******************** POSTING RULES & NOTES ******************** #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. *****************************************************************
One reason I was always a little skeptical about the belief that Sanders could bring out a whole new layer of voters was my own personal experience: I was active for many years in the Carpenters Union. For many of those years I ran for office. In my local, about 10-15% of the membership actually bothered to vote. I ran insurgent campaigns against the established leadership. I spoke to a lot of the issues that the members were concerned about on the job. Most times, I ran as part of a slate of candidates. We never succeeded in getting any significant increased turnout in elections (although I did win about half or more of the elections I ran in). But here's something else: In 1999 we had the big rank and file wildcat strike. Some 2,000 carpenters wildcatted. Attendance at union meetings went up about 10 times over. I am certain that if there had been a local election at that time, when the mood was hot, that we would have seen a similar increase in the number of members who came out to vote. In other words, it's action that inspires voting, not the other way round. John Reimann -- *“In politics, abstract terms conceal treachery.” *from "The Black Jacobins" by C. L. R. James Check out:https:http://oaklandsocialist.com also on Facebook _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
