During a decade when border issues between the U.S. and Mexico have intensified and the Democrats and Republicans have gone on the attack against immigrants, Socialist Party vice-presidential candidate Stewart A. Alexander is proposing a common U.S.-Mexican currency and establishing a Basic Income Guarantee (BIG) for working people on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

On June 28-29, an “Open National Antiwar Conference” was held in Cleveland, called by a newly minted National Assembly to End the Iraq War and Occupation. Over objections from the conference organizers, centrally Socialist Action, the assembly voted to change the name to include reference to the war on Afghanistan, and to emphasize the connection with U.S. backing for the Zionist occupation of Palestine.

By Malik Miah, from Against the Current, July/August 2008, No. 135.

Now that Illinois Senator Barack Obama has become the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, what does it say about U.S. civil society? What stance should progressives and socialists take?

Millions of working people are waking up to the harsh reality that the Bush stimulus package is not working and that the U.S. economy is already in a recession. Many economic indicators are revealing that the economy is in serious trouble. Just last week the U.S. Labor Department reported the lost of 49,000 jobs for the month of May, it was the highest lost of jobs since 1986; and as inflation continues to spread, the cost of energy and food will continue to weaken the U.S. economy.

As the Iraq War runs its bloody course, Iran has become a central focus in the 2008 presidential campaign. While not satisfied with Barack Obama's conditional plan for a much delayed disengagement from Iraq; Socialist Party Vice Presidential nominee Stewart A. Alexander says that he and his Presidential running mate Brian Moore are "greatly concerned" that comments being made by Republican presidential contender John McCain, regarding Iran "are reckless and irresponsible and will further escalate tensions in the Middle East and the international community."