What I learned at the Northwest Socialist Conference
I learned a lot at this year's Northwest Socialist Conference. Since this blog still has no defined audience but myself, parts of this may only be interesting if you know me. For the format I'll just go ahead and do a play-by-play notetaking direction.
Mike Davis' talk about the Economy
Mike asserted something I'd never heard before - that the New Deal did not succeed and what actually saved the economy was the second world war. Similarly, he says that the cold war gave us 20 years of high level military spending which offered a permanent stimulus for the economy, and had similar analyses of other wars in this century. This left me asking: Can Capitalism survive without war?
Shaun Harkin opens the conference
I didn't take notes and I don't think there's a video of it but this guy always does such a good job of summing things up and getting everyone excited. Plus he's nice. Plus he has a huge Irish accent and pronounces power as "pyoower". Love it.
For a good time, check out his talk about 1968, the Year of Revolt »
Kate Johnson's talk on Imperialism
On a similar note to the above question, Kate suggests that capitalism can't survive without the military. Quoting someone I've forgot she says that the "hidden hand" of the market needs a "hidden fist" behind it. Sort of like Chuck Norris' beard.
Skipping everything else and going straight to the evening session on Saturday night, I have to say that this panel of 7 people was absolutely mindblowing. It was informative, incredibly touching, sometimes funny, but more importantly it really brought a variety of areas together on one stage and brought all of those fights to the audience. I've read their stories on the web, but actually seeing these people and hearing about their struggles is incredibly powerful. Even moreso it touches me personally to see people who aren't socialists be willing to come to a socialist event and even to thank the ISO (International Socialist Organization) for being the only group to reach out and support them. It's a really special thing to really know that a group you're involved in is actually making a difference. The speakers benefitted as well, networking with and helping eachother.
On to the lessons...
Don Grinde
A 31-year crane operator at Boeing and a veteran union activist in the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
The 57-day Boeing strike of the IAM union this year told us stories of brave workers, union solidarity and yet more nasty strikebreaking tactics. Even though the IAM didn't win everything they were hoping for in this contract, Don says that this was a win for workers because they succeeded in empowering themselves, instilling ideas of solidarity into the junior workers, and cost Boeing a ton of money showing exactly what kind of power the workers of the world have. Moral? It's all about the journey. Oh and when you're feeling uncertain, rent a helicopter.
Watch a video of Don's talk »
Elizabeth Fawthrop
University of Washington Campus Anti-War Network (CAN)
Liz presents the always-astounding facts about student involvement in the history of the antiwar movement. Marxism states that workers have the most power to change society through revolution, but it's undeniable how much impact students have had in the past. Four million students protested the events at Kent State.
Watch a video of Elizabeth's talk »
Tim Harris
Executive Director of Real Change News in Seattle
Tim gave a shockingly good talk. I say that because I've been obsessed with homelessness since I arrived in Seattle and finally faced it directly, and in that time I've never heard anyone speak so intelligently about it. Tim calls homelessness the "structural dislocation" of people, which happens when there are surplus people in the global economy. He noted that when there's an expectation that people will be needed, funding for social programs mysteriously rises, but during other times, people are "thrown to the wolves". Consider the jail system and the war on drugs in this context. Drugs he says, are the perfect commodity - they provide both oblivion and financial gain. I've found it hard myself even to blame addicts for being homeless, refusing to ignore the truth that it's incredibly stressful at the bottom, but Tim puts it so eloquently. At what point do we stop pointing to the red blinking sign that says "personal responsibility"?
Watch a video of Tim's talk »
Allen Bradley
One of the Freightliner Five, members of the bargaining committee of United Auto Workers Local 3520 in Cleveland, N.C. who were terminated after leading a legal walkout at a Freightliner truck plant after their labor contract had expired. Three still haven't been reinstated.
Allen had an astounding story. Workers fired unexpectedly by a company AND a union set against them for engaging in legal union activity. The tactics used have just been NASTY. Allen read touching and encouraging letters from the other four, and there were thanks all around to the ISO for taking an interest in their case. By the end of the talk, the ISO led a solidarity chant and Don Grinde announced that the proceeds for his strike photograph prints ($25 each and meant to go to the union) would be donated to the Freightliner Five cause. We were just about in tears in the audience.
Watch a video of Alan's talk »
James Bible
President of the Seattle/King County NAACP
James's talk was really thought-provoking and experiencing him was like watching a really dramatic lawyer movie. I mean he has some serious charisma. He told a story revealing the prevelancy of racism in Seattle and encouraging us to all think beyond our assumptions. He called for a Youth Empowerment Movement and asked us all to tell kids we see on the street, "we believe in your potential". Absolutely moving.
