I want to call to your attention the fantastic job my little sweetheart has done... Sue should have been a movie starlet:
http://networkedblogs.com/1YBF9
Sam Webb
Chair, National Board, (for a little while longer) CPUSA
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Irene Folstrom: Politician and Lover
We supported Irene Folstrom along with the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association the last time she ran. I sent my sweet little Sue up to northern Minnesota to do a feature story for the People's Weekly World on this pretty little lady at the time.
We like a candidate that plans well in advance who has this kind of high profile image linked to sex. Sex smells in the media and sex should produce votes. This is the new politics of the 21st Century I have been talking about.
We will work with Mark Froemke, a member of the CPUSA National Committee and a big-wheel in the MNDFL about seeing what we can do to get her nominated like we did with Collin Peterson when Froemke nominated him even though he was registered to vote in North Dakota; slick, real slick operator that Mark is. I'll get on the horn to our friend Shar Knutson at the MN AFL-CIO so she can get things moving from her end and then I'll hook up with our friend John McCarthy of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association. Senator Folstrom has a nice ring to it. Maybe we can get in touch with Tiger to do a couple of photo shoots with her as the two of them go skinny-dipping in Cass Lake. I'm going to be talking to our friend up in Red Lake, too; Buck should have some ideas. Maybe if his son and brother are out in time for the election they will pitch in and do a little campaigning. I would like to see us put out a nice hard-copy special edition devoted to the Folstrom campaign. Irene rises to many challenges and no doubt Tiger rose, too. God, look at that woman.
Hey, Erwin, what do you say we get the Marquits to convince Irene to do a little modeling in that skimpy neon lingerie? She could stand in the window at your little boutique. That should get some good publicity.
I have to get in touch with Michael Meuers; I'm sure he already has his fingers in this stuff.
I have been thinking. Maybe we should be considering a Nagin-Folstrom slate for the 2012 Election if Barack chooses to keep selling insurance policies which seems to be a lucrative job for him. They both have the kind of sweet smiles voters love. You can just see the honesty and integrity in their smiles and the twinkle in their eyes providing the kind of air of confidence voters hump to.
Sam Webb
National Chair, CPUSA
Published March 28 2010
Folstrom rises to many challenges
Irene Folstrom thrives on competition. From her days as a stellar athlete at Cass Lake-Bena High School, to her failed attempt at state Senate in 2006, she moves from one challenge to another.
By: Brad Swenson, Bemidji Pioneer
http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/event/article/id/100017308
Receiving international attention recently as Tiger Woods’ college sweetheart, Irene Folstrom of Bemidji has since her unsuccessful 2006 state Senate run been writing a book about her life and struggles as an American Indian role model, and is planning a 2012 campaign for a state Legislature office. Pioneer Photo/Brad Swenson Irene Folstrom thrives on competition. From her days as a stellar athlete at Cass Lake-Bena High School, to her failed attempt at state Senate in 2006, she moves from one challenge to another.
Most recently it’s been the revelation that she was Tiger Woods’ college sweetheart, and that she rises to his defense as a “loyal, dedicated and self-controlled” fellow Stanford student and boyfriend.
This morning, she’s scheduled to appear on the CBS Early Show for yet another media interview, all stemming from an article she wrote for Sports Illustrated to help put context to Woods’ battle with infidelity.
Folstrom says she and other friends from Stanford held a conference call “and decided somebody needs to say something, because it was just ridiculous.”
Woods’ Thanksgiving night crash and ensuing discovery of many extramarital affairs demanded that someone who knew him step forward in his defense, Folstrom said last week in an interview.
“No one was speaking out, and I guess I became the sacrificial lamb because I probably knew him the best,” she said.
It led to scores of interviews and television appearances that still continue today. “My family is very humble … but it’s just one small chapter in my life. It’s not my whole life. It was very maddening for a while and overwhelming.”
Folstrom, who ran for state Senate in 2006 and mayor of Bemidji in 2008, says she dealt well with being a public figure. “Being in the national media was just crazy, having my face splashed all over on national TV and national magazines.”
And it will be a chapter in her book. Folstrom said she’s nearing completion on a book and is in negotiation currently for publishing rights. It will detail her life, and the challenges that she faced.
She’s titled it “Phoenix,” to symbolize a rise from the ashes, which she said she’s done in recent years after a number of downfalls.
“Through the last couple of years, I’ve grown a lot stronger and I think that age has helped me a lot,” said Folstrom, 35. “I was 30, 31 when I ran for Senate. Even five years can give you a lot more insight and wisdom.”
She’s now a single mother of two boys, Victor, 7, and Max, 5, having divorced her physician husband, a member of a Southwest tribe. Folstrom is a Leech Lake Band member.
She suffered from a deep depression after losing the 2006 DFL endorsement to Mary Olson, coupled with her divorce. She won’t say how deep the depression was — “Read my book” — but it was a time that obviously provided a crossroads.
“I had a lot of help, but that’s in my book,” she said. “My mom has been there, we talk two-three times a day, which was amazing to me since we had a pretty estranged relationship for a long time.”
Folstrom was raised by her aunt and uncle, as her mother “had her own issues going on. I had a lot of anger and resentment, but we got over that. Now, she’s my best friend.”
She says she “absolutely have my imperfections and my faults. Phoenix means rising from the ashes, and it’s sort of ironic in a sense, because even though I rose from the ashes, I definitely had a dark period in my life, about two years ago.”
She’s picked herself back up again “and I feel stronger than ever, and just really want to get message across to those who feel sometimes that they are maybe despondent and they feel like nothing is going their way, but you can always pick yourself back up again.”
Folstrom calls her book both autobiographical and inspirational.
“It’s hard for me, especially as an athlete, to lose,” she said. “When I lost the Senate race, it was a really dark period, because I worked really hard. … My message in my writing is just that regardless of whatever we think is a failure your life only makes you stronger in the end.”
