May Day 2009

"It was not by gold or silver, but by labor that all the wealth of the world was purchased" -Adam Smith

Even the most die-hard and utopian free-market capitalists admit that labor creates all wealth. If you have any doubt, just consider any corporation on an average day. What would happen if no workers showed up?

That's right, the company would make no products or render no services and hence make no profit.

I suppose the CEO and shareholders could do all of the work in place of the wage earners and still share all of the profit, but that would no longer be capitalism. It would be worker owned and controlled enterprise, or as some might say, socialism.

Now consider the opposite. What happens if the owners or CEO don't show up for the day?

Well, this actually happens all the time and the companies still make money.

Labor creates all wealth.

This is the theme of May Day and will continue to be so long as the working majority is seperated from ownership and control of the economy.

Please join the Socialist Party of CT and other like minded folks on the New Haven Green tomorrow to celebrate all of the past struggles; losses and victories, and future hope of the labor movement and working class politics.

I understand that it is a work day for many and travelling is difficult, but for those of you who cannot attend please consider the importance of worker solidarity. The color of the collar is irrellevant now-a-days. The nature of the character and capacity of the heart are what define us as socialists in the 21st century.

Economic crises are nothing new for those familiar with Marx. Democrats rushing in to save capitalism from itself is also nothing new.

This May Day let us have the resolve to commit to the real worthy struggle of attaining economic democracy. Be vocal, be proud and stand strong.
Times are changing.

As always,
In Peace and Solidarity

Todd Vachon
Chair
Socialist Party of CT
www.socialistpartyct.org
www.sp-usa.org
www.votevachon.com
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Message to all Workers on Their Day
by the National Action Committee, Socialist Party USA

On this International Workers Day, the majority of the workers find themselves in a great dilemma. It is obvious that free trade and deregulation have caused millions to lose their jobs. Even the United States, once the major economic power of the world, is in the process of an economic collapse. Today, more than ever, is a time to consider casting off the chains of capitalist crisis.

The truth is that the majority of the workers understand very well the economic depressions are a permanent part of capitalism. The majority of the workers are intellectuals in an organic way. Without any type of formal economic education, they know what is going on because they are forced to live capitalist economics. It is irritating to hear so many socialist intellectuals pontificate that all workers have to do is realize that they are being exploited and it will light their revolutionary fire. Workers understand that they are being exploited, what is lacking is the organizational means to ignite the spark.

Creating socialism will not be easy. It will take much sacrifice. An egalitarian society will not arise in one day. Only a determined class struggle can bring about the kind of fundamental changes we need. We must first learn to abandon the trinkets and small concessions that capitalism offers us. We must create a vision of the society we want to live in and fight for it.

For the Mexicans and other Hispanics in the United States that work as undocumented workers, the economic crisis will bring great difficulties. President Barack Obama promised some type of amnesty, but you can be assured that this will not happen immediately. When it does it will come at great economic cost for the applicants and will have many complications. .Meanwhile, immigrants will be made into scapegoats as racist conservatives circulate the notion that they are stealing “American” jobs. Violence by racist groups has already begun and may
continue to grow. Immigrant workers will find allies in socialists because we understand that labor knows no borders – all workers are a part of our class.

This crisis presents opportunities to reestablish and enlarge the power of the unions and rebuild mass socialist political parties. But that decision to take action is yours as workers. You know socialism is the path to create a better society. You know there is a history of successful socialist political parties throughout the world. Socialism can once again deliver what working people need so desperately – a world of prosperity, justice and freedom!

Long Live the Workers!
Long Live Revolution!
Long Live the First of May!