Some photos from yesterday's anti-fracking march in Philly

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Cassiodorus's picture

Let's form a working class political party for America!

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“When there's no fight over programme, the election becomes a casting exercise. Trump's win is the unstoppable consequence of this situation.” - Jean-Luc Melanchon

There are the Working Families Party, the Green Party, the Justice Party, the Nejw Progressive Party, the Progressive Independent Party. I am almost certain their is another party, new this year, with "progressive" in the name, but I can't think of it.

Wouldn't it be better to consolidate under one party and build that, than to keep splintering, all chiefs, no power?

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I hope we can bring everyone together, form one massive new party for Independents. That is where the numbers are. The party's goal will be to replace one of the established parties or create a legitimate third party. If triangulation is good for bubba, it is good for us.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Each and every party named in my post--and more--are new compared to the Democrats and Republicans. Why not bring everyone together to build one of the existing parties instead of everybody forming a new party or two every year and having it get zero power because there are so many parties? That seems to me both wasteful and unlikely to succeed.

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Cassiodorus's picture

are tiny sectarian shadows of what we really need. If the working class were to join any one of them, that would transform it beyond recognition. It would be, fundamentally, a new party. A Green Party, for instance, which were to win 30% of the vote in this year's election, would bear no real relation to the Green Party which exists at present.

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“When there's no fight over programme, the election becomes a casting exercise. Trump's win is the unstoppable consequence of this situation.” - Jean-Luc Melanchon

I don't think the answer to that is necessarily to create yet another tiny party, although I am open to that. The answer may be to flock to an existing party.

The existing Working Families Party seems to have the best name for what you contemplate, it seems to be linked to unions, which, in turn, are linked to Democrats, althought the WFP does back the occasional Republican.

It has not run many of its own candidates. Its current view is that voting for the Democratic nominee or the Republican nominee on a separate ballot will send some kind of message. I don't think either party cares which ballot their votes come from. They care about being elected or re-elected.

Of the existing parties, the Greens seem to me to the best option. For better or worse, it has name recognition. It also has an infrastructure and an international affiliation. Maybe the most practical option is for enough of us to try to build it and make it attractive to workers in the trenches?

At the same time, though, I think we have to get out of the mindset that everything rises and falls on a political party. I think working together (iwithin our respective states and working on an issue by issue basis may be the way to go. They go to each other's socials, while dividing us from each other. That ought to tell us something.

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Each and every party named in my post--and more--are new compared to the Democrats and Republicans. Why not bring everyone together to build one of the existing parties instead of everybody forming a new party or two every year and having it get zero power because there are so many parties? That seems to me both wasteful and unlikely to succeed.

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joe shikspack's picture

sounds like a fabulous idea. it ought to be easy now that the two major parties have decided to compete for who can promote the most awful candidate. Smile

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They are heroic.

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joe shikspack's picture

i was in the shade and it was damnably uncomfortable. my hat is off to the folks who marched all day. it looked like a lot of folks that did the anti-fracking march participated in the bernie march a couple of hours later.

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riverlover's picture

In that march. Hard to grab pix off FB (I am La-Z). Solidarity to all, and with all!

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

joe shikspack's picture

i may have some photos of them, but, right now i too am lazy. Smile

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MarilynW's picture

You speak for us here in British Columbia, Canada, where are northern wilderness areas are being destroyed by fracking. The industry hates the word FRACKING,but lets call it fracking and let them know pulling up methane from the depths of the earth is not natural as in "natural gas."

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To thine own self be true.

joe shikspack's picture

we are, many of us, all over the world, speaking as one on this. i was pleased to see a lot of groups that have other issues joining in the clean energy march.

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Lookout's picture

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

joe shikspack's picture

thanks for the video!

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Great pictures Joe. Hope you are having a good time.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

joe shikspack's picture

thanks. i am in the air conditioning now. that's close enough to having fun for me. Smile

since the best vantage points that would have given a real sense of the size of the march were closed off, i took a lot of pictures of cool signs. there were some really nice, home-made signs with lovely colors and artwork - and needless to say, sentiments that i can get behind.

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Raggedy Ann's picture

Great pics of great people. I love seeing the people rise up and take a stand. Those signs speak for me. Thanks for representing us there, joe. Stay cool.
Pleasantry

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

joe shikspack's picture

glad you enjoyed them, i had a great time sweating in philadelphia. now, i'm glad to be home in the air conditioning. Smile

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Christine.MI's picture

Glad you're in the cool comforting air!

Nice to see a mix of different ages at the march!

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joe shikspack's picture

there certainly were a lot of marchers. i was glad to see thousands of people show up to protest against fracking.

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elenacarlena's picture

so haven't looked. Is it safe to assume that they are only covering inside the convention?

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joe shikspack's picture

well, i don't have cable, but pbs' coverage has been indoors only.

msnbc was set up on the weekend on independence square and they snagged a great vantage point to cover the weekend marches from on the roof of the independence visitor's center.

i didn't go down to the stadium (it turned out that police had the whole are blocked off anyway) sunday afternoon, so i didn't see if there was any media outside.

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