SOCIALIST PARTY (INDIA)257 Baghajatin ‘E’ Block (East), Kolkata – 700086Tel: 2425-0208 (ISD: 091, STD: 033)E-mail: wspindia@hotmail.com; Website: http://www.worldsocialistpartyindia.org MINUTES OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING NO. 172Head Office, Sunday, February 5, 2017: Called to order: 6:30 PM Present (EC Members): Binay Sarkar, Harisadhan Ghosh, Sumitra Mondal, Pradip Singha Absent: NoneAttendee: Raghunarayan ChoudhuryElection: Chairperson: Sumitra Mondal on motion of Binay Sarkar and Harisadhan Ghosh; Minutes Writer: Pradip SinghaEC Minutes No. 171 was read and confirmed on motion of Binay Sarkar and Pradip Singha Membership Application: Shahazada Rahim Abbas (October 16, 2016, Ghizar, Gilgit Baltistan, Pin – 15100, Pakistan) which will still remain pending until we receive his revised answers to the Questionnaire. Kaiser Asifi (December 19, 2016, Village – b.k Pora, Tel. +91 8979642240, District – Budgam, State – Jammu & Kashmir) has emailed his application without answers to the Questionnaire. He has been asked to submit the same.Correspondence: Please note that any comments in square brackets “[]” are comments from the General Secretary. Inward: – SPC: General Secretary's Report for February 2017Email Report- Imagine Winter 2016 released December 5. Visit SPC website for downloadinghttps://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/ …- WSP (India) 1000 copies of History of Economics: A Scientigfic Investigationinto the Political Economy and Its Swindler 'Economics' published. 50.00Rupees/CD$1-1.50. Contact E-mail: wspindia@hotmail.com ; Website:www.worldsocialistpartyindia.org for more information to purchase…. – Adam Buick: email correspondences 31/01/2017 concerning our member in Bihar – Md. Tabrez Anwer.- Academia.edu: Total 10 emails (during1/1/2017 to 2/5/2017 1:43 AM). – Sher Singh: email 31 Jan 2017. Outbound: Responses as required to incoming correspondence. MSC: To receive and file incoming and to endorse outgoing correspondence.Matters Arising: Regarding approval of membership: MSC: That we keep on hold Shahazada Rahim Abbas’ membership until we receive his revised answers to our Questionnaire and once approved, he will be enrolled with effect from the date of his initial application.Reports of Executives and Committees: Advancement of the Movement: [B, Sarkar, P. Singha and Md. Tabrez Anwer are going on posting and interacting on Facebook timelines.] Academia.eduThey are now displaying some 53 papers and 12 drafts 15 books (actually 15 chapters of a book) and 3 teaching documents uploaded by BS. ⃰ We see this fast growing (from 36,882,115 academics on May 1, 2016 to 47,416,419 today) platform very useful for uploading and propagating world socialist ideas. So our comrades should make use of this platform. The World Socialist Party (India)_Discussion Forum and the website: http://www.worldsocialistpartyindia.org are attracting new contacts. Facebook: Discussion Forum membership stands at 1,896 Sunday Discussion: Every Sunday in the evening we meet to read and discuss Marxism, Leninism, Political Economy, Economics and other selected subjects. Literature: Party literature distribution is going on Socialist Standard: January 2017 bulk packet & single copy arrived. Presently the SPGB may consider sending copies of the Socialist Standard to Comrades Md. Tabrez Anwer Julaha, Shahazada Rahim Abbas and Kaiser Asifi. Their postal addresses are to be found in our December, January and this February EC minutes under Membership Application section. Unfinished Business: None New Business: SPRING SCHOOL & TWENTY THIRD ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2017 of the WORLD SOCIALIST PARTY (INDIA), Saturday 4th March and Sunday 5th March, both days from 2 PM to 8 PM with tea breaks. Financial Report: Collection of Dues:Financial Report: January 2017: (Rupees)Income: 1,270.00Expenditure: 842.00Surplus: 428.00Deficit BF: 24,569.00Net Deficit: 24,141.00Membership Subscription & Donation: Included in “Income” above. MSC: To accept the financial report and to receive donations with thanks. Next EC Meeting: Head Office, Sunday, March 12, 2017, 5 PM Meeting Adjourned at 7.45 PM.
Report of the meeting and review of the book by local Norwich online magazine:https://thenorwichradical.com/2017/03/24/review-the-alternative-to-capitalism-adam-buick-and-john-crump/
If you call in at 52 Clapham High St on the way you will be able to collect some of those leaflets. We won't have a stall at this event but there will be at least one other comrade handing out our leaflets.
THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF CANADA General Secretary's Report for March 2017 Email Report – WSP (India) EC meeting minutes No. 172, February 5, 2016, received with thanks.- General Secretary, Binay Sarkar, WSP (India): Announcement of WSP (India) Spring School 4 March, Saturday, 2PM – 8PM & Annual Conference 5 March, Sunday: In two sessions: 2PM – 8PM- The World Socialist Party (India) Discussion Forum and the website February 2017 standing at 1,896 membership: http://www.worldsocialistpartyindia.org- Academia.edu WSP (India) growth 36,882,115 academics May 1, 2016 to 47,416,419 February 2017 – World Socialist Party (US) seeking application for membership template for WSPUS records: forwarded.- Cormade Matt Culbert (SPGB Blog Committee) requests SPC members to use our Imagine Blog, dormant since November 2010. Suggestion is for members to post several times per week, including some of our well appreciated. Food for Thought comments from Steve, as the blog is well positioned for internet traffic. Members, please write in and use this free site, which can be found at The Imagine Blog http://imaginespc.blogspot.co.uk/- Imagine Winter 2016. Visit our website for downloadinghttps://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/Good of the Movement- Two introductory packages and one member application sent out.- Toronto Branch public meeting held Wednesday, February 22nd 6:30pm to 8:30pm.- Spring socialist discussion meetings until May 2017, Toronto Branch: February 22, March 29, April 26, May 24, The Second Cup Coffee House, 324 Bloor St., Toronto. Communications to: spctorontobranch@gmail.com– see Toronto Branch Facebook for further details: https://web.facebook.com/Toronto-Branch-Socialist-Party-of-Canada-1120836671294008/ & our website https://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/- Socialist Party of Canada Facebook public page https://web.facebook.com/socialistpartycanada/ & members' page https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012582758245- Letter from Penelope White, USA. Seeking connection with SPC and support her disability. General secretary replied, including WSPUS website and contact details.- Imagine Spring 2017: expected distribution May 2017 – (members, please send in your submissions and ideas!).- Socialist education site for redistribution & hyperlinking, S. Shenfield (WSPUS) http://www.whatissocialism.net/Finances – Stationary, nil; photocopies, $3.71; post, $3.60. Special renewal cost for SPC post box: $170.10. A second post forwarding expenditure of $250.95 for 12 months and $161.65 for 4 months, due March 1, 2017, was recommended and resolved by the treasurer and general secretary to not be renewed as our new post box address has been active for well over a year.Dues – Several dues have been paid, but most stand in arrears. Members in financial circumstances inhibiting dues payment may seek waiver – please contact our treasurer and/or general secretary. Other members please note dues are a modest $25 per year, or $2 per month and are required for post, photocopies, public meeting expenses, and internet services.Food for Thought● In a recent episode of "Foyle's War" on TV Ontario, the main protagonist, Foyle, has to investigate the production, in the U.K., of German war materials – Yes, you read it right! Based on a true story, and English-based subsidiary of, American-owned, Standard Oil, was producing fuel for German planes, both before and after Pearl Harbor. They shipped it in barrels, labeled 'whisky' to Tenerife, from where they were loaded onto German ships. The Luftwaffe needed the fuel to continue bombing Britain. As one of the company's owners said, "We don't care how we make a profit, business is business."● According to an issue of Canadian Jewish News, February 2, 2017, a few hours before Trump's inauguration, Obama ordered $221million to be given to the Palestinians. One needn't be brilliant to figure how they'll spend it. Then 'genius-head' Trump, bans immigration from countries whose populations he dislikes. The fact that these deals may not go through, isn't the point, which is, they would like them to. So, we have two guys working at the most important job in the world, one after the other, taking action that will harm people. This is clearly indicative to how low things have sunk under capitalism. So, let's help it sink a little lower – right into the garbage can of history.● On CBC News of February 8, 2017, they announced that in the last four years, seventy thousand jobs in manufacturing and farming, have been lost to technology, in Canada alone. One forty-seven-year old sheet metal worker, who had once made $37.00 an hour, was struggling to support his two daughters on Employment Insurance and struggling even more, with his self-esteem, or lack of. As Charlie Chaplin said in, The Great Dictator, "Machinery that creates abundance has left us in want." The trouble is, it needn't be that way and we "can" do something about it.● For eighteen years, "Dangerous Dans" has been selling burgers in Toronto's east end, but will close on May 28, 2017, because its landlord, Pizza Nova, raised its rent 80%. To quote owner, James McKinnon, "If I opened seven days a week, four in the morning until late at night, I would generate enough revenue, but it would kill me." A spokesman for Pizza Nova said, "Any proposed increase is in line with market rates." This writer is so bewildered. They told me, anyone can become his/her own boss, under capitalism and make it. Do you think I was conned?● The Canadian capitalist class, is not optimistic about Ontario's economic future. The annual report of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, released on February 7, 2017, said, "There is a confidence gap between our members organizational and provincial economic outlooks". Only 24% of their members, who were surveyed last fall, expressed optimism; to quote, "Diminished profitability, lower labour market participation and sluggish market activity have resulted in a risk-averse atmosphere in which businesses are disinclined to grow production." So if the capitalists have little optimism, why should we have any?