24 December 2012
By Ken Rudin
National Public Radio (NPR)
"J. Quinn Brisben, 77, the Socialist Party USA's
presidential nominee in 1992 who was also the party's candidate for vice
president in 1976. (April 17)...."
Read More
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Post-Election Interview with SP State House Candidate John Strinka
12 December 2012
The Socialist
John Strinka - Candidate for State Representative (Indiana)
What motivated you to run for office?
I felt I had to. The sponsor and prime mover of Indiana’s Right to Work law was going to be unopposed, which is very common in Indiana. After spending months at the Statehouse opposing this bill very specifically, and the rest of the Republican legislative agenda (think Wisconsin in slow motion), and receiving very little respect from our elected representatives, I decided it was necessary to give the people of my district a way to disapprove of this odious law in a public election. Basically, I did this because I believed it was necessary and there really was no one else willing to do it. So I did.
Read More
The Socialist
John Strinka - Candidate for State Representative (Indiana)
What motivated you to run for office?
I felt I had to. The sponsor and prime mover of Indiana’s Right to Work law was going to be unopposed, which is very common in Indiana. After spending months at the Statehouse opposing this bill very specifically, and the rest of the Republican legislative agenda (think Wisconsin in slow motion), and receiving very little respect from our elected representatives, I decided it was necessary to give the people of my district a way to disapprove of this odious law in a public election. Basically, I did this because I believed it was necessary and there really was no one else willing to do it. So I did.
Read More
Post-Election Interview with SP U.S. Senate Candidate Greg Pason
12 December 2012
The Socialist
Greg Pason - Candidate for U.S. Senate (New Jersey)
What motivated you to run for office?
Senator Robert Menendez was the incumbent and a traditional liberal who is a hawk on international issues. He is especially aggressive on intervention in Iran, is hostile toward Cuba and Venezuela and has given blind support to Israel. I felt this was an opportunity for the Party to focus on these issues while promoting democratic socialist ideas.
I was the Party’s candidate for US Senate in the past and have a long history in anti-war and social movement work, so I hoped to use this opportunity to promote the Party and our ideas.
Read More
The Socialist
Greg Pason - Candidate for U.S. Senate (New Jersey)
What motivated you to run for office?
Senator Robert Menendez was the incumbent and a traditional liberal who is a hawk on international issues. He is especially aggressive on intervention in Iran, is hostile toward Cuba and Venezuela and has given blind support to Israel. I felt this was an opportunity for the Party to focus on these issues while promoting democratic socialist ideas.
I was the Party’s candidate for US Senate in the past and have a long history in anti-war and social movement work, so I hoped to use this opportunity to promote the Party and our ideas.
Read More
Post-Election Interview with Elected SP School Board Candidate Pat Noble
12 December 2012
The Socialist
Pat Noble - Candidate for Board of Education (Red Bank, New Jersey)
“ ... Let’s use this election as a building block towards a stronger movement for a better education system. Consider joining the Socialist Party USA, a multi-tendency, democratic socialist organization that is committed to building a free, liberated society. Additionally, consider joining Revolutionary Unity, a new and energetic organization that seeks to unite anti-capitalists of various stripes under one banner.” -- Pat Noble, 11/16/12
What motivated you to run for office?
I wanted to use the platform of a candidate as an opportunity to spread socialist ideals to receptive individuals. The vast majority of electoral campaigns in the United States involve capitalist candidates that ignore, or are at least oblivious to, working-class issues. Running against these politicians gives a window of time to directly attack their politics, while at the same time providing and promoting a left-wing alternative. Understanding this is what motivated me to run.
Read More
The Socialist
Pat Noble - Candidate for Board of Education (Red Bank, New Jersey)
“ ... Let’s use this election as a building block towards a stronger movement for a better education system. Consider joining the Socialist Party USA, a multi-tendency, democratic socialist organization that is committed to building a free, liberated society. Additionally, consider joining Revolutionary Unity, a new and energetic organization that seeks to unite anti-capitalists of various stripes under one banner.” -- Pat Noble, 11/16/12
What motivated you to run for office?
I wanted to use the platform of a candidate as an opportunity to spread socialist ideals to receptive individuals. The vast majority of electoral campaigns in the United States involve capitalist candidates that ignore, or are at least oblivious to, working-class issues. Running against these politicians gives a window of time to directly attack their politics, while at the same time providing and promoting a left-wing alternative. Understanding this is what motivated me to run.
Read More
Post-Election Interview with SP Presidential Candidate Stewart Alexander
12 December 2012
The Socialist
Stewart Alexander - Candidate for President
What motivated you to run for office?
