How does the left accomplish their goals....

[Flabbergasted]

I don't understand why there is so little action and activity and discussion here on such a massively important issue to us on the left as a may day Boycott.....

Here is an oppurtunity to advance an anti-war/corporate rule message and we are idly letting it pass by.

Have we all gotten this apathetic....

[begley]

1. I think many people associate May Day with the USSR

I wonder how that will affect the point boycotters are trying to get across.

[Flabbergasted]

2. Do you associate May Day with the USSR?

[begley]

5. Yes

I recall their May 1 parades. That's what I think of.

[tocqueville]

6. Mayday is the International Labour Day

in ALL countries except the USA and South Africa

[begley]

7. Oh, I see.

Thank you.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. I agree .... and it doesn't matter what the real roots of Mayday are or

that it may be the equivalent of 'Labor Day' in all countries except us and South Africa.

Perception is reality and this will play as well as a rally dominated by the ANSWER coalition.

In my own view, the message will absolutely get lost to the messaging.

[tocqueville]

3. I have a feeling that the Democrats are missing the train...

this is a golden opportunity to show the dissent about what's wrong with the government of the country...

[Flabbergasted]

8. Exactly....Why are we not working for it. Right here right now...

[tocqueville]

13. the difference with Europe is striking

the illegal immigration problem is not unique to the USA : this has happened in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the UK etc... the numbers are comparable, ethnically it was (is) people from Arab countries and Africans...

when those problems culminated, the left took side for the illegal immigrants, marched with them, asked for amnesty and decent job conditions... Movie stars, celebrities, playwrights etc.. took side WITH the immigrants...

where is the US left ?

[Selatius]

4. Actually, I'd personally support the May Day Protests because...

the events surrounding the original May Days has its roots buried in the struggle between the owners and everybody else subject to the owners, the struggle between the rich and the poor.

The problem of illegal immigration is merely a symptom of a greater problem: The system of exploitation we call "free enterprise." I call it capitalism. It's a system built on personal greed at the expense of everybody else. It's a system covered in the blood of slaves, peasants, and laborers of all kinds.

The corporate agenda to destroy the middle class through the willful importation of impoverished third world people by lax border enforcement and the outsourcing of jobs to dictatorships like China is just a new phase in an age-old war of the owners to keep the "great unwashed" under their heel. It is a program of divide and conquer where workers from all over the world are pitted against each other in a race to the bottom, and the owners at the very top are the winners.

[Flabbergasted]

10. You are only missing the fact that the reason why these folks have come

here is the capitalistic system keeps people impoverished in Mexico.

Capitalism is the root cause....

[welshTerrier2]

11. the left and the Democrats ...

a good friend of mine, a very dedicated leftie, does not like the Democrats ... he won't vote for them ... he's not at all apathetic ...

and i fully understand his perspective and i respect his right to think the way he does although i disagree with him ...

i think the Democratic Party is not the opposition party it should be ... i see a party that's way too timid and a party that believes that being more moderate will have broader appeal ... the truth is, that being more courageous and standing up for what we truly believe, instead of compromising for political gain, is what will earn us broader appeal ...

anyway, my view is still that the "real front for lefties" is the battle for the soul of the Democratic Party ... i understand the "they'll never change and we have to plant the seeds for the future" way of thinking ... i'm not at all sure third party proponents are wrong ...

to answer your question as directly as possible, i believe the left needs to fight within the party ... i believe we have to support progressive candidates regardless of party ... and i think we have to become more politically organized so that the current power structure, the Democratic Party, ignores us at their peril ... i will NOT be voting for or supporting any candidate, Democrat or otherwise, who is hostile to progressive views ... those who continue to support bush's war, restrictions on a woman's right to choose, or an anti-gay agenda can go to hell ...

[Selatius]

14. That's a decision each and every one of us should make.

As for me, I'm rather predisposed to seek change outside both political parties at this point. The greatest movements of change occurred outside both major parties from the Labor Movement to the Civil Rights Movement. The Democratic Party played "catch-up" in order to protect itself from being sidelined and potentially replaced by a newer party. The people have been the source of change. The arena of the people is not necessarily the arena of the Democratic Party.

[welshTerrier2]

16. i respect your opinion ...

i wish that the Democratic Party would seek a meaningful dialog with people who think like you, and I, do ... perhaps at least some common ground could be found and perhaps, even on just an issue or two, the two communities could work together for change ...

instead, all we get are sparks and very little progress at too slow a pace ...

[Burning Water]

12. I'm just wondering if

the immigrant's rights group would be a little pissed in A.N.S.W.E.R and similar groups chipped in and diluted the message?

I sure would be. Why can't the various groups do all their own boycotts for each message and keep the pot stirred till election day, eh?

[babylonsister]

15. Anti-war messages are trying to be advanced in NYC today,

regarding Darfur in DC today, and no one is listening or reporting for the most part.
If a tree falls in the woods, who hears it? No one in the corporate whore news apparently.
There's going to be so many mixed messages Monday; I don't know how it will turn out.