● Soon it will no longer be a crime in Russia to beat a family member, as long as you don't cause bodily harm. On January 27, 2017, the state duma, voted 380 – 3 to decriminalize battery on family members that doesn't cause bodily harm. Instead it will mean a fine, or a 15 day sentence. Critics of the new law, said it would encourage domestic violence, (no kidding). Statistics show that 40% of all violent crimes in Russian, are within the family. Russian police are reluctant to react, regarding their intervention as meddling in family matters. It would be easy enough for socialists to advocate harsher measures in dealing with those guilty of spousal and child abuse, but that wouldn't be the point; which is the establishment of a society where the economic pressures that cause families to break down (of which this is a symptom) won't exist.● Canadian officials are now seeing a sharp increase in the amount of refugees illegally crossing the U.S. Border to avoid deportation from the U.S. In Quebec alone, the amount has tripled in the last year to 1,280 from 424. Some who crossed into Manitoba in freezing weather have been treated for frostbite. A pregnant woman said she was afraid to deliver in the U.S. Under the U.S. – Canada pact introduced in 2004, refugees cannot make asylum claims in both countries. As the weather gets warmer more are expected to cross into Canada. So too put it bluntly, Canada will soon have a refugee crisis like some European countries have now. Once again, capitalism creates problems it can't solve.● Increases in the cost of transportation and shelter, drove the inflation rate up 1.5% in Canada in December, according to figures released by Statistics Canada on January 20th. A decrease in the cost of food in December (the third consecutive month) helped keep the overall increase in consumer expenses lower than expected. Economists had predicted a 1.7% increase. The Consumer Price Index in Ontario was up 2% from 2015, driven by an 11.2% surge in prices for electricity and a 7.4% increase in the cost of buying a home. So, there it is folks, slight improvements like the decline in the cost of food do minimal good. We socialists want to do maximum good, such as, abolishing the source of the above figures.● It is generally assumed that unemployment and homelessness go hand-in-hand, but it ain't necessarily so. An article in the Toronto Star of February 11, 2017, which focused on homeless shelters, reported that four men, who sleep at the Bloor Street West Shelter, in Toronto, have jobs. One said, "We just can't afford to rent." With the average one-bedroom apartment rent in Toronto at $1,130.00 a month, it's no wonder. The wait-list for Toronto Community Housing, has topped 180,000 and is in massive need of repairs. Mayor, John Tory, has pressed Ottawa and the province to each kick-in a third of the repair bill of, $2.6 billion, but, "No firm commitments have materialized." Councillor, Kristyn Wong-Tam, said that, "Emergency shelters are at best a Band-Aid solution. When that becomes their permanent address, that is a system fail. They have given up hope on affordable housing and are living in shelters." There are different estimates of how many sleep on Toronto's streets, but it is known, that 80 died on them in 2016. Our well-meaning friend is right, it is a system-fail. The only solution is a better one.● Almost every day the Toronto Transit Commission is in the news and it's never anything positive. At present passengers pay a flat-rate fare, which TTC spokesman, Brad Ross, said is "Very user-friendly." It won't stay that way if the recommendation in a 2016 report is enacted, which is to pay by the distance travelled. This is being considered by Metrolinx, the provincial organization that oversees transit in the Greater Toronto Area. At present, the matter is under discussion. Mayor, Tory, said the present price-structure is unfair, which implies that paying by distance is fair. This must be of concern to people with low incomes, but of one thing we can be absolutely sure – if this deal goes through, it will make life harder for the workers affected.● In July, commuters in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, will still be taking taxis, but those that fly. Passenger drones capable of carrying a single rider, will fly above the skyscrapers at the push of a button. This is part of the city's plan to increase driver-less technology. The city already operates the world's longest driverless subway system. In October, the city signed a deal with the Los Angeles-based, "Hyperloop One", to study the potential for a Hyperloop, which is a vacuum-like tube, through which a vehicle travels faster than airliners, between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It sounds great and the technology is great, but its affect won't be when, like so many of capitalism's inventions, it puts the working guy out of a job.