Letters – August 16, 2008

People’s Daily World

I’ve been a reader and supporter of this newspaper for years and always look forward to every issue. There is nothing like a “real” newspaper, turning the pages, looking over the headlines and photos. Something catches the eye later when you pick it up again to read.

But now I am also very pleased that you have a DAILY edition online at www.pww.org. Here I can find additional news stories, analysis, and opinion pieces. And I see that late breaking news is often covered online before the print edition arrives in the mail.

I will always love your print edition. For me your daily online coverage is a great plus.

Barbara Carpenter

Chicago IL

Historic platform

The vision put forth in the 2008 Democratic National Platform is historic in its embrace of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. Never before in our country’s history has there been a national party platform that is so inclusive of our entire community. It is a forward-looking platform in so many areas, including those relating to LGBT people. The Task Force Action Fund is certainly pleased to see that in the opening paragraph of the section titled “A More Perfect Union” for the first time the platform explicitly calls for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Is the platform perfect? No. There is much more work to be done, especially to improve issues of family recognition. However, is it a good foundation? Unequivocally yes.

Rea Carey

Via e-mail

Rea Carey is the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund

Stop killing unionists

For the first four months of 2008, there has been an increase in the number of trade union officials and members assassinated in comparison with the same period in 2007. This is the crux of the findings in a report entitled “Worrying Increase In Assassinations Against Unionized Workers In Colombia,” which was published by the Escuela Nacionale Sindical (National Union School) earlier this year.

The report notes that:

During the first trimester of 2008, 17 workers affiliated to unions have been assassinated, which represents a substantial 89 percent increase when compared to the 9 assassinations perpetrated during the same period in 2007. This implies that, if the institutions charged with guaranteeing the life of Colombian unionists do not take effective actions that attack the root causes of this anti-union violence, the number of homicides this year could double in comparison with the number perpetrated in 2007.

Despite claims by both the Colombian government and the U.S. State Department that killings of union members and their leaders is waning, the raw numbers of killings remain high. The most recent accounts of the total number of killings are 32 as of Aug. 1. Compounding this problem is the lack of justice for the victims and their families. Of the thousands of trade unionists murdered over the last decade, only 55 perpetrators have been brought to justice and half of them have been released.

Patrick Mac Manus

Copenhagen, Denmark

Time is right

I have been waiting patiently for People’s Weekly World to avail itself of the boiling discontent among the American people with its current form of government and come right out and propose a change for the better, namely, what I term “democratic Socialism.” You have a super-brain in Communist Party Chair Sam Webb; now is the time for him to outline short-term and long-range strategies that would wean Americans from war-mongering, hegemonic capitalism and transfer our resources — human and otherwise — to peaceful programs that will serve not only Americans but all (other) oppressed peoples of the world. If not now, when?

Will Shapira

Minneapolis MN

Election proposals

Greetings and thanks for sending the PWW/NM. Nice to have you around! For the 2008 elections I propose a dual strategy: short term till November and longer term from November onwards.

The short term goal should be to secure on Election Day the hugest landslide victory ever! So start with massive voter registration. But take any opportunity to organize and educate. Take advantage of door-to-door voter registration to organize block or neighborhood study circles. They would soon develop their own dynamic.

The longer term goal could be based on block or neighborhood assemblies to demand reforms in employment, housing, health care, education, the prison system and more. There are lots of things to discuss which promote “people’s cohesion.”

Yes we can! Sí podemos! Taking back America!

Ana Lucia Gelabert

Gatesville TX

New rule: confuse

We’ve heard the rumors for weeks, but newly surfaced documents have confirmed the unthinkable — the Bush administration is considering a politically motivated new rule that deliberately confuses contraception with abortion, allowing providers to cherry pick the information they give women and cut off access to some of the most commonly used forms of birth control. It’s a desperate Hail Mary pass from politicians who have lost all credibility on women’s health issues.

There is no room for political agendas in the exam room when a woman is with her health care provider, and we won’t stop until every woman in America has equal access to the full truth about her health care options.

Buckle your seat belts — this is not over.

Cecile Richards

Via e-mail

Cecile Richards is president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.