Sleepwalking to Disaster

The Fierce Urgency of Now

By Jay D. Jurie

Endorsed by the CCDS National Executive

Later this year the midterm elections will determine whether the Democratic Party will lose control of the US Senate, the House, or both.  A loss of either would significantly advance the Republican Party drive to create a one-party state along with a neo-fascist seizure of power.  If such success was followed by a Trump victory in 2024, or the victory of an even more capable neo-fascist in 2025, such a takeover would virtually be guaranteed.

Already underway is a reconfiguration of a wide variety of public policies by state governments under the control of Republican governors and/or supermajority legislatures.  Besides standard Republican goals denying worker and reproductive rights, more corporate welfare for  the wealthy, and so on, the ante has been upped by the Republican conversion into a de facto neo-fascist party.  More recently we’ve seen measures that directly assault democracy, the democratic process and institutions.  These include voter suppression, the designation of false slates of electors, and the substitution of far right loyalists for conventional election officials, among others.

Cementing such a transformation into place would produce drastically severe consequences for progressive organizations, campaigns, and ideals along with the restructuring and disruption of the daily lives of millions of US citizens and residents.  For the neo-fascist project to succeed, more in the US would need to be persuaded to get on board and support changes brought about, as many doubtlessly would.  Others who are not in accord, or who resist these changes, will find themselves subject to active repression, including quite possibly detention and violent reprisals.

Yet many, including progressives, continue to go about their normal routine oblivious to this looming threat.  Much of what the progressive agenda seeks to advance will of necessity have to be put on sustained hold if such events were to come to pass. There will be little or no chance to pass, enact, or administer legislation or other measures that vitally affect the lives and well-being of millions and our environment.  It has not registered with the public at large what these changes would mean to their routines and aspirations, which for those not in accord with them, would prove extreme and highly undesirable.

We have two urgent responsibilities at this moment.  First, regardless of other issues we may be pursuing, we must add significant electoral involvement to our “must do” list.  In some instances we can use the electoral dilemma to advance our causes de jour, so the two might dovetail.  In other words, we don’t have to drop what we’re doing to rush over to do electoral work. But to the extent that work is not on our current agenda, it is incumbent upon us to make it so, or, to prioritize it if need be.

The important second task is to consider what we might do in the aftermath of a possible neo-fascist victory.  What will we need to survive, carry on important elements of our work, even if underground, and to mount effective resistance?  We do have models to draw upon, about which we should undertake a quick study, and learn more.  We need to think through this contingency and be as prepared as possible, to incorporate what we need into our planning, and be ready to keep moving even under what would prove to be very adverse circumstances.

As Palmiro Togliatti, who survived fascism under Mussolini, taught us in his Lectures on Fascism, “Totalitarianism does not close the path of struggle…but opens new paths (p. 27).”

AN URGENT CCDS MESSAGE: Take Action Now to Stop War with Iran!

Dear CCDS members and friends

Trump’s assassination of Iran’s military commander Qassem Soleimani has escalated with the news that missiles have been launched on U.S. bases in Iraq. We are at a “grave and serious moment” in the words of Rep. Barbara Lee.

Trump’s crazed plot to distract the public’s attention from his impeachment and pending trial in the Senate is putting U.S. troops in harm’s way. If the escalation continues, the safety of the entire world is at stake with the use of nuclear weapons an ever-present danger. We must do all we can to stop this madness.

CCDS is urging turn-out for protests on Thursday, January 9th. See below a message from MoveOn.org. If your area is not holding a protest, work to organize one. All hands on deck.

On Wednesday, January 8th at 8 PM ET, a national strategy call will take place organized by MoveOn, Indivisible and others. Join the call if at all possible.

CCDS National Executive Committee

**************

Dear MoveOn member,

Just as we were about to hit send on this email about nationwide anti-war protests Thursday, alarming news broke that Iran has launched an attack on the American al-Asad air base in Iraq in response to Donald Trump’s reckless, illegal provocations. News is continuing to develop, but it’s already clear that the following email has become even more important.

Assassinations don’t make us safer. Tonight’s attack is clear evidence of that. And that is why on Thursday, we will join together for a day of action across the country to protest and say #NoWarWithIran.

