Nashuan leads area Socialist movement
NASHUA – Workers of southern New Hampshire, unite! A group called Socialist Alternative will hold its first local meeting today in the Hunt Room of the Nashua Public Library.
The meeting, from 1-3 p.m., will feature speakers from the Boston chapter of the nationwide group. It will be lead by organizer Daniel Keating of Nashua.
Keating grew up in Nashua, and became interested in socialism while he was serving in the military through reading works by and about Eugene V. Debs, democratic Socialist presidential candidate in the early 1900s.
Keating worked in construction after leaving the military, and is now studying to become an HVAC contractor.
“We have horrible voting rates. . . there’s a huge disenfranchised section of the state,” Keating said. “They are sick of waiting for state and the federal government to come up with some sort of miraculous cure.”
Keating said he believes the reason many people no longer bother isn’t apathy but because the two-party system doesn’t represent the majority of Americans: the poor, the working and middle class.
“We’re voting for two competing elites that have their pockets stuffed with corporate dollars,” Keating said. “We have the material wealth to do what we need, it’s just in the hands of a few people.”
Socialism, closely aligned with trade unionism, became a widespread movement in this country in the early 1900s, but has largely faded away in the U.S.
Today’s meeting will serve as an introduction to democratic socialism, and Keating hopes it will sow the seeds of a new political party for the region. In the long run, Keating said he hopes to field socialist candidates for local and state offices.
“We’re going to talk about what socialism is, dispel some rumors and ask and answer questions,” he said.
“We’re not the Soviet Union... We’re looking for working- class, real democracy where we can control the decisions and what happens.”
Socialists support universal, single-payer health care, Keating said.
In a local issue, Keating said the city of Nashua should move ahead immediately with plans to take Pennichuck Water Works by eminent domain.
Social Alternative is not affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, though they are closely aligned politically, Keating said.
More information about the group can be found on their Web site, www.socialist alternative.org.
Workers of the world unite
NASHUA - Workers of southern New Hampshire, unite! A group called Socialist Alternative will hold its first local meeting Saturday afternoon in the Hunt Room of the Nashua Public Library.
The meeting, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., will feature speakers from the Boston chapter of the nationwide group. It will be lead by organizer Daniel Keating of Nashua.
Keating grew up in Nashua, and became interested in socialism while he was serving in the military through reading works by and about Eugene V. Debs, Democratic Socialist presidential candidate in the early 1900s.
Keating worked in construction after leaving the military, and is now studying to become an HVAC contractor.
“We have horrible voting rates... there’s a huge disenfranchised section of the state,” Keating said. “They are sick of waiting for state and the federal government to come up with some sort of miraculous cure.”
Keating said he believes the reason many people no longer bother isn’t apathy but because the two-party system doesn’t represent the majority of Americans, the poor, the working and middle class.
“We’re voting for two competing elites that have their pockets stuffed with corporate dollars,” Keating said. “We have the material wealth to do what we need, it’s just in the hands of a few people.”
Socialism, closely aligned with trade unionism, became a widespread movement in this country in the early 1900s, but has largely faded away in the U.S.
Saturday’s meeting will serve as an introduction to democratic socialism, and Keating hopes it will sow the seeds of a new political party for the region. In the long run, Keating said he hopes to field socialist candidates for local and state offices.
“We’re going to talk about what socialism is, dispel some rumors and ask and answer questions,” he said. “We’re not the Soviet Union... We’re looking for working- class, real democracy where we can control the decisions and what happens.”
Socialists support universal, single-payer health care, Keating said.
In a local issue, Keating said the city of Nashua should move ahead immediately with plans to take Pennichuck Water Works by eminent domain.
Social Alternative is not affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, though they are closely aligned politically, Keating said. More information about the group can be found on its Web site, www.socialistalternative.org.
- Andrew Wolfe