On the positive side, Folstrom has served Leech Lake as a role model, from being a Miss Cass Lake to earning a law degree from Cornell and working four years on national legislative issues for the National Congress of American Indians.
She hasn’t taken the bar exam in Minnesota, so she isn’t a practicing attorney, but she really doesn’t want to be one. Currently she serves as a consultant grant writer.
“I probably will never practice law,” she says, adding she did start studying for the bar exam but quit. “Why am I doing this, I’m a writer now.”
And she’s still a politician. She announced that in 2012 she will seek office — but which office is still up in the air. Her race of choice would be the Senate 4 seat held by Democrat Olson, but Folstrom says she will not run against her.
The two have become fast friends, and a letter from Folstrom was read at last weekend’s Senate 4 endorsing convention, asking delegates to support a second term for Olson.
“I truly believe that public service is one of the best things somebody can do,” Folstrom said. “You don’t get paid very much … there’s not really much to gain from public service personally, but I just truly believe that it’s important for those of us, especially someone with my background who has pretty much seen it all — seen poverty, seen wealth, I’ve lived in both worlds.”
Folstrom talks about serving the public, but doesn’t narrow her focus to just American Indian issues.
“I do not think that an American Indian, because they are running for a certain seat, deserves that seat,” she said. “When you are elected, you have to represent all the people and all of your constituents, not only a percentage of perhaps the people that you come from.”
If elected, “I will do my best to advocate for American Indian people, of course, but I believe it is not something that we are entitled to because of our race,” she said. “It is something we have to earn.”
Supported in the past by the national Indigenous Democratic Network, Folstrom says a number of confidants are pushing her to run for a statewide constitutional office in 2014.
“There are some offices we have talked about me seeking,” Folstrom said, not disclosing which offices.
“When I came home and had to become a role model again, it was very difficult at first, but I embrace that now,” Folstrom said, adding that she plans on moving to Cass Lake. “I’m just really doing my best to work on myself and garner more strength so that I can be a good role model, especially for our youth.”
We like a candidate that plans well in advance who has this kind of high profile image linked to sex. Sex smells in the media and sex should produce votes. This is the new politics of the 21st Century I have been talking about.
We will work with Mark Froemke, a member of the CPUSA National Committee and a big-wheel in the MNDFL about seeing what we can do to get her nominated like we did with Collin Peterson when Froemke nominated him even though he was registered to vote in North Dakota; slick, real slick operator that Mark is. I'll get on the horn to our friend Shar Knutson at the MN AFL-CIO so she can get things moving from her end and then I'll hook up with our friend John McCarthy of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association. Senator Folstrom has a nice ring to it. Maybe we can get in touch with Tiger to do a couple of photo shoots with her as the two of them go skinny-dipping in Cass Lake. I'm going to be talking to our friend up in Red Lake, too; Buck should have some ideas. Maybe if his son and brother are out in time for the election they will pitch in and do a little campaigning. I would like to see us put out a nice hard-copy special edition devoted to the Folstrom campaign. Irene rises to many challenges and no doubt Tiger rose, too. God, look at that woman.
Hey, Erwin, what do you say we get the Marquits to convince Irene to do a little modeling in that skimpy neon lingerie? She could stand in the window at your little boutique. That should get some good publicity.
I have to get in touch with Michael Meuers; I'm sure he already has his fingers in this stuff.
I have been thinking. Maybe we should be considering a Nagin-Folstrom slate for the 2012 Election if Barack chooses to keep selling insurance policies which seems to be a lucrative job for him. They both have the kind of sweet smiles voters love. You can just see the honesty and integrity in their smiles and the twinkle in their eyes providing the kind of air of confidence voters hump to.
Sam Webb
National Chair, CPUSA
Published March 28 2010
Folstrom rises to many challenges
Irene Folstrom thrives on competition. From her days as a stellar athlete at Cass Lake-Bena High School, to her failed attempt at state Senate in 2006, she moves from one challenge to another.
By: Brad Swenson, Bemidji Pioneer
http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/event/article/id/100017308
Receiving international attention recently as Tiger Woods’ college sweetheart, Irene Folstrom of Bemidji has since her unsuccessful 2006 state Senate run been writing a book about her life and struggles as an American Indian role model, and is planning a 2012 campaign for a state Legislature office. Pioneer Photo/Brad Swenson Irene Folstrom thrives on competition. From her days as a stellar athlete at Cass Lake-Bena High School, to her failed attempt at state Senate in 2006, she moves from one challenge to another.
Most recently it’s been the revelation that she was Tiger Woods’ college sweetheart, and that she rises to his defense as a “loyal, dedicated and self-controlled” fellow Stanford student and boyfriend.
This morning, she’s scheduled to appear on the CBS Early Show for yet another media interview, all stemming from an article she wrote for Sports Illustrated to help put context to Woods’ battle with infidelity.
Folstrom says she and other friends from Stanford held a conference call “and decided somebody needs to say something, because it was just ridiculous.”
Woods’ Thanksgiving night crash and ensuing discovery of many extramarital affairs demanded that someone who knew him step forward in his defense, Folstrom said last week in an interview.
“No one was speaking out, and I guess I became the sacrificial lamb because I probably knew him the best,” she said.
It led to scores of interviews and television appearances that still continue today. “My family is very humble … but it’s just one small chapter in my life. It’s not my whole life. It was very maddening for a while and overwhelming.”
Folstrom, who ran for state Senate in 2006 and mayor of Bemidji in 2008, says she dealt well with being a public figure. “Being in the national media was just crazy, having my face splashed all over on national TV and national magazines.”
And it will be a chapter in her book. Folstrom said she’s nearing completion on a book and is in negotiation currently for publishing rights. It will detail her life, and the challenges that she faced.
She’s titled it “Phoenix,” to symbolize a rise from the ashes, which she said she’s done in recent years after a number of downfalls.