First, I became a candidate for president of the U.S. because I believe in socialism and I have been a victim of capitalism for my entire life. What we as socialists are striving to achieve, the capitalists only seek to shun; a democratic socialist society based upon respect and goodwill toward other members within our society. As a presidential candidate, I shared my beliefs, which are the belief of other socialists that working people should control their own lives, their neighborhoods; their leaders should represent the people who elect them into office rather than the corporations that buy their office; and working people should manage and protect the resources of the earth, be responsible for the production and distribution of those resources to benefit the needs of our national and international community. This belief, as a socialist, distinguishes me from the candidates that represent the interests of the super rich and the candidates who believe that capitalism can be reformed.
Second, I entered the presidential contest because I considered myself well qualified to represent working people during these critical times. I understand what is on the line, it is our future well being as a nation, our freedoms, and we are running out of time to correct the course. I was not under any grand illusion that I would be elected president; however, as a presidential candidate, I had the opportunity to share a message with millions of working people that there is a better way that will provide opportunities for all members of society. My message was not about reforming capitalism, but a total transformation of society from capitalism to socialism and the development of new social structures.
Read More
The Socialist
Stewart Alexander - Candidate for President
What motivated you to run for office?
First, I became a candidate for president of the U.S. because I believe in socialism and I have been a victim of capitalism for my entire life. What we as socialists are striving to achieve, the capitalists only seek to shun; a democratic socialist society based upon respect and goodwill toward other members within our society. As a presidential candidate, I shared my beliefs, which are the belief of other socialists that working people should control their own lives, their neighborhoods; their leaders should represent the people who elect them into office rather than the corporations that buy their office; and working people should manage and protect the resources of the earth, be responsible for the production and distribution of those resources to benefit the needs of our national and international community. This belief, as a socialist, distinguishes me from the candidates that represent the interests of the super rich and the candidates who believe that capitalism can be reformed.
Second, I entered the presidential contest because I considered myself well qualified to represent working people during these critical times. I understand what is on the line, it is our future well being as a nation, our freedoms, and we are running out of time to correct the course. I was not under any grand illusion that I would be elected president; however, as a presidential candidate, I had the opportunity to share a message with millions of working people that there is a better way that will provide opportunities for all members of society. My message was not about reforming capitalism, but a total transformation of society from capitalism to socialism and the development of new social structures.
Read More
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Majority of Democrats Have 'Favorable' View of Socialism
4 December 2012
By Paul Stanley
The Christian Post
"And even though a majority of Democrats may see socialism in a favorable light, the national secretary of the Socialist Party USA takes issues with both parties.
'The last four years have not been good for anyone,' said Greg Pason. 'We believe more people are supporting our party and our cause because the economy is falling apart.' 'Obamacare is nothing more than a mandate to buy insurance and doesn't fall in line with socialist doctrine. Guaranteed healthcare for all would benefit the country. You would need to institute a progressive federal income tax system but as democratic socialist, we believe the folks with the most money.'
According to the group's website, if a system of democratic socialism was enacted, the people would own and control the means of production and distribution through democratically controlled public agencies, cooperatives, or other collective groups...."
Read More
By Paul Stanley
The Christian Post
"And even though a majority of Democrats may see socialism in a favorable light, the national secretary of the Socialist Party USA takes issues with both parties.
'The last four years have not been good for anyone,' said Greg Pason. 'We believe more people are supporting our party and our cause because the economy is falling apart.' 'Obamacare is nothing more than a mandate to buy insurance and doesn't fall in line with socialist doctrine. Guaranteed healthcare for all would benefit the country. You would need to institute a progressive federal income tax system but as democratic socialist, we believe the folks with the most money.'
According to the group's website, if a system of democratic socialism was enacted, the people would own and control the means of production and distribution through democratically controlled public agencies, cooperatives, or other collective groups...."
Read More
From the Left: Obamacare and other evil socialist ideas
4 December 2012
By Dan Fournier
The New Hampshire (Durham, NH)
"ObamaCare is not socialism, and the overwhelming majority of the law is a conservative cop-out. It was originally conceptualized by the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank, in 1993. The bill’s “mandate” that every citizen purchase insurance only serves to provide insurance corporations with additional customers, revenue, and profit. It stabilizes the private sector by dramatically expanding the number of people that take part in it. Even Stewart Alexander, the Socialist Party USA’s 2012 presidential candidate, calls it a 'corporate restructuring of the health care system in America'...."
Read More
By Dan Fournier
The New Hampshire (Durham, NH)
"ObamaCare is not socialism, and the overwhelming majority of the law is a conservative cop-out. It was originally conceptualized by the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank, in 1993. The bill’s “mandate” that every citizen purchase insurance only serves to provide insurance corporations with additional customers, revenue, and profit. It stabilizes the private sector by dramatically expanding the number of people that take part in it. Even Stewart Alexander, the Socialist Party USA’s 2012 presidential candidate, calls it a 'corporate restructuring of the health care system in America'...."
Read More
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)