LIFEBOAT Option

F o r t H o p e

by William Floyd, PDWAmerica

In the middle of the 1930s Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt took the United States off the Gold Standard. 10 million workers were unemployed for 4 or more years. Neither mom and pop businesses nor conglomerates had customers.

FDR started the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the National Recovery Administration (NRA), and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The Federal government directly hired 11 million unemployed (and starving) Citizens.

To pay for this crisis emergency, Roosevelt doubled the currency of the United States.

After WWII, these US dollars were retired and the Gold Standard was re-adopted.

However, decades later, after killing over 1 million Vietnamese, 58,000 Americans dead, and years sinking trillions of dollars into the Vietnam quicksand, President Richard Nixon took the United States off the Gold Standard once and for all in 1973.

Today, our Gold sits in FORT KNOX performing no government function. Our Gross Domestic Product, central role in global trade less our Debt are the basis for the Dollar's fluctuation.

The British sold half of their “Strategic Gold Reserves” in 1999. At it's current stratospheric level, our Fort Knox Gold is worth about $6.5 trillion dollars. $6,500,000,000,000.

President Obama as Executive in Chief can sell a portion of this Fort Knox Gold. Our President could directly hire 20 million long term unemployed Americans for about $450 Billion per year. He can continue this growingly popular “Obama's Hire America First Program” for 2 to 3 years, if necessary, without raising Taxes. Excuse our repetition: “Without-raising-taxes,” or tea party cloned faxes.

It might be prudent to pay down the Cheney War deficits, and chronic damage from Bush's wealthy tax breaks with a 2^nd small portion of our Fort Knox Gold.

This Fort Hope program is presented as the “Lifeboat Option” by Union leaders, shop stewards, and Democratic Party leaders of

Progressive Democratic Workers for America, 9/5/11.

http://PDWAmerica.blogspot.com

JUSTICE Option

Justice Option

by William Floyd, PDWA

Temporary Income Maximum Excise - T.I.M.E.

Whereas many wealthy Americans, and huge global Corporations pay Zero Income tax, however they have used and profited from our Mail service, our roads, rivers, canals, bridges, dams, electricity, national transmission grid, internet, monopoly control of TV news, newspaper editorials, and ads, public schools, colleges, Police, Fire, first responders, public libraries, truck drivers, commercial aircraft, local, state and federal court system, delivery personnel, railroads, national telephone and wifi networks, and beleaguered armed forces fighting multiple trillion dollar Wars, while millions of average Americans are forced to pay 35% Federal Income tax (plus Social Security Payroll tax, state income, sales, and property taxes).

Whereas the majority of Republicans in the 212^th Congress signed allegiance to the Club for Growth's rejection of all Revenue sources for Federal government expenses. This is a violation of their Oath of Office to Defend the Constitution (raise necessary funds for the U.S. Government).

Be it resolved, that for a temporary period of two (2) years, all personal income and capital gains in excess of $2,000,000. (2 million dollars) annually, shall enjoy an Income/Capital gains Tax rate of 100%.

Furthermore, all pay, salaries, or bonuses, stock option payouts, foreign delivery schemes, as well as any other future compensation, stock, pay or bonus, intended or unintended to circumvent this timely Law, shall be punishable as a 20 year felony under the United States Code.

This T.I.M.E. legislation is submitted to the Progressive Caucus 9-5-11 as the

'Justice Option'

by Union executives, shop stewards and Democratic Party leaders of the

Progressive Democratic Workers for America

Save the Post Office

Fixing the United States Postal Service

by William Floyd, NALC Shop Steward, ret.

The first Postal roads connected Boston to New York and then to on to Philadelphia, in the late 1600s. President George Washington established the first Postmaster General to oversee all the village Post Offices and Post Roads in 1789. Today, we can choose from Fed Ex or United Parcel, or dozens of other delivery options. However, for over 100 million Americans, the NALC Mail Carrier brings important personal family messages and cards. At the same time, the Union carrier often represents the only friendly contact people have with their Government. The secure careers in the Postal Service have been favored by War Veterans. Especially Veterans of color. The Post Office was a safe haven from discriminatory practices, and whites-only rules and Laws in too many small towns and private businesses.

Congress and US Postal Service claim USPS is in the red for $4+ Billion.

