LA Socialist Leader: Two Sides, One Coin in California Governor’s Race
LOS ANGELES, CA – (October 28, 2010) -- The late comedian Bill Hicks once said “I'll show you politics in America. Here it is, right here. I think the puppet on the right shares my beliefs. … Well, I think the puppet on the left is more to my liking. … Wait a minute, there's one guy holding out both puppets!" I’m going to take Hicks’ statement one step further. As far as the California gubernatorial race is concerned, I could care less about either puppet. I’ve yet to receive the sign that tells me that either one of these candidates shares my beliefs. I’m not a career politician or a member of the corporate elite. They have an agenda that serves their needs.
I hear a lot of depressed, out of work, frustrated and disheartened people say, “What can I do?” or “I can’t see how I can make a difference when I can’t even take care of myself.” The sentiment is understandable. This is why the Socialist Party is as relevant as ever. My interpretation of the Party’s aim is to empower the individual. To support the rights of the individual. To ensure that basic needs are met for the individual. The empowered individual then contributes to an empowered collective “we.” A collective “we” that, by virtue, is in position to take the power back from the corporate elite and the entrenched power. The free-for-all at the expense of the working class, and the marginalized female, minority, and gay and lesbian populations needs to end. “We” have the power to do it. “We” just have to take it.”
http://socialistparty-usa.org/platform/civilrights.html Mimi Soltysik, Socialist Party of California
Los Angeles County Local Chair