Socialist Party Of Wisconsin

(The following is not to be taken as an official Statement of the Socialist Party of Wisconsin or of the Socialist Party USA but is the view of the author. Comments and discussion would be appreciated.)

Jerry Stastny is a Member of the SPWI, where he has recently been elected to serve as the State Secretary, and the SPUSA, where he serves as the National Treasurer. He lives in Menasha.

There are two ideas, linked together, regarding the SPUSA Statement of Principles that we must examine more closely. The first is the idea that we subscribe to the Principles. The second is that the Principles states we are a revolutionary party.

By subscribing to the Statement of Principles one is agreeing that we are Revolutionary Socialists and that socialism will not be achieved with certain “reforms” of the capitalist system. We must act in everything we do as a Party and as individual socialists with that understanding. Capitalism must be destroyed!

Revised April 10, 2010 by Jerry M Stastny

For further reading:

SPUSA Statement of Principles
Social Democracy Versus Revolutionary Democratic Socialism

On May 15, in Milwaukee, the Socialist Party of Wisconsin held its biennial convention. Items on the agenda included examining the Platform and the Constitution, presenting resolutions and electing the State Executive Committee (SEC) to serve the Party for the next 2 years. The Conventions was opened by the Chair, Paul Ciglar and was attended by members from throughout the state.

It was agreed that the Convention Platform Committee will continue its work beyond the close of the Convention and will present the new Platform to a mail vote of the Membership.

A number of Resolutions were passed that dealt with both internal structure and external political desires. One Resolution States: “We resolve to meet and work with leftist, labor and progressive organizations and those promoting programs and ideals compatible with our platform and principles. We further resolve to promote an open dialog and political debate with all organizations.” It is believed that the conditions of today present an opportunity to promote the ideas of socialism and discuss the need for the socialist society to the benefit of all.

Elections for the new SEC were held and the following were elected: Paul Ciglar (Appleton) Chair, Matty O’Dea (Madison) Vice Chair, Jerry Stastny (Menasha) Secretary, Sean Hatley (Madison) Treasurer, along with At Large Members that included Myrtle Kastner (Milwaukee), Nan Pfefferle (Milwaukee), Judy Luerquin (Madison) and Jerry Schade (Milwaukee). The Convention recognized the service of the outgoing Secretary Nan Pfefferle and Treasurer Jerry Schade (who will continue to serve on the SEC as At Large Members) and Anita Zeidler who chose not to seek office.

The Convention took a moment to recognize the passing of three Members, Clarence Kailin, Lee Schaal and Agnes Zeidler, who had contributed significantly to the SPWI and the community as a whole.

Passed by the Socialist Party USA People of Color Commission April 29, 2010

The Socialist Party USA calls for the immediate repeal of the “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act” (SB 1070) in Arizona. This law sanctions racial profiling and gives cover to the repressive actions of officials such as the racist Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Further, we call for an immediate moratorium on all police raids of immigrant communities; we demand the closure of the immigrant detention camps and an end to the militarization of the US-Mexico border.

Arizona has become the epicenter of struggle for the rights of immigrants. The state offers the clearest example of the abject failure of the current immigration policies in the United States. These policies rely on the use of force – ICE raids and the border police – backed up by an equally brutal labor discipline that traps the undocumented in low-wage dead-end jobs. The results are well known – the splitting up of families, the death and criminalization of migrants and a race-to-the-bottom for work conditions and wages. A 2009 mass march in Phoenix, Arizona led by young people who had been separated from their undocumented parents and families highlighted the terrible human costs of these systematic attacks on immigrants. SB 1070 seeks to take this process a step further by transforming Arizona into the equivalent of a police state where anyone with brown skin becomes a suspect. In response, immigrant communities and their allies, all across the country, are mobilizing to demand an end to the repression.

Such fervor has not, however, made it to Washington, where Democrats are preparing reform legislation that amounts to more of the same. Much like the recent healthcare reform, immigration reform has been watered down to suit the needs of Republicans and employers. This is no surprise since, as a candidate, now President Barack Obama never fully distanced himself from the Republican’s positions on immigration: the border wall, more military presence on the border, and building more detention camps. Despite this, he still gained the support of mainstream immigration reform groups who slowed down a vibrant May 1st Immigrant Rights movement. The now disarmed movement was left without any commitments from Democratic candidates and with no plans to mobilize after the elections.

The current legislation under consideration will do little to address the problem. Bills such as “the Dream Act” of 2009, which would provide conditional permanent residency to a few immigrants who entered the country as minors or have “good moral character,” will not break the crisis in Arizona. Instead, such reforms attempt to paper-over the demands from immigrant communities in order to continue the cycle of militarization, repression and wage slavery.
Socialists have something significant to offer to the immigration reform discussion. We call for an unconditional amnesty program for all undocumented people. This demand is based on our desire to create a world in which everyone will be able to move freely across borders, to visit, to work and to live wherever they choose. Amnesty will also allow workers, documented and undocumented, to begin to advance serious demands for wages and benefits.
Amnesty will move us out of the current immigration crisis and towards a society based on freedom.
Defeating SB 1070 is an urgent first step in this direction and the Socialist Party USA encourages our members and allies to join in this struggle.

¡No somos criminales, somos trabajadores internacionales!
¡Que viva la justicia y la dignidad de los migrantes unidos sin fronteras!”

The Socialist Party of Wisconsin will be holding its Biennial Convention on Saturday, May 15 at the Peace Action Center, 1001 East Keefe, Milwaukee, WI.

The Convention will look at changes to the State Party Platform and Constitution, present Resolutions and elect a new State Executive Committee.

The tentative agenda is as follows:
8:30 Doors Open
9:00 Registration begins
9:30 Welcome
10:00 Committees meet. (Platform, Resolutions/Constitution, Nomination)
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Committee Reports and voting
4:00 Adjournment

All statewide positions on the SEC will be open to election. These include; Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and five (5) at large Members.

All SPUSA Members in good standing will be eligible to vote. Guests are encouraged to attend.

Please RSVP to the Party Office at 414-332-0654 or by e-mail to info@spwi.org.

Lee Mason Schaal, 90, Gillett strawberry farmer, conscientious objector, and peace activist, loved by wife, the Rev. Anne V. Sutherland Schaal, daughters Amy Ayres and Cathy Heaney, grandchildren Sarah and Lance, and their children, Kaselyn, Wesley, and Blaycen, died peacefully at home on March 17, 2010. At his request there were no religious services. To celebrate his life, the family held an open house in the fellowship hall at Tabor United Methodist Church, 120 W Main St, Gillett, WI, on Saturday, March 20, from 1—5 pm. In lieu of flowers, condolences and memorials may be sent to the Family in care of Kuehl Funeral Home, PO Box 317, Gillett, WI 54124-0317.