Liquidate ONE Hundred Billion Dollars of Fort Knox Gold ¹

• Absolutely NO Layoffs of NALC, APWU, nor any other Union workers

• Raise Retirement/Health benefits 22% from last NALC/APWU contracts

• Co-Sponsor House bill HR 1351 – Stephen Lynch, 193 Co-Sponsors

• Hire Two million Youth under 25: New Postal Assistants (NPAs)

• Longest unemployed Youth hired first, inner cities, barrios, suburbs

• NPAs deliver Christmas packages, Special Delivery, Registered mail

• NPAs Ride Bicycles (where, and when practical)

• NPAs learn to fix, and later maintain their own, and Team Bikes

• One third of NPA income can be diverted to Parents-in-poverty,

separated spouses with children, or disabled family members.

• Saturday and Half-Sunday delivery, clerical duties by the new NPAs

*******************************************************

• Initiate new Postal Service SAVINGS ACCOUNTS for the general public, and possible 'victims-of-banking-by-phony-mortgage-papers'.

• Fund Postal Service MICRO-LOANS to Micro businesses, Women's and small businesses for the poor, Senior Art or Activity centers, and Centers for our maimed heroes from the Wars, and their children.

PAY – GO

PDWAmerica is committed to paying for each and every program. No risky private stock accounts for Social Security or Medicare crucial to blind, deaf, IED flamed Vets, and Iraq/Afghanistan para / quadriplegics.

Liquidate ONE Hundred Billion Dollars of Fort Knox Gold

1 - Please see “Lifeboat Option” by W. Floyd PDWA

Submitted by AFL-CIO unions, NALC shop stewards, and Veterans of Progressive Democratic Workers for America

CORPORATIONS in the “Gilded Age”

“The Corporation is a convenient cloak for the rascality of the individual. It is also his protection. His share in the Profits has no limits...”

“These Corporations are the Federal Barons of this Century. Their Directors live in lordly Palaces and Castles. Their Yachts are on the sea, their Parlour Cars on the rails. They spread feasts that would feed a starving factory town. They throw away on the decorations on a Ball Room enough to clothe the children of a City.

(Corporations)...They keep bans of Militia to do their fighting. In Pennsylvania, it is called the “Coal and Iron Police”. In New York and Illinois it is called the “Pinkerton Detective Agency”. At the word of command, the hireling assassins will shoot down men, women and children. Time and again they have made the streets run red with the blood of innocent people. The Murderers are never punished. They are spirited away on the trains.”

“Not only do the Corporations keep armed Retainers: they keep oily and and servile Courtiers to do their bidding in other walks of life. Their paid Lobby bribes the Voter. Their paid Editor feeds the Public with lies. Their corrupt Lawyers and Judges peddle out Justice to the highest bidder. Their Attorneys go on the bench, or into Senates to vote the will of their Masters.”

“To restore the Liberties of the People, the rule of the People, the equal rights of the People is our Purpose; the Revolution of the old system must be complete...”

Written in 1892 by Tom E. Watson (a Populist Party leader)

Populist Platform in the Gilded Age

Progressive Populists at the Turn of the Century

The “Omaha Platform,” “People's Party,” later “Populist Party,” Omaha, Nebraska

“The conditions which surround us best justify our CO-OPERATION: we meet in the midst of a Nation brought to the verge of moral, political and material Ruin.”

“Corruption dominates the Ballot-box, the (State) Legislatures, the (US) Congress, and touches even the ermine of the Bench. The People are demoralized, most of the States have been compelled to isolate the Voters at the polling-places to prevent universal intimidation or bribery. The newspapers are largely subsidized or muzzled; public opinion silenced; business prostrated; our homes covered with Mortgages; Labor impoverished; the Land concentrating in the hands of the Capitalists.”

“The urban Workmen are denied the right of Organization for self protection; imported pauperized Labor beats down their Wages; a hireling standing Army, unrecognized by our Laws, is established to shoot them down. They are rapidly degenerating into European conditions. The fruits of the toil of Millions are boldly stolen to build up colossal fortunes for a Few, unprecedented in the History of Mankind; and the possessors of these, in turn, despise the Republic and endanger Liberty. From the same prolific womb of Governmental injustice we breed tbhe two great Classes - Tramps and Millionaires...”

“We declare therefore ----”

“First. That the Union of Labor forces of the United States this day consum-mated shall be permanent and perpetual; may its Spirit enter all hearts for the salvation of the Republic and the unplifting of Mankind.”

