The national media continues
to discuss everything but the relevant issues concerning the Presidential
election. Have you noticed how hard it is to listen to the talking heads,
pundits, or even those who pretend to be neutral journalists? Why? Because
what has happened in this country has little to do with chads, dimpled
ballots, or hand recounts. We have experienced Republican storm troopers
attacking official vote counters in Dade County. The Republican Party
has stolen the election and literally would never allow Al Gore to serve
as President. After all, the right wing was merciless in its attack
on Bill Clinton when he clearly won both elections. The venom and hatred
the right wing poured on Bill Clinton was unrelenting, continuous and
vicious during his entire presidency.
When the now Senator Hillary
Clinton exposed the right wing conspiracy, the same hatred and venom
was turned on her. It is clear that the right wing with the Republican
Party as it political arm, will not allow a Democratic President to
govern. That fact, however, is receiving no airtime, no analysis and
certainly no criticism. The right wing tried to buy this election. The
Republican Party had so much money; it did not know where to spend it.
When that began to fail and then did fail on election night, the right
wing blatantly stole the election.
Are we experiencing a giant
right wing conspiracy? Of course, but it is far more complicated than
that, and our failure to recognize the complexities of this process
will severely limit our effectiveness. The right wing is extremely well
funded but that is not all that is involved. The platform of the Republican
Party is full of code words and program to implement anti-working class
positions. Based upon a foundation of misogyny, racism and homophobia,
the Republican Party mobilizes many people with the use of hatred, selfishness,
and greed. These are powerful emotions and provides enormous energy
to the Republicans even when they are instilling programs that are against
the direct economic interest of the very people who are supporting them.
The second prong of the coalition/cabal is the national media. The ruling
class has spent 30 years trying to depoliticize the American people,
constantly promoting the ideology of consumerism and individualism or
hiding the political and economic ramifications of such an ideology.
We work enormous hours and that work enriches a very small number of
people in this country leaving us another day older and deeper in debt.
If you read their literature, they never attack working people even
though their programs are an attack on working people. They never directly
appeal to racial prejudice even though the effect of their programs
is to pander to racial stereotypes. They never attack women even though
the programs are designed to insure the second-class citizenship of
women.
With this election, the ruling
class is forced to politicize the American people. Progressives have
an enormous opportunity but only if we give up our mythology. The first
myth is that there is no difference between the two parties. That position
arose in the 1930's when the Democratic Party had a huge southern conservative
contingency and the Republican Party had a large liberal faction. The
Republican Party now controls the south and almost all tolerant and
open-minded leaders have been driven from the party.
The overwhelming majority
of African-Americans voted for Al Gore. The seldom-repeated fact is
that this community mobilized in a major way to defeat Bush. That fact
sets a basis for unity because trade unionists, women and other national
minorities voted for Al Gore. While these votes were not as overwhelming
as in the African-American community, nevertheless, over 60% of these
communities were for Al Gore. In opposing George Bush, progressives
will have the opportunity to unite people and fight for democracy. The
ruling class is projecting the idea that this process is over once a
winner is declared. But that certainly will not be true if, by some
miracle, Al Gore becomes President. He will be under constant attack.
At best, he will only be able to block attempts to destroy social security
and other working class benefits. I say this to say that there is no
"winner" in this election. We cannot allow Bush to be declared the "winner".
We must begin to mobilize a million people to be in Washington DC on
inauguration day. This is a day to protect democracy because that is
all we have. This will be a demonstration to fight for the legitimacy
of democracy and the legitimacy of the electoral process and in opposition
to the theft by the Republican Party of the democratic process in this
country.
Yours in Struggle,
Ronald D. Glotta
220 Bagley, Suite 808
Detroit MI 48226-1409
(313) 963-1320 (313) 963-1325/Fax
rglotta@glottaassociates.com
