van Ivanovich and/or Marussa Rassova have “‘defect-

ed’’, i.e., they have ‘“‘escaped”’ Socialism and found

“sanctuary” under capitalism. What made them do it? The

whys and wherefors are not important. The great illusion and
its consequent theft is.

Ivan or Marussa may be a “‘great”’ scientist, a famous
doctor. a ballerina, a clerk, or just a very plain Joe, but the
“buildup” and gloating of capitalist Establishments and their
news media knows no bounds when such ‘“‘defections’’ occur.
Such occurences are always assured of a good and fulsome
coverage, an event to be lauded and lied about. Of course,
anyone who may “‘defect”’ from capitalism to Socialism gets
scant mention, if at all, and is generally presented as ‘‘a good
riddance’. :

It follows that all such ‘‘defections’’ of the popular variety
are. first and foremost, to be regarded as a handy weapon in
the conduct of capitalism’s coldwar against Socialism. That is
basic.

Secondly, in all such ‘‘defections” there is an element of
theft, highly characteristic of capitalism, much like a receiver
of stolen goods eagerly grasping for all such loot behind a
facade of benevolence and/or ‘‘humanity”’.

A scientist, doctor, engineer or other professional who has
received his or her training under Socialism, all for free and
paid to boot during years of education, represents a
considerable investment Socialism has in that particular
individual. When he or she ‘‘defects”’ to capitalism, it becomes
the sole beneficiary (with some few exceptions) in an
investment which cost it nothing. In other words, a beneficiary
from its receipt Of damaged goods.

(Of course, in the business of accepting all such
““defectees’’, as we did in the case of cypher clerk Igor
Gouzenko, it eventually pvt a heavy load on capitalism’s John
Taxpayer, by getting-stuck-with-it during the after a war-mad
Establishment had wrung it dry of every drop of ‘‘espionage”’
drivel it could extract. )

Some of these ‘‘defections’’ are not without their need of
grim humor, A newcomer recently “‘defected”’ to the West, the
so-called ‘free world” from-Socialism. The ‘‘Fourth Estate’,
viz. the kept press of capitalism touted this character for all it
was worth. First he was hailed as a ‘“‘nuclear scientist’’ — one
of the best, then as an expert ‘‘electronic’’ engineer and so on.
Finally they wound up (with his approval), of designating his
real vocation — an ordinary run-of-the-mill waiter. Not too
much **know-how”™ there for the capitalist beneficiary to gloat
over, but always a good source of anti-socialist propaganda,
and which in capitalist terminology, ‘‘is not to be sneezed at’’.

In the period of the transition from capitalism to Socialism
(in which we are now living), with nearly half of the world’s
people already building Socialism on four continents, and it
may be added very successfully building, the ‘‘defectee”’
hullaballoo in capitalism's sewer press serves a number of
purposes. First, as already stated, a handy weapon for coldwar
propaganda; stimulating the fallacy that capitalism, with all
its defects, is still preferable to Socialism; higher wages,
higher living standards, a greater ‘‘freedom’’, etc., etc., ad
infinitum. The idea that millions would “flee” Socialism and
“defect” to capitalism if they just had the opportunity to do so.

Having ‘created its own gravediggers (the working class),
capitalism instinctively ‘whistles in the dark” as it nears its
historical graveyard, and part of its whistling is to ‘‘welcome”’
— and to use every renegade. every deserter, every falsifier
from Socialism it can cajole, entice or welcome to its corrupt
and venal way-of-life.

One of the prime functions of the CIA, capitalist embassies
in the countries of Socialism, and kindred organizations, is to
do just that. To encourage the disgruntled citizen of Socialism
just how much better off he or she would be in the ‘‘flesh pots”’
and jungles of capitalism???

PUBLIC MEETING

Hear
MAURICE RUSH, Editor, Pacific Tribune
Speak on

“THE DOLLAR CRISIS”

What effect will the U.S. Surtax have on Canada

THURSDAY, SEPT.23 8PM
NORDIC CENTRE — 7820 - 6th Street
South Burnaby

Ausp: New Westminster, Edmonds, Coquitlam
& Fraser Industrial Clubs, CPC.

PAGIFIC TRIBUNE—Friday, SEPTEMBER 17, 1971 PAGE:2 Sle aie ee

Wi wUMAT DGIDAS

Will civic parley tackle |
crisis of municipalities?

Representatives from B.C.’s
troubled municipalities will
meet in Victoria this week when
the 68th Annual convention of
the Union of B.C. Municipalities
opens its sessions on Wed-
nesday, Sept. 15.

All levels of civic government
are faced with problems of
major importance— including
such questions as high taxes,
soaring education and welfare
costs, transportation, etc. But
whether or not these major
problems will actually get
enough airing at the convention
time alone will tell.

There has been considerable
criticism from some civic
leaders in past years that the
organizers of the convention
work hand in glove with the pro-
vincial government and try to
avoid any real contentious
issues being adequately debated.

Most of the time the parley is
turned into a giant social event
by the organizers as a way of
avoiding meaningful debate. In
some of the brochures already
sent out by the organizers— with
drawings of semi-nude girls and
promises of a ‘‘go-d time’’ — it
seems as if the organizers are
bent on doing the same again this
year.