● For months now, the Federal Government has been considering selling Canada's major airports to private investors as a way to raise billions of dollars. Airports and airlines are against such moves, saying it would drive up passenger's fares, like they really care. The National Airline Council of Canada, representing airlines, such as Air Canada and WestJet, said, airport privatization," would fail the most elementary test of stewardship of the public interest." In all probability some of their highly-paid executives would be out of a job, and in all certainty many members of the lower income groups of the working class would be out of a job and would be affected a lot worse.● On Valentine's Day, the RCMP appropriately warned anyone using APPS or websites in their search for love, to be cautious. Last year, 748 people lost more than $17 million to on-line dating scams. Some were cheated out of more than $100,000 and many were too embarrassed to report it. Scammers create on-line profiles to gain someone's trust, then ask for money, often claiming to be faced with an emergency, the RCMP said. It is despicable that the de-humanizing aspects of life under capitalism, would make anyone so devoid of conscience, they would prey on people's loneliness and then hurt them, but nevertheless, let's bear in mind that this is illegal robbery – there's enough legal robbery going on, every moment of every day.● On February 14, 2017, Toronto judge, Edward Belobaba, found in favour of survivors of the round-up of Indian children, in their suit against the Federal Government. Between 1965 and 1984, 16,000 Indian children on reserves, were placed in non-indigenous care. In his report, Belobaba said, "The uncontroverted evidence of the plaintiff's experts, is that the loss of their aboriginal identity left the children fundamentally disoriented, with a reduced ability to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. The loss of identity resulted in psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, unemployment, violence and numerous suicides." Belobaba's next step will be to, "assess the damages the government owes to the plaintiff." The real damage has already been done. The capitalist class forces everyone to conform to their scheme of things, regardless of the misery it causes. When Robert Tressel referred to capitalism as, "That atrocious system," it was a masterpiece of under-statement.● Starbucks much – ballyhooed mobile ordering system has brought a painful side-effect to the coffee giant – traffic jams at the pick-up counter. Because customers are now able to order and pay for coffee via their phones, many head straight to the part of the cafe where it's handed out. This has created pile-ups and frustrated some customers enough that they've cancelled their orders. The company's management had predicted sales would rise from eight to ten percent in the last quarter, instead, it was 3% which isn't considered good enough. This is very small potatoes as far as these things go, but nevertheless, it's always amusing to see capitalists cause stupid problems for themselves.● On April 16th, Turkey is set to hold a referendum on switching to a presidential system – a move critics fear would put too much power into the hands of Mr. Erdogan. The Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muiznieks, said Turkey's lack of media freedoms and freedom of expression has reached "alarming levels." He also criticized the imprisonment of journalists, the erosion of the independence of the judiciary, the use of defamation laws used to silence critics, censorship on the internet and the use of state resources to favour progovernment media. Shades of Hitler and his thugs, subverting the Weimar Republic . . .Though political and parliamentary democracy has its uses, in the final analysis, there is only one form of democracy worth working for – economic democracy. To achieve that, you must first abolish capitalism. ● We've all heard about the allegations that the Russians interfered with the U.S. election and we know that Trump fired two guys in his cabinet. What the media haven't covered much is what he's done for the "little guy" who voted for him, considering, his was a populist victory. Farmers and ranchers, though not little guys, did vote for him in hopes of less regulation and lower taxes. Trump's decision to pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would have reduced tariffs and strengthened economic ties with the capitalist class in eleven other countries, will costthe agriculture industry $4.4 billion a year in potential sales, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the biggest U.S. farmer group. As for the "real" little guy, let's hear from California-Based Worker's Rights advocate, Carmen Rojas, who says "If we had been living in an overcast period for working people in the U.S., we are about to enter into a dark, dark, period."Gone is Trump's first pick for labour, Secretary, Andrew Pudzer, who withdrew his nomination on February 16th, after hearing Trump trash minimum wage hikes and overtime protections. A review of the Department of Labour's website reveal that many posts about protecting precarious workers, enforcing labour laws and cracking down on wage theft, have vanished from the website. Other disappearances are an executive order from the Obama administration that would have raised the minimum wage of Federal contractors to $10.10 an hour. This would have given 200,00 low wage workers a raise. Other links to the Department of Labor blog posts, also appear to be broken, especially on issues related to wage theft