Open Letter: John Boehner is a socialist?

Note: This letter is in response to a claim by David Lewis, a Tea Party candidate for Ohio's 8th congressional district, that his republican opponent, John Boehner is a socialist. View the video here. It was submitted to a number of local publications and a copy was mailed to Mr. Lewis.

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The membership of the Cincinnati branch of the International Socialist Organization (ISO) would like to set the record straight regarding Speaker of the House John Boehner's socialist credentials. On Monday the 19th, David Lewis, a Tea Party candidate for Ohio's 8th congressional district went on Fox News and told anchor Neil Cavuto that "John Boehner is a socialist."

We were as surprised as anyone to learn this, since none of our membership could recall Mr. Boehner ever having attended meetings of the organization. We thought that perhaps Mr. Lewis was suggesting that he was a member of the Socialist Party of Ohio, but party members could find no record of Speaker Boehner ever having even attended a meeting.

We weren't content to leave it at that, though. There are many other socialist parties on the left, and there are more every day. We telephoned our friends in Solidarity, another socialist organization, but they didn't count Mr. Boehner among their ranks either. Neither did the Democratic Socialist of America, nor the Socialist Equality Party. Mr. Boehner could well be a member of some party we hadn't heard of. In the interest of thoroughness, we took the time to make a brief review of Mr. Boehner's track record to see if there was anything in it to suggest that he is a member of a Socialist organization.

What we found is that Mr. Boehner has:
-Called raising taxes on the rich and corporations "class warfare"
-Said that the campaign for Palestinian self-determination was part of a "Triple Threat" against Israel
-Distributed bribes from tobacco lobbyists on the house floor.
-Acquired his personal wealth through the exploitation of workers inherent in capitalist production.
-Removed money from public schools with vouchers.
-Opposes democratic ideas like collective bargaining and trade unionism.
-Opposed single-payer healthcare.
-Proposed raising the Social Security retirement age to 70

In short, we have found is that capitalism seems to have no better friend than John Boehner, and that he, if anything, is categorically an enemy of working people everywhere and therefore by definition not a socialist.

Socialists fight for a just and equitable world; a world free of exploitation. Socialists are at the forefront of a number of struggles: the movement to stop war and occupation, fights against racism and anti-immigrant scapegoating, the struggle for women's rights like the right to choose abortion, opposing anti-gay bigotry, and standing up for workers' rights. John Boehner is on the opposite side of all of these fights.

Accordingly, we have contacted Mr. Lewis and requested that he cease referring to John Boehner as a Socialist, because we fear that people will come to some seriously negative (and mistaken) conclusions about socialism as a result of his remarks.

State Murder Must End

Troy Davis was killed tonight by the state of Georgia, the Pardon and Parole Board, the Supreme Court, and the United States. The upholding of his execution, in spite of all but 2 non-police witnesses recanting their testimony, another man confessing to the crime, no weapon and no DNA, illustrates that we do not have a justice system. We have an injustice system. This case also shows the true nature of the death penalty. It is a racist institution and Troy's murder is a 21st century lynching. Only the authoritarian system we live in, which promotes imperialism on its own shores, would commit such an atrocious act.

The Supreme Court of the US first refused to hear Troy's case, in spite of these changes in the evidence (including new evidence that may have exonerated him), then, after playing mind games with the entire world in the 11th hour, they let his execution go ahead. This institution is one of many in our country that will be under the control of capitalists and elevate their conservative cause until we liberate it so it will serve the people.

The ISO will continue its fight against the death penalty. We will continue to fight for the rights of all people. Troy's death will not be in vain.

This struggle is for all the Troy Davises who came before me and all the ones who will come after me - Troy Davis

Don't mourn, organize. - Joe Hill

Some Success

Delay of Execution in Troy Davis case 

On Friday, the Cincinnati Branch of the ISO marched in solidarity with Amnesty International and Ohioans to Stop Executions in support of Troy Davis.  We stress that this is a temporary success and your continued agitation on the behalf of Troy Davis is needed. 

Troy's Amnesty International Page

He has been on the verge of execution on three other occasions. 
This surely must constitute psychological torture, of such a magnitude as to violate the Eighth Amendment.  Regardless, it is offensive in the eyes of decent people everywhere, and especially socialists.

Shipbreaking - Food for thought

This twenty minute documentary (2 parts) by the Mumbai Port Trust Dock and General Employees Union sheds light on the actual conditions of work in developing countries.

