"As the presidential candidate of the Socialist Equality Party, I urge teachers to reject this sellout. The teachers have remained solid since the strike began and won powerful support from parents, students and workers throughout the city and across the country.""Now is the time to broaden the struggle and stand fast against the phony 'reform' agenda of Emanuel, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Obama, and the entire political establishment."
"The assault on teachers and public education can be defeated only on the basis of a recognition that the struggle against it is a political struggle against both parties of big business and the financial-corporate elite whose interests they serve."
"This elite includes the speculators and parasites looking to cash in on the carve-up of public education and proliferation of privately run schools."
"I urge teachers to broaden their strike and fight to mobilize all school workers, public employees, auto workers, young people and unemployed workers behind them and in opposition to the united front of Democrats and Republicans, the media and big business. The union leadership has no intention of waging such a fight."
"Teachers should organize rank-and-file committees to take control of the conduct of the struggle and oversee the contract negotiations."
Corrupt politicians and corporate profiteers say "How dare teachers strike!" Democrats and Republicans are like-minded. Media scoundrels support them. Teachers are treated like "serfs revolting against their lords."
Parents and kids are treated like they don't matter. Public education isn't mentioned nor its importance. Teachers know what works in classrooms and what doesn't. Principles are hired to enforce federal, state, and City Hall diktats.
What's best for super-rich elites harms most others. Good schools, teaching and learning are incompatible with profit making. Democratic values and social rights can't survive under mandated unequal conditions.
Chicago teachers have a chance to change things. It's their jobs, their schools, and their choice. The futures for thousands of Chicago kids depend on them. They have hours left to do the right thing.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at Email address removed .
His new book is titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"
http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
