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Vol. 72/No. 19      May 12, 2008

 
Make good use of ‘Economic Stimulus’ check
 
BY PAUL PEDERSON  
As the Militant explained in a front-page appeal in our March 3 issue, we are urging readers to donate the $600 checks many will soon receive from the federal government’s “Economic Stimulus Act of 2008” to the socialist press.

On April 26 the Internal Revenue Service announced it is sending out the first payments—heralded by politicians as a stimulus to the U.S. economy. Militant editor Olympia Newton announced the same day that readers who send their checks to the Militant will see the attempted bribe put to good use—strengthening the paper’s coverage of working-class struggles around the world.

Newton noted that these checks are a pittance from the U.S. government. They are truly blood money payments intended to make it appear as if the government is doing something for us, the workers, while the employers seek to drive down our standard of living and compromise our safety in face of the mounting economic crisis. “No wonder workers scoff at the idea that $600 is anything more than a drop in the bucket to cover the mounting bills and debt that hang over our heads,” she said.

The government is excluding workers without “valid papers” from receiving a payment.

Another way that supporters of the Militant are putting their blood money payments to good use is through the Socialist Workers Party Capital Fund. “We are urging SWP members and organized supporters, and the members of the Young Socialists, to send contributions of these tax rebates to the SWP Capital Fund,” said SWP leader Norton Sandler in an interview. He emphasized that party members have a proud tradition of contributing blood money payments they receive from bosses as production or safety bonuses, or “profit-sharing” checks, to the work of the party.

Members of the party also contribute checks they receive from unions when participating in contract negotiations or related activity in the labor movement to the Capital Fund.

Such contributions to the Capital Fund are set aside for long-term publishing projects. They help to ensure that the working-class vanguard in this country and around the world will be able to study the lessons of working-class struggle and the history of the communist movement for decades to come.  
 
 
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