Liberation News (Internationalist)
Encyclopedia
Liberation News or usually just called Liberation News is a socialist / Luxembourgist print newspaper that appears irregularly as well as a regular online newsletter, edited by Steven Argue.
Steven Argue is a former leader of the socialist California Peace and Freedom Party. He split from that group citing opposition to their support for the capitalist Democratic Party (United States)
and Green Party (United States)
in local elections as well as differences on the issue of the UN in Iraq
. Steven Argue said no to any kind of occupation of Iraq, putting forward the slogan “US Out, UN Stay Out”, while Peace and Freedom Party State Chair, Kevin Akin, argued that the issue was not so simple.
Liberation News describes itself as standing for “the liberation of humanity and a ravaged planet from the scourge of capitalism and its wars”. They explain the need for an alternative news source coming from the need to counter the propaganda
of the mainstream corporate media
.
Staunchly socialist the group rejects both the Democrat and Republican Parties as capitalist parties of war
, racism
, union busting
, sexism
, homophobia
, environmental degradation
and corporate exploitation. They instead seek to build a movement of revolutionary socialism as the working class
alternative.
In explaining their opposition to the Democrats they state, “In contrast to the Democratic Party, including its most left wing, we stand in firm opposition to all US wars. We understand that the US wages wars for one reason: empire and arms sales that equal corporate profit. The working class interests we represent are those that do not want our sons and daughters to be sacrificed on the alter of war for corporate profit and who want our tax dollars to be spent on social programs at home. In addition we want the people of the world to live in freedom from the terror and exploitation of U.S. imperialism.”
To achieve these ends they call for a “socialist revolution in North America and the world to end the dictatorial power of the wealthy, for a redistribution of the wealth, and for a planned economy
run to meet human and environmental needs.”
In addition to socialist revolution the group promotes the Trotskyist theories of Political Revolution
and Permanent Revolution
. While being in agreement with many Trotskyist-Leninist theories the group also agrees with Rosa Luxembourg's criticisms of Lenin and Trotsky on the question of the need to establish real workers democracy in a revolutionary socialist society.
Steven Argue is a former leader of the socialist California Peace and Freedom Party. He split from that group citing opposition to their support for the capitalist Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and Green Party (United States)
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
in local elections as well as differences on the issue of the UN in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. Steven Argue said no to any kind of occupation of Iraq, putting forward the slogan “US Out, UN Stay Out”, while Peace and Freedom Party State Chair, Kevin Akin, argued that the issue was not so simple.
Liberation News describes itself as standing for “the liberation of humanity and a ravaged planet from the scourge of capitalism and its wars”. They explain the need for an alternative news source coming from the need to counter the propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
of the mainstream corporate media
Corporate media
"Corporate media" is a term which refers to a system of mass media production, distribution, ownership, and funding which is dominated by corporations and their CEOs....
.
Staunchly socialist the group rejects both the Democrat and Republican Parties as capitalist parties of war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
, racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, union busting
Union busting
Union busting is a wide range of activities undertaken by employers, their proxies, and governments, which attempt to prevent the formation or expansion of trade unions...
, sexism
Sexism
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
, homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
, environmental degradation
Environmental degradation
Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife...
and corporate exploitation. They instead seek to build a movement of revolutionary socialism as the working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
alternative.
In explaining their opposition to the Democrats they state, “In contrast to the Democratic Party, including its most left wing, we stand in firm opposition to all US wars. We understand that the US wages wars for one reason: empire and arms sales that equal corporate profit. The working class interests we represent are those that do not want our sons and daughters to be sacrificed on the alter of war for corporate profit and who want our tax dollars to be spent on social programs at home. In addition we want the people of the world to live in freedom from the terror and exploitation of U.S. imperialism.”
To achieve these ends they call for a “socialist revolution in North America and the world to end the dictatorial power of the wealthy, for a redistribution of the wealth, and for a planned economy
Planned economy
A planned economy is an economic system in which decisions regarding production and investment are embodied in a plan formulated by a central authority, usually by a government agency...
run to meet human and environmental needs.”
In addition to socialist revolution the group promotes the Trotskyist theories of Political Revolution
Political revolution
A political revolution, in the Trotskyist theory, is an upheaval in which the government is replaced, or the form of government altered, but in which property relations are predominantly left intact...
and Permanent Revolution
Permanent Revolution
Permanent revolution is a term within Marxist theory, established in usage by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels by at least 1850 but which has since become most closely associated with Leon Trotsky. The use of the term by different theorists is not identical...
. While being in agreement with many Trotskyist-Leninist theories the group also agrees with Rosa Luxembourg's criticisms of Lenin and Trotsky on the question of the need to establish real workers democracy in a revolutionary socialist society.