let’s make 2012 a year of struggle
a new year’s greeting from Philly Socialist Action
2011 was an exciting year for political activists; with mass uprisings in the Middle East, huge popular mobilizations in Greece, Spain and France and the initial stirrings of a labor fight back here in the US. We have seen the inspiring rise and spread of the Occupy Wall Street movement. What all of these manifestations– from Egypt to Wisconsin, Greece and Wall Street – represent is the mass rejection of neo-liberal austerity and the beginnings of a broad anti-capitalist movement on a world scale.
None of these movements can succeed in the long run without a clean break with bourgeois politics and the construction of an independent working class political party capable of challenging the 1 percent for power.
Despite the growth of new movements, US imperialism retains its military power and its grip on world politics. At home, we see a continued war on workers and oppressed nationalities led by the so-called liberal, Barack Obama. Under Obama’s administration the US capitalist government has continued the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, led an all-out assault on Libya and threatens war against Iran and North Korea. The assault on democratic rights has continued with FBI raids on the homes of antiwar activists and the passage of the NDAA law that includes provisions for indefinite detention and martial law in the US.
The economic crisis continues; with 25 million facing under-employment and unemployment and neither capitalist party offering any immediate solution. There are 3.5 million homeless in the US and an estimated 18.5 million vacant homes. Capitalism is incapable of providing living wage jobs, housing and health care for the workers who live under the dictatorship of capital. This system offers us only mass incarceration, war and environmental destruction. This system holds only the promise of a continued race to the bottom for the 99 percent. This system offers us only the prospect of permanent war and dictatorship.
We say there is an alternative – socialism– the democratic ownership and control of the economy and society by the working class and oppressed.
To achieve socialism will require struggle and a political party capable of fighting in the interests of our class. Socialist Action dedicates ourselves to fighting for the creation of such a party. This past year has been a busy one for SA members here in Philadelphia. We have built demonstrations against war, the death penalty and racism and taken part in Occupy Philadelphia.
As we look forward to 2012, we see the challenges that lie ahead. The working class needs a fightback against the bosses’ assault on our rights and for a massive public works jobs program. We must continue the fight against imperialist war and environmental destruction. We need to fight against racism and the mass incarceration of a generation of Black youth and for the rights of women, immigrants and Muslims against government repression.
The fight for socialism requires organization. We invite you to join Socialist Action as we make 2012 a year of struggle against this system of war, sexism, racism, and exploitation.
Posted on January 1, 2012
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