and employee misclassification, which is the practice of wrongly classifying workers as independent contractors to avoid legal obligations, like paying minimum wage. No one at the White House has asked why these pages have vanished. One thing you can be sure of, is that, the self-styled champion of the forgotten American, has forgotten him. GUSTAV'S GEMSIn his work, "The Rise of Capitalism", Dr. Bang effectively deals with the myth that capitalist and worker have anything in common, economically."The claim is false, as are all the claims by which the capitalist class justifies its right to existence. Ignored is the fact that labour power is a nature-endowed possession that cannot be separated from the person of the worker, whereas, capital is dependent and in flux, never attached to any particular person. Labour power and its possessor, the worker, cannot be separated, while on the contrary, capital is only accidentally attached to the person of the individual capitalist. Under the present system of capitalism, the workers cannot do without capital, that is, the means of production. But, they can quite well do without the capitalists! The latter, however, are powerless without the workers, that is, workers who produce surplus value for them.Every struggle by the workers against the introduction of improved means of production is reactionary and doomed to defeat in advance. The struggle against their capitalist application, however, is a natural and essential characteristic of the modern class struggle. The magnitude of surplus value points to the limitations within which the workers can achieve gains under the capitalist system. The socializing of the means of production points the road to their ultimate emancipation."For socialism, Steve and John.Socialist literature for your interest & edification- WSP (India) History of Economics: A Scientigfic Investigation into the Political Economy and Its Swindler 'Economics' published. 50.00 Rupees/CD$1-1.50.Contact E-mail: wspindia@hotmail.com; Website: http://www.worldsocialistpartyindia.org for more information to purchase.- Red Lion Press (re)publishing Bill Pritchard's autobiography, entitled 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 – for more information to purchase or enquire with the publisher: https://web.facebook.com/search/more/?q=Larry+Gambone&init=public
THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF CANADAGeneral Secretary's Report for February 2017Email Report- Imagine Winter 2016 released December 5. Visit our website for downloading https://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/- WSP (India) EC meeting minutes No. 171, December 4, 2016, received with thanks.- WSP (India) 1000 copies of History of Economics: A Scientigfic Investigation into the Political Economy and Its Swindler 'Economics' published. 50.00 Rupees/CD$1-1.50. Contact E-mail: wspindia@hotmail.com; Website:www.worldsocialistpartyindia.org for more information to purchase.- Red Lion Press (re)publishing Bill Pritchard's autobiography, entitled 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; and, 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 – for more information to purchase or enquire with the publisher: https://web.facebook.com/search/more/?q=Larry+Gambone&init=publicGood of the Movement- Three introductory packages and one member application sent out.- Toronto Branch public meeting held Wednesday, January 25th.- Spring socialist discussion meetings until May 2017, Toronto Branch: February 22, March 29, April 26, May 24, The Second Cup Coffee House, 324 Bloor St., Toronto. Communications to: spctorontobranch@gmail.com– see Toronto Branch Facebook for further details: https://web.facebook.com/Toronto-Branch-Socialist-Party-of-Canada-1120836671294008/ & our website https://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/- Socialist Party of Canada Facebook public page https://web.facebook.com/socialistpartycanada/ & members' page https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012582758245- Imagine Spring 2017: expected distribution May 2017 – (members, please send in your submissions and ideas!).- Socialist education site for redistribution & hyperlinking, S. Shenfield (WSPUS) http://www.whatissocialism.net/GAC Elections 2017-2019- Very low vote turn out re: December 31, 2016 GAC election – votes cast withdrawn by balloting members. Current GAC requesting presently serving GAC members acknowledge intent to serve within 90 days of January 15th, 2017 or seat(s) to be deemed vacant and filled by awaiting members wishing to serve on GAC.