WHAT PART OF "NO LAW" DON'T THEY UNDERSTAND? by Jan Ireland

FEC GRANTS SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR SOCIALISTS

By Jan Ireland

September 02, 2003

Socialist Linda Averill said potential government surveillance or harassment by anti-socialists necessitated keeping her political donors secret. The Federal Election Commission agreed, extending again to the socialist party a privilege other political parties can only covet. But if Linda Averill, Freedom Socialist Party candidate for Seattle City Council, is so afraid of revealing her donors' names, why would she publicly list more than 30 sponsors and endorsers of her February, 2003, International Women's Day "Organized Labor Against the War" protest?

Linda Averill's Kickoff Campaign Bar-B-Q was held at a supporter's home. The husband's and wife's first and last names, their home address, a home telephone number, and even directions to the house were given. Maybe keeping those donors' names secret didn't apply, when it would get more publicity for her political kickoff.

A Freedom Socialist Party big screen TV showing of the movie Deacons of Defense was advertised at a Hall, with the bus line number given, and with wheelchair accessibility accented. Public hall? Wheelchair access? If donors' names really needed to be kept secret, would the Freedom Socialist Party be so open about its meeting places?

Linda Averill is sure socialism should replace the freedom of America. Socialism doesn't offer a First Amendment. So why does Linda Averill demand First Amendment rights of free speech for the protestors she agrees with? If socialism did take over in America, it would be a tool she would have to live without.

Linda Averill is taking away the First Amendment rights of free speech from those who disagree with her, by not revealing people who are her sources of funding. She can put your name and my name into any number of databases, and out will pop whoever we financially supported. Any funding you and I give to political parties is available to Linda Averill, but we can't find out who gave donations to her.

Linda Averill is sure socialism will be embraced by the workers of America, when they see how much better off they will be under socialism. So why did riot police have to be called to protect businesses (American Presidents Line, Stevedoring Services of America), when ILWU members had to be locked out, and President Bush had to threaten to call in US troops for national security?

Linda Averill's response to this situation was to write a letter of protest to Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, charging that her people (the ones the riot police were called about) were "terrorized" in an effort to "silence political dissent." They were, she said, subjected to "Gestapo tactics."

Socialism, by its very nature, is the antithesis of individuality and freedom. Some socialist groups openly advocate the overthrow of the United States Government. Some see enlarging unions - both in membership and in power - as the way to infiltrate and thereby eventually take over from within, America.

Two of the six commissioners voted against extending the reporting exemption. One of those two was Commissioner Danny McDonald, who saw only evidence of "petty harassment" in recent years (oranges thrown and cursing). I think Commissioner McDonald was right. Not that I condone any violence against peaceful protestors, but hasn't more than that happened at rock concerts?

And wouldn't more than that have happened to the little old grandmother in the wheelchair that the Democrats had Republican George W. Bush pushing down the stairs, in their campaign commercial?

I'm afraid Linda Averill's insistence on keeping donors' names secret, stems from one of two other reasons. Either she simply has learned and learned well from the left in this country, how best to employ any and all political tricks, delays, and obfuscations. Or, the donors who are giving to her would be known to us, and fear they would suffer in that revealing.

You have to concede one point to Linda Averill, a Metro bus driver and member of Amalgamated Transit Union Local #587. She's managed to get something in America that even trial lawyers can't have - unless they contribute to the socialist party, of course.

I guess the "Yours in Solidarity" and "Yours for the One Big Union" sprinkled on different websites, only apply to Linda Averill's favored few.