SPC Report May 2018
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Greetings Everybody, Canada, US and overseas.
We hope all is well with you all.
Please find attached our May 2018 Monthly Report for review.
Special note: We are seeking articles, opinions, and news submissions
for our Summer 2018 Imagine. Submissions are open to all Party members
and non-member contributors alike with high Socialist content.
Yours for Socialism, John, Mehmet, Steve & GAC members
PO Box 31024 Victoria BC Canada V8N 6J3
https://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/
https://twitter.com/spc_newsTHE SOCIALIST PARTY OF CANADA
worldsocialism.org/canada | spc@worldsocialism.org | twitter.com/spc_news
PO Box 31024 Victoria B.C. Canada V8N 6J3
Secretary's Report for May 2018
Email Report
– WSP (India) EC meeting minutes No. 185, Sunday, March 11, 2018, and REPORT OF THE PROCEEDING OF THE SPRING SCHOOL & TWENTY FOURTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE WORLD SOCIALIST PARTY (INDIA) HELD AT HEAD OFFICE, 3 & 4 MARCH 2018, received with thanks.
Good of the Movement
– Introductory package sent out.
– Toronto SPC Meeting held on Tuesday, Wednesday, April 25, 6:30pm – 8:30pm, The Second Cup Coffee House, 324 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1W5.
– Visit Toronto Branch Facebook for further details: https://web.facebook.com/Toronto-Branch-Socialist-Party-of-Canada-1120836671294008/ & our website https://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/ ; Toronto Branch email spc.toronto@worldsocialism.org.
– Autumn 2018 'Word on the Street' public event (Toronto) booked.
– Creation of a new party banner / flag attached: Votes in preference priority, and comments: 5 votes – logo 1, 3 votes for; logo 3, 1 vote for; 1 no vote to all. Comments focused on the nationalistic overtones that could be confused by adding the stylized maple leaf. Secretary's note: we are not bound to replace any of our other SPC logos, and if the will of the members is to include them into the mix we should poll for objections.
– Numerous comments on this logo issue
came from the UK. Comrade Whitehead, Socialist Party of Great Britian, writes: For the attention of SPC members, I saw the proposed logos in the SPC report and would like to submit the attached for the consideration of members. It is based on the classic SPGB logo. Any further questions about this design let me know. I would also draw comrades attention to the concern expressed over the proposed logos with maple leaves as this incorporates a national symbol also used on the national flag. Yours for socialism,Darrell Whitehead http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/forum/world-socialist-movement/spc-report-april-2018#comment-
46667
Secretary's note:– UK Comrades – the above banner drive came about after SPC members, including the General Secretary, wrote to Adam Buick August 2, 2017, and the SPGB info email the next day, requesting use of the greatly appreciated banner pictured left, of which we heard no reply. With our limited resources we had hoped to shortcut work by attracting use of this SPGB banner adapted to our purposes. We can only surmise our email(s) never made it to UK shores. Of course SPC members wish no nationalism in a banner, the above artwork was designed in Syria by a sympathizer – can one fault the artist? We would ask once again, is this UK banner pictured left avalable to adapt for SPC use?
– Comrade Muirhead seeking peer collabators for socialist articles and summaries. Write to worldsocialismbc@outlook.com to lend him a hand.
– Summer 2018 Imagine articles, opinions pieces, socialist news needed. First time writing an op ed or topical Socialist article? Send in your draft – we're here to help!
Financial Secretary's Report
March bank statement commentary: Our funds dwindle. People don't pay dues. Bankruptcy is not imminent, but appears assured. Payments 2018: 414.11 Word on the Street 2017; 247.17 PO Box; 5 WWW domains 176.11; Word on the Street 2018; Ignoring the Word on the Street 2017, and Imagine from 2017, we have spent $423.28 so far this year. That gives us, already, an operating deficit of $84.19. If we publish Imagine this year, that will take us deeper into deficit
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F ood for T hought – views & contributions to spc@worldsocialism.org● Recently I had the displeasure of reading, Eatons: the rise and fall of Canada's royal family, by Rod McQueen, Stoddart, 1998. The author recounts that in its early years, when a member of the working class applied for a job he/she was required to say how much rent they paid and what their weekly grocery bill was. Of course we all know the capitalists will pay no more than it needs for a worker to stay in good productive condition, but to do it so blatantly must've been very humiliating, but then that's crapitalism – it humiliates workers in so many ways.
