Working the field, part XI - Socialists!
October 5, 2007 — wickleNo, I still haven’t gotten around to talking about Dennis Kucinich or Mike Gravel … I’m talking about the members of the Socialist Party, USA. Since the Socialist convention is coming up next week, I figured we might as well deal with them.
Even so, I just can’t say that I’m that interested in them … but I promised to write about them, and that’s pretty much what’s going to motivate me here. Let’s face it, they’re Socialists. I’m not. I’m just plain not going to agree with them.
Several of them are also related to the Peace and Freedom Party in California.
He doesn’t have his own campaign web site as near as I can tell, so I’m linking to the Socialist Party’s questionnaire. Eric Chester is a former economics professor, and a long-time socialist activist. He was a member of the New American Movement, and he was the SP-USA’s nominee for Vice President in 1996. He campaigned for President in 2004, but lost to Walt Brown. He has twice run for Congress, as well.
He is as radical as they come, calling himself a revolutionary democratic socialist and claiming the tradition of Eugene V. Debs. For his four books (none of which have I read), he tries to dig past the public record, using frequent and insistent appeals through the Freedom of Information Act. Naturally, he wants socialism to be a worldwide movement.
He is also pursuing the nomination of the Peace and Freedom Party in California.
Actually, this guy seems to be a bit soft for a Socialist. After reading his questionnaire, I wonder just how much following he has in the SP. His model is much more European than radical, and he says outright that he doesn’t support the whole Socialist platform and statement of principles.
He’s a retired U.S. Navy commander, and he says that what he wants is to have Hollywood run his campaign.
I’m a big fan of his one-word answers. Does he support equal rights for non-citizens? No. What does he mean by that? Good question … except, apparently, no. Later, he does say that children born in the US should not necessarily become citizens automatically.
I really can’t figure out what he means about affirmative action. Asked whether he supports it, he answered:
Yes to include the white male who is discriminated in the affirmative action.
I’m sure that that makes sense to him.
Harrison uses the terms “Communist” and “socialist” interchangeably, and unapologetically quotes Karl Marx. You’ve got to love the honesty.
She is strangely fond of Cuba’s prison system, although she seems to think that Cuba’s prisons are wonderful and homey environments. I like this one:
Any long-term incarceration must be as totally humane as anyone’s pleasant home.
Isn’t that sweet? If we really feel like we have to lock someone up, the prison should be like a nice home.
Asked whether she supports abortion, she answers, “Absolutely. I’ve aborted a number of my own pregnancies, much to my pride and pleasure, no doubts or recriminations.”
Wow … She actually takes pride in this. There’s a kind of sickness there that’s beyond comprehension.
Her education plan seeks to abolish age segregation in schools. Some of us think that it makes sense to teach different things to different age groups, but what do we know?
A member of Physicians for a National Health Plan and long-time professional in the health care industry, Moore is more or less committed to that part of the agenda. Fans of Rep. Ron Paul can be pleased to know that Mr. Moore refers to him in support of his views on foreign policy:
As Congressman Ron Paul recently stated, it’s called “blowback” — and the United States is now reaping what it sowed.
He is another candidate pursuing the Peace and Freedom Party nomination.
Yet another Peace and Freedom candidate, Hetz is apparently rather young. I say this because his writing lists no particular credentials, and sounds somewhat poorly-thought-out. He also promises “I will be 35 years old prior to next year’s Presidential election” when asked about Constitutional requirements for the Presidency.
But he’s disabled and works full time, so he can’t really commit to campaigning. One might wonder if he is up to being President.
In a bizarre element, Hetz has actually received praise from Earl Dodge (the Prohibitionist). Or, if you’re interested, you can always find his reviews of “House of 1,000 Corpses” and “My 5 Wives” on amazon.com if you’re so inclined.
Three time Congressional candidate and two-time gubernatorial candidate, Rozzo actually seems to know what this is all about.
Of course, having said that … when asked for his top three positions, he only listed two.
Another young one, he gives his birthdate on the questionnaire, so we know that he’s 35 years old. He’s also gay and a NARAL clinic escort. He’s a campus minister of some kind or another (somehow, I suspect that he and I have theological differences) and he’s been a radio talk show host.
I didn’t see a lot of information about Linda McKinney or Evan Gelobter, and — to be honest with you — I didn’t think it was worth sorting through the Google search to figure out which ones were them.
I do have one question, if anyone can explain it to me …
The Socialist Party platform calls for a minimum wage of $15/hour. It also calls for a 30-hour workweek with no reduction in pay.
Presumably, this means that they want everyone to be making at least $600/week (40×15). Why not call it a $20/hour minimum wage, then? If you’re going to refer to it in hourly terms, it seems like you’d want to get the math right.
Or do they mean something else? Just wondering …