However, many municipal
councils have sent in resolutions
which express serious concern of
civic leaders with the crisis
facing our municipalities.

Many of the resolutions deal
with matters relating to lifting
the tax load off municipalities
One such resolution from Port
Alberni, where Ald. George
McKnight has conducted a
strong fight on civic issues, calls
on the UBCM to press Ottawa
and Victoria to call ‘‘an
immediate joint conference on
unemployment, with the partici-
pation of the municipalities. to
consider a program for the

immediate provision of one
million jobs in Canada through
the encouragement of new
manufacturing industries in
Canada, processing our own raw
materials and:providing work
and wages for our own people.”
The resolution points out that
the crisis of unemployment and
consequent rise in welfare
payments places an ever
growing burden upon the munici-
palities as well as the whole
economy of Canada. It also
points out that Canada’s
economy ‘‘is far too dependent
upon the extraction of raw
materials which, if processed
and manufactured in Canada,
would provide the jobs so badly
needed by our own people.”

Another resolution from
Port Alberni council ¢@
senior governments to carly

IIs fo!

cost of education and welfat
A few months ago 4 SPF

report on provincial-munhy

relations, which was ©
critical of Victoria’s sh@
civic costs compared 1
provinces, was made pub

How much debate

will

allowed on this report remes

be seen.

There is no doubt that a
bottom of much of the dis
faction at the civic lev

the failure of senior

of government to assu
J
greater share of costs

borne by municipalities

_ in turn falls on homeowne

two delegates.

transportation consultant.

MacDonald, Vancouver, B.C.

The Citizens Committee for Public Transit.is steP

. preparations for its public conference in support, of :
transit system for Greater Vancouver. The parley, 45
held in the Grandview Community Centre, 3350
on Saturday, Oct. 2 between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The Committee was formed at a public conference 0
this year, at Langara City College. I
which draws its members from organizations throu
Greater Vancouver region. It’s purpose is to create a
based movement for public transit.

Aim of the Oct. 2 conference is described by of
Committee as being twofold: to create informe i
public transit; and to take action now for good public transt

All organizations in the Greater V
contacted. Each organization is asked to send a ma

Many experts on transit will address the parley "
discussions. These include Ald. Harry Rankin, Colin vaug
town planner from Toronto, John Leckie,
Vancouver Town Planning Commission, and William

A registration fee of one dollar per delegat
required to cover expenses. Registra
information is available from Gay

Law, secretary:

By ALD. HARRY RANKIN

In its present form, Premier
Bennett’s job-subsidy plan can
only be a big flop. In fact it will
do more harm than good.

Private industry can and will
use the plan to get cheap labor.
(The provincial government
will foot half of the wage bill).
Some people on welfare will get
jobs but others who would
normally get them will now be
forced to go on welfare. So who
gains? Certainly not the munici-
pality — only the employers who
get their wage bills cut in half at
public expense.

Nor can municipalities gain
anything by undertaking new
projects such as school and hospi-
tals, as suggested by municipal
affairs minister Dan Campbell.
Municipalities pay only 15
percent of welfare costs. but
they would have to pay 50
percent of the wage bill and most
if not all the capital con-
struction costs. The end result
would be a greater outlay of
money, again at the expense of
homeowners and tenants.

There are two ways in which a
job subsidy scheme could work.

4 . ae

Ostn wt ry SOoTreetaegs Tre

One would be for the pro-
vincial government to under-
take a large scale program to
improve recreation facilities in
our provincial parks (and
throughout our whole mountain,
lake and river areas) by building

Banquet to honor
Communist vets

Veterans of the Communist
movement in Vancouver will be
special honored guests ata
banquet to commemorate the
50th, anniversary of the Com-
munist Party of Canada next
month.

The event will take place at
the AUUC Hall, 805 East Pender
St., on Saturday, October 9, high-
lighting the B.C. party’s conven-
tion which opens the following
day.

Special guest speaker will be
the General Secretary of the
Communist Party of Canada,
William Kashtan.

Anniversary banquets are also
being organized in major centres
throughout the province. Watch
the PT for announcements.

Bennett jobs-subsidy plan

can do more harm than goo!

chairman of

Eas

e will
tion forms or fu"

Big turnout urged for
rapid transit parley

ing
: rap

ancouver area are”
xim

new campgrounds, a
hiking trails, nature tt@?

It has the equipment

victoria Di Vi
n May lh
t is a non-partisan 8
ghoul

0

ficers
d opinion #

and !

most of it standing idl@ aif

job plan would mean
the entire money av4

jableo
il -

be spent on wages for ri

instead of 50 percent 2
into the pockets
industry.

+

,

of P q .

Another way (and ht '

be a practical one 1

require any capital ‘
municipalities si?
provisions of the Natt 3
ing Act, Ottawa pay$ d
of the capital costs a”
vincial government thé
ing 25 percent. n
By the’ above tw?,
several thousand neW +
be created at once,
employable welfare
for the mam

ree

people. And every J,
create a lasting V4 “at
benefit and enjoya

citizens for years tO

nave

0)

=

A

i}

———

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