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"I would add that another factor explaining the very modest turnout is the virtual absence of the organized labor movement. Incapable of defending its own interests, not to mention the interest of workers under attack by imperialism in other countries, the terribly bureaucratized, pro-capitalist and often corrupt labor fakers contributed nothing to this worthy national effort, that included a major focus on defending working people in every aspect of social life. ".... At best their [the Alameda County Central Labor Council's] token resolution brought a mere handful to the Oakland protest. The labor council’s virtually exclusive effort of late has been to mobilize, finance and elect warmongering Democrats to office." If I weren't in the midst of gagging, I'd really be laughing at these complaints. Their "exclusive effort *of late*"?? Please, when wasn't it that? I was a delegate to that central labor council back in the 1990s, and it was no different then. For years and years, Socialist Action and similar "socialist" groups have been kissing up to the Alameda County Central Labor Council and all sorts of other "progressive" union leaders. They get the same sort of "token" support for event after event, the same token support that never brings more than a handful of union members because the overwhelming majority of the union membership never hears a thing about it. But it's never been mentioned in the past. Never a criticism of these "progressive" union bureaucrats. And the price for this, the dirty deal, is that these same socialists never do anything to help the rank and file members organize to fight to make their unions really fight for them. But now, now that the ability of these groups to turn people out seems fading, now they suddenly discover what's been out there in plain daylight all along. Oh, and by the way, I was at the Oakland rally. I seriously doubt there were more than 750 at it, and maybe well less than that. And most of them were older folks, like myself. John Reimann _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
