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Response to Fred Feldman's comment at Links International Journal of
Socialist Renewal (http://links.org.au/node/1579#comment-60233) by Billy
Wharton, co-chair of Socialist Party (USA):
Fred,
Thank you for your comments. I respect and consider them carefully since
they come from a member of Solidarity, an American socialist group that
is conducting important work among our class.
I would make three points in defense of my position:
1 - As I mentioned in the article the healthcare bill fits into the
larger pattern of the Obama administration's economic strategy. I see
this strategy as pretty solidly neoliberal. The bank bailout and
cash-for-clunkers being other concrete examples of corporations
converting public funds into a resource to ride out the economic crisis.
In this edition, the administration skillfully built a center-left
coalition that was beholden to the right. Much closer to the left-right
alliance Cockburn describes. Presenting a left pole in opposition to
this formation while also attempting to build concrete power in poor and
working class communities is necessary. I think the socialist left in
the US should be working on this task together. If we support this bill
how do we then dissent from the proposed changes in education? Or, the
attack on Social Security? Or, the further trimming of Medicare? Obama
is certain to build center-left coalitions around right-wing demands to
accomplish such damaging work.
2 - Most serious left-wing groups have worked in alliance with
single-payer advocates. While many left parties have wavered on this
issue as Bill was certain to pass, preferring either silence or
go-along-to-get-along, our single-payer partners have not. They have
staunchly contested the bill as it went through Congress and have
attempted to either modify or derail it on several occasions. To abandon
groups such as Healthcare NOW and PNHP now seems quite opportunistic.
3 - I, among others, believe that this bill will do little, perhaps even
nothing, to stem the tide of the collapse of healthcare in the US. I
will spare you the details - no caps on skyrocketing costs, weak fine on
pre-existing conditions, junk plans, mandates that millions will pay
instead of paying for premiums, shifting the financial burden onto state
Medicaid systems. Why support a bill that empowers the institutions -
private insurers and big pharma - we are attempting to combat? To score
public relations points? To seem like we are on the "progressive" side
of the debate? Further, why let the tea-baggers monopolize opposition?
4 - Finally, Comrade Castro's comments offer an interesting dilemma for
the left - the distance between internal actors in a nation and external
observers. This speaks to the need for great international communication
and, if not a formal "International" then some space for consultation
between left parties. Immanuel Wallerstein has a wonderful article that
looks at Brazil from this inside/outside perspective. Here is the link.
Recommended reading:
http://fbc.binghamton.edu/277en.htm
Thank you again Fred for your insightful comments. This is a discussion
that the American left needs to be having in order to prepare for the
coming struggles.
Peace,
Billy Wharton
--- In greenleft_discuss...@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Feldman"
wrote:
>
> I submitted this to the Marxism List today, where most of the errors
I see
> were very prevalent. My assessment of the legislation is a little
different
> from that of union leader Rose Ann DeMoro, whose contribution I am also
> sening. She knows what she is talking about re the content of this
new law
> than I do, so where we differ in assessing it, I give her the benefit
of the
> doubt. I want to express my satisfaction that as far as I can tell the
> socialist organization I belong to, Solidarity, did not fall into the
trap
> of CAMPAIGNING for the DEFEAT of the bill.
> Fred Feldman
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