“Through the last couple of years, I’ve grown a lot stronger and I think that age has helped me a lot,” said Folstrom, 35. “I was 30, 31 when I ran for Senate. Even five years can give you a lot more insight and wisdom.”
She’s now a single mother of two boys, Victor, 7, and Max, 5, having divorced her physician husband, a member of a Southwest tribe. Folstrom is a Leech Lake Band member.
She suffered from a deep depression after losing the 2006 DFL endorsement to Mary Olson, coupled with her divorce. She won’t say how deep the depression was — “Read my book” — but it was a time that obviously provided a crossroads.
“I had a lot of help, but that’s in my book,” she said. “My mom has been there, we talk two-three times a day, which was amazing to me since we had a pretty estranged relationship for a long time.”
Folstrom was raised by her aunt and uncle, as her mother “had her own issues going on. I had a lot of anger and resentment, but we got over that. Now, she’s my best friend.”
She says she “absolutely have my imperfections and my faults. Phoenix means rising from the ashes, and it’s sort of ironic in a sense, because even though I rose from the ashes, I definitely had a dark period in my life, about two years ago.”
She’s picked herself back up again “and I feel stronger than ever, and just really want to get message across to those who feel sometimes that they are maybe despondent and they feel like nothing is going their way, but you can always pick yourself back up again.”
Folstrom calls her book both autobiographical and inspirational.
“It’s hard for me, especially as an athlete, to lose,” she said. “When I lost the Senate race, it was a really dark period, because I worked really hard. … My message in my writing is just that regardless of whatever we think is a failure your life only makes you stronger in the end.”
On the positive side, Folstrom has served Leech Lake as a role model, from being a Miss Cass Lake to earning a law degree from Cornell and working four years on national legislative issues for the National Congress of American Indians.
She hasn’t taken the bar exam in Minnesota, so she isn’t a practicing attorney, but she really doesn’t want to be one. Currently she serves as a consultant grant writer.
“I probably will never practice law,” she says, adding she did start studying for the bar exam but quit. “Why am I doing this, I’m a writer now.”
And she’s still a politician. She announced that in 2012 she will seek office — but which office is still up in the air. Her race of choice would be the Senate 4 seat held by Democrat Olson, but Folstrom says she will not run against her.
The two have become fast friends, and a letter from Folstrom was read at last weekend’s Senate 4 endorsing convention, asking delegates to support a second term for Olson.
“I truly believe that public service is one of the best things somebody can do,” Folstrom said. “You don’t get paid very much … there’s not really much to gain from public service personally, but I just truly believe that it’s important for those of us, especially someone with my background who has pretty much seen it all — seen poverty, seen wealth, I’ve lived in both worlds.”
Folstrom talks about serving the public, but doesn’t narrow her focus to just American Indian issues.
“I do not think that an American Indian, because they are running for a certain seat, deserves that seat,” she said. “When you are elected, you have to represent all the people and all of your constituents, not only a percentage of perhaps the people that you come from.”
If elected, “I will do my best to advocate for American Indian people, of course, but I believe it is not something that we are entitled to because of our race,” she said. “It is something we have to earn.”
Supported in the past by the national Indigenous Democratic Network, Folstrom says a number of confidants are pushing her to run for a statewide constitutional office in 2014.
“There are some offices we have talked about me seeking,” Folstrom said, not disclosing which offices.
“When I came home and had to become a role model again, it was very difficult at first, but I embrace that now,” Folstrom said, adding that she plans on moving to Cass Lake. “I’m just really doing my best to work on myself and garner more strength so that I can be a good role model, especially for our youth.”
Friday, March 26, 2010
Important alert
As we approach the National Convention we see the need to step up ideological security.
We are re-issuing this important statement since we have not been able to bring the Minnesota Problem under control:
All Points Bulletin
Action Alert...Action Alert...Action Alert...Action Alert...Action Alert
Calling all 234 CPUSA members to action.
CPUSA Statement
Issues concerning recent emails/statements by Alan Maki
The Communist Party, USA is taking the unusual step of issuing this statement because of a barrage of recent emails and public statements by Alan Maki. Many have received emails from Alan Maki attacking a broad range of progressive activists. In many he represents himself as a member of the Communist Party, USA.
Alan Maki is not a member of nor does he reflect the views of the Communist Party, USA. He was dropped from membership three years ago because of his attacks on progressives. He continues to target elected officials, union leaders, and other leaders in the broader mass movements for social change.
The Communist Party believes the only path to social and economic justice is through the struggle for unity. We are deeply involved in efforts to organize the broadest possible coalitions against the Bush administration and its policies. The policies of the Communist Party have long been premised on working to unite all who struggle for democracy, peace and justice.
We need to be aware that this person continues to promote mistrust in our leader, President Barack Obama, jeopardizing our efforts for a progressive capitalist led movement that will carry us into the future.
I have proposed special methods be undertaken to root out the last vestiges of Marxism-Leninism in our Party.
Sam Webb
Chair, National Board, CPUSA
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Tiger's college girlfriend speaks out
As many of you know, basketball is my thing.
I am coming to appreciate golf.
I am enamored with Tiger Woods and kind of jealous.
We supported Irene Folstrom when she ran for Minnesota State Senator. I sent my Sue out to Minnesota to do the story. I am so proud we got got to interview Irene Folstrom long before Golf magazine. This putts us right up there with the big swingers and long strokers of the golfing world.
We should do a little networking here and put Irene in touch with Erwin Marquit to see if we can't get Irene fitted with some neon pink lingerie. We could put her on the cover of the PW along with a photo of Irene and Tiger playing on the beach.
I like Irene's statement here that she isn't doing any of this for money.
Irene has many friends just like her who are principled people who do things for other motives besides money. One example of someone who has mentored Irene Folstrom after her fling with Tiger is John McCarthy of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association. Here is a man who has committed his entire life to helping Indians and has found it impossible to shun all the money they insist on showering him with. So much of John McCarthy can be seen in Irene Folstrom. Both work together hoping they will not receive any financial rewards for their efforts in promoting the Indian Gaming Industry. No matter how hard they try they just can't manage to avoid reaping monetary gain.
