As the current issue of Left Turn goes to press, we are witness to another round of Israeli violence against the Palestinians followed by another cease fire. There is a definite need to raise critical awareness of the Question of Palestine, Zionism and the US-backing for the apartheid state of Israel. Clearly, the most recent spectacular Israeli assault on the Palestinians … [Read more...] about Notes from the Editor-Left Turn #9
Left Turn
Notes from the Editor [LT3]
Notes from the Editors The essays in this issue are of two sorts. The one we present first focuses on grassroots actions of the you-are-the-leaders-you’ve-been-looking-for persuasion. Mostly. Their focus tends to be on doings in the US: the black community, bingo workers, teachers and unions, meritocracy (an analytic counterpoise dealing with the wealthy), a grassroots … [Read more...] about Notes from the Editor [LT3]
Remembering Martin Boksenbaum
Nancy Tate Martin Boksenbaum, a LEPOCO supporter since the 1980s and a Lehigh Valley leader on much work for the environment and in building community, died on August 7. His work and his dedication to that work is missed by so many including LEPOCO. Martin Boksenbaum and Janet Goloub came to the Lehigh Valley in 1980. They first lived in Allentown and then in … [Read more...] about Remembering Martin Boksenbaum
Can the Working Class Change the World?
Michael D. Yates Monthly Review Press (Oct. 2, 2018)One of the horrors of the capitalist system is that slave labor, which was central to the formation and growth of capitalism itself, is still fully able to coexist alongside wage labor. But, as Karl Marx pointed out, it is the fact of being paid for one's work that validates capitalism as a viable socio-economic structure. … [Read more...] about Can the Working Class Change the World?
Remembering William Blum
Faramarz Farbod The year 2018 witnessed the passing of William Blum, the author and fierce critic of U.S. imperialism. He died on December 9, at a hospice center in Arlington, VA., at age 85. The news was not entirely unexpected as he had suffered an injury from a fall at his home two months earlier. Blum had ceaselessly researched and exposed in meticulous detail the … [Read more...] about Remembering William Blum
Community and Ecosystem Protection: Two Films
Martin Boksenbaum Audiences made up of community activists and college students were treated to one-night-only showings of two important new documentaries: Invisible Hand on October 21st at Lehigh University and Unfractured on October 23rd at Northampton Community College. Both films focused on significant examples of efforts to protect communities and ecosystems from … [Read more...] about Community and Ecosystem Protection: Two Films
Post-Job Societies
Robert Kocis I. The Problem – A spectre is haunting the industrial and post-industrial world — the spectre of job insecurity. While globalization explains some job insecurity (jobs have been shifted from the more- to the less-developed parts of the world), the greater threat emerges from artificial intelligence (AI), computerization, and robotization, which threaten jobs … [Read more...] about Post-Job Societies
Exploitation of the Powerless: The Essence of Capitalism
Philip Reiss My American Heritage Dictionary of The English Language defines a welfare state as "A social system whereby the state assumes primary responsibility for the welfare of citizens." This definition didn't say ALL citizens. So, it seems it's open for interpretation. Also, what is meant by social system? A definition of the term social system is not presented per se. … [Read more...] about Exploitation of the Powerless: The Essence of Capitalism
Identity Crisis?
Martin Boksenbaum Wouldn't it be great to win the lottery and live like one of the rich and famous and powerful? At least that's something to aim for, isn't it, living the upscale life-styles the media flashes before our eyes? Whoa! Is somebody screwing with our brains? What exactly is the reality of our situations anyway? What do we need to be conscious of as … [Read more...] about Identity Crisis?
Pope Francis and the Battle Over Cultural Terrain
Gary Olson "… [W]e should not be fooled: Much of the organized opposition to Francis has nothing to do with how we care for the divorced and remarried. It is this, his trenchant critique of modern capitalism that keeps money flowing to conservative outlets intent on marginalizing what the pope says." —Michael Sean Winters, TThe National Catholic Reporter,10/29/17 So far, … [Read more...] about Pope Francis and the Battle Over Cultural Terrain