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Can someone confirm for me whether the PSL has Covid on their platform at all? I took a look and couldn't find it which was pretty surprising, as Covid is a working class issue. I wouldn't expect the Greens to be better on that than PSL but at first glance it looked like they were.
PSL's anti-imperialist platform is better though so I'm still probably voting them, and US elections are fake so it doesn't really matter that much, but I figured I'd ask
LiberationNews article from December 29, 2021: A socialist plan to defeat COVID-19
Various COVID-19 tagged articles on LiberationNews
A couple of COVID-19 tagged articles on LiberationSchool
I do agree that's not a bad idea to put on their platform page.
Edit: There's also this article from February 4, 2023: After 3 years, is the COVID-19 pandemic over?
Those are old, the newest article is Jan 2023 and the neoliberal push to pretend covid is a thing of the past has moved quickly and powerfully. I'd like to see more and more recent analysis.
But hell, maybe I should apply to join up with them and lead that angle myself.
I am a member of PSL in a pre-branch, and COVID is an important issue we still discuss and are concerned about within the party. We have been discussing ways to enforce/encourage masks during our events as we want to protect people, especially the disabled and immuno-compromised. We recognize COVID as a form of genocide.
I do agree it is something we should speak about soon, especially for our campaign. Note that among the various issues for this presidential election, most people are concerned about the economy, more than anything else by a large margin.
One of the issues of enforcing strict mask mandates during our events is that we don't want to cut off some people that would be turned away from this but would have been open to learning about our program and eventually become more radicalized and educated. We have considered mandating masks, but by encouraging people to wear a mask during our events and making it a cultural expectation so that people who would not wear a mask feel uncomfortable not doing so. I am of the opinion we should be strict with it regardless because I want the disabled people to feel as safe as possible.
All in all, the issue is still on PSL's radar, but I would like to see an updated analysis of it, too. And yes, please join. Having more people join to bring these issues to the party is what we are looking for. If you can't join due to time restrictions, at least find a local branch within your area and let them know what issues are important to you. We need to know what matters to the masses so we can collect and analyze the data in order to make decisions based on the people's needs.
Hey thanks for this didn't know that was a thing. Will try to follow up
So I get what you're saying, but this does sort of echo the kind of thinking that has led me to leave friend/acquaintance groups of vile liberals who were otherwise somewhat tolerable -- their desire to not alienate people led them to to allow harmful reactionary shit which in turn alienated me. The calculus of disregarding everyone's safety when they can instead be taught to be better about it, in order to be more inviting alienates who knows how many other people who cannot accept that same risk. I tend to think leading by example and projecting strength and confidence in one's decisions is the way to lead a change -- just the presence of a "masks required because Covid is still dangerous" with maybe some zines about how many people have become disabled from long covid could impress upon people that it isn't over. Especially since covid-minimization is a tool of Capital to send workers to our deaths.
But I am glad to hear there's at least a cultural push for masking. It's a good starting place.
I will try to write something up more coherent and then try to reach out to a local PSL branch with this feedback. Thanks.
Actually, if people are immunocompromised, we don't want to encourage them to come to events and risk their lives. There are other ways we can have them engage, and risking their lives isn't worth it. And we are more descriptive than saying COVID is dangerous so wear a mask. It is similar along the lines you said.
You can fill out the form on this map about why you are voting socialist and mention about how COVID matters to you: https://votesocialist2024.com/map