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HARTFORD, Conn.—From Oct. 18 to Oct. 26, Chris Hutchinson,
Socialist Action congressional candidate for Connecticut’s 1st District, joined in four
debates with three other contenders for the seat: fourth-ranking House
Democrat John Larson; Republican Ann Brickley; and Green Party
candidate Ken Krayeske. The debates were opportunities to present
working-class politics to a broader public while exposing the politics
of the two corporate parties. Hutchinson made an impact that went far
beyond the normal electoral sideshow, and was well received by audiences.
A look at the politics of the
debates goes a long way to dispel the illusion that there are
significant political differences between the two big business parties.
Republican Brickley constantly defended the sanctity of the free market
and private enterprise—which keep wealth in the hands of a tiny
minority. Meanwhile, Democrat Larson made a point to defend the
government bailouts that kept the banks and big corporations afloat.
In this, the Republican and
Democrat employed a division of labor. Big business demands a “free
market,” but it also requires government intervention like the recent
multi-trillion-dollar bailouts.
Larson’s major promises to working
people in Connecticut revolve around his ability to cut deals in
Congress and the corporate world (especially those in the military
industry) to pull some investment into the state. Larson’s fundamental
message is, “Stick with me, and I’ll make sure you get bigger crumbs
than anyone else.”
Hutchinson often undercut this
discourse, and changed the terms of the debate. An article in the Bristol
Press and New Britain Herald on the first debate in West
Hartford even claimed that Hutchinson and Green candidate Krayeske
“stole the show.”
Hutchinson pointed to the failures
of the profit motive itself: “Non-financial companies now sit on $1.8
trillion in cash, roughly one-quarter more than at the beginning of the
recession. Giving the wealthy and their institutions more money will
not create a single job.” He pointed out that the TARP money Larson
voted in was used by many companies to eliminate jobs, not save them.
With public money GM has even forced workers and new hires to take a
50% pay cut.
Hutchinson argued that, since
working people have already paid for the largest banks and corporations
several times over, we should place these companies under public
ownership and direct investment toward human needs instead of profit.
“Working people create all the wealth in the first place. We should
decide how it’s used.”
In Hartford and New Hartford,
Hutchinson pointed to the power of working people: “In 44 days workers
of the tiny island nation Guadalupe were able to do what Larson has not
done in his entire 12 years in office. They took to the streets and
organized a 44-day-long general strike. They won a moratorium on home
foreclosures, an emergency jobs program to provide 8000 young people
with employment, and wage increases across the board. This
victory inspired workers in France to begin the struggle they’re waging
now against raising the retirement age.”
In this vein Hutchinson
consistently told his audience that their lives won’t be changed by the
victor of the Nov. 2 election one way or the other, and that the real
question remains whether working people will organize independently to
fight back. As a start, Hutchinson urged attendees to join the march
against the wars on April 9 in New York and to come to the first
regional organizing meeting on Nov. 6.
At every debate Chris was
approached with interest and enthusiasm in the politics he expressed.
In the two venues where the audience participated, he won a fair
share of affirmation with applause and shouts, even though the rooms
were largely packed with Brickley and Larson supporters. In Hartford
Chris found his warmest reception, receiving a number of ovations. On
at least one question the audience gave Hutchinson passionate applause
while greeting Larson with dead silence.
For
more coverage and video of these debates, go to www.votesocialistaction.org.
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