Trump’s unhinged foreign policy has needlessly endangered the lives of U.S. troops and Iraqi, Iranian, and countless other civilians.

We will not be led into another illegal war.

No War With Iran Nationwide Events

Join us on Thursday, January 9 for a #NoWarWithIran demonstration near you and make the anti-war majority in this country visible.

Don’t see an event near you? Sign up to host one.

People in the United States and across the globe are tired of war, from the military families who have seen multiple generations in the same conflicts, to the Iranian, Iraqi and Afghani families in the United States who worry for their loved ones back home.

We’ve learned our lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan and Yemen and global endless war. We will not be led into another costly, unnecessary war of choice. We will not allow our neighbors to be targeted by law enforcement. We will not be divided.

On Thursday, January 9, join MoveOn, Indivisible, Win Without War, the National Iranian American Council and About Face: Veterans Against The War to say #NoWarWithIran and oppose Trump’s war—and spread the word!

Already, we’ve seen Trump’s actions unleash xenophobia, with Iranian-Americans detained at the border in Washington state and asked about their political allegiance. That’s not the country we want to build in 2020. And tonight we’ve seen a dangerous response to these actions.

Where Trump acts with ignorance, fear, war, and moral weakness, we will show up with diplomacy and political courage. We are the majority, we stand united, and we oppose Trump’s war with Iran.

Thanks for all you do.

–Kate, Eric, Reggie, Jayne, and the rest of the team

P.S. Also, join us on Wednesday January 8th for a national strategy call at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT to hear from Senator Elizabeth Warren, Representative Barbara Lee, foreign policy experts, MoveOn leaders, and more to learn how we can take action together to prevent another endless war.

P.P.S. And say you’ll be there Thursday to make the anti-war majority in this country visible!

Want to support our work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump’s agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation’s pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must never give up on. And to do it we need your support, now more than ever. Will you stand with MoveOn?

Click here to chip in $3, or whatever you can afford.

Contributions to MoveOn Civic Action are not tax-deductible for income tax purposes. You’re receiving this email because you took action with MoveOn. This email was sent to Rafael Pizarro on January 8, 2020.

Condemn the Coup Against Evo Morales and Bolivia!

CCDS JOINS THE WORLD COMMUNITY IN DEPLORING THE MILITARY COUP IN BOLIVIA: CALLS ON CONGRESS TO CONDEMN THE OVERTHROW OF THE ELECTED GOVERNMENT OF EVO MORALES

The Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism (CCDS), along with nations and movements in solidarity with the people of Bolivia everywhere, condemns the violent military/police coup carried out against the elected government of Evo Morales. President Morales reelected for a fourth term days ago was forced to resign his position on November 10, 2019. Other government officials were also forced to resign and supporters of the coup have been rampaging in the streets, burning and looting. It is said that President Morales’ house has been damaged as well. He was forced to flee to Mexico.

Morales, President since 2006, is the first indigenous leader ever to be elected President of Bolivia. In his thirteen years in office, the percentage of those living in extreme poverty (mostly indigenous people) has declined by half, social services have been expanded, and key industries nationalized  while the country has experienced growth rates twice that of any Latin American country with only modest inflation. During his tenure in office, political decentralization empowering indigenous villagers was initiated while a modern economic and political infrastructure has been created.

As a successful national participant in the so-called “Pink Tide,” Bolivia has stood for national independence and sovereignty and against ruinous neoliberal policies prescribed by international financial institutions. It has expanded international ties with nations everywhere. For example, It has signed agreements with China to facilitate development of its valuable lithium resource (a key component of cell phones, electric cars, and other new technologies).

As more information about the coup appears it seems clear that the United States has encouraged and assisted in the military coup, with Senators Rubio and Menendez playing key roles.

We denounce President Trump’s statement in support of the coup and further threatening the overthrow of the governments of Venezuela and Nicaragua. We call on Members of Congress to join with Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar in condemning the coup. All presidential candidates must also take a stand. Thus far only Senator Bernie Sanders has done so. Continue reading Condemn the Coup Against Evo Morales and Bolivia!