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SEP election meetings

The origins and implications of the financial crisis: A Marxist analysis

4 October 2008

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Between now and Election Day, Socialist Equality Party presidential candidate Jerry White and vice presidential candidate Bill Van Auken will speak at a series of meetings throughout the country. The candidates will also address meetings in Canada, Germany and Britain.

It is now widely acknowledged in the press that the 2008 elections are taking place amid the greatest crisis of American capitalism since the Great Depression of the 1930s. What was once considered to be unimaginable is now taking place: the collapse of major financial institutions and banks, tens of billions of dollars committed to corporate bailouts. The Bush administration, with the support of the Democrats and both presidential candidates, has opened up the US Treasury to hand over hundreds of billions of dollars to buy up stock, “toxic” securities and worthless investments from the very people who have caused this crisis. White and Van Auken will present a Marxist analysis of these developments. They will address the fundamental questions that are not being discussed in the media or by either presidential candidate:

* What is the cause of the economic and financial crisis?

* Who will be forced to pay for it?

* What will be the implications for working people?

* What is the alternative?

The meetings will provide an important opportunity for workers and students and readers of the WSWS to find out more about the SEP and become involved in building the international socialist movement.

Additional meeting locations and further details will be announced in the coming weeks. To become involved in the SEP campaign, or to find out how you can build a meeting in your area, contact us here. Visit www.socialequality.com for more information on the SEP and its election campaign.

Meeting times:

Tuesday, October 21, 7 p.m.
Oakland University
Oakland Center, room Gold B
Rochester, Michigan
Speaker: Jerry White

Tuesday, October 21, 7:30 p.m.
Portland State University
1825 SW Broadway
Smith Memorial Union, Room 294
Portland, Oregon
Speaker: Bill Van Auken

Thursday, October 23, 7 p.m.
San Diego State University
Quetzalcoatl A&B
San Diego, California
Speaker: Bill Van Auken

Thursday, October 23, 7 p.m.
University of Pittsburgh,
Cathedral of Learning, Room 339
4500 5th Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Speaker: Jerry White

Saturday, October 25, 3 p.m.
Santa Monica Public Library
Multipurpose Room
601 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, California
Speaker: Bill Van Auken

Saturday, October 25, 3:30 p.m.
McBurney YMCA
125 West 14th Street
New York, NY
Speaker: Jerry White

Monday, October 27, 7 p.m.
University of Illinois, Chicago
Student Center East, Room 613 750 South Halsted Street
Chicago, Illinois
Speaker: Jerry White

Monday, October 27, 7 p.m.
Shawnee State University
Clark Memorial Library
in the Alcove (NE corner of the main floor)
940 Second Street
Portsmouth, Ohio
Speaker: Lawrence Porter

Tuesday, October 28
Champaign, Illinois
Time and place TBA
Speaker: Jerry White

Wednesday, October 29, 7:30 p.m.
Centre St. Pierre
1212 Panet
Room 204
(near the Beaudry Metro station)
Montreal, Quebec
Speaker: Bill Van Auken

Thursday, October, 30, 6:30 p.m.
Central Square YMCA
820 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, Mass.
Speaker: Bill Van Auken

Thursday, October 30, 8 p.m.
OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education)
Room 2296
252 Bloor Street West,
(near the St. George Subway station)
Toronto, Ontario
Speaker: Jerry White