We interview Jo Morales, who has been working in refugee camps and solidarity spaces in Greece for the last three years. Unlike the NGO workers, who often use the work in these […]
The refugee camps in Greece: One person’s experience
The capitalists’ idiot president
It really is a problem for any capitalist class when they have an idiot in chief for president. Here, for example, are excerpts from an article from the NY Times from June […]
Syria in light of the experience in Guiana
Here is an excellent presentation by Robert Cuffy from Guiana. He places the support for Assad (both direct and indirect) in the light of his experiences in Guiana.
Alice Johnson, Jack Johnson but no Kevin Cooper
On May 24 of this year, Donald Trump “pardoned” the deceased former heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson. A couple of weeks later, he commuted the sentence of convicted drug dealer Alice Johnson. […]
“Markets will teach Italians how to vote…”
Yes, he actually said that – Gunther Oettinger, senior member of the European Commission. The “markets will teach Italians how to vote.” In other words, the blind, impersonal forces of global capitalist […]
Israel as the most extreme expression of the crisis of world capitalism
On Monday, May 14, we were treated to the scenes of tear gas, massive smoke, thousands protesting… and massive violence by the Israeli army, as some 60 Gazans were killed and over […]
The REAL Oakland: BBQing at Lake Merritt
Culture and politics mixed…
An extraordinary meeting on Syria
From the “Unrepentant Marxist” This is the perfect answer to those who see nothing but religious sectarianism in the uprising against Assad. Last night I attended a meeting on “From Syria to […]
Western Washington Carpenters vote contract down!
Congratulations to carpenters in Western Washington State. About a week ago, they rejected a contract proposal by about 2-1. This came after a “teleconference” in early May in which some 3,000 union […]
Revolution and Counter-revolution in Syria: a reply to R.L. Stephens
Note: We attempted to get this article, plus a shortened version of the same article, published on the DSA blog site as a reply to an article by R.L. Stephens, who is […]
Further exchange with Ironworkers
We have had a further exchange with officers of Ironworkers Local 86. Bob Korth, president and business agent of Local 86 writes: “John Reimann, You were removed as a member of your […]
Seattle Ironworkers: McClain responds
A week ago, Oaklandsocialist wrote an article on how Ironworkers Local 86 was supporting Amazon against the homeless in Seattle. We sent it to Chris McClain, business manager of Ironworkers Local 86. We […]
Trump pulls out of Iran deal: Will there be war?
There is more to Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal than meets the eye – in terms of the long term world relations, in terms of the world economy, and (what […]
Unions: Selfishness will be our death
The Seattle Times reports that Ironworkers from Local 86, backing that noted humanitarian Jeff Bezos, went and shouted down Seattle city council member Kshama Sawant as she tried to speak in favor […]
Michael Cohen and the Mueller “Investigation”
Is the Mueller investigation into Trump real or is it just nibbling around the edges of the real issue? Consider the questions Mueller wants to ask Trump. According to the NY Times, […]
Video: May Day, 2018, around the world
50 Years ago today: France on May Day, 1968
“While these lines are written, a student movement is agitating France….” Olivier Delbeke reports from France. For more on the history of May Day, see this article. Introduction Fifty years ago today, […]
Theory of Permanent, or Uninterrupted, Revolution and Syria
Introduction Listen to audio here” Oaklandsocialist has had a series of articles and pamphlets on the revolution and the counter-revolution in Syria. Part of what’s needed is a general theoretical understanding […]
Omran Halbone’s story
Oaklandsocialist has received the following from Omran Holbane, who identifies himself as coming from East Ghouta: I will tell my story in short so as not to prolong my conversation because […]
Travis Reinking: A sick puppy in a sick society
The outrage over the granting of bail for Travis Reinking was too much. As Newschannel5 reported, the bail was revoked “following public outcry from the community.” One lawyer explained why Reinking got […]
Socialist Club hosting meeting Tuesday, April 17
Open Letter from the Alliance of Middle Eastern Socialists to Iranian labor Unions
from the Alliance of Middle East Socialists April 15, 2018 Currently, the military interventions of the Islamic Republic in the region and especially in Syria have become so deadly, and the possibility […]
Oppose US bombing of Syria; Oppose ALL bombing of Syria!
Trump has launched his second attack on the Syrian government, this time by reportedly bombing chemical weapons facilities, including a chemical research facility. (We say “reportedly” because we don’t know for sure […]
Putin, Assad and the Syrian Disaster
Introduction We have to combine the drive to “do something”, the drive to change the world, with an equal drive to understand the world. Otherwise, we just end up running up one […]
Douma gas attack: What is Trump likely to do?