Both Irene Folstrom and John McCarthy share a loyalty to Indian people in supporting so many good causes like the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party.
Irene Folstrom is so kind and caring she even made a huge campaign contribution to her opponent Mary Olson another great humanitarian who supports so many Native causes.
I have some thoughts bouncing around my head about Irene Folstrom and Tiger Woods.
There are questions swirling about how Irene is so confident Tiger was faithful to her. She sniffed. Thank you for allowing me to answer one of the most important questions of the day.
Sam Webb
National Chair, CPUSA
By Irene Folstrom
Published: March 03, 2010
Folstrom is an advocate for Native American causes.
Tiger Woods was my boyfriend for a year and a half while we were both undergraduates at Stanford. I've never spoken to the press about him; I'm not coming forward now for money or to advance any pathetic showbiz aspirations, but merely to stick up for a friend. I haven't seen Tiger since the late ’90s, but I know who he is at his core because we were together during some of his most formative years. He was so human and cared so much about other people and the world around him. This may surprise some people, but Tiger was a great boyfriend.
I have so many fond memories of our time together. At that age Tiger had an amazing metabolism so we spent a lot of time eating. Our favorite restaurant was a Chinese joint in Mountain View; the guys there must have been golf fans because they always gave us free desserts, which was a big deal to us.
I walked many golf courses watching Tiger play, sometimes with his mother, Tida. I grew up on an Indian reservation in Minnesota, and I think Tida accepted me so readily because Tiger and I shared many of the same values. Earl and I talked a lot about politics and national affairs, and Earl often made me laugh so hard, my stomach muscles cramped. He loved to tease Tiger and me about our puppy love.
During our Southern California road trips Tiger and I spent a lot of time at the beach. We would steal a bottle of whiskey from Earl or I’d use my fake ID to buy a jug of wine, and we’d hang out and dream about the future. Tiger was very driven to be a great golfer, but he also talked a lot about wanting to make a larger contribution to society. Settling down was not a priority; Earl had drilled into Tiger that he should wait until his 30s to get married.
Our relationship ended when Tiger turned pro after his sophomore year. Becoming the first person in my family to earn a college degree was so important to me that I wasn’t willing to give up my studies to follow him. Like everyone else, I was shocked by the revelations about his infidelities. The Tiger I knew was loyal, devoted and self-controlled. I’m not naive, but I can say with certainty that he was faithful during the time we dated. The speculation that he's being treated for sex addiction is surprising because we enjoyed a normal sexual relationship.
I don’t have any insight into how he led such a double life. I will say that Tiger had an ability to shut things out and compartmentalize his emotions. Even back then he felt enormous pressure to be Tiger Woods. Maybe this was his form of escape.
Obviously Tiger has made some big mistakes, but he’s apologized and seems to be trying to heal himself and his family. I hope the public will forgive him because he deserves a second chance. He’s a good person with a caring heart.
I am coming to appreciate golf.
I am enamored with Tiger Woods and kind of jealous.
We supported Irene Folstrom when she ran for Minnesota State Senator. I sent my Sue out to Minnesota to do the story. I am so proud we got got to interview Irene Folstrom long before Golf magazine. This putts us right up there with the big swingers and long strokers of the golfing world.
We should do a little networking here and put Irene in touch with Erwin Marquit to see if we can't get Irene fitted with some neon pink lingerie. We could put her on the cover of the PW along with a photo of Irene and Tiger playing on the beach.
I like Irene's statement here that she isn't doing any of this for money.
Irene has many friends just like her who are principled people who do things for other motives besides money. One example of someone who has mentored Irene Folstrom after her fling with Tiger is John McCarthy of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association. Here is a man who has committed his entire life to helping Indians and has found it impossible to shun all the money they insist on showering him with. So much of John McCarthy can be seen in Irene Folstrom. Both work together hoping they will not receive any financial rewards for their efforts in promoting the Indian Gaming Industry. No matter how hard they try they just can't manage to avoid reaping monetary gain.
Both Irene Folstrom and John McCarthy share a loyalty to Indian people in supporting so many good causes like the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party.
Irene Folstrom is so kind and caring she even made a huge campaign contribution to her opponent Mary Olson another great humanitarian who supports so many Native causes.
I have some thoughts bouncing around my head about Irene Folstrom and Tiger Woods.
There are questions swirling about how Irene is so confident Tiger was faithful to her. She sniffed. Thank you for allowing me to answer one of the most important questions of the day.
Sam Webb
National Chair, CPUSA
By Irene Folstrom
Published: March 03, 2010
Folstrom is an advocate for Native American causes.
Tiger Woods was my boyfriend for a year and a half while we were both undergraduates at Stanford. I've never spoken to the press about him; I'm not coming forward now for money or to advance any pathetic showbiz aspirations, but merely to stick up for a friend. I haven't seen Tiger since the late ’90s, but I know who he is at his core because we were together during some of his most formative years. He was so human and cared so much about other people and the world around him. This may surprise some people, but Tiger was a great boyfriend.
I have so many fond memories of our time together. At that age Tiger had an amazing metabolism so we spent a lot of time eating. Our favorite restaurant was a Chinese joint in Mountain View; the guys there must have been golf fans because they always gave us free desserts, which was a big deal to us.
I walked many golf courses watching Tiger play, sometimes with his mother, Tida. I grew up on an Indian reservation in Minnesota, and I think Tida accepted me so readily because Tiger and I shared many of the same values. Earl and I talked a lot about politics and national affairs, and Earl often made me laugh so hard, my stomach muscles cramped. He loved to tease Tiger and me about our puppy love.