“Second. Wealth belongs to him who Creates it, and every dollar taken from Industry without equivalent is Robbery. 'If any will not work, neither shall he eat.'

The interests of rural and civic Labor are the same; their Enemies are identical.”

“Third. We believe that the time has come when the Railroad corporations will either own the People, or the People will own the Railroads; and, should the Government enter upon the work of owning and managing all Railroads, we should favor an Amendment to the Constitution by which all persons engaged in the government service shall be placed under a Civil Service regulation of the most rigid character, so as to prevent the increase of the power of the National administ-ration by the use of such additional government Employees.”

“First, Money. We demand a national Currency, safe, sound and flexible, issued by the general Government only, a full legal tender for all debts public and private, and that, without the use of Banking corporations, a just, equitable, and efficient means of distribution direct to the People, at a tax not to exceed two percent per annum, to be provided as set forth in the sub-treasury plan of the Farmers' Alliance, or a better system; also, by payments in discharge of its obligations for Public improvements.”

a) “We demand free and unlimited coinage of Silver and Gold at the present legal ratio of sixteen to one.

b) We demand that the amount of the circulating medium be speedily increased to not less than 50 dollars per capita.

c) We demand a graduated Income Tax.

d) We believe that the money of the Country should be kept as much as possible in the hands of the People, and hence we demand that all State and National revenues be limited to the necessary expenses of the government economically and honestly administered. e) We demand that Postal Savings Banks be established by the government for the Safe deposit of the earnings of the People and to facilitate exchange.”

“Second, Transportation. Transportation being a means of exchange and public Necessity, the Government should own and operate the Railroads in the interest of the People.

a) The Telegraph and Telephone, like the Post-Office system, being a Necessity for the transportation of News, should be owned and operated by the Government in the interest of the People.”

“Third, Land. The Land, including all the natural sources of Wealth, is the Heritage of the People, and should not be Mono- polized for Speculative purposes, and alien ownership of Land should be prohibited.”

“All Land that is now held by Railroads or other Corporat- ions in excess of their actual needs, and all Lands now owned by aliens, should be reclaimed by the Government and held for actual Settlers only.”

The Omaha Platform - 1892

Los Angeles Labor Day Parade - September 5, 2011

First PEOPLES CONGRESS

PEOPLES CONGRESS No. 1

October 15 - 16, 2011

by William Floyd PDWA

A parallel, Peoples' Congress to debate America's desperate needs such as Millions of Jobs, Peace, Fair Taxation of Wealthy, EFCA, Double Social Security to maimed Vets, blind, deaf and disabled Americans, Single Payer Healthcare, Wall Street Criminality, Wiretapping of American Sovereign People. Also on the job-training for Progressive Candidates (Congress).

Possible Leaders: RUSS FEINGOLD / ALAN GRAYSON ** No commitments definite**

1. JOBS NOW! Progressive Economists explain how Keynes Theory can save US Economy

2. PROGRESSIVE UNIONS: Collective Bargaining is a Patriotic Right. An American tradition like baseball and apple pie. Pass EFCA in 2011. Strengthen the N.R.L.B.

3. Speakers from a dozen UNIONS. AFL-CIO, UTW and independent Trade Unions

4. REPS from Black, Hispanic, Asian and Women's Issues Congressional Caucuses

5. PERMANENT WAR DEPT: Pfc Bradley Manning, Cindy Sheehan, Tom Hayden,

Sgt. Ron Kovic, Tim Carpenter, Marcy Winograd, PDLA, MoveOn S. Monica, PDWA and SMPC William Floyd and 20 more progressives.

Plus 150 female and male, Black, Latin, Asian, and white Progressive Candidates for Congress Nov. 2012.

VENUE: Santa Monica Civic, Hollywood or Westwood Theater

Broadcast: Peoples Congress online, U Tube, Twitter, Face Book, C-Span, Current TV, Link TV, PBS, WikiLeaks, Al Jazeera, Corporate Monopoly Media

Connect 150 new Progressive Labor Candidates to Act Blue; Darcy Burner's Progressive Congress Action Fund.org. Raise $Millions for pro-labor Progressives.

