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<b>My definition of a socialist:</b>
<p><b>"That's a guy who want's to give everybody a gun, a badge and a firehose
and put 'em on the city payroll."</b><b></b>
<p><b>Tom Lehman</b>
<p>JKSCHW@aol.com wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>>
<br>> During his campaign for the AFL-CIO Presidency, Sweeney rather publicly
took
<br>> out a membership card in the Democratic Socialists of America as
one of the
<br>> marks of his break with the past. Since Samuel Gompers left
his socialist
<br>> origins back in the 19th century, .
<br>>
<br>> If being a card-carrying member of a socialist organization does
not make
<br>> you a socialist, what does?
<p>Uh, socialist politics? I mean, Felipe Gonzalez, lately PM of Spain,
was head of the SP, and a neoliberal. He probably carried a card too.
<p>I'm glad Sweeney's there and I am even glad that he indicated a
break to reflexive right wing union politics by joining DSA and advertizing
the fact. But I called him comrade he'd probably have a heart attack. He
doesn't want to take away the capitalists' property, he just wants a less
anti-union environment more conducive to collective bargaining, and a higher,
stronger welfare safety net. I support these goals, as any socialist would.
But those are the limits of your politics, those politics are not socialist.
<p>--jks</blockquote>
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