- Headquarter location remains Victoria BC.Finances – Stationary: nil; photocopies: $6.78; post: $9.30.Food For Thought• As we are all aware, the dominating event in recent months is that the good citizens of the Divided States of America have seem unfit to elect as president a great brain, who is loaded down with couth and charm. This brief article was written on January 25th; by the time you read it, he may well have done many more stupid things. "Exactly" what will occur, we don't know, because capitalism is an unplanned, anarchic system where sanity is proverbially told to get out of town. Be that as it may, we can make a vague forecast of what decisions Trump may make and what problems he will have to deal with. He may well, as he said, abolish NAFTA and kill the proposed Trans-Pacific partnership, which, since Canada is a big trading partner with the U.S, will cause loss of jobs here. Furthermore, a trade war will harm the interests of American capitalism. Will that stop our lad? Perhaps, even he isn't crazy! Or is he? We'll have to wait and see. There's been plenty of talk about the Trump-Putin mutual admiration society, but Russia is reemerging as a global super-power and economic realities must, inevitably, hit home. Didn't that old lush Winnie Churchill praise Hitler to the skies during the 1930s? Again, we'll have to wait and see. No relationship is more important to the interests of U.S capitalism than China. Yet, no country has been attacked more by Trump. Why? Only he knows that. Trump, recently, spoke directly to the leader of Taiwan and indicated he would scrap the "One China Policy", if the U.S. doesn't get a better deal with China. Challenging China over Taiwan would risk war. Just how gung-ho is our lad? Far right political parties in Europe will probably make election gains by propagating racism. How this will affect the U.S. we don't know but these populist movements may lean towards him, considering he won by playing up to the same sentiments. Trump said, he will scrap America's nuclear agreement with Iran. He obviously doesn't trust Iran and who can blame him? Could this result in a nuclear war? Who at this time can tell? But we can't rule out the possibility. If there is one, it may be started by the North Koreans. Kim Jong Un said, on January 1st, that soon they will be able to fire a long-range missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead into the U.S.- and a very happy New Year to you, sir! Trump's response was a tweet, saying, "This won't happen". Thanks Donny, you're so reassuring.Trump is obsessed by Islamic terror, but has given no details how to deal with it. If he moves the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the Palestinians will go ballistic, both figuratively and literally. Trump has made no secret he doesn't give a 'rat's behind' for the threat of global warming, which is increasing, becoming less of a threat than a reality. So we can't expect anything positive there. On the home front, Trump said he will reduce crime, but again, gave no clear indication how. He said he will reduce unemployment, but if he scraps free-trade, he will make it worse.Trump, like other presidents, has his advisors, but any advice from them will be within the framework of what they consider best for U.S. capitalism. The moot question, is, "To what extent do individuals make a difference?" A smarter guy than me, once said, "Men make history, but from the conditions to hand." Or, something to that effect. Put it this way – the tailor makes the suit, but, not the cloth. Our comrades in the U.K. are only too well aware of this. During WWII, Britain's Interior Minister, Herbert Morrison, could have shut down the British party. They wouldn't have been able to do anything about it and no one would have protested. Morrison was a humane man, attempting to administrate an inhumane system. As a WWI conscientious objector, there was a certain empathy there, so he allowed the SP to propagate and attack both sides in the war. Though individuals make a difference concerning details, they make none concerning fundamentals, nor can they.No one knows exactly what will happen under Donny baby, maybe he doesn't, but we do know what won't. There will be no change in the class basis of society. The capitalist class will continue to own the tools of production, while the working class continue to be exploited by them, (that is, those who still have jobs) with all the consequent misery this causes. Nor, would it have been different if Hillary had won. Trump's ranting "America First", is so much hot air to convince the American working class they have something in common with those who exploit them.The time is long overdue for the working class to stop saying let's vote for this or that candidate. How about making things a whole lot better? This can be done by "not" voting for individuals as such, but electing a majority of socialist deputies, with a mandate to make the tools of production the property of all. Then we could have done with war, poverty, unemployment, planned obsolescence, famine, preventable diseases, epidemics and destruction of the environment. Also, no one would think of electing goofball politicians, or even smart ones, who's sole intention is to keep us exploited.• On Jan. 12 incoming secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, promised a hard-line stance towards Russia, which conflicted sharply with Obama's and Trump's approach. Tillerson, a former CEO with Exxon Mobil, called Russia a danger to the U.S. and said he would keep U.S. sanctions in place and consider new penalties related to Russian meddling in the election, (if they did). He criticized Obama's sanctions on Russia, which cost Exxon hundreds of Millions of dollars – need I say more?• Canadians who want to meet Justin Trudeau during his road tour of town halls are being asked to register their personal details with Liberal M.P.s. To quote Conservative M.P. Candice Bergen,''Do not call it open town hall when its actually a Liberal rally. Its not at all the back-to-the-people tour the Prime Minister described.'' That's what I like about Crapitalism – its so open and democratic.