Capitalist economists frequently try to explain why work is done overseas, rather than in developed countries, by recourse to the bankrupt notion of "comparative advantage."  In this neat little bit of sophistry, they argue that countries should produce those goods and services in which they have an "advantage" over other countries, and then trade, to the benefit of all.  The classic example (cribbed from Wikipedia) proceeds:

Suppose that in a particular city the best lawyer happens also to be the best secretary, that is he would be the most productive lawyer and he would also be the best secretary in town. However, if this lawyer focused on the task of being a lawyer and, instead of pursuing both occupations at once, employed a secretary, both the output of the lawyer and the secretary would increase, as it is more difficult to be a lawyer than a secretary. 

Lovely! However, the world doesn't work in any way that remotely resembles a capitalist economics textbook.

As the documentary so movingly demonstrates, the "advantage" enjoyed by developing nations is nothing more than conditions of poverty and inadequate regulation that enable staggering exploitation and immiseration of workers.  Is this just? Of course not. Is anyone made better off? Not the Indian workers who lose their lives, the citizenry of nations polluted by the offshoring of heavy industry, and not the working class of developed nations, whose wages are depressed and livelihoods vanish. One group of people, however, is vastly enriched: the capitalists who own these industries and reap all the profits of this increased rate of exploitation.

Save Troy Davis Rally

Troy Davis is set to be executed in just 2 weeks. We need to stand in opposition to this decision and stand behind Troy. There is too much doubt and it is very likely Georgia will execute an INNOCENT MAN.

Co Sponsors: 

Cincinnati International Socialist Organization

UC Amnesty International

Ohioans To Stop Executions

Tentative plans for the demonstration: We will be meeting at the Corner of Clifton and MLK, the same location that the solidarity rallies for the arab spring took place. There will be a few speakers from local groups to talk about the work they do and how it relates to this case. There will be a petition available to sign at the event.

Even if you will not be able to attend an event in Cincinnati, please sign the petition: http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=6oJCLQPAJiJUG&b=6645049&aid=12970

This event is Cosponsored by the Cincinnati ISO and the University of Cincinnati's Amnesty International.

From: http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/cases/usa-troy-davis

Troy Davis was convicted of murdering a Georgia police officer in 1991. Nearly two decades later, Davis remains on death row — even though the case against him has fallen apart.

The case against him consisted entirely of witness testimony which contained inconsistencies even at the time of the trial. Since then, all but two of the state's non-police witnesses from the trial have recanted or contradicted their testimony.

Many of these witnesses have stated in sworn affidavits that they were pressured or coerced by police into testifying or signing statements against Troy Davis.

One of the two witnesses who has not recanted his testimony is Sylvester "Red" Coles — the principle alternative suspect, according to the defense, against whom there is new evidence implicating him as the gunman. Nine individuals have signed affidavits implicating Sylvester Coles.

An execution date for Troy Davis is scheduled for September 21! In the days before Davis' execution, the Georgia Board of Pardons & Paroles will hold a final clemency hearing – a final chance to prevent Troy Davis from being executed.

Facebook Event Page

See You in Cincinnati to Protest ALEC!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: ALEC Protest Press Team
Tel. (614) 259-8146
Email: contact@protestalec.org
Website: www.seeyouincincinnati.com

PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION AGAINST ALEC’S ANTI-SOCIAL POLICIES

Planned Teach-ins Offer Public Interest Alternatives

They meet in secret. They write our laws.  And they want us silent.

On April 29^th, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the organization responsible for the recent surge in anti-social legislation targeting working people, women, ethnic and racial minorities, and the LGBTQ community will be holding their spring strategy task force meeting at the Netherlands Plaza Hilton in downtown Cincinnati.

This organization has been a coordinating force behind the recent attempts to strip public workers of their human right to bargain collectively in Ohio and Wisconsin. In Indiana, the organization has provided model text for resolutions calling for an end to much federal environmental regulation. Throughout the Midwest, ALEC has promoted voter ID laws that will disproportionately impact student and lower income communities. In 2009, ALEC model legislation formed the basis for over 800 pieces of state legislation. Despite this high level of influence, ALEC has refused to publicly disclose its donors, elected members, the text of its model legislation, and where this has influenced state legislation.

