The Socialist Party

of Jackson County, Oregon [SPJCO]

PO BOX 311 Medford, OR 97501 (541) 830 1017

The next SPJCO meeting will be held February 8th 2009 in Ashland.

Statement : Statement on Gaza January 11th 2009

Listen to this Socialist Primer in your media player.

Socialist Party of Jackson County Oregon

What we are; we are a political and social education club at least and organized revolutionaries at best.
Who we are; We are socialists sharing a long history of struggle and victories with our comrades of past. Historically our members have had varied stories and experiences, with diverse causes and issues to fight for. Although our goal is to motivate and organize the working class our ranks have often been filled with people from all classes and walks of life.
As active members we agree to respect and adhere to a few simple principles regarding socialism and how to go about achieving it. Outlined in a Statement of Principles written and/or agreed upon by the membership.
At no time will a campaign or affiliation compromise our organizational principles or mission. At the same time the activities and affiliations of individual members, outside of the group, will not be monitored or otherwise "brought as evidence" against said member/s in challenge of membership in this group. No loyalty tests! Loyalty is measured on the battlefield not at the meeting table.
At no time will the desires of the membership be overlooked in favor of a single person, campaign or affiliation.
Anyone that shares and publicly, as well as privately, upholds our principles and mission is eligible for membership.
The word Socialist in our organizational title as well as the word Socialism in our message is not, and shall not, be opened to debate or challenge.

Some Socialist Party concepts of society:

Workers control workplaces through councils, rotational or representative democracy, referenda, etc.
Local government in hands of direct, participatory democracy with an active, politically involved community.
Grassroots political clubs allow for free exchange of citizen viewpoints.
Society cares for all members' needs (health, education, artistic opportunities); all members contribute and help provide for others.
Free market tempered by social watchdogs, cooperatives for better prices and quality and state regulation when it serves the public.
Academic, speech, petition, assembly and press freedom, with the press controlled by journalists rather than corporations.
A weakened state, with most of its functions handled by local orginazations.

Source: "Socialism for the People!" by B. Iorwerth Cook, an essay distributed in Socialist Party literature.

Socialist Ballot Access

Socialist Party of Oregon
The SPO does not at this time have ballot access on the state level.
"The Socialist Party of Oregon (SPO), the political party of Eugene V. Debs and Norman Thomas, is a party for a revolutionary new system of government based on freedom, peace, work, labor, family, the working class, a policy of NO HATE, including an end to classism, to gay and racial discrimination, to all forms of oppression. Headquartered in Portland, we work toward a day of equality and unity."
Are you registered to vote???

Updated January 28th 2009

Eugene Debs, Socialist Party activist. May 1918

Stay Tuned!


1/19/09   Message from the Chair

Last nights meeting was great, not just because I was elected Chair, we got far more done in one night than we could have thought. We are now up to speed with an organizing agenda for 2009 starting right away. We elected not only a Chairperson and Secretary but passed a motion to start "Information and Discussion" events in Medford and the University in Ashland. We agreed to bring one person each to the next meeting in two weeks, it seems we each already had someone in mind, and to start a public "increase our footprint and image" campaign immediately. I am very excited to have the confidence of my fellow party members and am again rededicating myself, time and energy to party building and keeping the SP and socialism on the public mind.

 We are charged with creating change. 

Onward,

 Garland Williams, Chair
 Socialist Party of Jackson County Oregon
_________________________________

1/19/09

The "S" word is Back!

  It is so good to log onto one of my favorite news sites to see the
headline "Interest in Socialism Surging". Quoting
socialistalternative.org on January 10th of the new year. I had already
seen a more mainstream news source saying the same thing about a month
earlier but as I can't remember the source for sure I will just say
"I know I read it somewhere". The same article, written by Dan
DiMaggio, goes on to point out - Merriam-Webster reports that socialism
was the third most searched-for term ("bailout" was #1)during
2008 in their online dictionary, which receives 125 million views per
month, meaning millions of people were looking to find out what
socialism means? WOW! I have also recently read that the word
socialism has raised dramatically among book title searches.

  I for one and I know I am not alone, am tired of being asked to help
form socialist groups and the first debate out of the box is regarding
the use of the "S" word in public. I am so offended but I say to
myself "this will pass" and sometimes it does. I am proud of
every single person calling themselves a socialist in public with or
without the support of their current political group or affiliations. I
can tell you I have joined the last group I will ever join. For best or
worst I am dedicating myself to achieving democratic socialism in Oregon
under the SP banner.

  Can we call this renewed interest in the "S" word"the
winds of change for socialism"? I don't know but it sure seems
like a bad time to sit and do nothing. After all when you add this
interest in socialism with the economic drama and ever ongoing social
dramas you start to see a recipe taking shape. Don't get left
behind! Research and join. Give the SP, locally in Jackson County, a
shot. Read what we say we are about and what we say we want to change
then decide for your self. The Time is Now.

  Rather than trying to reinvent the propaganda wheel let these words
from the same article serve as a call - The coming years will provide
ample opportunities to build the socialist movement as the failures of
capitalism lead millions to search for an alternative.


- Don't get left behind.


Garland Williams, Chair
Socialist Party of Jackson County Oregon
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