Vol. 80/No. 29 August 8, 2016
‘Workers are so open to discuss politics’ of SWP
An important tool is the new book Are They Rich Because They’re Smart? Class, Privilege and Learning Under Capitalism by SWP National Secretary Jack Barnes. The introduction and three chapters — “Are They Rich Because They’re Smart? The Rationalization of Class Privilege,” “Growing Class Stratification and the ‘Enlightened Meritocracy’” and “Capitalism, the Working Class, and the Transformation of Learning” — strike a chord with many workers.
Following its Active Workers Conference in June, the SWP organized campaigning across Vermont and Utah, meeting many workers interested in learning about the party and its program, strengthening its proletarian character and winning contacts and supporters. More than 400 people bought copies of the new book in those two states.
The same openings exist across the country. The party in New York is fielding teams to cities and towns in New Jersey, where it campaigned this spring, and to a range of neighborhoods across the metropolitan area.
“Four of us went to the Electchester apartments in South Flushing, Queens, last weekend,” Naomi Craine reported. This is a housing complex run by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 3, and many of the residents are members.
“We met several workers we will want to follow up with,” Craine said. “A young woman who is just finishing up her electrician apprenticeship liked the title of the book and the graphs in it that illustrate why the capitalists can’t solve their economic crisis.”
In Lincoln, Nebraska, retired railroader Joe Swanson and plastics fabrication worker Chris Steffen began campaigning door to door after the conference, something new for Steffen. “I was a little surprised how workers are so open to discussions about real political issues that affect their lives daily,” he said. “The big-business commentators say workers are passive to politics. Not true!
“A man who came here as a teenage refugee from Iraq invited us in for refreshments,” Steffen said. “As we discussed the way forward for the working class, he told us about his job in a meatpacking plant, the increased line speed and how difficult it is to get by on his wages.”
“He told us he is leaning toward Donald Trump in the election,” Swanson added, “but is bothered by the Republican candidate’s anti-Muslim vitriol. He bought the new book after we discussed how the capitalists rule by dividing the working class, and how a revolutionary movement to take power must forge unity among millions of workers.”
Related articles:
‘Socialist Workers Party is revolutionary party we need’
Working class is capable of reorganizing society
Socialist Workers Party files for Louisiana ballot
Join the Socialist Workers Party campaigning
Capitalism can’t be reformed
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