Join us today!
Printable version
Link to this page: https://secure.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/981/26844
From The Socialist newspaper, 7 February 2018
Non-fiction: Our Revolution
Bernie Sanders should take the initiative to launch a radical workers' party in the US, photo Gage Skidmore (Creative Commons) (Click to enlarge)
Bernie's book shows need for workers' party
Derek McMillan, Brighton Socialist Party
This book 'Our Revolution' by Bernie Sanders is a bestseller which charts his campaign for the Democratic nomination. He is scrupulous in making it clear it was grassroots activists that made this possible.
The book is very useful as an indictment of American capitalism. Just one example: the press is full of stories of welfare recipients as a "burden" on society, but does not mention the Walton family, owners of Wal-Mart. Bernie Sanders does.
"Wal-Mart makes huge profits by paying its workers wages that are so low that the workers not only qualify for, but need, public assistance just to get by... When you add it up, it turns out that US taxpayers are subsidising Wal-Mart's low wages to the tune of at least $6.2 billion each and every year."
His proposal is that Wal-Mart should pay its workers $15 an hour. This is a proposal socialists support.
However, Bernie intends only to 'civilise' and 'tame' the corporations. He has not gone so far as to suggest expropriating them. I can assure you they would be as tame as anything under those circumstances.
A turning point for many was when it became clear Hillary Clinton would get the nomination. Bernie gained some concessions from the Clinton campaign before offering his endorsement.
The only trouble is that no worker could possibly trust the "candidate of Wall Street," to use Bernie's own expression, to carry out any of these concessions on policy.
Unwittingly, the book makes the case for building a workers' party in the United States. A party which would not be in thrall to Wall Street, and could take power away from the corporations.
And that is when the real "revolution" starts!
Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.
In The Socialist 7 February 2018:
Save our NHS
NHS day of action: all around the country
Tragic death exposes criminal understaffing of NHS
York socialists head resistance to NHS outsourcing
News
Capita in crisis: bring all outsourcers back in-house
90 feared dead after migrant boat capsizes
What we think
Corbyn's left must seize the advantage in Labour's civil war
Councils
Haringey: now's our chance for a no-cuts council
Walthamstow: occupy to save the town square
Scene set for TUSC conference electoral debate
Workplace
Royal Mail forced back under threat of action
Unison national women's conference
Striking back against academies in Newham
International socialist news and analysis
May's silence is a green light for Chinese repression
Sudan: Mohamed Satti released - global solidarity campaign gets results!
Protesters denounce oppressive Sri Lankan regime
Opinion
GCSE grading game stresses out students - even more than before!
Fighting sexism: Positive discrimination - yea or neigh?
Bernie's book shows need for workers' party
Darkest Hour: Not the usual flattery of brutal Tory Churchill
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
The Socialist Party is being evicted - we need you!
Yorkshire Socialist Party regional conference
Home | The Socialist 7 February 2018 | Join the Socialist Party
Subscribe | Donate | Audio | PDF | ebook
2018