During our Southern California road trips Tiger and I spent a lot of time at the beach. We would steal a bottle of whiskey from Earl or I’d use my fake ID to buy a jug of wine, and we’d hang out and dream about the future. Tiger was very driven to be a great golfer, but he also talked a lot about wanting to make a larger contribution to society. Settling down was not a priority; Earl had drilled into Tiger that he should wait until his 30s to get married.
Our relationship ended when Tiger turned pro after his sophomore year. Becoming the first person in my family to earn a college degree was so important to me that I wasn’t willing to give up my studies to follow him. Like everyone else, I was shocked by the revelations about his infidelities. The Tiger I knew was loyal, devoted and self-controlled. I’m not naive, but I can say with certainty that he was faithful during the time we dated. The speculation that he's being treated for sex addiction is surprising because we enjoyed a normal sexual relationship.
I don’t have any insight into how he led such a double life. I will say that Tiger had an ability to shut things out and compartmentalize his emotions. Even back then he felt enormous pressure to be Tiger Woods. Maybe this was his form of escape.
Obviously Tiger has made some big mistakes, but he’s apologized and seems to be trying to heal himself and his family. I hope the public will forgive him because he deserves a second chance. He’s a good person with a caring heart.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Eight Rough and Random Thoughts on Socialism
I am going to write a complete book based on my rough and random thoughts which circulate in my head like exploding stars launched into new galaxies.
My goal is to become a deep thinker where my brain functions at the outer limits of the twilight zone challenging the brilliance of Herbert Marcuse.
Some of my thinking comes directly from the new modern Moscow best demonstrated at this web site courtesy of Erwin Marquit's FaceBook page where I find many things to tantalize my brain and torture my head:
http://www.deborahmarquit.com/love.asp
As you can see, the new Marxism is both stimulating and scintillating; typical of what brings orgasmic relief.
Mark old buddy; what are you looking at there?
The new Russia is providing us with new thinking. We all wondered what Erwin Marquit was studying so thoroughly is the Soviet bloc.
I encourage you to check out Erwin Marquit's FaceBook page which will float through cyber-space for an eternity long after he leaves his worldly space.
Erwin has taught us that thinking with two heads is better than one.
Sue, would you like to hold this thought?
I will let Peter Molenaar continue from here. Peter will explain why we need to replace t-shirts emblazoned with hammer and sickles with these new looks. Everything must be new.
Sam Webb
Oh, my; oh my. Looking at this web site I forgot my position.
Eight Rough and Random Thoughts on Socialism
By Sam Webb
(1) Socialism has its material roots in the inability of capitalism to solve humanity’s problems. Working people gravitate toward a radical critique of society out of necessity, out of a sense that the existing arrangements of society (people don’t necessarily call it capitalism) fail to fulfill their material and spiritual needs. It is no coincidence that around the time of the economic meltdown last fall, public opinion polls showed growing support for socialism.
I think this gravitation towards radical change is closely connected to the end of an era in which U.S. capitalism was relatively stable and provided reasonable economic security on the one hand and to the beginning of a new era – of uncertainty, instability, economic crises, and, not least, political possibility on the other.
Economic crises alone, however, do not prepare the soil for revolutionary change, though they’re important. The soil is prepared via the cumulative impact of a series of crises (economic, political, social, and moral), taking place over time, which erode people’s confidence in capitalism’s capacity to meet humanity’s needs and sustain life on our planet.
(2) Our vision of socialism is a work in progress. It is shaped by new economic conditions, new technologies (the internet) new dangers and challenges (global warming), new sensibilities (the desire for democracy) and new social forces (new social movements) as well the actual experience of countries trying to build socialism – positive and negative.
At the end of his life, Engels wrote (this was one of a series of letters Engels wrote to friends to undo a dogmatic interpretation of historical materialism on the part of young Marxists of his time), “To my mind, the ‘so called socialist society’ is not anything immutable. Like all social formations, it should be conceived in a state of flux and change.”
We should take this to heart. Our socialist vision should have a contemporary and dynamic feel; it should be rooted in today’s conditions.
Some will say that this means revising or throwing out Marxism’s principles and methodology. While that could be a danger, in my view the greater danger is to think that Marxism can stand still, rest self-satisfied, and repeat old formulas in the face of new developments and experience. Such “Marxism” is empty of meaning and irrelevant on the U.S. political scene.
Our task, therefore, is to further develop Marxism in a dialectical and historical spirit, with an eye to bringing everything in line with current realities, trends, and sensibilities. Such a critical posture means modifying and updating our concepts – of socialism, strategy, tactics, and more – in line with today’s realities.
(3) In the 20th century the Soviet Union became the universal model of socialism. This universalization came at a price – it narrowed down our ability to think creatively and ‘outside the box.’
Although we always noted the more favorable factors for socialism in our country (no encirclement by hostile powers, high level of economic development, democratic traditions, etc.), in many ways, we still clung to the Soviet model.
Such an approach can’t be laid on the doorstep of Marx or Lenin. Lenin on more than one occasion objected strongly to the idea of a universal path to and model of socialism. He insisted that socialism and the socialist road would vary from country to country.
Unfortunately, we failed to fully digest his views, in part because the Soviet Union was the first land of socialism and decisive in Hitler’s defeat in World War II, and in part because we had too rigid an understanding of Marxism and its laws (tendencies) of development.
The events in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in the late 1980s, however, compelled us to reexamine the notion of a universal socialist model. While further study is necessary, one thing is clear: there are no universal models and socialism in one or another country will succeed to the degree that it bears a deep imprint of that country’s history, politics, economics, customs, and culture.
If it has a “foreign” feel, people will reject it. Even where our vision includes general features that mirror other socialist societies (for example, public ownership of the means of production), these will be modified in the concrete process of constructing a new society.
Both successful and unsuccessful socialist revolutions offer lessons, but in no case can those experiences be uncritically imported into our context.
(4) The transition to socialism will mark an end to one stage of struggle and the beginning of a new one. In this stage, the struggle is to qualitatively expand and deepen economic security, working class and people’s democracy and unity, egalitarian relations (not leveling) in every sphere of life, and human freedom in both a collective and individual sense.
I don’t frame the matter in this way to replace the more traditional notion, in which the transition to socialism is distinguished by a revolutionary shift of class power from the capitalist class to the working class and democratic movement. What I want to do is to correct a one-sidedness in our thinking.
A transfer in class power – which will more likely be a series of contested moments during which qualitative changes in power relations in favor of the working class and its allies take place rather than “the great revolutionary/to the barricades day” – is absolutely necessary, but it is not a sufficient condition for a successful transition to and consolidation of socialism.
In fact, a singular emphasis on the question of class power (a means), at the expense of social processes and social aims (economic improvement in people’s lives, working class and people’s democracy, rough equality, and freedom and solidarity), can lead – did lead – to distortions in socialist societies.
Thus aims and processes have to be organically integrated into and accented at every phase of socialism’s development.
(5) Socialism’s essence isn’t reducible to property/ownership relations and across-the-board socialization. Although those are the structural foundations of socialist society, by themselves they don’t constitute socialism.
To put it differently, property/ownership relations and socialization of the means of production create only the possibility for a socialist society. But it fully develops only to the degree that working people exchange alienation and powerlessness for engagement, empowerment and full democratic participation.
In my view, working class initiative and a sense of real ownership of social property, a transformed socialist state, and society are as much the sinew of socialism as are legal ownership of the economy, structures of representation and power, and socialization. The latter without the former leaves socialism stillborn, while the former without the latter is idealism.
Lenin wrote,
“… socialism cannot be reduced to economics alone. A foundation – socialist production – is essential for the abolition of national oppression (in our context racial and national oppression), but this foundation must also carry a democratically organized state, a democratic army, etc. By transforming capitalism into socialism the proletariat (working class sw) creates the possibility of abolishing national oppression; the possibility becomes reality “only” – “only!” – with the establishment of full democracy in all spheres.” (my italics sw).
Note the weight that Lenin attaches to democracy in socialist society and working class initiative. Do we share his view? To a degree, but I would argue that a re-centering of the working class and people’s democracy at the core of our socialist vision is a necessary corrective.
(6) While the political leadership of communist, socialist and left parties and social movements is vital, in the past, our understanding of our leading role came close to substituting ourselves for the wide-ranging participation and leadership of masses of people and for a vibrant public space in which these same people gather, compare ideas, and take action.
Obviously, if this is so, we should go back to the drawing board. I did and this is what I came up with. Our role in coalition with a broader left will be to deepen our connections to the main organizations of working people, to find timely solutions to pressing problems (transformation and democratization of the state, reorganization of the economy, undoing centuries of inequality, resetting our international relations, global warming and more), to utilize a creative and critical Marxism to analyze concrete developments, to struggle for unity – working class, multi-racial, all people’s, and so forth, and to convey in everything we do a complete confidence in the creative capacities and desires of millions of people building a new society.
This last element latter was missing in some of the socialist countries of the 20th century, in no small part because the communists fell victim to a siege mentality, arising from encirclement and cold and hot war. As a result, there was a tendency to “circle the wagons” and turn the working class into a passive, and increasingly jaded observer of socialism, especially when the deeds and performance of communists didn’t match their ideals and ideological claims.
(7) The process of radical change is inevitably very messy; pure forms are only found in textbooks. Think of the major turning points in our nation’s history – every one was complex and contradictory, from the war for independence, to the Civil War, the Depression, the Civil Rights movement, and more.
The struggle for socialism will be complex too, and will bring a broad and diverse coalition with varied outlooks and interests into motion. And while we fight for the leadership of the multi-racial, multi-national working class in the coalition and for its deep imprint on the political process, we also search for strategic and tactical alliances. At times this dual task will cause tensions, sometimes strongly felt ones, but the resolution of these tensions is condition for radical change.
(8) The economic model of 21st century socialism should give priority to sustainability, not growth without limits. Socialist production can’t be narrowly focused on inputs and outputs, nor should purely quantitative criteria be used to measure efficiency and determine economic goals. New socialist production (and consumption) models are imperative. Both must economize on natural resources and protect the planet and its various ecological systems. The future of living things that inhabit this earth could depend on it.
That said, we cannot wait for socialism to address the dangers of climate change and environmental degradation. That must be done now. We are approaching tipping points which if reached will give global warming a momentum that human actions will have little or no control over.
Standing in the way, as you would guess, is right wing extremism and powerful global corporations – energy, military, and otherwise. And only a broad movement of the working class in close alliance with the African American, Mexican American and other oppressed peoples, women, youth, seniors other social movements, and some sections of business – big and small stands a ghost’s chance of defeating this entrenched and powerful political bloc and, in doing so, open a road to socialism.
My goal is to become a deep thinker where my brain functions at the outer limits of the twilight zone challenging the brilliance of Herbert Marcuse.
Some of my thinking comes directly from the new modern Moscow best demonstrated at this web site courtesy of Erwin Marquit's FaceBook page where I find many things to tantalize my brain and torture my head:
http://www.deborahmarquit.com/love.asp
As you can see, the new Marxism is both stimulating and scintillating; typical of what brings orgasmic relief.Mark old buddy; what are you looking at there?
The new Russia is providing us with new thinking. We all wondered what Erwin Marquit was studying so thoroughly is the Soviet bloc.I encourage you to check out Erwin Marquit's FaceBook page which will float through cyber-space for an eternity long after he leaves his worldly space.
Erwin has taught us that thinking with two heads is better than one.
Sue, would you like to hold this thought?
I will let Peter Molenaar continue from here. Peter will explain why we need to replace t-shirts emblazoned with hammer and sickles with these new looks. Everything must be new.
Sam Webb
Oh, my; oh my. Looking at this web site I forgot my position.
Eight Rough and Random Thoughts on Socialism
By Sam Webb
(1) Socialism has its material roots in the inability of capitalism to solve humanity’s problems. Working people gravitate toward a radical critique of society out of necessity, out of a sense that the existing arrangements of society (people don’t necessarily call it capitalism) fail to fulfill their material and spiritual needs. It is no coincidence that around the time of the economic meltdown last fall, public opinion polls showed growing support for socialism.
I think this gravitation towards radical change is closely connected to the end of an era in which U.S. capitalism was relatively stable and provided reasonable economic security on the one hand and to the beginning of a new era – of uncertainty, instability, economic crises, and, not least, political possibility on the other.
Economic crises alone, however, do not prepare the soil for revolutionary change, though they’re important. The soil is prepared via the cumulative impact of a series of crises (economic, political, social, and moral), taking place over time, which erode people’s confidence in capitalism’s capacity to meet humanity’s needs and sustain life on our planet.
(2) Our vision of socialism is a work in progress. It is shaped by new economic conditions, new technologies (the internet) new dangers and challenges (global warming), new sensibilities (the desire for democracy) and new social forces (new social movements) as well the actual experience of countries trying to build socialism – positive and negative.
At the end of his life, Engels wrote (this was one of a series of letters Engels wrote to friends to undo a dogmatic interpretation of historical materialism on the part of young Marxists of his time), “To my mind, the ‘so called socialist society’ is not anything immutable. Like all social formations, it should be conceived in a state of flux and change.”
We should take this to heart. Our socialist vision should have a contemporary and dynamic feel; it should be rooted in today’s conditions.
Some will say that this means revising or throwing out Marxism’s principles and methodology. While that could be a danger, in my view the greater danger is to think that Marxism can stand still, rest self-satisfied, and repeat old formulas in the face of new developments and experience. Such “Marxism” is empty of meaning and irrelevant on the U.S. political scene.
Our task, therefore, is to further develop Marxism in a dialectical and historical spirit, with an eye to bringing everything in line with current realities, trends, and sensibilities. Such a critical posture means modifying and updating our concepts – of socialism, strategy, tactics, and more – in line with today’s realities.
(3) In the 20th century the Soviet Union became the universal model of socialism. This universalization came at a price – it narrowed down our ability to think creatively and ‘outside the box.’
Although we always noted the more favorable factors for socialism in our country (no encirclement by hostile powers, high level of economic development, democratic traditions, etc.), in many ways, we still clung to the Soviet model.
Such an approach can’t be laid on the doorstep of Marx or Lenin. Lenin on more than one occasion objected strongly to the idea of a universal path to and model of socialism. He insisted that socialism and the socialist road would vary from country to country.
Unfortunately, we failed to fully digest his views, in part because the Soviet Union was the first land of socialism and decisive in Hitler’s defeat in World War II, and in part because we had too rigid an understanding of Marxism and its laws (tendencies) of development.
The events in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in the late 1980s, however, compelled us to reexamine the notion of a universal socialist model. While further study is necessary, one thing is clear: there are no universal models and socialism in one or another country will succeed to the degree that it bears a deep imprint of that country’s history, politics, economics, customs, and culture.
If it has a “foreign” feel, people will reject it. Even where our vision includes general features that mirror other socialist societies (for example, public ownership of the means of production), these will be modified in the concrete process of constructing a new society.
Both successful and unsuccessful socialist revolutions offer lessons, but in no case can those experiences be uncritically imported into our context.
(4) The transition to socialism will mark an end to one stage of struggle and the beginning of a new one. In this stage, the struggle is to qualitatively expand and deepen economic security, working class and people’s democracy and unity, egalitarian relations (not leveling) in every sphere of life, and human freedom in both a collective and individual sense.
I don’t frame the matter in this way to replace the more traditional notion, in which the transition to socialism is distinguished by a revolutionary shift of class power from the capitalist class to the working class and democratic movement. What I want to do is to correct a one-sidedness in our thinking.
A transfer in class power – which will more likely be a series of contested moments during which qualitative changes in power relations in favor of the working class and its allies take place rather than “the great revolutionary/to the barricades day” – is absolutely necessary, but it is not a sufficient condition for a successful transition to and consolidation of socialism.
In fact, a singular emphasis on the question of class power (a means), at the expense of social processes and social aims (economic improvement in people’s lives, working class and people’s democracy, rough equality, and freedom and solidarity), can lead – did lead – to distortions in socialist societies.
Thus aims and processes have to be organically integrated into and accented at every phase of socialism’s development.
(5) Socialism’s essence isn’t reducible to property/ownership relations and across-the-board socialization. Although those are the structural foundations of socialist society, by themselves they don’t constitute socialism.
To put it differently, property/ownership relations and socialization of the means of production create only the possibility for a socialist society. But it fully develops only to the degree that working people exchange alienation and powerlessness for engagement, empowerment and full democratic participation.
In my view, working class initiative and a sense of real ownership of social property, a transformed socialist state, and society are as much the sinew of socialism as are legal ownership of the economy, structures of representation and power, and socialization. The latter without the former leaves socialism stillborn, while the former without the latter is idealism.
Lenin wrote,
“… socialism cannot be reduced to economics alone. A foundation – socialist production – is essential for the abolition of national oppression (in our context racial and national oppression), but this foundation must also carry a democratically organized state, a democratic army, etc. By transforming capitalism into socialism the proletariat (working class sw) creates the possibility of abolishing national oppression; the possibility becomes reality “only” – “only!” – with the establishment of full democracy in all spheres.” (my italics sw).
Note the weight that Lenin attaches to democracy in socialist society and working class initiative. Do we share his view? To a degree, but I would argue that a re-centering of the working class and people’s democracy at the core of our socialist vision is a necessary corrective.
(6) While the political leadership of communist, socialist and left parties and social movements is vital, in the past, our understanding of our leading role came close to substituting ourselves for the wide-ranging participation and leadership of masses of people and for a vibrant public space in which these same people gather, compare ideas, and take action.
Obviously, if this is so, we should go back to the drawing board. I did and this is what I came up with. Our role in coalition with a broader left will be to deepen our connections to the main organizations of working people, to find timely solutions to pressing problems (transformation and democratization of the state, reorganization of the economy, undoing centuries of inequality, resetting our international relations, global warming and more), to utilize a creative and critical Marxism to analyze concrete developments, to struggle for unity – working class, multi-racial, all people’s, and so forth, and to convey in everything we do a complete confidence in the creative capacities and desires of millions of people building a new society.
This last element latter was missing in some of the socialist countries of the 20th century, in no small part because the communists fell victim to a siege mentality, arising from encirclement and cold and hot war. As a result, there was a tendency to “circle the wagons” and turn the working class into a passive, and increasingly jaded observer of socialism, especially when the deeds and performance of communists didn’t match their ideals and ideological claims.
(7) The process of radical change is inevitably very messy; pure forms are only found in textbooks. Think of the major turning points in our nation’s history – every one was complex and contradictory, from the war for independence, to the Civil War, the Depression, the Civil Rights movement, and more.
The struggle for socialism will be complex too, and will bring a broad and diverse coalition with varied outlooks and interests into motion. And while we fight for the leadership of the multi-racial, multi-national working class in the coalition and for its deep imprint on the political process, we also search for strategic and tactical alliances. At times this dual task will cause tensions, sometimes strongly felt ones, but the resolution of these tensions is condition for radical change.
(8) The economic model of 21st century socialism should give priority to sustainability, not growth without limits. Socialist production can’t be narrowly focused on inputs and outputs, nor should purely quantitative criteria be used to measure efficiency and determine economic goals. New socialist production (and consumption) models are imperative. Both must economize on natural resources and protect the planet and its various ecological systems. The future of living things that inhabit this earth could depend on it.
That said, we cannot wait for socialism to address the dangers of climate change and environmental degradation. That must be done now. We are approaching tipping points which if reached will give global warming a momentum that human actions will have little or no control over.
Standing in the way, as you would guess, is right wing extremism and powerful global corporations – energy, military, and otherwise. And only a broad movement of the working class in close alliance with the African American, Mexican American and other oppressed peoples, women, youth, seniors other social movements, and some sections of business – big and small stands a ghost’s chance of defeating this entrenched and powerful political bloc and, in doing so, open a road to socialism.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
CPUSA National Committee Member Mark Froemke works with Al Franken.
"The Democratic Party has been a real bonanza for our recruiting. We bring people from the Democratic Party into the Communist Party. Comrade Al Franken has been a pillar of support."
Mark Froemke
National Committee Member, CPUSA and candidate for National Board.
The Communist Party is in full agreement with the Chamber of Commerce. We want steady but sure progress, too. We may be looking at joining forces with the Chamber. This would be my idea of coalition building. We like to proceed with caution.
Sam Webb
Chair, National Board, CPUSA
"The Democratic Party has been a real bonanza for our recruiting. We bring people from the Democratic Party into the Communist Party. Comrade Al Franken has been a pillar of support."
Mark Froemke
National Committee Member, CPUSA and candidate for National Board.
Grand Forks Herald: EGF analyzes Franken’s jobs plan
Posted in News Clips on February 11th, 2010
Sen. Al Franken’s plan for creating employment — fashionably nicknamed Cash for Jobs — came to East Grand Forks on Thursday.
Some praised it while others thought it was a clunker compared with other government options to stimulate the economy.
The first-term Democratic U.S. senator proposes a wage subsidy similar to one used in Minnesota in the 1980s that returned 7,400 workers to jobs. The subsidy, good for up to a year, would amount to half of the wages, with a maximum subsidy of $12 per hour.
A second part of Franken’s plan would create jobs that would make public buildings more energy efficient. Both components would use money returned from the bank bailout.
Henry Tweten, an East Grand Forks City Council member and Democratic leader, said the government should create jobs by adding infrastructure such as the building of the interstate highway system in the 1950s. Specifically, he suggested U.S. Highway 2 be improved to four lanes all the way to Duluth; it has some two-lane gaps now.
In addition to construction jobs, it would create more Canadian traffic, revitalize the Iron Range and make the highway safer, Tweten said.
“Nothing worked better than jobs when we went through the Great Depression,” he said.
Economic times are tougher locally than they seem, AFL-CIO local representative Mark Froemke said, because North Dakota and Minnesota residents rank high for having more than one job. “People should need only one 40-hour job,” he said.
Barry Wilfahrt, president of The Chamber of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, agreed that this area hasn’t been completely immune to the recession. In the last year, he said, Polk and Grand Forks counties have combined for 1,600 fewer jobs than a year ago and taxable sales in Grand Forks have gone up a meager 1.5 percent.
Wilfahrt wasn’t critical of the program, but cautioned that “whenever Congress does something, it affects the cost of doing business. I say to give things time to work, times for free enterprise to adjust, before throwing another fix out there. I’d suggest more steady as she goes and not so much change so fast.”
The Communist Party is in full agreement with the Chamber of Commerce. We want steady but sure progress, too. We may be looking at joining forces with the Chamber. This would be my idea of coalition building. We like to proceed with caution.
Sam Webb
Chair, National Board, CPUSA
I need your help
We are having trouble coming up with people to pack our hall for the National Convention.
What I would like to propose we do is hire people to attend our convention.
If you happen to see anyone who could use a few bucks find out where they live so we can pick them up.
I would like to have plenty of applause for my main political report.
Try not to hire people who will fall asleep. We want to show audience enthusiasm.
Sam Webb
Chair, National Board, CPUSA
What I would like to propose we do is hire people to attend our convention.
If you happen to see anyone who could use a few bucks find out where they live so we can pick them up.
I would like to have plenty of applause for my main political report.
Try not to hire people who will fall asleep. We want to show audience enthusiasm.
Sam Webb
Chair, National Board, CPUSA
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