A Workers’ International Network meeting, Sunday 12th June
When Trotsky passed through the USA en route back to Russia in 1917, he celebrated his “peep into the foundry in which the fate of man is to be forged”. America was already the most dynamic capitalist power. Then, following two world wars which had devastated Europe, for most of the twentieth century and beyond the USA was far and away the world’s mega-superpower. By 1960 the country was producing 40% of global output. Based on the gold standard, the dollar was the benchmark for world currencies. The USA is still the world’s leading economy, but since then it has suffered a steady decline. Its share of world production is now less than 25%, its manufacturing output overtaken by China. And as with any empire in its declining decades – the Roman Empire is a classic case – its slow decay has generated the most morbid symptoms: a rotting culture and daily acts of senseless horror.More than one million Americans so far have died in the COVID pandemic – one sixth of the world total.Every day on average 53 people die of gunshot wounds, whether by accident, murder or suicide. Every week there are on average eleven wanton massacres. So far this year alone, there have been 27 mass shootings of children in their schools.Already over 500 people have been killed by police this year. Black people are three times more likely to be shot dead by police. The murder of George Floyd aroused worldwide outrage. In the twelve months since then, police have killed a thousand more people – a rate of three per day.Last year a mob of crazed hooligans and organized fascists stormed the Capitol building in an attempt to block a democratic election. According to a recent opinion poll, almost half of Americans believe that the USA is heading for a second civil war.At the same time, a tidal wave of protest has swept across the country: Black Lives Matter, Me Too, school students’ gun control marches, women’s protests against the reimposition of laws against abortion rights, and a surge of trade union recruitment among previously unorganized young workers, including the Amazon Labour Union and Starbucks Workers United. And among young Americans (ages 16-23), support for socialism has surged by nearly ten percentage points since 2019, from 40 to 49%.Will Trump or some other monster in his image win the next presidential election? Is a new civil war coming? Do Sanders, AOC and the “left Democrats” offer a viable alternative? For an insight into these and other crucial questions, please hear from Jack Gerson A veteran socialist and trade union activist based in Oakland, California.