Our people can’t wait
Some people think that electing Democrats, especially elite figures from rich and powerful families with direct ties to the status quo of capitalism and imperialism, are going to push through the changes that we need. Given the scale of class inequality, the profound and radical changes needed, and the recent struggles nationally and internationally, is it possible to continue to place our hopes in the current two-party system or do we need to beyond for the vehicle(s) that we need to carry out the kinds of changes needed that much of the working class have been or are already fighting for?
As a farmworker organizer, as long as I can remember I have always heard that we must work with Democrats and the party in order to advance politically the movement of farmworkers. There has been a move of aligning the farmworker movement with the Democratic Party since the late 60’s until now. The results have been mixed. While there has been important legislation that has been passed throughout the country that protect worker health and well-being the movement overall has been weakened. I would argue that if we are to really gauge farmworker power from where it really counts, farmworker organizing and unionization, we are at a critical point.
As an example of this is the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (FWMA). While workers and people on the frontlines are calling for amnesty and ending border imperialism, the FWMA has been heralded as a pathway to citizenship for farmworkers but in reality, is a bill that serves the needs of big agriculture and seeks to permanently keep workers at a political disadvantage. Both parties agree that having a permanent labor underclass is needed in order to advance capitalism.
It has been made clear that liberal ideology does not align with the real needs of our people. On the one hand it talks about equality and fairness for all, but there are exceptions, and the truth lies somewhere in the middle. These kinds of compromises are what lead us down a road of steady collapse and continue to concentrate power in the hands of the wealthy—and in no way address the radical change that is needed right now.
These kinds of compromises are what lead us down a road of steady collapse and continue to concentrate power in the hands of the wealthy—and in no way address the radical change that is needed right now.
We are often told that if we elect this person, or pass this bill, we will eventually achieve progress. Unfortunately, we do not have that privilege because we are living in a pandemic and time is running out due to climate change. If we are to change the system, we need to do it now and not wait four years.
As this writing there are thousands of adults and children being held in detention camps along the US-Mexico border and beyond. Instead of living up to the ideals of freedom and justice, immigrants are not included. Political and academic elites twist and turn words to justify the violence that talked place on an everyday basis to keep capitalism and imperialism going. Using the language of social justice in order to convince us that we are better off now than under Trump.
What our communities realize is that we’ve been down this road before. We are presented with false choices constantly. If we are to really be liberated then we need to break with the two parties and build something for ourselves. We have tried the 2-party approach for generations. We should try something else.
Just as radical worker organizations arose in the early parts of the 20th century that challenged capital, we are living in conditions that are calling for new radical organizing en masse. Only through mass organizing can we create a challenge to capitalist power. We see it taking shape in the warehouses, tenant organizing, farmworkers, service workers, and land and water defenders. If we continue on the road of putting our hopes of the movement in so-called “bipartisan politics” we will be having this conversation for another generation.
Edgar Franks is the Political Director/Director Politico of Familias Unidas por la Justicia.