● There's a new term, Renovictions – it means landlords can push tenants out while it renovates their apartments, raise the rent, find folks prepared to pay it and not allow the previous tenants back. This is what happened at 795 College St. in Toronto when extensive renovations resulted in three bedroom apartments advertised for $4,000 a month. Though this is illegal that doesn't count for much when the interests of poor people are at stake. According to Aurora Browne, who lived there fof ten years, ''I thought the whole point of the Landlord and Tenant Board was to protect people in these situations and I am aghast at how empty and flimsy that promise was. It seems as if the board has no spine and its open season on tenants.'' Ms Browne, let's make it open season on capitalism . . .
● The magnificent response to the Humboldt bus crash underscores just how wonderful people can be when a disaster happens. Donations have come from 65 countries, ranging from $5 to $50,000. At the time of writing the total is $11 million with no end in sight, and behind them all is the one common sentiment: ''Anything to help.'' As great as all this is we should not lose sight of the fact that we live under capitalism, which may well, at least partially screw things up. Some form of administration will be need to process the distribution of the funds and administration costs. A perfect example being the Aberfan disaster of 1966, in which very little was received by the survivors and relatives. In a Socialist society there would be no need of any kind of charity, therefore no risk that the needy would be denied anything.
Serving capital, Ms Browne, not you . . .
● As the Bill C-45 on Cannabis legislation is being debated in the Canadian senate, heated debate is continuing on accompanying legislation, Bill C-46 which will set out testing procedures and penalties for ''drunk-driving.'' John Conroy, prez. of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, known as NORML, said his critics dont understand how Cannabis works. He said that many veteran dope smokers would be able to drive with regular driving skills because of their bodies' greater tolerance. However, he added that we would have to be concerned about novice users and intermittent users. Andrew Murie, the head of the Canadian branch of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said, ''He is full of crap! The main marijuana law will place the drug in the hands of untold more Canadians some of whom will doubtlessly smoke or bake it and get behind the wheel.'' That there will be problems cannot be doubted, and so can another thing, that it would be far better to live in a society where people won't feel a need for any artificial stimulation for mood enhancing substances to feign we are not living in a crappy society constantly shaking us down for profits. :20 here we are . . .
● An all party consensus is growing in Ottawa in support of an NDP motion to demand an apology from Pope Francis for the Catholic Church's role in the horrors of the indigenous residential school system. This is in response to a report by the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which detailed the role of the Catholic Church in the ''spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical and sexual abuse of the First Nations, Inuit and Metis children who attended the schools between the late 19th century and when the last one closed in 1996.” So far there has been no reply from His Holiness. Apology or not, capitalism and its hoorah religions has its collatoral damages.
● Just how can we keep the Toronto Star out of the news? That isn't the crummy pun it may seem to be, as its a mine of information on rotten aspects of capitalism. True to form its issue of April 14 contained photos which had been selected as the World Press Photo's of the Year. The ''best one is of a young guy on fire,'' amid violent clashes during a protest against President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. The #2 was a car being driven into a crowd with people flying in the air at a racial demonstration in the southern U.S. Just think of the enormity of that and it will give some idea of what a despicable economic system we live under.
● Indians from Ecuador are suing Chevron Canada in an Ontario court for causing, ''Amazons Chernobyl.'' At a press conference in Toronto on April 16, Hugo Camacho, a founder of the Amazon Defense Coalition, said, ''To live in our area is like living in hell. Many have died in our communities due to cancer and other diseases caused by contamination. We are still being poisoned by the oil and toxic pits that Chevron has left behind. It's in the water, the air, the ground and the animals.” A spokesman for Chevron denies all this . . .
What else?! Nothing changes folks and it won't as long as capitalism lasts.
● The Salvation Army thrift store on Parliament Street, Toronto will leave a hole in the community on May 30, when it closes for good; or should that be for bad? They cannot afford a ''substantial rent increase.'' The fact that the area is being turned into condo's of course is immaterial. The store for many years provided the poor affordable clothes, household items, toys, and in general, goods they couldn't afford elsewhere. It was also a hangout for residents and a place for emotional support. Soon the poor in the area will themselves be unable to live in ''condo city.'' It ain't getting any easier folks.
