Today's national economic and political priorities are being set by corporations and corporate-sponsored politicians. I sense that Americans are fina… - Terry Bouricius

I witnessed first hand the popularity of the Nicaraguan government and the suffering caused by the U.S. An elderly woman from Matagalpa told me she knew the U.S. people didn't support the C.I.A. war, and that if the people of North America really understood what Reagan was doing they wouldn't tolerate it. I hope she is right.

Democratic socialism does not mean massive government bureaucracy and totalitarianism, but rather democratic self-management of community and workplace. The socialism I advocate is akin to that advocated by freedom fighting Polish Solidarity union (which, despite Reagan's expressions of support, is a socialist movement). The principle of democracy is that each person should have a say in the decisions that affect her or his life. This is the essence of the American ideal of equality and the socialist pursuit of economic democracy. Why should democracy stop at the factory gates or the door to the bankers' board room? Both capitalism and authoritarian "communism" violate this basic democratic value. The problem is the concentration of power, whether in the hands of an unrepresentative party or an unrepresentative corporate elite. The quest of the Polish workers for democratic socialism is worthy of support, both in Poland and in the United States.

Of course unions are not perfect. It is easy to point to self-serving or corrupt leaders in some unions. But as a whole, unions represent a vital defense against dictatorial employers. If you have any doubts, just look at the conditions of labor earlier in this century.