Fantasy r'formism

Bill over at Reasons to Be Impossible takes us on a productive though experiment today. What are your favorite fantasy reforms for your government to enact? Check out Bill's list at Reasons to be Impossible: Fantasy r'formism.

I had some comments for a few but would also like to add a modification to Bill's 1) War referendum - which would be simply that the state be disallowed from ever engaging in war at all.

Left Unity and Other Practical Jokes

PCS, meet the Internet. The Internet, meet PCS, the Public and Commercial Services trade union. One of the most militant unions in responding to the government's neo-liberal attacks on the public sector, PCS is notable as much for its comical value as its belligerant, take-no-sh*t attitude. Their leader, Mark Serwotka, is a prominent supporter of the RESPECT Coalition and was one of the new generation of left-wing trade union leaders.

But PCS is by no means united.

You've got the Moderates, who'd rather quit than strike; the Democrats, who'd do the same but be terribly apologetic; Left Unity, which doesn't give a damn about left unity; the Socialist Caucus, an exact replica except they hate the Socialist Party; the Secret Left, who pretend not to be infected by revolutionitis; 4 The Members who want to solve political sectarianism with honest individual sectarianism. There are too many to list.

Now this post might sound a little negative, but quite frankly I take comfort in knowing all of this. Whether it's my British trait of glorifying mediocrity or not, I can't be certain. But when you consider that PCS has been at the forefront of those trade unions opposing the government's cuts, all the while having to deal with these groups, how can they not win in the end?

See, now there's optimism and positive thinking for you.

James Connolly

James Connolly is a true hero of the working people. He was born in Scotland in 1868, but spent much of his life in Ireland (corrected thanks to a comment by John). He educated himself and became one of the most influential Marxists in history. He was a militant workers leader, leading the Irish Transport and General Worker's Union (ITGWU) in many clashes with the establishment.

In one of his many speechs, Connolly declared:

"Perhaps they will see that the landlord who grinds his peasants on a Connemara estate, and the landlord who rack-rents them in a Cowgate slum, are brethren in fact and deed. Perhaps they will realise that the Irish worker who starves in an Irish cabin and the Scots worker who is poisoned in an Edinburgh garret are brothers with one hope and destiny."

Connolly founded a workers' defence force, the Irish Citizens' Army (ICA), in response to endless agrression by the police and bosses. This was the first workers' Red Army in Europe and was a public militia.

The infamous Easter Rising took place on Monday 24, 1916 in Dublin, Ireland. Here Connolly led elements of the ICA in resistance against forces of the British Army and their backers. The army used artillery in their savage urban attack against the citizens and their homes. In the end, Connolly and many other martyrs fell. Connolly was shot at the firing range, strapped to a chair because he was unable to stand.

Connolly did not die in vain - his bravery inspires us still to stand up for what we know is right and just. The band Black 47 has an excellent song about the Easter Rising which I find particularly inspirational and I encourage folks to check it out.

(Note portions of this post summarized from an article by Ted Grant and Alan Woods, 2001)

Here are the lyrics:

Marchin' down O'Connell Street with the Starry Plough on high,
There goes the Citizen Army with their fists raised in the sky;
Leading them is a mighty man with a mad rage in his eye,

"My name is James Connolly - I didn't come here to die -
But to fight for the rights of the working man,
And the small farmer too;
Protect the proletariat from the bosses and their screws;
So hold on to your rifles, boys, and don't give up your dream
Of a Republic for the workin' class, economic liberty."

Then Jem yelled out "Oh Citizens, this system is a curse,
An English boss is a monster, an Irish one even worse;
They'll never lock us out again and here's the reason why,
My name is James Connolly, I didn't come here to die....."

And now we're in the GPO with the bullets whizzin' by,
With Pearse and Sean McDermott biddin' each other goodbye;
Up steps our citizen leader and roars out to the sky,
"My name is James Connolly, I didn't come here to die...

Oh Lily, I don't want to die, we've got so much to live for
And I know we're all goin' out to get slaughtered, but I just can't take any more;
Just the sight of one more child screamin' from hunger in a Dublin slum,
Or his mother slavin' 14 hours a day for the scum,
Who exploit her and take her youth and throw it on a factory floor.

