Extra barf bag points: Estimate the number of congressional seats lost in the industrial and highly unionized states after the 2000 census in next years congressional re-apportionment. Then estimate the number of congressional seats gained in the sunbelt-right to work states. Sure, we are going to run candidates for seats that don't exist anymore.
Super bonus points: Name the three presidential candidates from right to work states. Clue, one's father is a former president the others a former US Senator in the same right to work state.
Tom
Doug Henwood wrote:
> Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2000 16:43:15 -0400
> From: John Bachtell <jbachtell at cpusa.org>
>
> Nader, Greens should join fight against the ultraright
> (Reprinted from the People's Weekly World
>
> By Rick Nagin
>
> The presidential campaign of Ralph Nader is a reflection of the growing
> anti-corporate sentiment in the United States which erupted so dramatically
> in the Battle of Seattle. It is also a reflection of the growing desire
> among many voters for independence from the two major parties, which they
> see as parties controlled by the corporations. Many of Nader's supporters
> are involved in struggles to preserve the environment, for peace, women's
> rights, civil liberties, human rights and other important issues. They
> support Nader because of his anti-corporate stance.
>
> However, the great irony of Nader's campaign is that by taking votes and
> resources from the Democrats, it could actually result in strengthening
> corporate power, split the unity that emerged in Seattle and undermine the
> forces of anti-corporate political independence. The fundamental reality of
> the this year's elections is that if Bush and Cheney are elected, the
> balance of power will shift in a decidedly negative direction in favor of
> the most reactionary, anti-labor, racist, warlike, anti-democratic sections
> of big business.
>
> The Christian Coalition, the gun lobby, the pharmaceutical lobby, the
> tobacco lobby, the military-industrial complex and other right-wing
> corporate groups are pouring money and troops into the Republican campaign
> in the expectation that a Bush victory will greatly extend their influence.
> This will be especially true if the Republicans also retain control of the
> Congress.
>
> On the other hand, labor and other people's movements recognize that if
> they can build a strong enough political coalition they can defeat the
> right-wing and be able to defend rights now under attack like Social
> Security, public education, Medicare and the right to choose. They will
> also be in a better position to win advances supported by the Democrats,
> including labor law reform, a higher minimum wage and expanding Medicare to
> include prescription drug coverage to seniors. They also know that with the
> greater strength and unity resulting from the ability to elect their
> candidates, they will be in a better position to win demands not yet or not
> fully supported by Gore such as protection for labor, environmental and
> human rights in trade legislation, blocking a national missile defense
> system and national health care. It is for all these reasons that organized
> labor, civil rights groups, organizations of women, seniors and
> environmentalists overwhelmingly support the Democratic Party ticket. They
> are doing this with eyes wide open, knowing that on many issues they agree
> more with Nader than with Gore.
>
> The main point, however, is that a Gore victory would be a victory for this
> coalition, which would emerge with greater independent political clout and
> expand the possibility for moving in the direction of a new labor-led,
> anti-corporate people's party. The need for such a party is widely
> recognized but it can only emerge and be viable when it has consolidated a
> sufficient social base capable of seriously challenging corporate power.
> This process is underway, including through the AFL-CIO campaign to elect
> 2,000 trade unionists this year and other independent initiatives, but in
> the main the process is unfolding within the framework of the Gore campaign
> which alone i s capable of defeating the right-wing danger.
>
> The progressive intellectuals and professionals that are the main base of
> the Nader campaign are an important part of the coalition needed for real
> political independence but by themselves do not have anywhere near the
> necessary strength and resources. Without major participation by organized
> labor and its allies among minorities, women and seniors, there can be no
> real political independence.
>
> Nader could play a very positive role if he used his national prestige and
> candidacy to rally voters against the right-wing danger, but the sad fact
> is the main thrust of his campaign is directed against Gore and Lieberman.
> Nader claims his goal is to move Gore to the left, but whether Gore moves
> to the left before Nov. 7 is not that important. The only real issue now is
> how to prevent a right-wing takeover of the federal government.
>
> Nader has told his followers who might otherwise vote for the Democratic
> ticket that there is no difference between Bush and Gore and that he does
> no t care which of them is elected. Nader says very little about Bush and
> Cheney and reserves his sharpest criticism for Gore and Lieberman.
>
> Certainly there are weaknesses in the record and program of the Democrats
> and these must be dealt with but only after the right-wing danger is out of
> the way. In the current situation Nader's tactics play directly into the
> hands of the Republicans and could be decisive in undermining support for
> Gore in key states like California.
>
> Nader and the Greens are hoping to get the 5 percent of the vote needed to
> qualify for federal matching funds but evidently do not seem to care if
> this comes at the expense of a right-wing victory in November and a major
> setback to labor and the people. But, if this is the outcome, how will
> labor and the people view Nader and the Greens? How will they judge
> political forces willing to sacrifice the well-being of the people for
> narrow partisan gain? This year's elections provide a real opportunity to
> build the labor-led people's coalition to defeat the right-wing danger and
> set the stage for a new wave of social progress and a deeper level of
> political independence. But if the unity of this coalition is split because
> of the Nader campaign, this important opportunity could be lost.
>
> Rick Nagin is a city council aide in Cleveland, Ohio