[Marxism] Open letter to Lila Garrett: DUMP THE DEMOCRATS! FORM A NEW THIRD PARTY!

[Jerry Wells <jeremy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Stop "Connecting the Dots" to the Democratic Party! 


TO: Lila Garrett, "Connect the Dots" program 
KPFK programming staff 

I have listened to your program for a number of times over the years. I 
have come to the conclusion that you are a Democratic Party loyalist - 
and even perhaps a party "operative" - forever determined to redirect
all protest and oppositional concerns of KPFK listeners back into the 
Democratic Party fold. 

I think it is impossible to "reform" the Democratic Party in any serious
manner...and never has been. The Democratic Party can never 
return to the "good old days" of FDR or any other period with which you 
may have fond memories. Throughout the cold war, with one or two minor 
exceptions (Iran-contra?), the Democratic Party has been a loyal 
supporter of "bi-partisan" foreign policy (invasions, assassination,
coups, etc.) especially since WWII, especially in Latin America. 

Why do I think it is impossible to reform the Democratic Party today? 

1. The Democratic Party is now under control of the same corporate 
interests that direct the Republican G.O.P. (Greed Over People) Party. 
Obama and Clinton have each raised tens of millions of dollars from 
these same corporate interests. People such as Rupert Murdock supports 
Hillary Clinton. The for-profit health care industry interests are
reflected in the campaign positions of both Obama and Clinton. Both
candidates want to retain privatized health care providers in any new
national health plan. 

2.The Democratic Party would never reject the Project for the New 
American Century, which is today the fundamental policy basis of 
U.S. imperialism and hegemony throughout the world. Iraq, Afghanistan, 
and now probably Iran, and then possibly Russia, etc. are all stepping 
stones for a 100 year war against humanity for profit and power. 

3. No one "individual" from either party should be trusted as an "anti-
war" candidate capable of overturning the imperial designs of "the
military-industrial complex". No one individual can stop an entire
ruling class of corporations and individuals now making immense profit
from war. Under Cheney, the military has been privatized corporatized). 

4. The function of the federal government, now a corporatist-fascist
state, is now so corrupted that it functions simply to maximize the
profits of the Halliburtons, Bectels and a hundred thousand other
contractors in Iraq. The Republican/Democratic ruling coalition has
looted the treasury, given massive tax breaks to the wealthiest, starved
the social institutions and services essential to the survival of
working people. The result: massive debt is owed to China and the
economy is approaching major collapse. 

5. Kucinich had his chance and blew it. He is not to be trusted as his
world view is totally enclosed within and subservient to the Democratic
Party. Ralph Nader never joined the Green Party and remained aloof of
such matters, which destroyed his opportunity of engaging masses of
people for the long-term organizational and political struggle necessary
BETWEEN elections. 

6. The great tragedy is that the organized labor movement has also been
subservient to the Democratic Party. No matter how much organized labor
could raise from the dues money of it's members, it cannot possibly
oppose the massive millions and billions in dollars and resources (like
total mass media control for example). 

7. Labor considers itself a "business partner" with corporations, even
as these same corporations are destroying their members by going
bankrupt (to shed health care costs, etc.)by moving overseas, or even by
firing all its top technical and sales employees making decent wages- to
offer to rehire them at $7.50 an hour- (This happened with 3000 Circuit
City employees). 

8. The working people of this country are up to their ears in credit
card debt, mainly to pay for un-insured medical costs, have to work
overtime or two jobs and more to survive. Poor schools, housing
unaffordable, poverty is now becoming widespread. (One fourth of the
children in Michigan live in poverty. 1.9 million in L.A. are below the
poverty line and living in a new depth called "extreme poverty.) 

9. Given the complete corruption of the existing two-party system, I
think that it is urgent that a new third party be formed. The people and
organizations that would naturally be attracted to this new party have
an understanding of what is happening. This understanding comes first
from their own experiences. We hear every day from these people on
programs such as Democracy Now! and Amy Goodman, and KPFK people such as
Sonali Kohatkur or Blaise Bonbane. 

