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Strong support for peace, jobs, health care, housing

On July 6, the Party for Socialism and Liberation successfully completed petitioning in Iowa to get on the ballot for President and Vice President in that state. Over 1,900 signatures were collected.

Members of the Chicago branch of the PSL made weekend trips to Iowa City, Des Moines, Waterloo and Davenport to collect signatures.

The message put forward by PSL volunteers—that an alternative is needed to the program of war, racism and exploitation shared by the two dominant capitalist parties—was well received in Iowa. Many young people were eager to get involved in some way and were in agreement with a political program of peace, jobs, equality, health care, housing and socialism.

In every city where the PSL petitioned, there were dozens of people who expressed interest in a genuinely independent and fighting campaign.

In Iowa City, home to the University of Iowa, several young people and students were enthusiastic about helping to get a Socialist party like the PSL on the ballot.

In Des Moines, many people signed saying that they wanted to see more candidates for universal health care on the ballot.

In strongly working-class Waterloo, signers responded to the PSL's call to put grassroots antiwar and anti-racist activists on the ballot.

Signers in Davenport were encouraged by PSL’s platform of full aid and relief to all the victims of the recent flooding in the Midwest.

The bulk of petitioning was completed in May. In June, floods devastated Iowa and many surrounding states. PSL presidential candidate Gloria La Riva traveled to Iowa with PSL Chicago organizers on June 16 and 17 to assist flood victims and report on the ongoing disaster.

Members of the Chicago branch of the PSL will be petitioning in Wisconsin in August to get Gloria La Riva and Eugene Puryear on the ballot there as well.

// posted by Alice @ Wednesday, July 16, 2008