A blog version of the just published (Feb 2010)free san francisco left wing newspaper. This blog only contains 1/4 of each issue!! There’s tons more interesting stuff in the paper….Mail a dollar or more to Holler…PO Box 40656, SF, CA 94140. Issue 2 out late April. Also a voice for the new Peoples’ Councils. A direct democratic non ballot box bottom up organization to forge the new road ahead. Socialism without liberty is slavery. Articles are LONG and so difficult to read on a screen. I will make this more of a headline page so you can choose easier.
And what DO YOU think about this? Do you have alternative ideas, or present organizations that are working to the same goal? Let me know….
BEGIN THE PEOPLES’ COUNCILS BUILD THE BRICKS AND MORTAR OF A NEW WORLD ORGANIZE OUR STRENGTH TO SAVE THE EARTH ORGANIZE TO STOP THE WARS LAND AND FREEDOM! PEOPLES’ ECONOMICS!
We have the numbers and will to build a better world. We have the people resources and the creative ability to move forward. The times demand we fight for the impossible. Desperation may be the catalyst while our ability is the spark. Bottom up libertarian progressive movements have emerged throughout the world. We must build the councils to join as a federated intellectually, socially cohesive ally for these worldwide like-minded social movements. And we must build our power to protect ourselves, to hold onto what gains those before us have fought and died for, and build a new sphere …a new consciousness, though threaded throughout history, to move forward.
“Ignorance of humanity’s common interest, that is, ignorance of solidarity, makes each man see in the other man a competitor who must be vanquished so that he can live.” -Ricardo Flores Magon
Start your own district council now. Five or fifty people. We will have a mass meeting announced in the second issue of this paper, and by the website and flyering. At that meeting we will begin the face-to-face mass organization we all yearn for. Federation of all district councils; for basic immediate organizational purposes, to establish goals, and on to immediate action.
Build your peoples council if you agree on these basics…
THE WORKING CONSTITUTION
1) Direct democracy is the sole political axis. No vanguard committee, nor political party, nor leader can ever make decisions for us.
2) Capitalism has to be replaced by a worldwide people run sustainable economic system that immediately slows the destruction of nature, and immediately ensures the well being of all people.
3) Corporations and Capital know no borders, nor should we.
4) We will not align with any political party in any manner. Our power rests in our initiative, intellect, and courage for direct action, compassionate ability for mutual aid, and efficiency in numbers. Our power can never be dealt to one person, or a group of elected experts. We surrender our power when we allow individuals to make decisions for us.
5) When the peoples’ councils become too large to commit all decision making via direct face to face democracy, then all large assemblies having representatives from each council, will make decisions in general representative assemblies with each issue having been discussed beforehand by every member of every council. The representatives will only vote on an issue, or proclamation, or procedure as their respective members have decided beforehand. The representatives of each council are educated by the members of their council. And only speaking from them not for them.
6) The Peoples’ Councils do not support or advocate violence against people. Militant direct action does not mean imitating the terror of states through bombs, assassination or vanguardist armed ‘citizens militias’. Our present day goals and our long-term gains involve mass numbers utilizing non-violent force, and the power of strength as workers. Though this will often result in violence by the state against ‘us’, it in no way suggests we ever will imitate their militaristic hierarchies or the state’s coercive force; we will not react by violence, but by reason, organization, education and if the people decide, by counter direct action. We support the right of self-defense. When we choose in the future to seize land for living, farming, and/or occupy and take any unused sources of production, we will have done so for the common good, as decided by direct democratic discussion.
And I suggest…these main topics for discussion before the first big meeting of us all….1) The Peoples’ Councils must spread all through the country in every city and at the same time federate with peoples movements south.
2) We should discuss the viability of a long general strike against both USA occupations. Can we get most cities to shut down for three days? And then do it again? It won’t stop the machine, but it is the only way to erode its power.
3) What land, housing, in each district councils are unoccupied? What production centers are closing down in each district councils? Can they be taken over and managed, and employ people? Occupy, Resist and Produce!
4) Begin a network with small food producers to connect the cities with the rural, and to ensure supply during times of duress and to create communitarian bonds between rural and urban.
And on the social side…we should have a yearly documentary/narrative/art film festival. As our numbers grow to the thousands: block parties, festivals and competition for the best banners, theater, council songs, and poetry and literature and music groups.
Immediate mutual aid organizations for all members in need.
Respond to this PO Box 40656, SF, CA 94140 or this email hollerfromtherooftops@yahoo.com or go to this website: tommys1961.wordpress.com for more update information before the next issue of this paper. Respond to declare your support, your progress, and give your added ideas. What is the name of your council and how many members? Ok to use pseudonyms. Use general geographic areas. Be careful what you write. Create separate email accounts or get a PO box. Make ‘them’ jump through more hoops. Or choose as I am, to make it extremely obvious. The more people they think they have to round up in times of trouble, the more trouble it will be for them. We should not , and I will not, keep any kind of mass mailing list or membership name list.