Oh Lily, I just can't take any more,
They've locked us out, they've banned our unions,
they even treat their animals better than us;
No! It's far better to die like a man on your feet,
than to live forever like some slave on your knees, Lilly;

But don't let them wrap any green flag around me,
And for God's sake, don't let them bury me in some field full of harps and shamrocks;
And whatever you do, don't let them make a martyr out of me!
No! Rather raise the Starry Plough on high, sing a song of freedom;
Here's to you, Lily, the rights of man and international revolution!"

We fought them to a standstill while the flames lit up the sky
'Til a bullet pierced our leader and we gave up the fight
They shot him in Kilmainham jail but they'll never stop his cry
My name is James Connolly, I didn't come here to die...."

Ideas for Freedom

The Alliance for Workers' Liberty is holding a "weekend of free and open socialist discussion" on the 9th and 10th June in north London called Ideas for Freedom. Costs are low and it looks like an interesting event if you're in the area this Summer.

"This year it will take place shortly after the British general election and immediately following major demonstrations against the G8 in Scotland at the start of July.
We will debate the condition of the British far left, its responses to Blair, and the prospects for renewed working class struggle in Britain, with a particular focus on the trade unions."

You might also want to check out other AWL events. Jesus, listen to me - trying to sell it like a bloody capitalist!

Why Socialism?

"[The] crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future career.

I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals."

- Albert Einstein, 1949

These words were written over 50 years ago by the greatest scientist and the most intelligent man who ever lived. He came to the conclusion that socialism was the form of social organization that would bring about a world of peace and cooperation. See what else Dr. Einstein had to say by following the link below:

Albert Einstein - Why Socialism? (1949)

Labour without labour?

In the past, Socialists supported Labour candidates for one of two reasons: 1) they misunderstood the red-tinged capitalism of the Labour Party or 2) they understood that the labour movement was intrinsically linked to the Party. Even though the Party leadership has always been at heart reactionary, prepared to progress only so far, there were always avenues within CLPs and affiliated groups through which working-class people could influence policy and organise on a large scale.

This is no longer true.

On paper, trade unions still reserve influence in the LP, but in practise the Blairite leadership is fundamentally isolated from the labour movement and the traditional Socialist wings within the Labour Party. It's an ongoing struggle, and one that the Left is currently losing, as can be seen from the massive decrease in both membership of and grassroots activity within the Labour Party.

This begs the question, where now for the trade unions?

RESPECT, a result of middle-class radicalisation and Muslim hostility towards the war in Iraq, will inevitably fail not because of the opportunism of their politics, but because thus far they have been unable to form any substantial lasting relationship with those unions now disaffiliated to New Labour. If and when they can achieve this, they may begin to make progress.

From this, we can see that the labour movement will be fundamental to pursuing a Socialist agenda in the UK. A while ago, various unions surprised the media by electing confrontational, left wing leaders, and the government has been forced to re-think many neo-liberal plans in the face of trade union opposition. But the link between New Labour and the unions survives.

After all the attacks on the public sector, union member dues are still being used to finance the Labour Party. Depending on your views on the Labour Party and its future, this could be justified or not. But either way, we must consider what the future of a labour movement wholly separated from the Labour Party could be.

It's something British Socialists should think very seriously about. The oft reported call for a "mass workers' party" is redundant in Britain without the mass support of organised labour.

Socialist Party views on New Labour and trade unions.

British Fascist Out On Bail

Nick Griffin, Chairman of the neo-fascist British National Party, has been let out on bail, after been hauled before Leeds magistrates due to four charges of incitement to racial hatred. Griffin, along with BNP founder John Tyndall and activist Mark Collett were all charged following a police investigation sparked by a BBC undercover documentary of the party's racist underbelly.

Their arrest was welcomed by various organisations opposed to the controversial party, including Unite Against Fascism. Hopefully these moves, as well as the ineffective, anti-working class actions by BNP local councillors, will provide reason enough for voters disaffected with the mainstream parties to see through the false guise of respectability used by this neo-Nazi group.

In the run-up to the May 5th General Election, many are also hoping to oppose the BNP receiving a airtime to run their party election broadcast, starving them of media exposure.

However, while this is good news for Socialists and anti-fascists across Britain, support for the BNP is primarily the fault of ignorant, exploitative electoral programmes set out by Labour and the Tories. Only through public awareness and flexible government policy to meet the concerns of the electorate can these fascists be sent back to the political wilderness.

