This week you discussed the role of racism in foreign policy, Black America and the duopoly, and global elites’ plans for exploiting the Covid crisis. We share your letters for “Say Racism’s Name, and Fight It With Solidarity,” “Peace, Self-Determination, and the Duopoly Trap,” and “The Rich Will Use Crisis to Further Immiserate Workers.”
“Say Racism’s Name, and Fight It With Solidarity” by Danny Haiphong argues that the enemies of the Black Lives Matter movement are the same forces pushing for a new Cold War with China.
Reg Callaway writes:
“The anti-China crusade has moved into high-gear and is moving dangerously faster than anyone can keep up. The racism card is a smokescreen to contain China's economic ambitions, which is no surprise. Blacks get this treatment all the time. The most recent manifestation in name-calling is we are Marxists or Russian agents or Looters. The objective, of course, is to rile up the willing White base. Attacking China, which is a country versus people, has also morphed into blurring the lines on what specifically the enemy really is so the attacks against them can appear to be justified.
“Anyway, just yesterday, 21 Oct, the U.S. government offered financial support for Brazilian carriers to bypass Chinese made 5G equipment.... with a $135 billion fund. That staggering sum could fund all sorts of social issues at home, it is just the powers that be don't care about social problems when Big Techs' bottom line is at stake. Although weakened but nevertheless shameless, the U.S. continues to have the upper hand at finding stooge leaders to go along with its insanity.
“Perhaps the most dangerous movements in recent decades are the U.S. engaging Taiwan militarily. Here U.S. troops are in Taiwan openly displaying a Patriot battery in order to stick it to Beijing. China has long called Taiwan a part of the country. Sounding the alarm, president XI has called on the Chinese army to "prepare for war." Naturally, Washington has ignored the Chinese government's redlines and has pushed forward with its own agenda. What I find disturbing is the U.S. government 1) ignores the redlines 2) and they do not bother informing the American public about potential dangers ahead, kinda like downplaying the Covid-19 response once they knew of the dangers. At some point, China is going to respond. With what, we don't know.
“Finally, Taiwan is a tiny island without the budgetary capacity to mount a deterrence against a determined China. So what the heck is the U.S. doing putting itself and Taiwan at increased risk of war? My guess is the U.S. military investments and posturing has nothing to do with protecting Taiwan but everything to do with boosting Lockheed sales. You see, even China and Taiwan are pulled into the gravitational force of Wall Street which they can't escape.”
In “Peace, Self-Determination, and the Duopoly Trap” Glen Ford argues that despite Black Americans being the most left-wing constituency in the country, the duopoly traps them into voting for the reactionary Democratic Party.
Makheru Bradley speaks:
“If we could get 10% of the Afrikan American body politic to liberate themselves from the monopoly of the duopoly and protest vote for an independent presidential candidate, that could be a base to build on. We know the majority, mentally incarcerated by fear of the so-called greater evil, have dichotomized the devil and will vote for New Jim Crow Joe, who has done more damage to Afrikans in the US than any candidate since the enslavers Washington, Jefferson, and Jackson. Can we get a modest 10%?”
In radio segment “The Rich Will Use Crisis to Further Immiserate Workers” Anthony Monteiro discusses the plans of the global elite to consolidate the Fourth Industrial Revolution through the Covid crisis.
Paul Billings writes:
“Terrific interview with Anthony Monteiro. As Monteiro points out, Democrats and Republicans are incapable of addressing the needs of Black/working people as they have been bought and paid for by Wall St. Indeed, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed on Mar 27 with virtually no debate in Congress. While this legislation provided temporary relief to working people who lost their jobs, it provided $3 trillion to Wall St. to boost equity prices. The FED is currently fronting Wall St circa $120 billion/month ($1.8 trillion/year) to purchase toxic corporate debt and mortgage-backed securities. Indeed, the levels of taxpayer-funded financial gluttony would no doubt make 19th- century robber barons green with envy. It is important to stress that these policies have had enthusiastic bipartisan support in Congress. Meanwhile, US unemployment is at levels not seen since the Great depression, while millions of families face eviction from their homes and loss of medical insurance. The CBO estimates US government deficits for 2020 at $3.1 trillion; obviously unsustainable.”
“The political cowardice/reactionary nature of Democrats was on display during the recent Senate Judiciary committee hearings on Amy Barrett’s confirmation as an associate Justice to the Supreme Court. Instead of critically analyzing Barrett’s judicial record as Federal Judge, 7th Circuit, which has been predictably reactionary/pro-corporate we heard comments like this from the nominee ‘While I am a judge, I’m better known back home as a room parent, car-pool driver and birthday party planner.’
“At the conclusion of the hearings, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA; net worth $58 million). commented ‘It leaves one with a lot of hopes, a lot of questions and even some ideas perhaps of good bipartisan legislation we can put together.’ We are watching the continuing decline/putrefaction of late-stage American capitalism and with it the emergence of fascism, supported by both corporate parties.”
The struggle for a people’s alternative will continue no matter who wins this election.
Jahan Choudhry is Comments Editor for Black Agenda Report. He is an organizer with the Saturday Free School based in Philadelphia, PA.
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