Report to the National Committee November 10th 2007 Welcome to this meeting of the National Committee. Im sure that I dont have to underscore the importance of this gathering, taking place as it does on the eve of an election that could transform U.S. and world politics for years to come. A fundamental question for the National Committee to consider is the following: Are we entering a new stage of...
Special District Meeting on African American Equality and Building the Communist Party and Young Communist League Chicago, IL September 30, 2007 Opening Remarks By John Bachtell, IL District Organizer First, I want to acknowledge the collective nature of this report and preparation for the meeting. Thanks to everyone who contributed. Secondly, these remarks will not begin to touch on every question, only a few of the key problems and issues...
The wages and working conditions of union autoworkers have always set standards for all manufacturing. These in turn have put upward pressure on wages and benefits for all workers. But in todays political and economic climate, major contract negotiations in the manufacturing sector are hell. Thirty years of corporate/right-wing attack on labor law and workers rights have taken an enormous toll. Capitalist globalization, with its frenzied export of capital and...
This report is fragments of an outline, broad stroke ideas to discuss and enlarge upon. It lays the groundwork for deeper analysis and conclusions. It is an initial report in preparation for the November National Committee meeting. Everything we do and every new development relates to the 2008 elections. There is an opportunity in this election to begin a fundamental change in the direction of the country, which starts with...
Comrades, Sisters and Brothers, Welcome! Let me start by thanking comrade Sam Webb for proposing this meeting and the National Board for endorsing the idea of this conference which started out as an expanded meeting of the commission but because of the overwhelming response grew into much more. The last time we held a similar meeting was in the early 90s before our 25th convention. We must do this more...
James E. Jackson, Jr., a giant in the struggle for African American equality, world peace and socialism, passed away Sept. 1, just short of his 93rd birthday. He was one of the truly heroic figures of the African American freedom movement, the progressive movement generally, and the Communist Party USA. He was an activist, mass leader, theoretician, tactician, teacher, writer and humanist, beginning at age 16. He was devoted to...
The August 10 declaration by the Bush administration of a more repressive immigration policy, if put into effect, will create fascist like conditions for 12 million undocumented workers and their families.. The impact of the new policy which criminalizes the undocumented will lower living standards for working people and undermine the democracy giving a green light to greater racism, national oppression and intolerance of all kinds.
Sam Webbs report on the overall political situation and Scott Marshalls report on developments in the labor movement and industrial concentration, along with Jarvis Tyners report from the African American Equality Conference, give us the basis for this wonderful meeting and discussion.
To begin, I want to acknowledge that more than my fingerprints are on this report. Many comrades in discussions and by email gave me ideas and suggestions that I believe give the report more depth and range. I want to thank the comrades who took time out to convey their thinking. The report focuses on some aspects of the current situation. It doesnt try to span the entire country or...
First I want to thank the Labor Commission members for their invaluable input in this report. Much of this report took shape at this years face-to-face Midwest regional commission meeting last May in Chicago. The National Board discussion of this report was also very helpful.