August Letters
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Support Jill Stein and Butch Ware
Steve Bloom
In his article "No Votes for Genocide and the 'Class Point of View'" Joseph P. states: "PSL has taken the initiative on this question, declaring a vote for La Riva in 2024 as a signal to the US ruling class that workers refuse to abide by the carnage in Palestine. This vision for a politically independent rejection of the two party system should be the strategy for the whole socialist movement, and not the property of a single bureaucratic sect."
I agree wholeheartedly with this viewpoint, which is why I'm supporting the Green Party ticket of Jill Stein and Butch Ware, who were formally nominated at the Green Party National Convention on Saturday, August 17. I'm sure readers of Socialist Tribune are familiar with Stein. For those who would like a refresher you can visit her campaign website listed below. For an introduction to Ware view his acceptance speech to the convention here.
Later in his article Joseph says, "As the largest and most politically plural socialist organization in the U.S., DSA more than PSL or any other organization of the Left has the opportunity to develop the 'class point of view' on Palestine." I don't want to quibble here, so I will merely point out in passing that the Green Party is an explicitly socialist organization (you will find "ecosocialism" clearly stated as the goal of the party in its platform) and is, perhaps, even more "politically plural" than DSA. What DSA has that the Green Party lacks is a large and deeply committed activist base. So in that sense Joseph's characterization is accurate enough--if we are considering who has the best "opportunity to develop the 'class point of view' on Palestine" in a non-sectarian spirit in terms of activist engagement (which is why I don't want to quibble).
In terms of electoral engagement, however, which is what Joseph's article is about directly, the Green Party is in a far better position to develop "the class point of view" on Palestine than DSA, because DSA is known to endorse candidates who have an ambivalent/ambiguous relationship to this issue. And DSA also refuses to help promote or develop any electoral formation that is independent of the ruling-class parties. By contrast the Green Party has a decades-long history of independence from the Democrats and Republicans. It is running two activist candidates for President and Vice-President--along with many statewide and local candidates who are all, without exception, pledged to self-determination for Palestine and an end to US arms aid to Israel. The Stein-Ware ticket will be on a sufficient number of state ballots to actually win the electoral college vote. Unless I'm mistaken, it is the only alternative to the pro-war candidates (Trump, Harris, Kennedy) who can make that statement.
I do not expect DSA to endorse the Green presidential ticket. DSA's history is too much rooted in support to the left wing of the Democratic Party. But I do hope that individual DSA members, including readers of Socialist Tribune, will sign up to be active campaigners for Stein-Ware. Press the "volunteer" and/or "donate" tabs at the top right of your screen.