Since 9-11, it has been extremely difficult to talk about anything that might jeopardize that warm, fuzzy “American” unity.

Yet, we are now starting to see people start to think for themselves and for their class roots again. There are several issues (besides the recall) that are pushing working families in Southern California (and all of California) to re-think the wisdom of a Halliburton/Big Money government.

In an area where a median home is now topping $400,000, it is hardly selfish for grocery workers to demand 17 bucks an hour plus benies. And, I think most Californians realize that.

Raul S.
San Diego, California
 
 
Guyana 1953, Iraq 2003
While the occupation of Iraq currently dominates the headlines, another conquest was in the headlines 50 years ago as British troops stormed into the small South American nation of Guyana in October 1953, deposing its democratically elected government, suspending its constitution, and imposing direct rule from Westminster.

Guyana, sandwiched between the mighty Amazon and Orinoco rivers, was the only British colonial possession on mainland South America—because of its vast metal and mineral reserves, it had spawned the “El Dorado” legend as spread by Sir Walter Raleigh.

In 1953, British Guiana, as it then was, held its first ever election under universal adult suffrage and a government committed to social reform was swept into power—gaining 18 out of the 24 seats in Parliament, much to the consternation of the British election officials who supervised the election, and the entrenched vested interests of British companies such as Bookers—(of Booker Prize fame)—which alone controlled about 80 percent of the Guyanese economy at the time!

Like the Allende government in Chile some 20 years later, however, their democratic term in office was abruptly cut short by military intervention as both London and Washington were worried by the perceived “communist leanings” of the Guyana government, which was considered to pose a direct threat to continued Western control of Latin America’s vast resources.

On a still-to-be-corroborated allegation by the Churchill government, Guyanese prime minister Dr. Cheddi Jagan was forcibly removed from office and imprisoned on the pathetic pretext that he had hatched a “communist plot” to burn down his own capital city—just 133 days after his landslide victory! There then followed a concerted effort to split the Guyanese working class along ethnic lines, using the old colonialist ploy of “divide and rule.”

Unfortunately, with the assistance of the CIA over the next decade, this plan succeeded only too well—leaving Guyana today one of the poorest countries in the region, still divided along ethnic lines, and only recently having emerged from decades of a CIA-imposed brutal corrupt dictatorship.

Perhaps Guyana’s 50-year past may portend Iraq’s immediate future?

Lalu Hanuman
London, England
 
 
Imperialism
Ken Berg’s letter inquiring about the meaning of the term “imperialism” prompted me to reread Imperialism, The Highest Stage of Capitalism by V.I. Lenin, written in 1916.

Lenin gives the following definition: “imperialism is the monopoly stage of capitalism.” He explains that this includes finance capital (the bank capital of a few very big monopolist banks) merged with the capital of monopolist associations of industrialists that divide the existing world markets, raw materials, and areas of investment. These associations group and regroup according to which of the capitalist powers have the upper hand militarily and financially in the territorial division of the entire world.

If I understand Lenin correctly, capitalism inevitably evolved from early free competitive capitalism to the present stage when new sources of raw materials, markets, and fields of investment are imperative for the survival of the ruling classes of the most powerful capitalist countries.

Although this is often not understood at home and abroad, the term “imperialist” can accurately be used to describe the Canadian ruling class.

Beatrice Bryant
Blenheim, Ontario

The letters column is an open forum for all viewpoints on subjects of interest to working people.

Please keep your letters brief. Where necessary they will be abridged. Please indicate if you prefer that your initials be used rather than your full name.  
 
 
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