• The province of Ontario ''officially'' gives $61 million a year in grants to help marginalized students in Toronto. A report released on January 12, by ''Social Planning Toronto'', claims that half of that money isn't being spent on them and is instead diverted to cover other expenses, as the cash strapped Toronto District School Board struggles to balance its budget. According to Sean Meagher, director of Social Planning Toronto,''This is the first time we've had absolutely rock solid numbers that no one can refute because they are the TDSB's own numbers''. So as always under Capitalism it comes down to money, which is another good argument in favour of a society without any.• On December 16 Venezuela became a country without cash. The most widely used banknote, the 100 Bolivar, which had previously been worth 2 American cents, went out of circulation. Higher denomination bills which were meant to replace it had not arrived at the banks and no explanation was given. This meant people looking to buy groceries were out of luck as banks had run out of lower denomination bills like 20 and 50 Bolivar notes. There were no political protests as people scrambled to figure a way of fulfilling their needs in a country operating without money, but with a price tag on everything they would want. And this in a country that claims to be a Socialist one – how ridiculous can it get? Its shades of the runaway inflation in Germany in the early 20's, when workers were paid four times a day. Its obvious nothing changes under Capitalism, so why don't we all work for its abolition?• In Toronto, unionized city garbage collectors said they would fight Mayor John Torys efforts to outsource 200 of their jobs. Matt Figliano,Vice-President of CUPE local 416, which represents the affected workers, said they have an anti-privatization,''Kicked To The Curb'', lobbying campaign. Before Toronto amalgamated in 1997, Etobicoke outsourced its garbage. In 2012 the then Mayor, Rob Ford, convinced council to contract out the rest of the city's west half, which saved them $11 million a year. The city is in debt, therefore it wants to save money, but workers don't want to lose their jobs – a typical capitalist situation. Years ago when the economy was buoyant, a job in the government usually meant job security, which today no longer exists.• On December 23, three Canadian soldiers said they had endured years of racist abuse, including slurs about Aboriginals and Blacks that were ignored by their superior officers. The three have filed a lawsuit against the military in Federal court in Halifax. They claim they were exposed to verbal taunts, racial epithets and insults to family members. A Black soldier claimed someone threw bananas at his wife. Their officers brushed aside their complaints and told them not to file any suits. If all this is true, it goes to show that even when one is prepared to fight to defend and advance the interests of the capitalist class he is still treated with contempt. If anything is contemptible it's the capitalist system.• On December 18 the Toronto Star focused on insurance claims made against General Electric in Peterborough, Ontario. Over the last ten years more than half of the 660 occupational disease claims, including brain, bowl and lung cancer, have been denied. Workers at GE are exposed to high levels of cancer causing substances such as Trichloroethylene, Asbestos and Lead. When they try to prove their cases to Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board they are confronted with delay, bureaucracy, callousness and disappointment. One can hardly expect a Board, created by a government which is there to protect the interests of the Capitalist Class, to be unbiased. This is not to say bias is necessarily a bad thing. Some bias in the direction of a society where the above situation could not exist would be welcomed.• Indian chiefs from Manitoba, Alberta and B.C. said, on January 11, that enviromentalists everywhere were impressed by Justin Trudeau's comments at International talks in Paris, in late 2015. To quote activist Jane Fonda,''we all thought, what a cool guy, what a disappointment. He talked so beautifully of the need to meet the requirements of the climate treaty and to respect and hold to the treaties with indigenous people. Such a heroic stance he took there and yet he has betrayed every one of the things he committed to in Paris." Last year Trudeau approved plans to triple the capacity of the Trans Mountain Line between Edmonton and Burnaby, B.C. And approved plans to replace Endbridge's line between Edmonton and Superior, Wisconsin, but he pushed ahead with a national carbon price and rejected Endbridge's proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline. The compromise did not please Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C, Indian Chiefs, ''I share the bitter disappointment. He failed to restructure the National Energy Board or environmental assessment hearings into major resource projects''. Fonda added,''There’s going to be more poor people if the likes of your Prime Minister and our President-Elect have their way – a lot of poor sick people''.If the capitalist class and governments which maintain the status-quo consider the extraction and transportation of certain raw materials to be profit yielding they will go ahead and to hell with the environment and all who live there, indigenous or not. Protests wont accomplish anything – Revolution will.