The Federal Government wants out of the “welfare business.” John Howard thinks that “the family” is the best provider of welfare. He would love to dump the entire responsibility for raising children and caring for the sick, the elderly and people with disabilities squarely onto the unpaid shoulders of women — if only he could… Read more »
socialism
“Money Now Goes Into the Pockets of Big Business”: A Welfare Warrior Speaks Out
Pat Gowens is an activist with the Milwaukee-based welfare rights organisation, Welfare Warriors. Alison Thorne spoke to Pat about the impact of Welfare Reform and resistance mounted by Welfare Warriors. How did Clinton’s 1996 “welfare reform” impact on welfare recipients? Welfare Reform has caused the loss of millions of dollars to poor communities, resulting in… Read more »
Socialist Alliance Debate sparks discussion about Revolutionary Regroupment
Note: Links in this article may not be active. There is a discussion inside the Socialist Alliance about which way forward. In late August 2002, the Democratic Socialist Party (DSP) announced plans to dramatically change how it would work as part of the Socialist Alliance. The DSP outlined a process which would result in its… Read more »
War of Ideas – September 11, 2001: Feminist Perspectives Reviewed
Just weeks ago, travelling to the U.S., I had a dose of the “anti-terror” measures introduced as a result of the shocking events of 11 September 2001. From Melbourne onwards, each airport was effectively a military checkpoint. I particularly remember Honolulu, on the way home, where the only passengers pulled out of the line-up for… Read more »
Individual Action or Global Revolt: New activists must become new leaders
I grew up with the Cold War. Fortunately, the propaganda that communism was responsible for everything terrible, from nuclear war to the common cold, didn’t stick. So, as a young activist in 1960s USA, I looked for the best place to fight for social change. The fight for Black civil rights, the upsurge in feminist… Read more »
U.S. Court Hands Freedom Socialist Party Electoral Law Victory!
On June 12, the Oregon Court of Appeals struck down as unconstitutional a 1905 state law which prevents political parties from appearing on the ballot if they share a single word in their names with an already recognised party. Jordana Sardo, who attempted to run as a Freedom Socialist Party (FSP) candidate for the State… Read more »
Reflections on the thoughts of a grand mind: A tribute to Stephen Jay Gould 1941-2002
May 2002 was not a great month for me. The sudden death of my father on the 18th, at the young age of 66, was the result of an asbestos-related illness, contracted through his employment in a brake factory. There will be no punishment for the CEO, the board of directors, the regulators who sentenced… Read more »
Promoting the vision of a just world
Brigitte Ellery is a public housing advocate and member of Geelong Radical Women. She is a disability pensioner who is employed casually as a personal care worker. She is the preselected Socialist Alliance candidate for the Victorian State seat of Geelong North. “I’m standing to help make Socialist Alliance widely known as a political alternative…. Read more »
Kennett wrecked Victoria, but Bracks has not repaired the damage
Judy McVey is a Community and Public Sector Union delegate, a leader in the Refugee Action Collective and a member of the International Socialist Organisation. She is the preselected Socialist Alliance candidate for the Victorian State seat of Brunswick. “I’m standing to show people that there is an alternative to the world we live in… Read more »
Why Greens need to be Reds
If there was one heartening thing about the disgraceful race/khaki election of 2001 it was the number of people who didn’t vote for the so-called “war on terrorism” and the racist, inhumane treatment of refugees. The cacophony of vilification of refugees, cynical appeals to xenophobia and outright warmongering was meant to win a majority of… Read more »