The Peoples' Congress: One weekend, Saturday October 15 and Sunday Oct. 16, 2011

Under leadership of retired Congress Members, Progressives, Union executives, and honest former State Legislators, we will conduct a clean Peoples' Congress Hearing on:

• 10-20 Million JOBS, Direct hire by Federal Gov't; green jobs; clerical, creative jobs

• $9-$16 Trillion: Recapture Bank Bailout by Federal Reserve for gambling losses

• SAVE $120 Billion/yr; Exit Afghanistan, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen NOW

• SAVE $70 Billion/yr Fed Subsidies for Oil Corps, big AG, Pharma, NAFTA offshoring

• Collective bargaining is a Patriotic Right – Enact E.F.C.A. now – Strengthen NLRB

• Nixon's Wartime luxury income tax 74% for lucky people earning over $250,000 annually

• One penny fee on Wall Street Swaps and Derivatives (trades of over 1000 shares)

• Double Social Security payments to maimed Vets, PTSD, Seniors, blind, deaf, disabled

• $200 Billion Turbine and Solar incentives in 20 States (Equip. 80% Made in America)

• Peoples' Congressional Debate October 16^th - “Progressive Caucus Budget” and PDWA's “Promise to America” vs. Ryan-Boehner-Cantor 'Crash, slash & burn' GOP

Progressive Democratic Workers for America (PDWA) – William Floyd, Pres.

PEOPLES' CONGRESS 1 (pg 2/2 more detail)

VENUE: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Hollywood Theater, Wordsworth, Westwood

DATE: OCTOBER 15^th - 16^th (Saturday and Sunday)

BROADCAST: U Tube, Twitter, Face Book, C-Span, Current TV, Link TV, PBS, KCET,

WikiLeaks (Iceland), Al Jazeera TV / Pacifica radio, Corporate monopoly media?

HEARING: 20 Progressive 'SENATORS' from 20 States with State flags and signage.

(played by 20 volunteers from S.M. MoveOn, Progressive Democratic Workers for America)

Leader calls Peoples' Congress to order: First business, 10-20 Million New JOBS Now!

EVIDENCE: Corps are not hiring, unemployment is skyrocketing, economy is drowning.

Job Hiring Works: FD Roosevelt directly hired 11 million unemployed, and the economy boomed. Later the GOP came to power and cut Jobs. The economy slipped back into Depression. Next Congress, people elected Democrats, and FDR was able to hire more unemployed workers. The economy boomed again. Jobs conquered the Great Depression.

COMEDY RELIEF: 10 GOP Party “Members,” in 1930 black Tuxedos, with huge name tags on their backs: BIG OIL, BIG PHARM, BIG TV, BIG CELL, BIG PHONE TAP, BIGGER WEAPONS, BIGGEST INSURANCE, PIG FARM FACTORIES, BIG DRUGS, RISKIER WALL ST. SWAPS, TOO FAT 2 FAIL BANKSTER

The Tuxedoed “GOP” bang on Drums and shout loudly: “Cut Taxes, Rich Pay Too Much,” “Ten More Wars,” “Cut Un-Titlements,” “The Poor Shall Inherit the Dirt”

HEARINGS: Fed. Gov't must recover $16 trillion from too-big-too-fail Banksters.

The bank-owned Federal Reserve gave $16 Trillion taxpayer funds to Big Banks,

to cover swaps and derivative gambling losses. Illegal gambling debts must be repaid.

• SAVE $120 Billion per year – Exit Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Somalia

• SAVE $250 Billion on DOD WWII weapons; Cut Nuclear missiles, 835 world Bases.

• CUT $70 Billion Fed Subsidies for Oil Corps, big AG, Pharma, NAFTA-offshoring

• Collective bargaining is a patriotic American right. Enact EFCA. Strengthen NLRB.

• Nixon Wartime upper income tax of 74% for those earning over $250,000 annually

• ONE penny fee on all Wall Street Swaps and Derivatives (trading over 1000 shares)

• DOUBLE Social Security payments to Seniors, hero Vets, blind, deaf and disabled

• $200 Billion Turbine and Solar incentives in 20 States (80% made in America)

• BREAK up strangle hold of 5 monopoly Media, break up Big Oil, Too Big Banks, Big Insure, Big Ag, Bigger Drugs, Bigger Weapons, Biggest cells for Biggest wiretappers

• Expand the dramatically over worked Supreme Court to 11 (eleven) Justices

• 50 State Banks can absorb their State's deficits as Assets. Then, they can loan to States.

• Average citizen candidates for political office via Public Financing; 30 day max Elections.

Expert Economists will testify about New Jobs, Keynesian-Government jobs spending during a Depression. Need for Wealthy to pay fair tax. One penny fee on Wall St Swaps, & derivatives. Union Executives can describe the need for EFCA. The Dept. of Labor should help organize tens of millions of new Union Members, etc. [ Debate: T Bag Budget vs. ‘Progressive Caucus Budget’, WLA-Malibu MoveOn Contract: "Rebuild the Dream," and “Promise to America” by PDWA, on Oct. 16^th ]

Clone Peoples' Congress in 5 Cities, Madison, SFO, NYC, CHI, PHI...then in WASHINGTON D.C.

Progressives Led Democratic and GOP Parties

“Progressive-Populists' Revolt Led to Control of

Both Democratic and GOP Parties 1885-1920”

In 1885, Democrat Grover Cleveland took office over a deep Bank caused deflation. Wheat was driven down to 50 cents a bushel. Corn descended so low, it was burned for fuel more often than food. It sat rotting in mammoth Midwest warehouses. Yet in America's great cities, hundreds of thousands of unemployed black and white working families were starving. Railroad barons never got rich shipping food for free. President Cleveland founded the Interstate Commerce Commission in an attempt to gain some control over the Railroad barons. Many foreclosed farmers committed suicide. Most revolted. They organized the popular Grange movement, and launched Farmers' Alliances, town by town, and state by state. African American farmers organized separately. They were excluded from the Farmers' Alliance and Grange movements.

Mine workers in the mountainous West were also starving from falling prices. They joined the Western Federation of Miners, led by Big Bill Haywood, songs by Joe Hill.

Between 1881-1900, Progressive-Populist workers conducted over 23,000 Strikes

In May 1891, at Cincinnati, Ohio, the Populist Party was founded, by white farmers, miners, and the highest skilled craft unions from the AFL. Their demands:

1. 1. A new “Income Tax” would include wealthy Trust owners at a progressive rate

2. 2. Public (Government) ownership of monopoly Railroads, Telephone, and Telegraph

3. 3. Very popular Initiative, Referendum, and (corrupt politician) Recall were introduced

4. 4. 8-hour day (1890's average, 12 hours, 6-7 day week)

In July 1892, hungry steel workers struck the huge Homestead Works owned by steel and coal baron, Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie hired Pinkerton detectives to sail barges down a River, surround and attack the Union picket line. When they reached the Works, the Pinkerton detectives opened fire on defenseless picketers. Fellow Union brothers heard the gunfire, and descended on the Carnegie Works from the high in the hills.

An explosive battle erupted. Oil was poured into the River. One of the Pinkerton barges caught fire. They screamed to surrender. The Union arrested hundreds of trigger-happy detectives. The local District Attorney charged them with Murder. In the end however, steel baron Andrew Carnegie called in the State Militia, and broke the bloody strike.

Populism was demonized in the day's Faux-scare Media as “Treason,” and/or “Socialist.”

But in 1892, so wildly popular was the Populist Party, they received 30% as a third Party. In 1893, Banks failed, causing 15,000 businesses to close, and wide unemployment.

By 1896, Populists took control of the Democratic Party. The Populist-Democrat candidate, William Jennings Bryan was a charismatic lightening rod who traveled 18,000 miles. He visited every township and village in the country. At each stop, the charming Populist champion delivered electrifying speeches, such as his famous “Cross of Gold”.

Unfortunately, his Wall St.-bankrolled Republican opponent, William McKinley used banksters to threaten farmers with cancellation of their mortgages. Industrial workers were paid off, and told not to return, if Bryan won the Election. These bare knuckle tactics proved decisive. McKinley won. He joined 'yellow journalist' Randolph Hearst

to launch the disastrous, imperialist Spanish American War 1898-1900. Luckily, an anarchist's bullet ended President McKinley's Empire yearnings in January 1901.

By 1901, the U.S. Congress was the personal property of 5-7 billionaire Baron families. The Railroad monopoly was dominated by two men. The coal mines and steel mills were owned by Carnegie. The Oil monopoly and silver mines belonged to John D. Rockefeller. The Banks to J.P. Morgan, Chase, Mellon and their Trusts. These billionaire Barons wined, dined, and bought every Congressman, and each Republican and Democratic President. (Compare with Citibank, GE, Wallmart, Exxon, Fox Empire, AT$T today)

Against this Corporate domination arose the brave Knights of Labor (1896), the American Federation of Labor (AFL-1896), Western Federation of Miners, the Populist Party (1891), and Industrial Workers of the World (IWW in 1905). Of these labor heroes, only the Knights of Labor and the IWW recruited African Americans.

BOTH PARTIES FALL to PROGRESSIVE-POPULIST SWEEP

After gaining control of the Democratic Party, Progressive-Populists took leadership of the Republican Party as well (Pres. Roosevelt and Taft). Progressive-Populists also captured Governorships in Wisconsin (Bob La Follette, Populist GOP), and California (Hiram Johnson, Democrat-Populist).

This was the result of Progressive ideas, dreams, policies and platforms, but mostly

2 decades of 23,000 labor strikes.

Nick-named 'Trust-buster Teddy,' Roosevelt (1901-1909) filed over 40 law suits to break up mammoth Monopolies dominating American life. However, the Railroad Trusts and Banksters did not surrender easily. Standard Oil and American Tobacco Trusts would only dissolve years later, via the Supreme Court, under Pres. William H. Taft (1909-1913)

In 1902, thousands of Pennsylvania coal miners struck after a series of mine disasters. They asked for a 9 hour day. The arrogant mine Barons refused to even negotiate.

A violent battle between mine families and Pinkerton Detectives left hundreds of women and children injured. Teddy Roosevelt intervened, and settled the strike in the miners' favor. He also passed several ground-breaking mine safety laws.

In America's textile mills, coal mines, wheat or corn farms, steel mills, and industrial factories, African American workers were systematically excluded. When all white coal miners or steel workers struck, the Coal/Steel barons often brought in immigrants, African Americans, or child labor to scab. Only the sea port Longshoremen were integrated. In the New Orleans Port Strike of 1902, African American and white stevedores fought together. Side-by-side, they defeated the Port's divide-and-conquer strategy, so corruptly successful in thousands of coal and steel strikes.

The Lawrence, Mass. Textile mill consisted of 25 different nationalities. In Jan. 1912, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn and Big Bill Haywood sent in organizers speaking many different languages. Once their organizers had signed 1000 IWW members, all 25,000 Lawrence ladies walked out for “Bread and Roses.” With the IWW's help, they won a brave strike.

The 1913 Paterson Silk workers strike was also led by Elizabeth Gurley Flynn and Big Bill Haywood of the IWW. They created a Musical Pageant about the Paterson Strike for a Broadway opening in NYC. It was a huge hit. The dramatic performances, by the silk strikers themselves, won over the influential NYC public, and the strike was successful.

In the 1913 Ludlow Massacre, Colorado state militia was called in by the wealthy Coal and Oil baron, John D. Rockefeller, to smash starving UMW coal miners. The UMW only asked for an 8 hour day. The state militia's intense rifle fire set fire to a Tent. A special Tent. A Tent hiding 11 small children, who burned to death for the greed of Rockefeller.

The 1912 Presidential Election featured 3 Progressive-Populist Presidential Candidates. The Republicans were split between current Pres. Taft, and the new Progressive Party's Teddy Roosevelt. This split allowed the Progressive Democrat Woodrow Wilson to win.

He immediately selected “Gold Cross” William Jennings Bryan as his Secretary of State. Between 1913 and 1921, Wilson introduced many pro-labor laws, and Corporate business restrictions. Woodrow Wilson appointed the first Cabinet Secretary in the new Department of Labor. He spearheaded laws ensuring 8 hours pay, for 10 hours work. In 1914, he passed the Clayton Anti-Trust Act to break up Monopolies that crush competitors. Wilson also happily signed the 19^th Amendment (Vote for Women).

However, Wilson's Progressive program was sidelined by a growing foreign conflict. A War between the decrepit Kings of Europe. This aristocratic conflict had nothing to do with us. But our weapons lobby, and the Hearst 'yellow journalism' media empire, conspired to drag American working people into the feudal conflict. 1 million dead. WWI (1917 - 1918)

Does Democrat Wilson's dilemma feel familiar? FDR's New deal-WWII; L. Johnson's Civil Rights-Vietnam; Barack Obama's National Healthcare - Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya.