The ALEC Protest Team will be coordinating a day of protest against ALEC’s anti-social policies on April 29^th.  At Noon, we will be holding a public demonstration at Fountain Square. (Corner of Vine & 5^th) A number of leaders active in the fight to protect the public interest in Ohio and beyond will be speaking at the event. This demonstration has been endorsed by Noam Chomsky and a number of others unable to attend.
The fight for the public interest begins in Cincinnati this spring.  Plans are currently being made to carry opposition to ALEC’s anti-social policies forward to their fall meeting in New Orleans.

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Media is advised to check in behind the main stage (on Vine St) prior to the start of the demonstration. More information, including time and location of teach-ins is available on our website, www.seeyouincincinnati.com. To schedule an interview, please call (614) 259-8146 or email contact@protestalec.org.

Kasich's Reverse Robin Hood Budget

On the Ides of March, thousands of Cincinnatians gathered downtown at Fountain Square to rally against Governor Kasich’s proposed budget and Senate Bill 5. The demonstration was organized by Stand Up For Ohio. A handful of speakers representing various unions, the College Democrats, and city council, voiced their opposition to SB5 and the budget cuts. At least a dozen similar actions were held in other cities across the state.

Ohio supposedly faces a $8 billion deficit over the next two years. Kasich’s proposals include selling five Ohio prisons, cutting funding to local governments and schools, revamping Medicaid, doubling the number of vouchers to send children to private schools, lifting the cap on charter schools, and leasing the Division of Liquor Control to help pay for the new, private JobsOhio economic development program. This forces local governments - and the people they serve - to bear the burden of the budget deficit.

Many of these ideas are complete nonsense. There is no reason why leasing a state entity like the Division of Liquor Control, which makes money for the state, to a private entity will lead to more income for the state of Ohio. The same goes for his proposals on the profitable Ohio turnpike and the Ohio lottery.

One of the themes of Kasich's budget can be called "passing the buck" or "bait and switch." Fiscal conservatives voted for Kasich hoping to inaugurate a government with a responsible money policy. Instead like so many investors, they've been tricked by a former Lehman Brothers banker. Not only is Kasich cutting the amount of state funds that typically go to local governments, he is reducing their forms of income. Revenue from personal income tax, the commercial activities tax, electric and gas utilities, and insurance companies, for example, are being directed toward the state General Revenue Fund in greater proportions and away from local governments and school districts. In some cases the local and school shares are being phased out completely.

In short Kasich is defunding local government. For all his talk about giving school districts, cities, and towns the tools they need to run healthy budgets, what he's really doing is creating panics at the local level that will show up as desperate tax levies in May and November later this year. He's shifting responsibility for public education, libraries, and other services from the state to local taxpayers. That would have a huge impact on the already wide disparity in education and other services throughout the state and increase competition among local governments in the race to the bottom to attract business and retain jobs. The degree to which local officials have to prostrate themselves before business leaders to attract or retain jobs in their locality is shameful as it is now.

Perhaps most shocking is how this crisis has been manufactured and that many of these proposals would be on the table, regardless of a deficit. Just the other day Wayne Struble, one of Kasich's policy advisers, was quoted in the Columbus Dispatch saying, "Even if there weren't an $8 billion deficit, we'd probably be proposing many of the same things."

Since 2004 Ohio has embarked on a major revision of the tax code. Proponents of the changes would call them reforms. The Ohio Department of Taxation estimates that taxpayers are saving roughly $2.1 billion each year as a result of changes to tax laws beginning in 2005 (under Republican Gov. Bob Taft), when Ohio began phasing out taxes on corporate profits and lowering individual tax rates. That's more than half of the biennial budget shortfall that the Kasich administration is claiming.

Real solutions to Ohio's budget shortfall might be to add higher income tax brackets (right now the highest bracket tops out at $201,800) to make up for the 21% rate cut since 2005, stop sending public money to private charter schools, expand the State Infrastructure Bank to service the state's debt and provide loans for more than just transportation projects, and increasing taxes on luxury items or vices (cigarettes and alcohol).

We also need an honest dialogue about Ohio's real financial situation. If there is a $8 billion shortfall, why does Kasich's 2012-2013 budget contain $5 billion MORE in expenditures than Strickland's last 2010-2011 budget? There definitely is a problem here, and it's not the making of ordinary Ohioans. Kasich is a corporate stooge and probably doesn't care much about reelection, so waiting for the next election cycle will be far too late. Our only options are to fight him every step of the way, making sure his efforts are in vain, or to recall him as soon as possible.