Socialist Women Election Statement
Thursday, 9 October 2008

The editors of Socialist Women, the national publication of the Women's Commission of the Socialist Party USA, urge all those convinced of the need for fundamental social change to vote for Brian Moore for U.S. President and Stewart Alexander for U.S. Vice President, the candidates of the Socialist Party USA, the national spokespeople for a radical alternative to the policies and practices of global capitalism.

Over the past few years, it has become apparent that the U.S. government has not only unleashed its military power on the people of Iraq and Afghanistan, it has also declared war on its own residents. Today, virtually every city and town in the U.S. is under siege, struggling to meet people's basic human needs. Look at our schools? Our health care? Our public transportation? The jobless rate? The number of home foreclosures? Grocery and gasoline prices? Incidences of domestic violence? Disregard for the rights of women, children, workers, and minorities?

Cut-backs and give-backs abound. Working people and their local governments are stretched to their breaking points.

And yet, wishful thinking and "lesser-evil" decision-making still dominate our electoral process. Why do so many of us continue to vote, however reluctantly, for Democratic Party candidates or incumbents who consider getting elected or staying in office to be their greatest mission? When will those of us with the most to lose from the perpetuation of the current economic and political system extricate ourselves from the rhetoric and opportunism of mainstream politicians?

We need to stand behind candidates who are willing to seriously challenge these people, and the corporate interests they represent. Brian Moore and Stewart Alexander are such candidates.

Brian and Stewart represent the way forward to a democratic socialist feminist future.

In this new society, capitalism and patriarchy will be transformed by the establishment of a new social and economic order in which workers and community members take responsibility for and control of their interpersonal relationships, their neighborhoods, their local governments, and the production and distribution of all goods and services.

In this new society, systems of domination and exploitation-- whether based on gender, race/ethnicity, age, education, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics-- will cease to exist. New social structures will be developed-- ones based on compassion, empathy, and respect for the individual and the groups to which they belong.

In this new society, resources will be socially owned and democratically controlled. Everyone will be guaranteed the right to participate in the various aspects of daily life, and to receive a fair share of society's products, in accordance with their needs. Tasks will be shared. Cooperation will be valued.

Vote for Brian Moore and Stewart Alexander! If they are not on your ballot, write in their names. Stand up for the vision, the wisdom, of this new society. Join with others in the U.S. and around the globe who are voting their hopes, not their fears: who are working to build an international movement for a democratic, socialist, feminist, world.