Italian Communist Party Victory

The center-left coalition led by the Italian Communist Party has won 16 of 20 regional elections. It seems clear that the corrupt neo-liberal Berlusconi is in his last days as president. The Red tide is continuing to rise!

Berlusconi suffers major defeat in Italian regional elections

Continued Progress for the Socialist Left

The Socialist Left Party is surging in Norway. Combined with Labour, and the Agrarians, the "Red-Green" alliance has more than 50% support from the electorate.

The Latest Poll: Continued progress for the Socialist Left [The Norway Post]

Book Meme

Hello. Thank you to Alphonse for forwarding this. Now I feel obliged to jump on the Book Meme bandwagon. I'm not sure that I am quite clever enough for this, however I'll give it a try.

You're stuck inside Fahrenheit 451, which book do you want to be?

Reading this question makes me want to choose a book that won't get burned. But I'll go in the opposite direction and choose something that was probably subject to many book burnings over time, namely J K Huysmans Against Nature, mainly because I, too, want a gem encrusted tortise. Des Essientes certainly qualifies as idol worthy in my book.

Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?

Many. Ziggy Stardust comes to mind.

The last book you bought is:

Crisis of Democracy: Report on the Governability of Democracies to the Trilateral Commission written in the 1975 by Micheal Crozier as a sort of summary of the problems facing "democracies" and a series of remedies.This book strikes my as the antithesis to the Anarchists Cookbook; certainly the title The Capitalists Cookbook would be a much more appropriate title than "Crisis in Democracy."

The last book you read:

The last book I finished was the Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan.

What are you currently reading?

Bigot Hall by Steve Aylett. Totally hillarious and brilliant. One of his best.

Five books you would take to a deserted island:

Firstly I don't believe in desert(ed) islands. But in the spirit of the question:

The Three Imposters by Arthur Machen
The Science Fiction of Edgar Allen Poe by Edgar Allen Poe
Slaughtermatic by Steve Aylett
The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels
Lipstick Traces by Greil Marcus

I would probably take the same books with me to an island like GITMO, too.

Who are you going to pass this stick to (3 persons) and why?

Laura because she is my wife
Anna because she is my friend
Target Audience because he's my blog-mate

Election Announced: Does Anyone Care?

It's Springtime in Britain. The buses continue to ignore their time-tables, the weather refuses to get better, plumbers remain under the delusion that refitting a shower should set them up financially for life, the government's been shown up by a TV cook over school-meals, our regressive Council Tax is easting away at the wages of the low-paid, Labour and the Tories are chasing The Daily Mail voters and the hang 'em 'n' flog 'em brigade, the Army continues to occupy a foreign country under false pretences, and it's time for another General Election in good ol' Blighty.

Widely speculated for several weeks, Blair has finally announced a new election scheduled for May 5th. The question is, does is actually matter? In 2001, despite winning a second term of office with another whopping majority, New Labour looked on as millions of voters abstained. The EU elections saw the lowest voter turnout since 1918. After eight years of neo-liberal privatisation and "social partnership", few now believe New Labour offer a progressive alternative to the Tories - and thanks to First-Past-The-Post, the so-called "mass workers' party", of which we hear so much from the opportunists of the Left, will never materialise.

Faced with a Labour Party intent on "healing the rift" between British liberalism and the labour movement, voters are now seemingly left in a most unappetising position, where an abstention may be the most progressive option available. However, there is good news for Socialists in the UK, however unlikely it may seem. The "Loony Left" lives on, several years now after Blair declared the class war dead and buried. Constituency Labour Party branches continue to propose Socialist candidates, and they are being elected, despite the spin New Labour woos the business community with. Hope lies within our ability, the ability of the British Left, to reclaim the traditional aims and goals of the labour movement and its representatives.

Opposition to the war in Iraq fuelled popular frustration with the distinct lack of progress under the current government. Trade Unions are beginning to stick up for themselves, electing left-wing leaders and taking a more political role. The Campaign for Labour Party Democracy, the Socialist Campaign Group, the Labour Left Briefing, Save the Labour Party, Labour Reform - all of these groups and more, not to mention legions of left-wing members, are working hard to bring the Labour Party back to the labour movement. The Labour Party is too ingrained in our culture to replace it with opportunist groups like the RESPECT Coalition.

