Happy Birthday, Socialists!!

YOU SEE SOME FUNNY THINGS ON C-SPAN. I was greatly amused at the antics during the 100th Anniversary Convention of The Socialist Party, USA, which C-SPAN televised live. According to their website, "Over 150 activists participated in the July 27-29 Socialist Party 100th Anniversary Celebration and Organizing Conference. The weekend marked the party’s century as America’s voice for democratic socialism, and boldly declared that the Socialist Party USA will continue to build a vital socialist movement." It would seem that a political party that can only manage to gather a total of 150 delegates to a national convention is unlikely to build any kind of "vital movement" in the near future. But we shouldn’t forget that less than 3% of Russians were members of the Communist Party when they overthrew their government.

The podium held a sign that stated, "I Vote Socialist Because I Work For a Living!" The theme of the celebration was the bashing of capitalism. "Socialists believe that once we begin moving to introduce democracy into our economic institutions, it will be possible to establish the public good - instead of private profit - as the cornerstone of a new national and international economic order." As my wife, Ana, pointed out, "Once the capitalists are gone, who will employ the workers?"

They have an answer for that. "Socialists support such institutions as consumer cooperatives, workers’ collectives and worker/consumer participation in the management of governmentally-owned industry, as steps toward a society in which political democracy is reinforced and strengthened by economic democracy. Socialists are also strong supporters of democratic planning in the economy and government." One hopes that if they ever get around to studying the history of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, they will realize that such institutions have always failed miserably.

The first speech we saw was given by what I assume was a woman. The hair style and clothing were definitely masculine, but the voice was feminine. The vital gender clue was when she referred to the Socialist Democratic Feminist Movement. Like most liberals, the Socialists assume that the way to build membership is to reach out to "oppressed minorities" like women. Never mind that women are a majority in this country, or that most American women have rejected radical feminism because it has been taken over by lesbians. Even though there were quite a few young people present, the rhetoric of this convention seemed to be trapped in some kind of ’60’s time warp.

The oldest speaker was Frank Zeidler, the Party’s 88-year-old Chairman Emeritus, who told stories of Socialist history. He related the story of a national labor union leader who resigned from the Socialist Party at one convention. He was told by his union that he had to register as a Democrat or lose his job.

At 22, Party Co-Vice-Chair Shaun Richman was the youngest speaker. His speech was memorable only because he addressed the assembly clad in a T-shirt featuring Fleshtones, a rock music group. He wasn’t the only one in a T-shirt. Ball caps and T-shirts abounded, as did baggy pants. The camera caught a view of one delegate’s pants falling down when he stood to give a speaker a standing ovation. The unprofessional dress of the delegates was reflective of the unprofessional tone of the entire event.

They brag that, "We align with no nation, but only with working people throughout the world." They proclaim that, "...working people around the world have more in common with each other than with their national rulers. In fact, their 2000 Presidential candidate, David McReynolds (who received a total of 10,000 votes nationally) proclaimed himself a Marxist in his speech, and the event offered workshops on Marxism. These people have no loyalty to this nation, yet they seek elective national office. Instead of loyalty to their nation, they claim they are loyal to the "workers." The only problem with that is that the "Oppressors of the Workers," the capitalists, all go to work every day. Doesn’t that make them workers, too?

McReynolds has been traveling the world gathering helpful information on how the United States should be ruled if he is successful in his 2004 run for the Whitehouse. He has visited such bastions of Socialist Democracy as Iraq, Red China, Russia, and Communist Cuba. If his party ever comes into power, immediately delete all copies of Conservative Truth from your hard drive. They could land you in prison

They believe we should disarm unilaterally and dismantle our military. It is safe to do that because they believe it is in the nature of mankind to act cooperatively, so all other nations will naturally follow our example. "We condemn war, preparation for war, and the militaristic culture because they play havoc with people’s lives and divert resources from constructive social projects."

At least they are organized. They have a plan for the present, as well as one for the future. "While a minority, we fight for progressive changes compatible with a socialist future. When a majority we will rapidly introduce those changes which constitute socialism, with priority to the elimination of the power of big business through public ownership and workers’ control." Stalin would be proud.

While you and I may be amused by the spectacle of a group with a nationwide membership of less than 10,000 describing themselves as a "third party" in American politics, let’s not forget that they are just the front for the socialist movement in this nation. Those of you who are regular readers know that 55 members of the U.S. House of Representatives (all Democrats) are members of the "Progressive Caucus." That sounds pretty innocent unless you take the time to do a little research, which will reveal that the Caucus is part of the Socialist International. (To find out whether YOUR Congressman is a Socialist, go to: www.bannerofliberty.com/OS2-01HL/2-23-2001.1.html.)

The openly Socialist members of the Socialist Party USA are not dangerous. They are laughable. They divert attention from the dangerous ones. These are the Socialists who hide behind descriptions like Democrat, progressive or liberal, while secretly advocating the overthrow of the U.S. Government. The beliefs and strategies you will find articulated on the Socialist Party website are held by all of these "closet Socialists." They’re just too gutless to advocate them in public, because they want to hold on to the power and perks of elective office.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: All statements enclosed in quotation marks in this column were taken directly from the party’s website: