“FIGHT INJUSTICE” On the 30th anniversary of the end of the war in Vietnam

APRIL 30 SAN FRANCISCO RALLY ANSWERS
BUSH’S “WEDGE” PLAN FOR SOCIAL SECURITY

“FIGHT INJUSTICE”

On the 30th anniversary of the end of the war in Vietnam

RAMSEY CLARK, LABOR & COMMUNITY LEADERS SPOKE ON SATURDAY,

APRIL 30, 7 P.M. AT MISSION HIGH SCHOOL IN SAN FRANCISCO

Speakers at this event included Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General and initiator of the Impeach Bush Campaign, Trent Willis, President, ILWU Local 10., Eric Mar, President of the San Francisco School Board, Denise D’Anne of the Senior Action Network, Mike Casey, President of the Hotel Workers Local 2-UNITE/HERE, Elias Rashmawi of the National Council of Arabs, Alicia Jrapko of the ANSWER Coalition, Community First Coalition Chair Maurice Campbell; Damon Packwood of Upward Bound; and other labor and community activists along with a cultural performance by the Dance Brigade with Korean drumming

Unlike the widely hyped, right-wing events mistitled “Justice Sunday” -- addressed by top leaders of the U.S. government including Senate majority leader Frist, -- the April 30 rally was a real call for justice. It was the first in a series of national rallies opposing war and occupation, the dismantling of Social Security and social programs and other attacks on people here and around the world.

Similar “Fight Injustice” activities are planned by the ANSWER Coalition in Washington DC on May 7, in Los Angeles on May 21 and in other cities.

Now is the time to bring together the many developing movements and struggles which are fighting back against the Bush program; the program of Corporate America.

It is clear from Bush's televised speech last night that his administration is going ahead with its plans to destroy the Social Security system that was created 70 years ago. Due to the widespread and deep opposition to his scheme, Bush has now adopted a “wedge” strategy designed to open the door to what can later become full privatization.

Privatization would mean the destruction of Social Security, which has served as the only buffer against complete destitution for tens of millions of elderly persons and disabled workers and their dependents as a system of social insurance. It would be converted to an investment program, with the big financial and investment corporations managing trillions of dollars in funds and reaping enormous profits in fees.

That is what the Bush privatization plan is really about not “saving” Social Security. In fact, if Bush’s plan is implemented in any form, it will mean the immediate diversion of hundreds of billions of dollars out of the federal budget, exacerbating the deficit and, in fact, creating a crisis in Social Security. If Congress were to agree to the establishment of personal savings accounts on whatever basis it will be the first step on the road of draining social security and leading to its inevitable insolvency.

Bush also made it clear that the government wants to cut social security benefits. Pretending to be a friend of the poor, however, Bush promises that the cuts will only affect higher income retirees. This is a trick. Once people accept any cuts in social security benefits, it will lead to the inevitable
cutting of social security benefits across the board.

Social security was not a gift from politicians it was a monumental achievement won by the struggle of working people and in particular the labor movement. The big corporations and banks want to undo this social reform, as they would like to undo all the social and economic reforms of past decades that have shifted any financial burden to them. The elimination of welfare was the first step. Social security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment insurance benefits, tuition aid, aid to the cities, public housing and education are the other targets.

It is obscene that the Bush administration claims a "crisis" for social security while the administration raises military spending to an all time high. The war in Iraq alone costs more than $250 million each and every day.

It is imperative that the mass movement has come into existence to stop the Bush program and to intensify the struggle in the coming weeks and months. The Bush program can be defeated. We cannot wait and should not wait for the politicians. In the main, they have embraced or capitulated to Bush on every fundamental issue since 2001.

all photos by Bernie Fox

A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Act Now to Stop War & End Racism
http://www.ANSWERcoalition.org http://www.actionsf.org
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