● Ontario NDP leader, Andrea Horwath, outlined her party's plan called, Change for the Better, on April 16. With the present unpopularity of the Liberals, Ms. Horwath stands a good chance of being elected Ontario's premier on June 7. She promised affordable child care – free for families who earn $40,000 or less – and an average of $12 a day for most others. An NDP government would raise the corporate tax from 11.5 to 13 per cent, close big business loopholes, and increase personal income tax on amounts of earnings above $220,000 by one per cent and on more than $300,000 by two per cent, (I'm sure they'd feel it). A 3 per cent surcharge would be put on cars and SUV's that cost more than $900,000. To quote Ms. Horwath, ''We are going to protect middle and lower income families and make sure everyone has better services.'' Would these reforms make life better for a lot of people? Probably, especially Mr. and Mrs. working class who have kids. Would these reforms be outdated in a few years? You betcha! Horwath and her buddies do not advocate changing the basis of society, the ownership of the means of life by a small minority. From this flows, AND WILL CONTINUE TO FLOW, the social evils of war, poverty, unemployment, famine, disease, planned obsolescence, addiction and, Ms. Horwath, breakdown of family life. We of the Socialist Party don't want superficial improvement for wag slaves within capitalism — we want to abolish it for equal social access to the means of life for all.
● Canada's inflation rate continued to rise in March to reach 2.3 per cent, thanks to higher prices for gas and airline tickets, Stats-Canada said on April 20. Inflation was 2.2 per cent in February and 1.7 in January. The central bank predicted the temporary effects of higher gas prices and minimum wage increases would see inflation average 2.3 per cent this year, before settling down to 2.1 per cent in 2019, which is wonderful news, especially when one considers no-one, not even Mr.Buffet, knows what will happen on the world's markets in the near future. One thing is for sure, though, life under capitalism ain't ever a sure thing.
● Like everyone else, Socialists are shocked and saddened at the senseless slaughter that happened on Toronto's Yonge St. on April 23 and need not be described here. Obviously it was the behaviour of a very mentally ill person which we Socialists can never condone. Nor can we condone a society which creates such pressure on individuals that cracks them to perform anti-social acts. We cannot argue that there will be no mentally ill people in a Socialist society. What we can say is with the removal of the pressures capitalism places on us, it will be considerably less, and if someone is showing signs of mental sickness, they will quickly receive treatment. Until then, violent antisocial acts, which crapitalism engenders year in and year out, will undoubtedly continue with no end in sight until it ends.
Musings from our past . . .
The Making of the English Working Class, E.P. Thompson's classic text, takes the interested reader far in illuminating the brutal social upheavals emerging capitalism caused monoplizing economic and political power in its violent thirst putting money of its class before humanity's need.
V. The Sherwood Lads
“Luddism lingers in the popular mind as an uncouth, spontaneous affair of illiterate handworkers, blindly resisting machinery. But machinebreaking has a far longer history. The destruction of materials, looms, threshingmachines, the flooding of pits or damage to pithead gear, or the robbing or firing of houses or property of unpopular employers – these, and other forms of violent direct action, were employed in the eighteenth century and first half of the nineteenth, while 'rattening' was still endemic in parts of the Sheffield cutlery industry in the late 1860s. Such methods were sometimes aimed at machinery held to be obnoxious as such. More often they were a means of enforcing customary conditions, intimidating blacklegs, 'illegal' men, or masters, or were (often effective) ancillary means to strike or other 'trade union' action.” Although related to this tradition, the Luddite movement must be distinguished from it, first, by its high degree of organization, second, by the political context within which it flourished. These differences may be summed up in a single characteristic: while finding its origin in particular industrial grievances, Luddism was a quasiinsurrectionary movement, which continually trembled on the edge of ulterior revolutionary objectives. This is not to say that it was a wholly conscious revolutionary movement; on the other hand, it had a tendency towards becoming such a movement, and it is this tendency which is most often understated.”
The Making of the English Working Class in England, 1963.
Rise, like lions after slumber In unvanquishable number! Shake your chains to earth like dew Which in sleep had fallen on you: Ye are many—they are few!
Shelley, 1819
Socialist texts for the modern rage
– Producers and Parasites (1935). By John Keracher
https://www.marxists.org/archive/keracher/1935/producers-parasites.htm
– History of the Socialist Party of Canada (1973). By
J. M. Milne
http://www.socialisthistory.ca/Docs/SocialistParty/HistoryofSPC.pdf
"Making Socialists": Bill Pritchard, the Socialist Party of Canada, and the Third International. Peter Campbell.
http://www.lltjournal.ca/index.php/llt/article/download/4852/5725
– WSM An Introduction to World Socialism – A Post-Capitalist Society – brief well produced video on the case for Socialism.
Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZonz0YE50A&feature=youtu.be
– History of Universal Suffrage. INR₹100 / CAD$2.
– History of Economics: A Scientific Investigation into the Political Economy
and Its Swindler 'Economics.' INR₹50.00 / CAD$1.
To purchase contact World Socialist Party (India) 257 Baghajatin ‘E’ Block
(East), Kolkata – 700086
Email: wspindia@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.worldsocialistpartyindia.org
– Socialist Studies http://www.socialiststudies.org.uk/
Marxian Economics YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXq0kw9sU6xvrr34yezA_Tw
– Socialist Party of Canada Facebook public page https://web.facebook.com/socialistpartycanada/
& members' page https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012582758245
– Red Lion Press:
Revolutionary Socialist: Life of the Socialist Party of Canada and the OBU, 1910-1922.
Fred Casey's Thinking: An Introduction To Its History and Science.
Method in Thinking: An Introduction to Dialectics.
Costs: $3 for Pritchard, $6 each for the Casey's plus postage costs. Contact E-mail:
redlionpress@hotmail.com or enquire with the publisher: https://web.facebook.com/search/more/?q=Larry+Gambone&init=public
– A Socialist education website for hyperlinking from a WSPUS member http://www.whatissocialism.net/
For socialism, Steve, Mehmet, John & all contributing members of the SPC.
Given the Socialist Party of Canada's current financial predicament the SPGB should urgently consider sending them funds to allow them to continue the vital work of propagating socialism.
gnome wrote:Given the Socialist Party of Canada's current financial predicament the SPGB should urgently consider sending them funds to allow them to continue the vital work of propagating socialism.I completely agree. Could a proposal be put to the next EC to send them over £2,000?
I don't think unfortunately we can do that as, following being scammed by people in Uganda and Ukraine there's a Conference Resolution saying we can't send actual money to socialists abroad. Here's what was voted in 2006:
Quote:This Conference rules that the Party shall cease sending money grants to overseas groups or individuals, but shall continue to give every assistance to socialist activities abroad by way of printing and dispatching campaign material from Head Office.I am sure the EC can find other ways of helping the SPC financially, e.g. not charging them for the Standard and pamphlets, inviting individuals to direct send money to Canada.
ALB wrote:I don't think unfortunately we can do that as, following being scammed by people in Uganda and Ukraine there's a Conference Resolution saying we can't send actual money to socialists abroad. Here's what was voted in 2006:Quote:This Conference rules that the Party shall cease sending money grants to overseas groups or individuals, but shall continue to give every assistance to socialist activities abroad by way of printing and dispatching campaign material from Head Office.I am sure the EC can find other ways of helping the SPC financially, e.g. not charging them for the Standard and pamphlets, inviting individuals to direct send money to Canada.
But the Conference Resolution doesn't actually say that we can't send money to socialists abroad, only to groups or individuals (and what the motion failed to mention, but should have) purporting to be socialists as was the case in the Ugandan and Ukrainian scams. It was never the intention of the motion to deny financial assistance to genuine socialists abroad and certainly not to bonafide companion parties.
I don't think we can use that argument as the intention of the movers was clear (it goes without saying that we can't give money to non-socialists). Personally I voted against it and didn't and still don't agree with it. I am imagine you are in the same position. In fact at that Conference most of the delegates were against it too, but the membership vote didn't back them and the motion was carried. Democracy is democracy and we have to abide by resolutions that we don't agree with.As I mentioned, when the Indian party asked for money (I think it was them — our retiring Treasurer will know) provision was made for individual members to pay.
ALB wrote:I don't think we can use that argument as the intention of the movers was clear (it goes without saying that we can't give money to non-socialists). Personally I voted against it and didn't and still don't agree with it. I am imagine you are in the same position. In fact at that Conference most of the delegates were against it too, but the membership vote didn't back them and the motion was carried. Democracy is democracy and we have to abide by resolutions that we don't agree with.As I mentioned, when the Indian party asked for money (I think it was them — our retiring Treasurer will know) provision was made for individual members to pay.The motion states “groups and individuals”, the SPC is neither of things, it is a political party and part of the World Socialist Movement. I would argue that the motion doesn’t and was never intended to cover this situation.