Watch a video of James' talk »
Jesse Hagopian
A teacher in the Seattle Public Schools and a member of the ISO
Jesse is one of my favorite speakers, and he didn't fail to make the crowd laugh a lot even while they were listening to shocking statistics. He calls the bailout a "reverse bank robbery" and retorts that he's glad McCain set the record straight about the rumor that Barack Obama was a Muslim by saying, "no he's not, he's a good family man". His offering of real Hope is noting that we've all felt isolated under Bush ("I hate the guy, but no one else seems to!"), but since the excitement about Obama, now we can SEE our brothers and sisters in the fight. Also he makes a joke about white people and pot. :D
Watch a video of Jesse's talk »
Camilo Mejia
The first U.S. soldier to publicly refuse to redeploy to Iraq, and Board Chair of Iraq Veterans Against the War
Camilo walked up to the microphone to chants by the whole theatre of "they're our brothers, they're our sisters, we support war resisters!" I love the ISO's ability to just make that kind of moment happen. I was sort of hoping that Camilo would expound upon his experiences going against the military and how he succeeded in his efforts, but instead he went into a seriously moving and powerful speech about the antiwar movement.
Watch a video of Camilo's talk »
The Dayschool on Sunday brought up a bunch of questions as well, but the most pressing question for me was the issue of lifestyle politics (basically anything you personally do to try to change the world - recycling, buying organic food or growing your own, not using tampons, avoiding flushing the toilet when you pee, boycotting, many etceteras). Can we change the world through individual actions? Most people agreed that we can't, and that mass action (or of course working class revolution) is the solution. However we continued to wonder to what degree these actions can be beneficial both to spreading the word, doing a small part and transforming your own life. I suggested that these actions, if you can afford them in both time and money, can help us become healthier and experience what it might be like in a socialist society to live a more authentic life without the poisons of capitalist society.
I came away with a lot of questions to research and discuss. I learned that it's easier to call someone a liar than to debate with them about it. I was reminded yet again that different people will trust different sources, but that doesn't necessarily translate to them being bad people. I was encouraged to remain open to people to the right of me (Obama supporters for example), but with whom I share many desires. I also learned that when Socialists go to bars sometimes they talk about beards and The Little Mermaid.
Mike Davis' talk about the Economy
Mike asserted something I'd never heard before - that the New Deal did not succeed and what actually saved the economy was the second world war. Similarly, he says that the cold war gave us 20 years of high level military spending which offered a permanent stimulus for the economy, and had similar analyses of other wars in this century. This left me asking: Can Capitalism survive without war?
Shaun Harkin opens the conference
I didn't take notes and I don't think there's a video of it but this guy always does such a good job of summing things up and getting everyone excited. Plus he's nice. Plus he has a huge Irish accent and pronounces power as "pyoower". Love it.
For a good time, check out his talk about 1968, the Year of Revolt »
Kate Johnson's talk on Imperialism
On a similar note to the above question, Kate suggests that capitalism can't survive without the military. Quoting someone I've forgot she says that the "hidden hand" of the market needs a "hidden fist" behind it. Sort of like Chuck Norris' beard.
Skipping everything else and going straight to the evening session on Saturday night, I have to say that this panel of 7 people was absolutely mindblowing. It was informative, incredibly touching, sometimes funny, but more importantly it really brought a variety of areas together on one stage and brought all of those fights to the audience. I've read their stories on the web, but actually seeing these people and hearing about their struggles is incredibly powerful. Even moreso it touches me personally to see people who aren't socialists be willing to come to a socialist event and even to thank the ISO (International Socialist Organization) for being the only group to reach out and support them. It's a really special thing to really know that a group you're involved in is actually making a difference. The speakers benefitted as well, networking with and helping eachother.
On to the lessons...
Don Grinde
A 31-year crane operator at Boeing and a veteran union activist in the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
The 57-day Boeing strike of the IAM union this year told us stories of brave workers, union solidarity and yet more nasty strikebreaking tactics. Even though the IAM didn't win everything they were hoping for in this contract, Don says that this was a win for workers because they succeeded in empowering themselves, instilling ideas of solidarity into the junior workers, and cost Boeing a ton of money showing exactly what kind of power the workers of the world have. Moral? It's all about the journey. Oh and when you're feeling uncertain, rent a helicopter.
