Western Massachusetts

Candidates for Massachusetts Governor promote failed strategies on crime

RAIL displayed a banner attacking the anti-crime platforms of both candidates. Signs at the demonstration said things like "Democracy is the choice between two rich white guys", "Fuck your two party system" as well as huge fake ballots with "rich white guy #1" and "rich white guy #2" on them.

Acting Governor Paul Cellucci is running to retain his current job, and Attorney General Scott Harshbarger is running to move up into the top spot. Both of these swine have overseen huge increases in the Massachusetts prison machine, including the expansion of torture-cell control units. Both candidates support hiring more cops and building more prisons, despite evidence that more cops and prisons do not affect crime. The system's politicians ignore the facts, because the way to get elected is to appeal to the vicious white vote and capture the attention of potential financial backers so crucial to any individual campaign's chances. Rather than admit the flaws of the capitalist system, the rich blame problems on crime and disease.

Lesser of two evils is still evil

Earlier in the day, one Harshbarger supporter criticized RAIL's literature for taking on both candidates. This supporter enthusiastically called on RAIL to vote for, in his words: "the lesser of two evils." This is another of those bourgeois myths used to justify the system. The rich call on the poor to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps", which is physically impossible. And to vote for the lesser of two evils leaves you with, well, evil.

A RAIL comrade later made a sign to that effect which caught the attention of the Libertarian candidate for Lt. Governor. This candidate said "I like your sign", shook the comrade's hand and then moved on instantly. There was no time for the RAIL comrade to reply that "The lesser of THREE evils is still evil."

The Libertarian Party wants to free all prisoners incarcerated for drug offenses in order to free up more room for "real criminals." (Their words, not ours.)

Masses denied access to the debate

The Mullins Center is a huge sports arena on the UMass campus, but the debate was held in a tiny interior VIP room that seats only 200 people. A number of tickets were initially promised to students and then withdrawn. The Mullins Center is paid for in part by the state government and in part by a $100 fee all UMass students pay.

Many students were rightly offended by the fact that the debate was held on their "home" and yet they were not allowed to attend.

Not only does it require a tremendous amount of money to run for office in the first place, but these debates (like today's) often exclude candidates from parties other than the Repulicrats and Demopublicans who did in fact qualify to be on the ballot.

Once the debate got underway inside the Mullins Center, the Radical Student Union organized a rally outside. At this rally, representatives from non-Republocratic political movements spoke. And in true democratic form, and unlike the carefully packaged Republocrat "debates", questions from the audience were allowed. RAIL spoke about the Massachusetts criminal injustice system and why neither Republocrat party has an interest in representing prisoners. In fact, those parties are currently trying to take away the votes of prisoners in Massachusetts.

The current electoral process in Amerika serves to disenfranchise people from the limited choices they currently have in the voting booth. In a socialist society, political decisions will actually matter to the people and most will want to get involved. The masses will have a hands-on role in leading their own affairs and criticizing their leaders, instead of being preached at via the one-way medium of television. Important debates will be held in giant arenas, not in VIP rooms.

MIM calls on all progressives, radicals and revolutionaries to: "Don't vote, smash imperialism!"

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