• On January 18, on the CBC news, they provided the statistics of drug related deaths, recently in BC. 142 died in December and 914 in 2016, which is an 80 per cent increase from 2015. What a sick, empty, meaningless society we live in that would make anyone turn to and get hooked on narcotics. Its time to get rid of it.• Regular readers of this column may recall an item some while back about the claw on garbage collection trucks which can be operated by the driver making it unnecessary for a guy to lift and unload bins. At the time there were still a two man team on the truck. Recently, in Mississauga, Ontario, this writer noticed there was just one guy. Under capitalism progress is a two edged sword.• About 100 people were missing in December and feared dead after two shipwrecks off Italy raised the total of deaths among migrants on the Mediterranean Sea in 2016 to 5000 – a new annual record, United Nations Agencies said on December 23. Deaths linked to Mediterranean crossings by migrants spiked in 2016. In 2015 more than one million crossed the sea, with 3771 deaths recorded. In 2016 about 360,000 people have crossed, most between Libya and Italy, but there have been far more deaths, probably due to overcrowding on unseaworthy vessels. As long as capitalism lasts folks will always flee from its more troubled spots, hoping to find a place where they can be exploited without a war raging around them.• The recent movie ''Hidden Figures'', which depicts the successful battle of three coloured women for recognition when working on NASA's space program in the early 1960's is excellent. Since one is a mathematician, one an engineer and the other a computer specialist, each have to fight their separate battles. The movie is totally absorbing, especially as its a true story. Though one can applaud the breaking down of barriers and consequently raising the status of people who had previously been dumped on, wouldn't it be better to have a world where there were no barriers to break down because no one was getting dumped on?• The Toronto Transit Commission are increasing security on buses and streetcars in the hope that riders won't spit on drivers. In 2016 there were 285 assaults on transit operators in Toronto, a number that doesn't include verbal abuse. 34 per cent of assaults were by spitting, 31 per cent were a slap on the hand and 37 per cent a punch in the face. In a December pilot project called Bus Stop, constables boarded 400 buses on 400 lines. Most of the disputes were about fares, but nevertheless it's a clear indication that capitalist society is breaking down more and more every day.• In January Toronto officials announced plans to double the amount of cameras at intersections, which is currently at 77. The expansion is part of the city's new $80 million road safety plan, which Mayor John Tory has championed with the aim of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries. Methods of surveillance always start in a way the public as a whole find acceptable. In the U.S. it was supposedly to ''combat terrorism''. All these techniques can and will be used to crush opposition to capitalism, but it won't do them a bit of good when the vast majority vote to end it.• The Earth heated up to a third straight record hot year in 2016, with scientists blaming man made global warming – no kidding! Figures released by the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration revealed that the average global temperature was 14.84 Celsius, beating the previous year by 0.04,Celsius. This shows that what has been done to decrease global warming is too little too late. As long as profits are made capitalism rushes pell mell to its own destruction and that of the rest of us.Gustav's GemsIn his work "The Rise of Capitalism", Dr. Bang analyzes the collapse of the Chartist Movement. This was the great movement for universal suffrage in Britain in the 19th century."That happened which had to happen. Chartism had to terminate. It had to do so because, historically, it was not in consonance with the evolutionary stage of the period. Capitalism was not sufficiently ripe for overthrow. It was in its ascendancy, both as regards inner and external development. It had barely put the first lap behind, and it was to pass through a series of phases before the germs of its dissolution could manifest themselves. Preparations for its coming collapse could be made, the collapse could be hastened, but this could be done only by the workers gaining in strength, organizationally, tactically, and in consistent progress, and in the measure that the bourgeoisie became weakened. A big victory that in itself, meant a definite step toward a new social order, could not yet be won." Today, capitalism has developed to the extent that it is ripe to be overthrown. Has the world's working class themselves become more educated about how it should be overthrown? Or indeed, do they think it needs to be overthrown?They need to wake up PDQ, before the affects of capitalism destroy life on this planet. For socialism, Steve and John.
