Vol. 72/No. 2      January 14, 2008

An editorial on the housing crisis in the September 17 Militant concluded, “The key to defending ourselves as a class … begins with the fight to organize and use union power… . Strengthening the fighting capacity and self-confidence of the working class is key to forging a movement capable of leading workers and farmers to take political power.”

It seems to me these points would have been more persuasive if they were accompanied by specific demands. What exactly would a transformed labor movement fight for? What would a workers and farmers government do?

The following possibilities occur to me:

• A moratorium on home foreclosures for working people.
• The government should offer low-interest fixed-rate home loans for working people.
• Open the books of the housing and home loan industry.
• Nationalize the housing industry, under control of either (a) a class-struggle labor movement or (b) a workers and farmers government.
• As part of a nationalized housing industry, limit rent and mortgage payments by working people to 10 percent of income (like in Cuba).
• As part of a massive public works program, build more affordable housing for working people.

Dave Morrow
Oakland, California

The letters column is an open forum for all viewpoints on subjects of interest to working people. Please keep your letters brief. Where necessary they will be abridged. Please indicate if you prefer that your initials be used rather than your full name.
 
 
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How to confront housing crisis facing workers  
 
 
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