As Trump prepares what is a likely attack on Assad’s airfields, socialists should start by looking at the underlying issues. First: Was there really a poison gas attack on Douma on Saturday, […]
The human slaughterhouse: military prison Saidnaya
To read entire story, see: Suple-LVO 5-4-18 english (1)
Corbyn an anti-Semite? Roger Silverman comments
A huge brouhaha against Jeremy Corbyn is being kicked up by the capitalist media in Britain. They are claiming that this left leader of the British Labour Party is an anti-Semite. Roger […]
Sutter Health sued; socialized medicine needed
The State of California is suing Sutter Health Care for price fixing. The statistics behind the suit show that, while “Medicare for all” would be a positive step, what’s really needed is […]
Report from Denmark
2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the great uprising in France (1968). Now, massive strikes against the neoliberal attacks of Macron are under way there. Below, Birgitte N. reports that something similar […]
March against violence: Another sign of coming movement?
Thousands gathered in downtown Oakland today to protest against gun violence. As is to be expected, the range of politics was all over the place – from Black Lives Matter supporters […]
East Ghouta: Support US Intervention?
by Roger Silverman The widespread confusion about the respective motives and affiliations of the key players in the Syrian conflict, from the Americans to the Russians to the Turks and the Kurds, […]
Last Days of Pompeo… or of ‘Identity’ Politics?
Last Days of Pompeo… or of ‘Identity’ Politics? by Raymond Nat Turner His lips gurgled watery words, his nostrils were an aching incinerator… Still she taunted and tormented him about his acting, […]
Debating the pro-Assad “Left”
I had an online debate with a long time former friend and comrade about Assad and Syria. Important enough as the issue of the disaster in Syria is, there’s a deeper issue […]
West Virginia teachers defeat corporate politicians
There’s a lot to be learned from the West Virginia teachers’ strike. Is it the start of a new movement in the United States? Will it be followed by similar strikes in […]
Iran: Ongoing Labor Strikes, Women’s Protests and Ideas for International Solidarity
From Alliance of Middle East Socialists Mar 9, 2018 “The Free Union of Iranian Workers considers itself part of the movement for liberation from gender discrimination and any type of inequality in […]
Visiting the strike of West Virginia teachers
I just arrived in time for the last day of the teachers’ strike here. Spent the day at the state capitol building with several thousand teachers. I was told that yesterday – […]
Interview: West Virginia teacher discusses strike
Oaklandsocialist interviews Joe Dangerfield, music teacher on strike in West Virginia: Also as a podcast:
Some thoughts on gun control
How should socialists relate to what seems to be a growing movement among some high school students in favor of some sort of increased gun regulation – in particular banning assault weapons? […]
A “Rude” Union Member
“My union representative told me I’m rude.” So spoke the checker at the grocery store I usually shop at. She also told me that she hasn’t seen that rep in the store […]
Victory of Assad Regime in Ghouta Is Major Defeat for Those Fighting Racism and Capitalist Authoritarianism Globally
From Alliance of Middle East Socialists: Those who oppose both the Assad regime and the Jihadists and all the imperialist powers, need to focus on a glaring fact: Support for Assad and […]
South Africa’s Zuma resigns; what next?
Jacob Zuma has resigned as president of South Africa. The immediate reason was his corruption scandals, but the underlying reasons tell a tale that workers around the world should consider. It is […]
From Kaepernick to baseball free agents: The boycott is on
Baseball owners seem to have learned something from the pro football owners’ boycott of Colin Kaepernick: They learned that owners can stick together, violate anti-trust laws, and get away with it. So, […]
“Intersectionality, class reductionism” and revolutionary socialism
The terms “intersectionality” and “class reductionism” are being debated among socialists nowadays. As with any ideas, to really understand their meaning we have to understand how they developed. MLK and Revolt of […]
Stock market crash: 1987, 2007 or 1937?
Originally posted on Michael Roberts Blog:
Yesterday, the US stock market fell by the most in one day since mid-2007, just before the credit crunch, the banking crash and the start of…
Nunes Memo: Tempest in a teapot or tip of the iceberg?
So now a new furor has broken out over the House Intelligence Committee breaking precedent and releasing its “Nunes Memo”. Is this just a tempest in a teapot, or is it the […]
“Whoppers of Boss Tweet”
Whoppers of Boss Tweet by Raymond Nat Turner Whoppers of Boss Tweet… A thief a thug Clown in a rug A tweet deceit A lie a cheat— Embellish, embroider: a lying disorder… […]
Trump’s State of the Union Speech: Can he keep up the happy face?
“Trump Tries Taking a New Role: Optimist”. So read the headline of the Wall St. Journal’s report on Trump’s State of the Union speech. It is largely accurate, and Trump’s speech is […]
“What is to be done?” by Lenin: a podcast
At this time, when the US capitalist class is in turmoil over a president they don’t control, it’s useful to look at Lenin’s “What is to be done?” This little book might […]
War between US and Turkey?
Just 48 hours ago, we raised the question of whether we had turned the corner on a period of world reaction, a period dominated by sectarian conflict and war, and were on […]
Remember Sophie Scholl!
“How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause? Such a fine sunny day, and I have to go, […]
