e
t]

ts

at
7
d
d. |

Reviews

Power: U.S: two-party system

THE U.S. TWO-PARTY SYSTEM, PAST
AND PRESENT. Progress Publishers,
Moscow, 1988. 400 pages. $9.50. Availa-
ble at People’s Co-op Bookstore.

A new book by a group of Soviet histori-
ans traces the development of the U.S. two-
Party system over the past 200 years. The
authors view the American political system
4s one of the models of capitalist political
Structure, with its own, unique features.

If you have wondered why no left-of-

Art sale for
conservation

Twenty-two B.C. artists have banded
logether to help promote wilderness con-
Servation, with a special art sale show that
begins Nov. 15 at the Robson Square Media

ntre in Vancouver.

The show, called A Celebration of

ilderness, will feature several works
Teflecting the Stein Valley, a pristine forest
and watershed that is under threat of log-
8ing. Several painters travelled to the area in

eptember in an effort organized by promi-
hent artist Toni Onley and the Western
Canada Wilderness Committee.

The works, including contributions from
Susana Blunt, Taki Bluesinger, Gathie Falk
and Jack Shadbolt, are featured Nov. 15-18
at Robson Square, Nov. 22-Dec. 9 at
Kelowna Art Gallery, and Dec.15-Jan. 3 at

chmond Art Gallery.

Prices are at bargain levels since the gal-
ries have waived the usual commission.

€ proceeds will go to the wilderness
Committee and the Native youth program in

ytton.

THE ANNUAL

centre party has found a permanent place in
the United States, this book should help you
to find the answer. It examines how eco-
nomic and social factors, and the class
struggle, have shaped and consolidated the
American political system.

The monograph argues that the key role
of the party in power is, while serving the
interests of monopoly capital, to inculcate
in the minds of the people the idea that the
political structure negates all class divisions.
Thus, bourgeois ideology, which is alien to
the interests of the working people, is pro-
moted.

The opposition party, the book main-
tains, is used by the ruling circles to ease
social tensions. It also represents the inter-
ests of minority bourgeois groupings,
including some monopoly capitalists.

The key formulation used is consensus
and alternative. There is an overall consen-
sus that both parties represent the interests
of monopoly capital, but at every important
political juncture there is a need for the
opposition to present an alternative. The
success or failure to present a distinctive
alternative has decided the outcome of
many elections.

Quoting extensively from Soviet and
American sources, the book concludes that
the American two-party system has become
a serious obstacle to social progress. The
authors observe: ““The mass consciousness
and political behaviour of the American

workers are highlighted by strong and long-

term domination by bourgeois ideology
and, as a result, their support of the two-
party system. In the course of the political
process, propositions and ideas reflecting
the class status and interests of the workers
tend to combine with ideas alien to those
interests.”

But the book also notes a number of

Ld
Ba

Saturday
Nov 26

LOUF,
Zadar

2noon=- 4pm

* Maritime Labour Centre

> 1880 Triumph, Van. —

Christmas Items
\ Baking

See

’ Gifts,
Crafts
\ Books’

=

_/ Plants
White Elephant

"ele, of

-——_”

Refreshments

sponsored by gyre cpc

factors indicating a crisis in the two-party
system: frequent and deep-going economic
depressions, chronic inflation, mass unem-
ployment, enormous budget deficits and fal-
ling standards of living for millions of
Americans. Both parties advance aggressive
foreign policies that contradict the realities
of the modern world and the interests of the
majority of the people. For all of these rea-
sons, the authors argue, the area in which
the two parties can manoeuvre in wooing
the voters is narrowing.

Voter disillusionment is shown by the
fact that in 1960 slightly less than 63 per cent
of the eligible voters went to the polls in the
presidential election, while the figure
dropped to less than 53 per cent in 1984. In
the main, it was the poor and the youth who
dropped out of the political process.

The authors do not presume to predict
any future political realignment in the U.S.
But when you read this book you can only
conclude that such a realignment is neces-
sary. According to the statistics given, there
were almost 77 million workers gainfully
employed in the late 1970s. Such a force
cannot be subordinated to the old-line par-
ties forever and a day.

For those who would like to know more
about the American political structure and
why it is so different from what we have in
Canada, this should bea valuable book.
While both Canadian and U.S. structures
are designed to serve corporate interests,
each has emerged out of specific national
conditions and specific international influ-
ences.

In the opinion of the authors (who are,
unfortunately, unnamed), the future of the
American political system will be decided
when the American people — and the
working people in particular — begin to
break in a mass way from the historical
two-party. system.and establish.a new. patt-
em.
The book was published before this
year’s presidential race got under way, but it
should help the reader to analyze the out-
come.

