World Socialist Web Site and SEP/ISSE conference
The World Economic Crisis, the Failure of Capitalism, and the Case for Socialism
The US and world economy are confronted with the greatest crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Amidst the breakdown of the global financial system, industrial production and world trade are falling dramatically. The United States is facing the specter of mass poverty. Several million workers have already lost their jobs, and each week brings new announcements of layoffs from work places all across the country.
The unfolding crisis is not merely a temporary downturn, but, rather, a systemic breakdown of world capitalism. No progressive solution to this economic catastrophe – that is, a solution that serves the interests of working people – is possible within the framework of the existing profit system. It is an undeniable fact that the financial and corporate elite’s relentless drive for profits and pursuit of obscene levels of personal wealth set the stage for the economic breakdown.
Evading the responsibility of capitalism for the economic breakdown, the Obama administration insists that there is no alternative to his policy of multi-billion dollar bailouts of the banks and rich investors. In practice, this means placing the full burden of the economic crisis on working people. While the Obama administration protects the super-rich from the consequences of their reckless financial speculation, the working class pays for the failure of capitalism with rising unemployment, pay cuts, foreclosures and the destruction of vital social services.
The World Socialist Web Site, the Socialist Equality Party (US) and the International Students for Social Equality are sponsoring a series of conferences on “The World Economic Crisis, the Failure of Capitalism, and the Case for Socialism” in Ann Arbor, Michigan, New York City, and Los Angeles, California. The purpose of these conferences is to examine the origins of the economic crisis and discuss the necessary program and perspective for a new socialist movement of the American and international working class.
Speakers will include:
• David North, SEP national chairman
• Joseph Kishore, SEP national secretary
• Nick Beams, SEP (Australia) national secretary
• Barry Grey, WSWS US national editor
• Jerry White, SEP 2008 presidential candidate
• Bill Van Auken, SEP 2008 vice presidential candidate
We urge all readers of the World Socialist Web Site to register and make plans to attend today.
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Saturday, April 25
10 am – 5 pm
Anderson Room of the Michigan Union
530 S. State Street
Map
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New York, New York
Sunday, May 3
10:30 am – 5:30 pm
Roosevelt Hotel, Sutton Suite
45 E 45th Street (near Madison Avenue)
Manhattan
Map
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Los Angeles, California
Sunday, May 10
12:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Deneve Plaza, Plaza Room B
University of California, Los Angeles
Map | Directions | Public transport
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All conference participants must register. The cost is $10 ($5 for students and unemployed) and can be paid by credit card, paypal, or check/money order. Please complete the following form to be taken to the payment page. If you have any questions, include these in the comments field:
