Gloria La Riva, presidential candidate for the ironically named “Party for Socialism and Liberation” did an AMA (ask me anything) on Reddit this afternoon. Reddit is populated by a lot of millennial Bernie-bots so she was pretty well received. The 10 point plan on which she is running looks a lot like something produced by the Democrats.
She introduced herself to Redditors with this statement.
I am a long-time organizer in the anti-war and social justice movements, a union leader and much more. I am the nominee for three socialist parties: I will be on the ballot in California for the Peace and Freedom Party, in Vermont for the Liberty Union Party, and on the ballot in Colorado, New Mexico, Iowa, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Washington state for the Party for Socialism and Liberation. I am also a write-in candidate in Montana, Rhode Island, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Kansas, West Virginia, Maryland, New York and other states.
For people who admire totalitarians, socialists use a lot of “freedom” words. I don’t think this word means what they think it means
Unforgettable, chat w @FidelCastro Showed world the way to Revolution @JoseRCabanas @61Capote @KSPCuba @pslweb pic.twitter.com/6jp6sqEF62
— Gloria La Riva (@GloriaLaRiva) August 8, 2016
Not only is she a fan of the murderous Fidel Castro, she’s also down with the Chavistas of Venezuela. Apparently she’s a proponent of hyperinflation and food shortages. I haven’t seen anything about a Sean Penn endorsement yet but here’s hoping.
Here is a sample of the Q&A
Would you call yourself a Marxist-leninist?
Do you think a socialist revolution is possible in the United States, within our lifetimes?
The PSL is a revolutionary Marxist party, which to which Lenin made critical political and organizational contributions.
And as a South African revolutionary once said, “Every revolution is impossible until it happens. At that point, all agree that it was inevitable.”
What would you say to Americans convinced that socialism is economically unviable to try and sway their minds?
I’d say that the countries that have had the least–poor countries like Russia, Cuba, China–have had it so hard building socialism, since they had to build both their industry and a society built around providing for people’s needs. In the United States, we have so much wealth that just gets wasted, like the surplus housing that outnumbers the homeless population here. People go hungry, but we throw away thousands of tons of food every day.
Socialism is a rational system that provides goods to people based on their actual needs, not for profit. We already have so much wealth, so socialism in the United States would mean providing for people more than building up industry. That’s especially so since climate change is such a pressing issue. We need to first reorganize our economy to provide for the needs of people and the planet, which is something that is plainly impossible under capitalism.
Her 10 point plan is a parody of itself but take a look and ask yourself if you haven’t heard the same talking points from Democrats.
1. For the earth to live, capitalism must end
This sounds like when Hillary talks about how she wants to “take” oil company profits, or when in a brief moment of honesty during this campaign she promised to “put a lot of coal miners out of business.” But don’t worry, coal miners. They’ve got you covered with their second point.
2. Make a job a Constitutional right
3. Make free health care, free education & affordable housing Constitutional rights
Points 2 and 3 are straight out of Democrat icon Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s proposed “second bill of rights.”
4. Shut down all U.S. military bases around the world—bring all the troops, planes & ships home
There may be some Democrats who part ways with this point, especially if they have defense contractors or military bases in their districts, but just wait until there’s another Republican President. They will be as anti-military and as anti-war as ever.
5. End racism. Stop police brutality and mass incarceration
There are good arguments for reforming our criminal justice system and no one defends real police brutality. The Democrats often use the term to describe any incident where a black perpetrator is shot by a white cop though. Race baiting is the bread and butter of Democrats faced with policies they don’t like. The Democrats also have their representatives who would echo La Riva’s call to free convicted cop killer Mumia Abu Jamal.
6. Defend our unions
Naturally. Unions are one of the biggest sources of campaign funds for Democrats.
7. Equality for women and free, safe, legal abortion on demand
War on women, wage gap myth, yada yada yada.
8. Full rights for all immigrants
The word “immigrants” here is used in place of illegal aliens. “Full rights” means unchecked immigration and open borders. Remember how Democrats reacted when Arizona attempted to secure its southern border and crack down on illegal immigration?
9. Full federal equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people
Bathrooms bathrooms bathrooms.
10. Seize the banks—Jail Wall Street criminals
While technically not a Democrat, Bernie Sanders garnered a lot more support in the primary than the DNC was comfortable with. Attacking Wall Street was the centerpiece of his campaign.
It looks like socialists are just Democrats with inferior marketing instincts.
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