Not Just Politics As Usual--Class War Comes To The US

An open discussion titled “Not Just Politics as Usual—Class War Comes to the U.S.” is taking place Tuesday March 29, 7:00 p.m. The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Woodstock (UUCW), 221 Dean Street is the location.  The program is a public educational offering of the congregation’s Social Justice Committee.

The discussion will be led and facilitated by Patrick Murfin, a lifelong social activist for peace, civil rights, labor and other causes.  He was an active member of the Industrial Workers of the World, the legendary radical industrial union founded in Chicago in 1905.   He served as organizer, General Secretary Treasurer, editor of the Industrial Worker, and co-authored with Fred Thompson "The IWW:  Its First Seventy Years, 1905-1975."

As a member of the Woodstock congregation since 1991 Murfin collaborated with the Rev. Dan Larsen on numerous social justice projects and was a co-founder and Executive Director of the annual Diversity Day Festival in Woodstock.  A member of the Democratic Party of McHenry County, Murfin has served as Vice Chair, Chair after the death of the incumbent, and secretary.  He has run unsuccessfully for Crystal Lake City Council, the McHenry County Board, and Nunda Township Trustee.  Murfin has maintained his blog, "Heretic, Rebel, a Thing to Flout" since 2006.  The opinions he may express during the discussion do not necessarily reflect the views and positions of either the UUCW or McHenry County Democrats.

Murfin says that the discussion arises from a pattern of events unfolding across the nation, “In Congress, in state after state, an unprecedented assault on the lives and wellbeing of ordinary working people has been unleashed under the cover of faux populism.  Backed by powerful interests with unlimited resources, an unparalleled media operation of their own, and an otherwise acquiescent media, gains long thought secure, are under fire in a brilliantly coordinated campaign.  In the cross hairs are not only unionized workers but women, minorities, immigrants, the disabled, the elderly, and the children.  A tiny plutocracy wins at the expense of the rest of us.  And when people have the audacity to complain they are charged with waging class war.  The questions are:  "How can people best respond?  Are the conventional tools of politics, petition, and “respectful protest” enough?”

After brief opening words to introduce the topic, Murfin will moderate an open discussion with all points of view welcome as long as discourse remains civil.  The event is free and open to the public.