Urge solidarity with Egyptain people

Letter to the editor, Star Tribune, Minneapolis, MN
January 31, 2011

EGYPT

Debating the American impact on a revolution

Americans should urge their government and Congress to support the people of Egypt and abandon Hosni Mubarak.

Vice President Joe Biden's recent response to a journalist that he didn't think the word "dictator" applied to Mubarak is an insult to those risking their lives for dignity and democracy.
Egyptians know that Mubarak is behind the trappings of rigged, unfair elections. And, I believe, so does Biden.

His remark shows an administration that has not yet decided which side it is on.

 We can be sure that American imperialist interests -- oil companies, arms manufacturers and their political and military friends -- want to hold on to Mubarak, whom successive American governments have hypocritically called an ally.  For once our representatives should have the courage to be true to our ideals of democracy and freedom and support the democratic yearnings of the people of Egypt.

Dignity is the demand; democracy is the means. The world will be a better place if the Egyptian people win.

WAYNE NEALIS, MINNEAPOLIS

Published at:  http://www.startribune.com/opinion/letters/114976969.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:UHDaaDyiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

Read more!

Socialism is the solution

 

As published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, June 30, 2010

Socialism is the solution

"Out of work and running out of time" (June 25), about unemployment benefits ending for a million people, should prompt us to ask what causes unemployment, and why, in the 21st century, can we not manage an economy that provides full employment.

The answer is that capitalism is an antiquated, irrational system that does not provide a mechanism to plan a stable, sustainable economy. Capitalists compete to drive one another out of business, exploit the cheapest labor and take the highest profits possible. The outcome of this usurious behavior is periodic economic crisis, layoffs and needless worry.

There is a solution: socialism. With socialism, workers — white and blue collar, through democratic public entities—would own large corporations and plan investment of capital and manage production to guarantee full employment.

Such planning is not any more difficult and certainly technologically easier than producing computer chips. When a majority of workers realize unemployment is a product of capitalism, we can choose to upgrade our economy to socialism and end unemployment.

Wayne Nealis, Minneapolis

Read more!

Investing in a football stadium vs. value producing jobs

I am not a football fan, but I appreciate the sport and I am glad that Minnesota fans have the Vikings. It is unfortunate, however, that the state is being squeezed to spend hard earned capital on a stadium, instead of using the capital to stimulate investments in value creating manufacturing or agricultural enterprises.  Any investment in entertainment, football or otherwise consumes capital.  It does not create new value—it just moves money around.

Minnesota has been losing high-value, capital creating industries for a decade or more.  Ideally, it would be smarter to invest public money to entice a global vehicle producer to keep the Ford plant open, or help grow an alternative energy equipment industry and world class manufacturing firms. Imagine the potential return on investment if the hundreds of millions that might be spent on a stadium were instead used to constitute low-interest, revolving capital pools to upgrade our state’s capacity to create value.

Then some years down the road when our investments have paid off and new companies are growing and new products are flowing into world and national markets we could build a fine looking, world class stadium.  When completed we could gather round, pop open a beer and toast to a job well done.  But instead we will probably buy a stadium and become poorer. 

Read more!

A Marine journalist's perspective: It's all about pride

A friend of my niece’s joined the Marines a year ago leaving college to become a Marine journalist. She told me she didn’t fully understand his motivation for joining, as he was generally opposed to the current wars. Yet they are friends and when he was on leave recently, before his possible deployment in Afghanistan, she asked him about the attitude toward the war among his military colleagues. Her friend described the predominant attitude comes down to a question of pride. Especially prevalent among officers is that they do not want to be seen by history as losing the war. So, like the Soviets brief escalation before withdrawing in an effort to save face and like Nixon in Vietnam, U.S. soldiers are being sent to kill and to be killed so we can “withdraw with honor.” So some colonels and generals can hold on to their pride.

When will we learn not to go to war? When Americans learn a more truthful perspective on American foreign policy; and one that does not sidestep the modus operandi for the wars—imperialism—that assigns working class Americans the role of protecting “our” interests abroad. This education will take courageous social change activists to challenge and change deeply held beliefs and myths. The cynical manipulation of public opinion that got us into Afghanistan and Iraq must be stopped or more war is in our future.

I would argue that if peace-minded Americans want see the hope for a better, more peaceful world that Obama spoke about during his campaign it is necessary to take up this challenge. It also may be the best way to lend “support” for his presidency to give him the room to make different choices than expanding a war that should not have been started.
Read more!