— Jack Phillips —

Deal a threat

Continued from page 1

Workers, warned that, despite assurances to
the contrary made by Health Minister Jake
Epp, “social programs and social policy
which Canadians have rightly come to cher-
ish may be at risk” under the trade deal.

The statement cited several specific
clauses in the Free Trade Agreement which
affect social policy.

One section, Annex 1408, gives U.S. for-
profit companies the right to manage Can-
adian health care facilities, including
hospitals, nursing homes, doctors’ offices
and blood banks. “Our quality of care may
be adversely affected because American
management practices bring with them a
different set of values which are not consist-
ent with Canadian values and practices,
universality for example,” the statement
noted,

It also warned that an expanding the for-
profit sector in the delivery of health care
and social programs “‘can lead to two-tiered
quality of care.” That has clearly been the
case in Britain.

Of particular concern are Articles 2010
and 1065 of the agreement which, the
statement said, would make it “increasingly
difficult—if not impossible — to expand
current universal programs or to create new
ones.”

To set up a new universal program, such
as denticare, it said, the Canadian govern-
ment would first have to consult with the
USS. and then, if the initiative did proceed,
the government would have to compensate
any U.S. commercial interest which might
be adversely affected. “The end result
would be to make such new programs pro-
hibitively expensive,” the statement said.

Classified
Advertising

COMING EVENTS

NOV. 26 — Annual Labour Bazaar. Maritime
Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph St. Vancouver.
Doors open 12 noon to 4 p.m. Gifts, crafts, great
food, baking, Christmas cards, toys, white ele-
phant. Admission free. Sponsored by Greater
Vancouver Regional Committee, CPC. For info
phone Anna: 294-6775

KAMLOOPS

MARXIST-LENINIST discussion group, open
to all on 2nd Wed. of each month. 7:30 p.m. at
North Kamloops Library. For info 376-7110.

TRIB LENDING LIBRARY — 242 Larch Ave.
Lots of labour and progressive literature for
your reading enjoyment at no cost. For info
376-7110. Kamloops.

COMMERCIAL

TRIB PHOTOS — Would you like a specific
photo in the Pacific Tribune? Copies available:
5"x7"/$4.50, 8’x10"/$6. Phone 251-1186.

GRAMMA PUBLICATIONS. Complete print-
ing services. Brochures, menus, leaflets, etc. A
union shop. 2089 Commercial Dr. Vancouver.
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 254-7717.

AUTOPLAN, GENERALINSURANCE, home
business, trade union. Call Dave Morton, bus.
321-6707; res. 433-4568.

VICTORIA
BILL HARTLEY your AutoPlan man. All types
of insurance. Mail in or phone in. 2420 Douglas
Street, Victoria, V8T 4L7. 388-5014.

STEREO, TV REPAIRS. Good quality work.
Rebuilt colour TVs $150 and up. TVs bought

and sold. D&A Electronics. Call Andre:
530-1028 days or 530-2024 eves.

LEGAL SERVICES

CONSTANCE FOGAL. Family law, wills and
estates. #401-207 W. Hastings St., 687-0588.

DIRECTORY

COMMUNIST PARTY OF CANADA office
located at 1726 E. Hastings St., Van., VSL 1S9.
Phone: 254-9836. Office hours: 9:30-12 noon;
1-5 p.m. Mon. to Fri. For information on political
issues or assistance in political activity.

HALLS FOR RENT

RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME — Available for
rentals. For reservations phone 254-3430.

UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CULTURAL
CENTRE — 805 East Pender St. Vancouver.
Available for banquets, weddings, meetings.
Phone 254-3436.

Classified advertising rates $1.25 per line per
week. Deadline for insertions: Monday of
week prior to pubication.

phillip ellen
rankin bond

paul .

memurray

Barristers & Solicitors
157 Alexander Street
2nd floor
Vancouver, B.C.
V6A 1B8
682-3621

‘TIM LOUIS
2 & COMPANY q

Trial Lawyers
Uncontested divorce
Conveyancing
Incorporations
Probate of will
Separation agreements
~ Wills 3 $50*
ICBC contingency fee agreement
Welfare/UIC appeals No fee
*All prices plus disbursements
Divorce and Family Law
Criminal Law
(including impaired driving)
108-2182 West 12th/732-7678
Tim Louis Michael Hambrook

~ aaa

Pacific Tribune, November 14, 1988 « 7

erent nS RR gE
neeneemneonnere =

wat rs hc Rey ae nse NcRe “i osrthee aprile tent rewind dah