Progress is being made, but it takes time and effort to make it happen. Sure, Labour isn't glamorous, it will always be a struggle against the traditional Labour elite, but Labour governments politicise the population, increase living standards and offer the working-classes representation. We mustn’t glorify Labour's past; it has many flaws. But we mustn't forget what we owe to it, and we can't forget how far it can take us. There is a struggle going on at the moment, but it isn't between the middle-class pro-business parties the media shows us, it's inside the British labour movement, and it's for the soul of our Labour Party.

If you think New Labour are just as bad as the Tories, you've never lived under a Conservative government. Support the Labour Party, but support it on your terms. Join the Party to change the Party. You have to participate to make a difference! Let's get left-wing Labour Councillors and left-wing Labour MPs elected, let's make sure those pesky backbenchers are ready to defy Blair and represent our interests in Parliament come May 5th.

Workers Independent News

So I've stumbled across another Left radio network - huzzah! This one has a focus on labor issues. Listen online now and check out the site to learn how to get your local station to carry their programming. Here's the link:

WINS

The Randi Rhodes Show on Air America Radio

OK, so I'm a convert. I've heard some Air America Radio shows in the past and they basically struck me as lamer versions of The Daily Show with John Stewart. This is not to say that I do not appreciate John and the gang and their crazy hijinx - but they are hardly the militant Left.

But lo and behold Randi Rhodes. This chick rocks the cashbah! Tonight I watched HBO's documentary "Left of the Dial" which is sort of a Startup.com version of the Air America story. Very good stuff, and a lot of focus on Randi and her program aptly called "The Randi Rhodes Show."

In any case I encourage everyone to check her show out, and also watch the documentary if you can. It is also worth noting that Air America Radio is the fastest growing radio program network in the history of radio, capturing over 400,000 listeners in 1 month with basically one affilate (in NYC). After a little over 1 year, the station has over 53 affiliates and beats all the conservative shows in most major markets. Amazing? Maybe, but it shouldn't be.

Truely this shows that there are deep rifts in Capital right now. Otherwise this programming would not be allowed to exist. It serves the purpose of some segment of capital, a powerful segment that is at war with the neocon agenda, but be certain that it is NOT against neoliberal economics. It is interesting to note that Chuck D's show has recently been cancelled. I guess with over 50 affilates Air America doesn't need the black listeners anymore, at least not the radical ones.

So what am I saying? Listen to it for sure, but with a grain of salt. The nice thing about O'Reilly and that lot is you know where he is coming from but damn, it is bloody nice to hear someone on air saying stuff you agree with!

Listen Live to Air America (RealPlayer)

HOME: The Randi Rhodes Show on Air America Radio

French to Vote ‘Non’ on New EU Constitution

France's socialist left is on the verge of sinking the ultra-business-friendly EU Constitution.

“All that counts is the word ‘no’ and what it means: rejection of a world which arouses far more anxiety than hope. One may judge the gesture unreasonable, but it is at least comprehensible that people who feel they have no way of influencing the course of events … should seize hold of the only lever available to them.” says economist Henri Guaino.

Europe’s future in doubt as co-ordinated campaign urges French to vote ‘non’ on new EU constitution - [Sunday Herald]

Chile's Gladys Marín "One of the Essential Ones"

A couple of days before International Women’s Day, the skies accompany us in our pain, the wind does not smell of death, but rather of hope. Woman, mother, wife, Communist, tireless fighter, straight talker, always on one single line ... that was our Gladys Marín, president of the Communist Party of Chile, ex-Parliamentary deputy (and, it is worth noting, the youngest-ever member of Parliament, being only 24 years old when she was elected by the people to that post.

A message from Chile: Our Gladys Marín — one of the essential ones - [People's Weekly World Newspaper]

May Day Parade to be Led by Bernie Sanders

AMERICA’S only socialist congressman is to lead this year’s May Day parade through Edinburgh, Scotland.

Bernie Sanders, who sits for the state of Vermont in the US House of Representatives, is one of his country’s most outspoken critics of the war in Iraq. And he has led opposition to a spate of corporate scandals rocking America.

Congressman Sanders says he champions "the cause of ordinary hard working American families". More on this story here.

On May 1 the world working class and labour unions display their strength in demonstrations and strikes. May Day "International Workers' Day" is a reminder to the ruling classes that the days of Capital are numbered.

May Day was born from the struggle for the eight-hour work day, and is recognized around the world as a working class holiday, a day of solidarity between workers of all nationalities; a celebration universally feared and resented by the captains of finance and industry.