What President Obama should say to American people on Afghanistan

Please note: Posted on the eve of President Obama's address to the American people about his decision regarding troop levels in Afghanistan. The following is what I had hoped I might hear from my President, but what Obama appears unlikely to say:


...My administration has completed a thorough review and debate on what course we should take in Afghanistan. In the media you have likely heard about many of the options explored by members of my administration. You have also heard the criticism that we have taken too long and are acting indecisively. I am confident that most Americans would not want us to make this pivotal decision hurriedly. Hurried decisions about war have been painful lessons for our nation. I have made a decision that I would like to talk with you about and ask for your support. It is a choice that I believe a majority of Americans have already come to.

In the coming weeks we will initiate discussions with our coalition partners, the Afghan government and other nations in the region on setting a timetable for withdrawing American and coalition armed forces. We will not be sending more troops. The results of these discussions and negotiations will determine our timetable for withdrawal. However, our goal is end United States military presence in Afghanistan within two years, sooner if possible. This will be done with the utmost care to ensure the safety of our troops.

Why have we come to this conclusion? First, and I wish to be clear about this, we are not abandoning the Afghan people, we are simply acknowledging that our continued military presence is an obstacle to any hope for Afghan national reconciliation. We are perceived as occupiers, who do not intend to leave. Thus Afghanis’ energy is directed at expelling the invaders, instead of being directed toward resolving their own conflicts and working to improve the lives of all Afghans.

There have been many mistakes made in our nation’s response to the terrorist attacks of 9-11. These mistakes can be characterized by impatient and overreach. This was certainly the case in Iraq and it has become more clear during our review this was also the case in Afghanistan.

There are those who will criticize our decision as a failure to win the war and that by doing so are dishonoring the service men and women who have sacrificed so much. Yet, I think most of you would agree that to continue on a course that is mistaken for the sake of misplaced pride would be a disservice to the men and women of the armed forces. Such misguided pride would only harm our national interests, our safety and bleed our treasury.

And we have learned better ways to fight terrorism since 9-11 that do not require a full-scale assault by our armed forces. And these strategies continue to be very effect in securing the safety of Americans, at home and abroad.

As a first step in deescalating our engagement in Afghanistan we will cease offensive operations, including the use of unmanned drones. Although great care has been taken to minimize civilian casualties, we have deemed that the continued use of such drones would be counterproductive, as more civilian casualties will further undermine our credibility.

We hope these gestures, and others that will be forthcoming, will encourage some of the traditional tribal leaders to begin discussing the possibilities for national reconciliation and also rejects the use of their nation and tribal lands as a refuge for terrorists. Other sectors and leaders of the society, including the Taliban and religious leaders, will also need to choose between a path of internal war or a path toward peace, security and progress. In the best interests of the Afghan people we hope they can find a peaceful resolution of their differences. We will assist this process as needed, but we have learned we cannot orchestrate it. It must come for the society itself.

The result may not be what we would hope for, nor is it likely to bring equality for women in the near future. The recipe of individual freedom and equality cannot be installed by force. This too we have learned. Our own countries’ imperfect history shows that securing democratic and civil rights can be a long, painful process. Yet, the ideas of freedom and democracy are never suppressed for long. I am hopeful that our own example and that of other nations will propel the Afghan people to create their own struggle for a democratic future that will provide for the full participation of women in creating a prosperous society. We stand ready to be of any non-military assistance to democratic-minded Afghans in this struggle.

On the economic development front and aid to Afghanistan. Suspending offensive military operations and gradually reducing our military forces will allow us to divert part of what would have been spent on military operations to providing more effective economic assistance. Should the country reach reconciliation or at minimum find a means to hold a truce between factions these funds could quickly improve the lives of Afghan families.

Alleviating the desperate condition of people lives must become the goal of all leaders of Afghan society. Continuing to make war would be to fail. This is also a reason we are suspending our offensive military operations. Economic activity, whether it is farming or commerce, cannot take place in war zones.

I ask for your support for this new and hopefully more fruitful course. And I ask that you take time to honor the contribution of our men and women in the armed forces, especially as they return. They did not set the mission or the strategy. The mistakes that have been made are not a reflection on their service, honor or commitment.

My administration’s task to change course in Afghanistan will be very difficult and its success is dependent on many factors beyond our control. We hope the nations in the region will be helpful and we look forward to a dialogue with them as we move forward. I will keep you informed from time to time on these developments. And I assure you that the efforts of our intelligence agencies, FBI and military forces will continue their vigilant efforts to protect the nation from terrorist acts. I commend them for their effectiveness.