I think ALB's suggestion that we desist from charging for Standards and postage to the SPC should be expanded to ALL companion parties.
Bijou Drains wrote:The motion states “groups and individuals”, the SPC is neither of things, it is a political party and part of the World Socialist Movement. I would argue that the motion doesn’t and was never intended to cover this situation.I don't know if you were active in internal Party affairs at the time but this matter has a "history". When it was passed it unleashed a huge controversy on spintcom, with accusations that the EC had infringed it, calls for their resignation, etc. See the contributions to Spintcom in June 2006.Here's some extracts:https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SPINTCOM/conversations/messages/5624https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SPINTCOM/conversations/messages/5628https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SPINTCOM/conversations/messages/5642https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SPINTCOM/conversations/messages/5664Ever since the motion has been interpreted as meaning that the Party can't send money to anyone abroad. To change this interpretation now risks re-igniting the controversy.The best way out is to rescind or amend the resolution.
ALB wrote:Bijou Drains wrote:The motion states “groups and individuals”, the SPC is neither of things, it is a political party and part of the World Socialist Movement. I would argue that the motion doesn’t and was never intended to cover this situation.I don't know if you were active in internal Party affairs at the time but this matter has a "history". When it was passed it unleashed a huge controversy on spintcom, with accusations that the EC had infringed it, calls for their resignation, etc. See the contributions to Spintcom in June 2006.Here's some extracts:https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SPINTCOM/conversations/messages/5624https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SPINTCOM/conversations/messages/5628https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SPINTCOM/conversations/messages/5642https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SPINTCOM/conversations/messages/5664Ever since the motion has been interpreted as meaning that the Party can't send money to anyone abroad. To change this interpretation now risks re-igniting the controversy.The best way out is to rescind or amend the resolution.
I missed the controversy that took place. As it was a conference motion, would it be possible to change it with an ADM motion ot does it have to wait until conference?Either way I think it would be good to clarify things.In the meantime, here is a link to the SPC website where there is a donations page for anyone to forward some cash to them. http://www.worldsocialism.org/canada/I'm speaking in Leeds next week and wasn't going to claim expenses, but I've asked the treasurer to send the cost of my rail ticket to the Candian Party, I presume that's ok?In the meantime, is it worth trying to put together a North American speaking tour, as Harry Young and Steve Coleman did in the 80s to try and help the comrades there out and reignite the WSM there, is looks like there is the climate to create some interest.
Bijou Drains wrote:ALB wrote:I don't think we can use that argument as the intention of the movers was clear (it goes without saying that we can't give money to non-socialists). Personally I voted against it and didn't and still don't agree with it. I am imagine you are in the same position. In fact at that Conference most of the delegates were against it too, but the membership vote didn't back them and the motion was carried. Democracy is democracy and we have to abide by resolutions that we don't agree with.As I mentioned, when the Indian party asked for money (I think it was them — our retiring Treasurer will know) provision was made for individual members to pay.The motion states “groups and individuals”, the SPC is neither of things, it is a political party and part of the World Socialist Movement. I would argue that the motion doesn’t and was never intended to cover this situation.
Yes I would agree. A companion party is not the same thing as a group and I cannot imagine anyone objecting to sending some money to the Canadian Party, The EC would be perfectly in order to allow such a thing. Perhaps some branch could put forward a proposal to that effect. Does it need to wait till ADM?
robbo203 wrote:Bijou Drains wrote:ALB wrote:I don't think we can use that argument as the intention of the movers was clear (it goes without saying that we can't give money to non-socialists). Personally I voted against it and didn't and still don't agree with it. I am imagine you are in the same position. In fact at that Conference most of the delegates were against it too, but the membership vote didn't back them and the motion was carried. Democracy is democracy and we have to abide by resolutions that we don't agree with.As I mentioned, when the Indian party asked for money (I think it was them — our retiring Treasurer will know) provision was made for individual members to pay.The motion states “groups and individuals”, the SPC is neither of things, it is a political party and part of the World Socialist Movement. I would argue that the motion doesn’t and was never intended to cover this situation.
Yes I would agree. A companion party is not the same thing as a group and I cannot imagine anyone objecting to sending some money to the Canadian Party, The EC would be perfectly in order to allow such a thing. Perhaps some branch could put forward a proposal to that effect. Does it need to wait till ADM?
Now they have Paypal
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