After WWI ended in 1918, Corporations drastically cut hours and canceled overtime. Workers who skimped patriotically for the War effort, now struck for a 'Peace dividend'. There were nearly 4000 strikes in 1919. Wilson was criticized by GOP Congressmen for being soft on Labor. Were not these 'rabble,' the same 'socialist' and 'anarchist' strikers who protested the War effort? To prove his mettle, and stifle the growing strikes, Wilson unleashed Attorney General Palmer. He arrested the anti-war leaders of the IWW, Populist Party and Socialist Party. Big Bill Haywood, Helen Gurley Flynn, Eugene Debs, Emma Goldman, and hundreds of Progressive-Populists were prosecuted and convicted. Eugene Debs got a 10 year sentence. Their crime – criticizing the Corporate Democrat Party's and war profiteering Republican Party's jingoistic drum beat for War.

By goading Pres. Wilson to arrest and imprison his Progressive-Democratic activist base, the Republicans got Wilson to destroy the heart and soul of the Democratic Party.

Corporate GOP'ers returned to power easily in 1921. The Progressive resistance was in jail.

Democrats were denied political power for the next 12 years.

But the Progressives returned with fire in 1933. The new CIO Labor militancy of John L. Lewis, and the Auto and steel sit down strikes and the bloody coal miner strikes kept Democrats in power from 1933-1950.

Progressive Democratic Workers for (a new) America

https://pdwamerica.blogspot.com

“Progressive-Populists' Revolt Led to Control of Both Democratic and GOP Parties”

8/11/11 by William Floyd

“Cross of Gold” by William Jennings Bryan [ 1896 ]

US was in a terrible Bank recession. Banks and the Gold Standard made

dollars very scarce. Populists wanted to increase the amount of currency

via silver, to jump start employment and prosperity. Republicans insisted

on Gold only.

“Having behind us the producing masses of this nation, and the world,

supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests, and the

Toilers everywhere, we will answer their demand for a gold standard

by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor

this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a Cross of Gold.”

-– William Jennings Bryan

I am the people – the mob - the crowd – the mass.

Do you know that all the great work of the world is done through me?

I am the workingman, the inventor, the maker of the world's food and clothes.

I am the audience that witnesses history. -– Carl Sandburg

IWW

If the Workers take a notion,

They can stop all speeding Trains.

Every Ship upon the ocean,

They can tie with mighty chains.

Every wheel in the Creation,

Every mine and every mill,

Fleets and Armies of the Nation,

Will, at their command, stand still.

–- Joe Hill

Bibliography

Joyce Kornbluh, Rebel Voices, the IWW in Poems and Songs

H.S. Commager, ed. Documents of American History, Appleton-Century-Crofts

Mary R. Beard, A Short History of the American Labor Movement

Theodore Roosevelt, Autobiography

Progressive Democratic Workers for (a new) America

https://pdwamerica.blogspot.com

8/11/2011

WHY A PEOPLES' CONGRESS?

WHY A PEOPLES' CONGRESS No. 1?

A recent Pew Poll revealed that the US Congress was respected by an all time low 6% of the American people. The other 94% distrusts all Bank-Wall St. corrupted Congress members.

The recent Blue Dog Democrat-GOP “Debt Limit” agreement eviscerates grants to 50 States' Medicare, SSI disabled allowances, child lunches, a dozen job creation bills, green infrastructure and road building programs, and thousands of FAA Safety investigators. No Media mentioned the loss of 1.8 million UNION JOBS. 100,000s Layoffs of more Union teachers. Critical first responders, Park care workers, and crucial childcare workers will all lose their jobs. The Blue Dogs and GOP knives even sliced away meager food stamps for former middle class Americans, now foreclosed and evicted. They are now part of the working poor, many even homeless. They are everywhere. They and their children wander our cold city streets, hungry.

The Citizen-Candidate of our Founding Constitution can no longer be Elected in America.

It takes $1 million to $5 million to run for Congress. Candidates need to raise $10,000 a day to win each House seat. Every 2 years. The Supreme Court' decision in “Citizens United” allows Monopolies to spend $5 or $500 million to support, or kill any progressive Congressional candidate. These Billionaires can afford to air 25 Swift Boat political ads, two weeks before an Election. What chance does Abigail Adams or Joe Average have today?