Watch a video of Don's talk »
Elizabeth Fawthrop
University of Washington Campus Anti-War Network (CAN)
Liz presents the always-astounding facts about student involvement in the history of the antiwar movement. Marxism states that workers have the most power to change society through revolution, but it's undeniable how much impact students have had in the past. Four million students protested the events at Kent State.
Watch a video of Elizabeth's talk »
Tim Harris
Executive Director of Real Change News in Seattle
Tim gave a shockingly good talk. I say that because I've been obsessed with homelessness since I arrived in Seattle and finally faced it directly, and in that time I've never heard anyone speak so intelligently about it. Tim calls homelessness the "structural dislocation" of people, which happens when there are surplus people in the global economy. He noted that when there's an expectation that people will be needed, funding for social programs mysteriously rises, but during other times, people are "thrown to the wolves". Consider the jail system and the war on drugs in this context. Drugs he says, are the perfect commodity - they provide both oblivion and financial gain. I've found it hard myself even to blame addicts for being homeless, refusing to ignore the truth that it's incredibly stressful at the bottom, but Tim puts it so eloquently. At what point do we stop pointing to the red blinking sign that says "personal responsibility"?
Watch a video of Tim's talk »
Allen Bradley
One of the Freightliner Five, members of the bargaining committee of United Auto Workers Local 3520 in Cleveland, N.C. who were terminated after leading a legal walkout at a Freightliner truck plant after their labor contract had expired. Three still haven't been reinstated.
Allen had an astounding story. Workers fired unexpectedly by a company AND a union set against them for engaging in legal union activity. The tactics used have just been NASTY. Allen read touching and encouraging letters from the other four, and there were thanks all around to the ISO for taking an interest in their case. By the end of the talk, the ISO led a solidarity chant and Don Grinde announced that the proceeds for his strike photograph prints ($25 each and meant to go to the union) would be donated to the Freightliner Five cause. We were just about in tears in the audience.
Watch a video of Alan's talk »
James Bible
President of the Seattle/King County NAACP
James's talk was really thought-provoking and experiencing him was like watching a really dramatic lawyer movie. I mean he has some serious charisma. He told a story revealing the prevelancy of racism in Seattle and encouraging us to all think beyond our assumptions. He called for a Youth Empowerment Movement and asked us all to tell kids we see on the street, "we believe in your potential". Absolutely moving.
Watch a video of James' talk »
Jesse Hagopian
A teacher in the Seattle Public Schools and a member of the ISO
Jesse is one of my favorite speakers, and he didn't fail to make the crowd laugh a lot even while they were listening to shocking statistics. He calls the bailout a "reverse bank robbery" and retorts that he's glad McCain set the record straight about the rumor that Barack Obama was a Muslim by saying, "no he's not, he's a good family man". His offering of real Hope is noting that we've all felt isolated under Bush ("I hate the guy, but no one else seems to!"), but since the excitement about Obama, now we can SEE our brothers and sisters in the fight. Also he makes a joke about white people and pot. :D
Watch a video of Jesse's talk »
Camilo Mejia
The first U.S. soldier to publicly refuse to redeploy to Iraq, and Board Chair of Iraq Veterans Against the War
Camilo walked up to the microphone to chants by the whole theatre of "they're our brothers, they're our sisters, we support war resisters!" I love the ISO's ability to just make that kind of moment happen. I was sort of hoping that Camilo would expound upon his experiences going against the military and how he succeeded in his efforts, but instead he went into a seriously moving and powerful speech about the antiwar movement.
Watch a video of Camilo's talk »
The Dayschool on Sunday brought up a bunch of questions as well, but the most pressing question for me was the issue of lifestyle politics (basically anything you personally do to try to change the world - recycling, buying organic food or growing your own, not using tampons, avoiding flushing the toilet when you pee, boycotting, many etceteras). Can we change the world through individual actions? Most people agreed that we can't, and that mass action (or of course working class revolution) is the solution. However we continued to wonder to what degree these actions can be beneficial both to spreading the word, doing a small part and transforming your own life. I suggested that these actions, if you can afford them in both time and money, can help us become healthier and experience what it might be like in a socialist society to live a more authentic life without the poisons of capitalist society.
I came away with a lot of questions to research and discuss. I learned that it's easier to call someone a liar than to debate with them about it. I was reminded yet again that different people will trust different sources, but that doesn't necessarily translate to them being bad people. I was encouraged to remain open to people to the right of me (Obama supporters for example), but with whom I share many desires. I also learned that when Socialists go to bars sometimes they talk about beards and The Little Mermaid.
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1 Response to "What I learned at the Northwest Socialist Conference"
for the record, shaun is irish, not scottish.
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