This year's mid-term elections mark yet another change in the consciousness of the U.S. working class. Workers' consciousness is not fixed in stone. We can't have a one-sided approach to what is an infinitely complex process, especially in a country as rife with contradictions as the U.S. This brief, initial analysis will be followed by a series of articles in the coming days and weeks, which will examine various aspects of the elections and their aftermath.
Although they may differ with the Republicans on this or that secondary issue, on all fundamental questions, the Democrats consistently defend the interests of big business against the interests of working people. How could it be any other way? They are directly funded by the employing class and most of them are extraordinarily wealthy themselves.
With its 1.4 million members, the International Brotherhood of
Teamsters could well be America’s strongest union. This fall, Teamster
members will be able to vote for either Jimmy Hoffa Jr., current
president of the Teamsters, or Tom Leedham. A victory for Leedham could potentially be a starting point to build a
more militant union, run from the bottom up.