The seeds were planted in 1791 in Philadelphia where the carpenters first struck for a ten-hour work day. By the 1830s the ten-hour day became a general demand with workers struggling against 12+ hour days.

The American Civil War eliminated slavery in the United States and gave momentum to labour agitating for fair working hours. Marx noted that "out of the death of slavery a new life at once arose. The first real fruit of the Civil War was the eight-hours' agitation, that ran with the seven- leagued boots of the locomotive from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from New England to California."

By 1872 Six years later, in 1872, a hundred thousand workers led by the Knights of Labor in New York City struck and won the eight-hour day, mostly for building trades workers. It was in this rising ferment for the eight-hour day that May Day was born.

The catalyst was The Haymarket incident in Chicago, where hundreds of police clashed with IWPA demonstrators over several days, resulting in deaths on both sides. The anarchist leaders if the IWPA were treated to a show trial and, lacking evidence, where murdered by the state for their beliefs. All were posthumously pardoned.

The AFL (American Federation of Labor) convention in 1888 announced that May 1, 1890, would be a day when labor would enforce the eight-hour day with strikes and demonstrations. Ironically, in 1905 after decades of rightward drift, the AFL had disavowed May Day altogether, celebrating instead Labor Day on the first Monday of September, a celebration sanctioned by the US federal government in 1894 (see Mar 4, How Labor Won Its Day).

Summarized from various sources including Liberation & Marxism, issue no. 27, 1996. L&M, 55 W. 17 St., 5th Fl., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: l&m@wwpublish.com. Web: http://www.workers.org

The Internationale (MP3)

The Internationale, originally French, was written by Eugène Pottier in Paris 1871. Pottier was a socialist and was also a participant during the Paris Commune, which the Internationale was written to celebrate. Pierre Degeyter put the song to music in 1873.

In the years 1918 through late 1943, It was the official anthem of the Soviet Union. For obvious reasons, it is also the anthem of many Communist parties and socialist movements worldwide.

Many times since 1871 the Internationale has been the song of mass protests around the world. Poignantly, the students during Tiananmen Square drew comfort from the song during their ill-fated rebellion. Like them, I find the words and the music very inspirational.

Billy Bragg has released an version of the Internationale, which is admirable and I commend him for it. Bragg's version is very good, however, the sheer poetic imagery of the Pottier's words remind me of some of Poe's better work. "Criminals of want", "reason in revolt now thunders", "servile masses", "drive the indolent from the soil", "farewell the spirit craven", "strike the iron while its hot!" Nothing is watered down, the lines are drawn clearly as is the call to action, all in vivid colour.

The Internationale:

Arise! ye starvelings, from your slumbers;
Arise! ye criminals of want.

For Reason in revolt now thunders,
And ends at last the age of cant.
Now away with all superstitions.
Servile masses, arise! arise!
We'll change forthwith the old conditions,
And spurn the dust to win the prize.

Then comrades, come rally,
And the last fight let us face.
The Internationale
Unites the human race.

We peasants, artisans, and others
Enrolled among the sons of toil,
Let's claim the earth henceforth for brothers,
Drive the indolent from the soil!

On our flesh too long has fed the raven;
We've too long been the vulture's prey.
But now farewell the spirit craven:
The dawn brings in a brighter day.

Then comrades, come rally,
And the last fight let us face.
The Internationale
Unites the human race.

No saviour from on high delivers;
No trust have we in prince or peer.
Our own right hand the chains must shiver:
Chains of hatred, greed, and fear.
Ere the thieves will out with their booty
And to all give a happier lot,
Each at his forge must do his duty
And strike the iron while it's hot!

Then comrades, come rally,
And the last fight let us face.
The Internationale
Unites the human race.

This page has the Internationale in many languages available for free download.

The Socialist A.B.C.

This is a great poem/folk song by Alex Glasgow (1935 -2001). A list of Alex's songs can be found at MWM Records. Glasgow was born the son of a coal miner in Gateshead, England. He was well known as a song-writer and radio broadcaster, working for the BBC. His work ranged from angry polemic to tender love songs, including writing the music for the 1968 musical Close the Coalhouse Door.

---

The Socialist A.B.C.

When that I was and a little, tiny boy,
Me daddy said to me,
'The time has come, me bonny, bonny bairn,
To learn your ABC.'

