Septuagenarian isn’t the issue
The article “Join Socialist Workers Party Campaigning in Working Class” in the Dec. 10 issue of the Militant describes Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as backing “Septuagenarian Nancy Pelosi” for speaker of the house, in a paragraph explaining why socialist Democrats provide no alternative for the working class.
The clear implication is that backing a person in their 70’s for political leadership is evidence that someone isn’t really “progressive” or means they won’t challenge capitalist rule.
Nancy Pelosi is a capitalist politician, and a leader of one of the twin capitalist parties in the United States. That’s what’s important about Ocasio-Cortez’s support for her speakership.
But many of the most capable and experienced working-class leaders alive today are “septuagenarians.” An individual’s age has nothing to do with whose class interests they act in.
Harry D’Agostino
Albany, New York
Editor’s note: Point well taken. The point we had wanted to make was that candidate Ocasio-Cortez campaigned on the need to overturn the Democratic Party establishment. Instead, after she won, she suddenly decided Pelosi was “progressive” enough and backed her.
Prisoners’ political rights
I wanted to let you know that after having written you and the institution’s mail room, several issues of the Militant finally appeared. I received six issues on Nov. 19. Many thanks for your help in the fight for our civil right to read your newspaper and your unconditional support.
A prisoner
Florida