In closing, I appeal to you to help reconcile our own differences that have arisen over the two wars that our political leaders, Republican and Democrat, committed the nation. With these steps we are taking in Afghanistan and the process underway in Iraq, my administration will be working to end our military involvement. I believe this is what a majority of Americans desire and will support. For those who disagree with this sentiment and my Administrations choices, I ask that you give our strategy some time to work. To those tens of millions of Americans who have consistently opposed these wars, I ask that you play a helpful role in reconciling our divisions.

Our foremost thoughts should be with those men and women who when called to combat by their political and military leaders, responded with an unflinching commitment to our nation when they know it could lead to the ultimate sacrifice.

I thank you for your attentiveness and patience tonight. Read more!

Steelworkers to explore worker-owned Mondragon model

In case you missed it, in October the United Steelworkers of America signed an agreement with Spain’s Mondragon worker-owned cooperative industries to help the USW develop cooperatives in the United States. This initiative represents the best of traditions in American labor leadership and offers workers (white and blue collar) a constructive, practical remedy to the 30-year decline in manufacturing jobs and a path to economic security.

The Mondragon co-ops of Spain, employing 100,000 people, are widely recognized as the most successful in the world and compete head-to-head with private industries. Mondragon does so on a world-class scale from the building of sophisticated machine tools to managing banking, distribution and retail operations. Their nearly 60 years of experience is an example that workers collectively owning their own means to make a living is a realistic alternative to suffering the consequences of capitalist financiers’ games and corporate abuse and mismanagement.

In a press release announcing the agreement, USW president Leo Gerard put it succinctly: “Too often we have seen Wall Street hollow out companies by draining their cash and assets and hollowing out communities by shedding jobs and shuttering plants. We need a new business model that invests in workers and invests in communities.”

The USW release calls the agreement historic. I cannot agree more. Ideas matter. This idea is one labor has long needed on the bargaining table and in its member educational materials. Although struggles to regulate and reform capitalism can be fruitful, in the long run to build a more just, democratic society we also need ideas and experiences that mark a path for “outgrowing” capitalism.

Worker-owned cooperatives provide one such route. And they demonstrate that workers do not have to be at the mercy of capital for jobs, but instead can retain control of the value they produce and invest it to secure the well being of their communities and families. Thanks to the Steelworkers for pointing a way forward.

For more information, check out the URL’s listed below and the attached article from Dollars & Sense, a publisher of real world economic news and educational materials. This is the website where I first noticed the news of the USW initiative.

Wayne Nealis

p.s. For some years the USW and other unions have been promoting the building a system of world class high-speed passenger trains in America. I understand that the Obama Administration is considering a few lines that could receive funding. It may be possible that some of the first worker-owned co-ops could develop for building railway equipment, as Mondragon has considerable experience in making products for rail transport.

For further info please see:
United Steelworkers @ http://www.usw.org/media_center/releases_advisories?id=0234.

Mondragon @ http://www.mondragon-corporation.com/ENG.aspx.

Dollars and Sense: http://www.dollarsandsense.org/blog/2009/10/steelworkers-form-collaboration-with.html
And here is the rest of it. Read more!

Listening to Rep. Barbara Lee on Afghanistan 8 years later

AFGHANISTAN: Take Rep. Lee's advice now

The invasion of Afghanistan had the support of nearly 90 percent of Americans following the terrorist attacks of 9-11. The only member of Congress who spoke against the rush to war was Representative Barbara Lee of California. Only Ms. Lee was brave enough to say no to war as a solution for terrorism. Her words on the House floor October 14, 2001 were disregarded then, but deserve our utmost attention today.

“Some of us must say, let us step back for a moment. Let us just pause for a minute and think through the implications of our actions today so that this does not spiral out of control.” The resolution to invade Afghanistan passed 420 to 1. Eight years later the hard lesson learned from Ms. Lee’ warning should guide our government’s strategy.

The first step in this case would be to cease offense military actions. And secondly, pursue all non-military means to end the war by negotiation, diplomacy and compromise. To do so, we must honestly enlist the help of other nations to work with us and even take the lead. Sadly, the United States in not a trusted negotiator in the region. President Obama seems to be reconsidering the military solution that Ms. Lee warned against in 2001. Let’s hope he takes her counsel now.
Read more!