With the US and its mighty military machine stalled in Iraq, other nations of the world are finding ways to say no to US imperialism, especially China as PA contributing editor Gerald Horne argues in this issue. Our interview with Iran’s Tudeh Party (Workers’ Party) examines both the international context and domestic dynamics that surround the current confrontation between the US and Iran. Ron Bunyon’s cursory examination of the developing democracies in Africa shows the potential for Africa’s emergence as a global democratic leader.
On the US scene, Elena Mora dialogues with historian and activist Lisa Duggan on the so-called cultural questions and the aims of the far right that are behind them. PA contributing writer Owen Williamson suggest a few tactics for framing the message of the left in the struggle to defeat the agenda of the far right. Former NOW New York President Rita Haley tells PA about the importance of continuing the fight against the Bush agenda. Commentaries on the Social Security struggle and the fight to stop the back door draft inform us about important current issues. Phil E. Benjamin contributes to the ongoing debate in the labor movement by arguing that health and safety departments cannot be dismantled in order to save money. And, as always, poetry, a story, a marxist quiz, and much more makes this issue of PA worth your time.
In struggle,
PA Editors
(illustration by Giancarlo Romero)
Departments:
04 Letters
06 Commentary
Homophobia In The Age Of Dubya
By Anna Bates
Cuba’s Health Care
By Don Sloan
We the People? Not Anymore
By Steven Laffoley
38 Reasons to Reject Bush’s Budget
By Joel Wendland
52 Nobody’s Pawn: Iran’s Struggle for Independence
By Comrade Mohammad Omidvar
The Iranian people continue to
struggle against tyranny at home and imperialism abroad.
56 Nothing to Lose But Our Chains: Workers Seize Paper Factory
By Jorge Martín
Venepal workers demanded that the Venezuelan government nationalize the enterprise and turn ownership over to the people.
58 Spotlight On Venezuela: Interview with Omar Sierra
The Bolivarian Circles in Venezuela provided a key organizing body for the poor and the workers to voice their concerns.
Problems in Marxism
62 On the Inevitability of Socialism
By Thomas Riggins
Exploitation and economic crisis are inevitable problems of capitalism, but does this mean socialism will inevitably replace capitalism?
64 W Stand for Women Fighting Back: Interview with Rita Haley
Now is the time to mobilize to defeat the ultra right in the 2006 elections.