Now Daddy was a lodge chairman
In the coalfields of the Tyne
And his ABC was different
From the Enid Blyton kind.

He sang,

'A is for Alienation
That made me the man that I am, and

B's for the Boss who's a Bastard,
A Bourgeois who don't give a damn.

C is for Capitalism,
The bosses' reactionary creed, and

D's for Dictatorship, laddie,
But the best proletarian breed.

E is for Exploitation
That workers have suffered so long, and

F is for old Ludwig Feuerbach,
The first one to say it was wrong.

G is all Gerrymanderers,
Like Lord Muck and Sir Whatsisname, and

H is the Hell that they'll go to
When the workers have kindled the flame.

I's for Imperialism,
And America's kind is the worst, and

J is for sweet Jingoism,
That the Tories all think of the first.

K is for good old Kier
Hardy, Who fought out the working class fight, and

L is for Vladimir Lenin,
Who showed him the left was all right.

M is of course for Karl Marx,
The daddy and the mommy of them all, and

N is for Nationalisation -
Without it we'd tumble and fall.

O is for Overproduction,
That capitalist economy brings, and

P is for all Private Property,
The greatest of all of the sins.

Q's for the Quid pro quo,
That we'll deal out so well and so soon, when

R for Revolution is shouted and
The Red Flag becomes the top tune.

S is for Sad Stalinism
That gave us all such a bad name, and

T is for Trotsky, the hero,
Who had to take all of the blame.

U's for the Union of Workers -
The Union will stand to the end, and

V is for Vodka, yes, Vodka,
The one drink that don't bring the bends.

W's for all Willing Workers,
And that's where the memory fades,

For X, Y, and Zed,' my dear daddy said,
'Will be written on the street barricades.'

Now that I'm not a little tiny boy,
Me daddy says to me,
'Please try to forget those thing that I said,Especially the ABC.'

For daddy is no longer a union man,
And he's had to change his plea.

His alphabet is different now,
Since they made him a Labour MP.

---

A short biography of Alex Glasgow can be found here.

How Labor Won its Day

The Labor Day march across the Mackinac Bridge led by Michigan's governor. This photo comes from the Detroit News article "How Labor Won Its Day," which inspired the title of my blog. This is an abstract from that article (By Patricia K. Zacharias / The Detroit News):

History has almost forgotten Peter McGuire, an Irish-American cabinet maker and pioneer unionist who proposed a day dedicated to all who labor. Old records describe him as a red-headed, fiery, eloquent leader of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners.

McGuire introduced his idea formally at a meeting of the Central Labor Union on May 18,1882. "Let us have, a festive day during which a parade through the streets of the city would permit public tribute to American Industry," [my emphasis rir] he said.

The following September New York workers staged a parade up Broadway to Union Square. Few, if any, workers got the day off. Most were warned against marching in the parade with the threat of getting fired. Despite the warning, more than 10,000 workers showed up for the march. Led by mounted police, bricklayers in white aprons paraded with a band playing "Killarney." The marchers passed a reviewing stand crowded with Knights of Labor: a holiday was born. McGuire's holiday moved across the country as slowly as did recognition of the rights of the working man.

Twelve years later, on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland, long a foe of organized labor, but under voter pressure, signed a Labor Day holiday bill. Earlier that same year, President Cleveland's most famous labor conflict, the Pullman strike in Chicago, had forced the president to call up federal troops. Employees of the Pullman Co., which produced sleeping cars for passenger trains, protested wage cuts. Led by Eugene V. Debs, the American Railway Union (ARU) in sympathy refused to haul railroad cars made by the company. A general railway strike ensued, interfering with mail delivery. When the ARU refused a court order to return to work, Cleveland sent in federal troops. "If it takes the entire army and navy of the United States to deliver a postal card in Chicago, that card will be delivered," he said. Rioting broke out: strikers were killed and leaders jailed, but even as the strike was broken, the labor movement gained steam [thereby forcing Cleveland's hand rir].

See the full article here.

Uruguay Inaugurates First Socialist President

March 1st, 2005, Dr. Tabare Vazquez took office as Uruguay's first socialist president, joining the ranks of left-leaning leaders in Latin America now six in all governing a majority of the region's people with a cautious approach to U.S.-backed free-market policies.

Uruguay Inaugurates First Socialist President As Latin America Continues Tilt Leftward