Scholars: Left, including unions, needs a message

[RyanPsych]

WASHINGTON (PAI) - The U.S. left, including unions, needs one unifying theme to both rally their own forces and to gain public backing, a panel of scholars says.

And the four scholars, two from the U.S. and two from abroad, say income inequality could be that theme. But they quickly noted the left must figure out how to get its message across to the masses, and what solutions to offer for the problem.
The lack of a message from the left, especially one that appeals to the mass of the U.S., is a persistent problem the labor movement faces. Several unions, notably the Teachers, have tried to address it. AFT has repeatedly declared that unions' theme should be that "worker rights are human rights." But other unions have not followed.

The four - Steven Kramer of the National Defense University, Georgetown University historian Michael Kazin, former senior Australian Labor Party political advisor Christopher Barrett and Italian attorney and veteran diplomat Roberto Toscano - spoke April 25 at the Woodrow Wilson International Studies Center in Washington.

And there was no shortage of their comments about the problems the left, as a movement, faces both here and abroad.

The four described leftist parties and movements in Western Europe and unions in the U.S., as outflanked in messaging by their rightist and corporatist foes, and as being effective only when great crises - such as the Depression and World War II - hit.

Read more: http://www.peoplesworld.org/scholars-say-left-including-unions-needs-big-unifying-message/

[OHdem10]

1. The Democratic Party is so wrapped up in being Republican

Lite that their message is often the echo of the Republican
Party, therefore it seems there should be Democratic Movement
which would be free to develop their own message based on
ideals. In order to rally people there is need for an inspirational
'message. Inspiration implies you believe in something--like
a set of principles which guide one's decision.

[Citizen Worker]

4. Labor is so wrapped up in the democratic party that the movement rarely communicates with its Rank

and File members, except when we're needed to elect more democrats. The leadership of Labor should be talking with their members and asking us what we want not what the democratic party wants. Break the strangle hold the democrats have on the institution of Labor and we might make some progress, not before.

[Scuba]

2. Here's the message. The People have asked for this. They hunger for it....

The Peoples Budget


http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=70

http://grijalva.house.gov/uploads/The%20CPC%20FY2012%20 ...


This needs to be pushed as the path to the 2012 elections and future of America. Not perfect, but such a striking contrast with the Ryan disaster will be easy to explain to the public.


Here's Rachel's coverage last week... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel ... /


Here's the Progressive Caucus website.... http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=70

Here's the pdf of the Progressive Caucus Budget.... http://grijalva.house.gov/uploads/The%20CPC%20FY2012%20 ...

[Prof Lester]

3. The Pugs are organizing the people.

Hunger, homelessness, fascist hooey, insane laws, cruel stupid "libertarian" pols and billionaires.. these are going to convert millions to the cause. With no couch to potato on, no tube to be hypnotized by, no chips and coke to swill.. no car to drive.. no etc., etc., etc.. millions will begin to see the light. Nobody ever gave us anything. We fought for it. And we will fight for it again. Spoiled brat scum like the Kocks are a flash in the pan.

[xchrom]

5. tax the rich, end corporate welfare, end our 'free trade' agreements, cut the MIC in half. nt

[Zoeisright]

6. How about "unless you're a rich white male, repukes want you to die"?

Simple, easy to remember, dead-on accurate and to the point.

[FailureToCommunicate]

8. +1. But only AFTER you've repaired the lock to their gated driveway...

[Cobalt-60]

12. weld it closed with them inside

[DavidDvorkin]

7. I don't suppose "À la lanterne, les aristos!"

would be acceptable in today's world.

[NothingRight]

9. Certainly works for me. Lamp posts, gallows, guillotine, etc.

They would all work just fine, and some would say it is long overdue.

[NothingRight]

10. The "message" simply needs to be the truth

The thing about the GOP is they have consistency in their narrative. With GOP House members taking a shelling in their spring recess town hall meetings, the RNC has decided to hold classes to help their people handle these types of questions and crowds. In other words, they have crafted a new narrative.

Mark my words, you will see these same House deadbeats regurgitating the tag lines handed them by the GOP puppet masters.

For the people on the left, we have the truth. We don't have to rely on tag lines like "winning the future" or "shared sacrifice" to deliver the message. We simply need to call the liars liars and cite truth.

The President today said we don't have time for this kind of silliness, referring to the time taken to handle the birther crowd. We also don't have the time for stupidity like the accusations from those on the right about the options for Medicare, the economy and government programs.

There are statistics, historical data and facts to back up what progressives (liberals, whatever you want to call us) suggest and propose. We just choose not to use them.

When Cantor, Ryan, Boehner or any of the other Republicorps spew their stupidity, there should be a response from everyone on the left pointing out the specific lies and calling them exactly what they are.

Perhaps then we can get them to think before they spew. Just maybe......

[yurbud]

11. besides messaging, it's getting the message on the MSM or networking our asses off online and

in person.