More discussion on environmentalism and class struggle

This is a link to an interesting article. My opinion follows the link to the article:


http://prospect.org/article/must-environmentalists-and-labor-activists-find-themselves-odds-each-other


This is for sure an interesting article but on its own without broad
discussion and debate without the author being held accountable to defend
his ideas in the presence of Marxists (and others) it is quite useless- and
even ideologically harmful in a way that hinders the kind of movement
building required; for a number of reasons.

First; the author in all of his thousands of words here, not once so much
as mentions the cost of imperialism as far as being a major contributor to
global warming, climate change and deteriorating lives and livelihoods.

Two; the author makes the ridiculous claim that there is nothing for us to
agree on as far as what kind of livelihoods and living conditions offer
something we can all unite around when he intentionally omits any mention
of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights... Isn't this
Declaration THE point of unity?

Third; the author, not surprisingly since his article has been published in
American Prospect magazine, claims there is some kind of "progressive"
Keynesianism is not being honest; quite frankly, Keynesianism was and
always will be a thoroughly reactionary, anti-working class ideology since
its intent is the survival of capitalism which has for decades been in its
most advanced, morbid, cannibalistic and barbaric stage--- imperialism which
is all about making the world and the earth a worse place to live and work
since the parasitical capitalist of which Wall Street investors are the
bosses seek the greatest possible profits through employing the cheapest
labor they can get to attain the cheapest natural resources and then
turning those resources into products and services of "use" (as long as
these products and services are profitable to them) always using the
cheapest labor they can acquire. All of this they enforce through severe
repression, militarism and wars.

Fourth; this author writes as if only "experts" are entitled to seats at
the real decision-making table. Where is the call for rank-and-file workers
and all working people to have a say in the decision-making process----
politically and economically?

Fifth; there is nothing in this article that even suggests that Wall Street
and its junior partners in the G-20 (especially the dominant imperialists
in the G-8) are our main enemy when it comes to creating a livable planet
from which we can all derive a decent standard of living working together
in harmony--- at peace towards the common goals held forth in the United
Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

And, finally, in order to keep this brief, the problem  arising in labor
circles is that a bunch of millionaire labor leaders have relentlessly
tried to push neo-liberal, of which Keynesianism (no matter how it is
packaged) thinking down the throats of working class activists and
rank-and-file workers which is detrimental to the working class movement.

Nothing here suggests the need for an anti-monopoly coalition representing
all the movements this author mentions (and those he very conveniently
ignores mention of like the peace movement).

Nor is there any mention of the need to break free from Wall Streets two
parties, the Democrats and Republicans if we are serious creating a livable
planet we can all survive on while making decent livings with no one left
behind.

And, quite frankly, these millionaire labor leaders and here equally
corrupt little enforcers at the state and local levels have worked
hand-in-hand with the bosses to harass and repress rank-and-file workers
who are advocates of a more just social and economic alternative---
socialism--- in fact, the primary goal and objective of American Prospect
magazine has always been to either defame and slander the advocates of
socialism or to deny their is a socialist alternative--- usually both.

In closing, I would just point out that the wealthy don't simply need to be
"powered down" as this author is suggesting; these wealthy Wall Street few
need to be completely removed from power so they aren't using the levers of
power to destroy OUR living environment as the destroy our livelihoods and
standard-of-living and prevent billions of people from attains a decent
standard-of-living.

If anyone wants to pass this on to the author feel free to do so.

If anyone wants to pass this on to the anti-Communist, anti-working
class rag, The American Prospect magazine, feel free to do so.

I don't think there is much here that any rank-and-file worker who has
struggled to improve the pay and conditions of work in their place of
employment would disagree with.

This article could easily be summed up as just one more intentionally
confusing piece intended to make excuses for the Democrats and those in the
labor movement who have become so well-heeled from holding up the tail of a
bunch of Dumb Donkeys while trying to convince us that we should be content
living off what the sparrows leave behind.

Just imagine what kind of world we could be living in if we were to take
up William Winpisinger's suggestions and beat swords into plow
shares, thereby putting an end to the most environmentally destructive
human endeavor on our planet--- the U.S. Military-Financial-Industrial
Complex established by Wall Street; for which we and our planet pay in so
many hurtful and harmful ways. It is not coincidental that William
Winpisinger's advanced socialist ideas as part of his urging a struggle for
peace and a livable planet.

I can see no reason why we Marxists must withhold comment as these
Keynesians continue to push their very reactionary ideas in the name of
being "progressive" when it is Marxist with ideas advancing the progressive thoughts.

Why should any working class family have to settle for less than what is
embodied as human rights advanced in the United Nations' Universal
Declaration of Human Rights? The only thing standing in the way is
capitalism.

Feel free to comment on my thoughts

Alan L. Maki

A rank-and-file member of UNITE-HERE Local #17, Minneapolis, Minnesota