10. The essential founding interest of KPFK Mission Statement was anti-
war pacifism and freedom-of-expression to those voices for peace who
were then and now especially today - suppressed and destroyed. 

11. What is Lila Garrett's ultimate concern? Is it merely the
maintenance of the Democratic Party - perhaps never admitting how
corrupt it has been and is now? Is not the unending support of the
Democratic Party ultimately opposed to the basic pacifistic interests
expressed in the Mission Statement and it's most popular and eloquent
examples? 

12. Perhaps you should allow others to moderate the program "Connect the
Dots" if necessary in order to greatly expand it's perspective. We need
new understanding now of how to "Connect the Dots" outside the
Democratic Party. Otherwise, I see little hope whatever of ending the
inevitable death and destruction caused by and intrinsic with
Democratic/Republican party rule! 

Jeremy Wells 
jeremy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 


DUMP THE DEMOCRATS! 
UNITE INTO A NEW THIRD PARTY NOW! 

We the people, opposed to the destruction of the planet and it's 
peoples, now atomized and powerless in "grass roots" and "special 
interest" groups, must unite our efforts and resources into a new party 
to replace the corrupt Democratic Party! A new party that rejects 
corporate funding in order to end the corporate plunder of the federal 
government. 

A new party explicitly opposed to the Project for the New American 
Century. Opposed to unending war for profit and power. Cut the military 
budget by 50%, shut down the 700 military bases around the world. Re- 
instate taxes cut by Bush gang. 

A new party that commits the entire resources of the country to end 
global warming, end imperialist wars, implements true non-profit 
universal health care. promotes mass transportation, develops renewable 
energy, and produces the essentials for human survival. 

A new party that promotes an economy that works towards fulfilling the 
economic needs of all the people, not just to profit a tiny minority of 
super wealthy. No more people living on the streets! No more 
hospitalized people being dumped into the streets when they have no 
money or health insurance! (See the film SICKO) 

A new party to unite all of the oppressed people of this country. A new 
party that cuts across all the false social and cultural divisions that 
keep us forever powerless (racial, ethnic, age, language, etc.). A new 
party to unite us against the unending destruction of peoples and 
planet. 

A SOCIALIST HUMANIST PARTY to promote the end of gangster capitalism, 
run-amok capitalism, which is supported by both Democratic and 
Republican parties. 

A new party to support the labor movement and all working people. We 
urge the labor movement to stop supporting the Democratic Party (already
besotted by corporate money), and to focus its precious resources to 
fund a new national radio and television network. By being on the air 24
hours a day the labor movement can provide the latest news, information,
education and current affairs analysis desperately needed by all working
people. This effort, combined with the formation of the new party, will 
be a bold step towards reviving the organized labor movement. 

For years we have listened to radio programs like DEMOCRACY NOW! that 
has discussed with numerous "grass roots" groups desperately struggling 
to make a positive change in society. Anti-war protest groups, civil 
rights groups, union struggles, affordable housing groups, teachers 
unions, health care access, seniors about Social Security, have involved
millions of people. Now is the time to unite the energy and resources of
these people into a new party. 

The new party provides a means of uniting the âspecial interestâ agendas
of each group into the platform of the new party. The new party 
candidates, selected from the various individuals and groups, would 
become the candidates representing their cause and the new party. The 
new party will contest for office at every level of government in order 
to take power. The new party will provide the new leadership and new 
programs this country desperately needs. 

There is still time before November 2008 elections to start this 
process. Even the announcement and preparation for a founding convention
of such a new party will shock both Democrats and Republican incumbents.
They will know that their days are numbered! 

The needs of all previous "minority" and "special interests" people now 
become the platform of the new party representing the vast majority of 
people. Can the existing activists of so-called âminorityâ and "special 
interest" groups overcome their existing powerlessness, and link up with
each other to start this new party? 

This all-inclusive struggle will attract millions of atomized working 
people, often non-voters and uninvolved people, who have been atomized, 
exploited, brain-washed by corporate media and ultimately destroyed by 
gangster capitalism.




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