The Progressive Peoples' Congress No. 1 will be a lively discussion of the issues really hurting working families: Jobs, Wall Street control of President, Congress, Media News, no tax on the Luxury Class, Wall St corruption of both political parties.

The Event: Similar to a Senate Subcommittee meeting seen on C-SPAN every day.

Economists testify. Union Officers speak. Other Experts. Our volunterr 'Congress' members ask questions. Friendly ping pong.

The most crucial issues. Jobs, War, Peace, Banks repay, EFCA, Oil, Phone (tapping) monopolies

** However, even these issues will become BORING, without comic relief **

COMIC RELIEF “GOP Senators” in Tuxedos Shout Faux News talking points and bang on drums. They disrupt the Hearing. But the “Leader” of the Peoples Congress calls them “Out of Order”. Then the GOP, in black formal wear, suddenly fall silent.

The Peoples' Congressional Hearings continue with exciting Testimony from Union shop stewards, expert Professors, Teachers, progressive activists, fire fighters, maimed Vets in wheelchairs, Nurses from Iraq, Economists, Historians, et al.

PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATIC WORKERS for AMERICA

http://www.pdwamerica.blogspot.com

EURO Unions Protest Militantly

WHEN WILL AMERICAN LABOR LEARN FROM EURO UNIONS ?

Tens of thousands of workers from around Europe have marched across Brussels in a protest against spending cuts by EU governments. Food price rises are growing concern.
Does currency intervention work? Spain has held a General Strike, with protesters
in Barcelona clashing with police and torching a police car....

Other protests against austerity measures have been held in Greece, Italy, the Irish Republic and Latvia. Trade unions say EU workers may become the biggest victims of a financial crisis set off by bankers and traders. Many governments across the 27-member bloc have imposed punishing cuts in wages, pensions and employment to deal with spiralling debts.

On Wednesday night, Portugal's minority government announced proposals to cut civil servants' pay and state spending while raising taxes in an attempt to lower the country's debt levels. In Greece and the Irish Republic, unemployment figures are at their highest level in 10 years, while Spain's unemployment has doubled in just three years.

In Britain the government is planning to slash spending by up to 25% in some areas, while France has seen angry protests against a planned increase in the minimum retirement age from 60 TO 62 years. Firecrackers: Police sealed off the EU headquarters and barricaded banks and shops ahead of the protest in Brussels. It was described by unions as a day of action under the slogan "No to austerity, priority to jobs and growth". Tens of thousands of demonstrators, many carrying large red and green balloons and banners, headed towards EU institution buildings in the Belgian capital (Brussels). "We didn't cause this crisis. The bill has to be paid by banks, not by workers” European Trade Union Confederation Day of action.

They made heard their voices, whistles, horns and anything else they could find, says the BBC's Nick Childs in the city, amid the sound and smoke of firecrackers.Speaking at the march, Jean Claude Mailly, head of the French union Force Ouvriere, said there was still time to rethink the austerity measures." It is never too late because the austerity measures are in the process of being set up now," he told the BBC." So we are in a period where social movements of a different nature will have a big value in the weeks and months to come. There is a strong social tension." Labour unions in Spain began the country's first general strike in eight years by marching through the capital, Madrid, in an effort to shut down the city. Also in the capital, there were mass protests outside bus and metro stations, and few buses were running. Many high-speed trains were cancelled and only about a quarter of commuter trains were running. Groups of strikers went into shops and banks trying to force them to close. The airline Iberia said it expected to operate only 35% of scheduled flights.

'Banks to blame' In the Irish Republic, a man drove a cement mixer covered with anti-bank slogans into the gates of the parliament in Dublin, in an apparent protest at the country's expensive bank bail-out. Strikers held a protest in central Madrid, prompting some shops to close. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) said the protesters were marching to voice their anger over budget-slashing plans and cuts which "could lead Europe into a recession". The union warns that the financial crisis - which it describes as the worst in Europe since the 1930s - has already made 23 million people across the EU jobless. It fears that the austerity measures being implemented by various EU governments could "result in even more unemployment". "We didn't cause this crisis. The bill has to be paid by banks, not by workers," ETUC said. Instead, the organisation urges governments to guarantee workers stable jobs, strong social protection and better pensions. Workers in many EU countries are frustrated that they are paying for the mistakes of the banks and the financial sector, the BBC's Christian Fraser in Brussels reports.