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We’re Not Expendable, Their System Is!
Trump’s extreme policies and behavior have exposed the system we live in for what it is. He and the billionaires who control the resources and the government benefit from an economy that is organized to produce wealth for them. That system is capitalism.
Whether the Democrats or Republicans control the government, they both defend the same system, exploiting our labor and the resources of the planet for profit.
With Trump at the helm, we are seeing an acceleration of the drive for profits and power. Trump’s spending and tax bill, which narrowly passed in the House of Representatives, would increase the overall debt by $2.4 trillion over the next decade, while cutting essential services to tens of millions of people. The new budget would increase tax cuts for the rich and their corporations. It hands them huge military contracts, increasing military spending by more than $1 trillion along with more than $5 billion to deport people and further militarize the border. This includes massive funding for AI to aid their wars and surveillance. At the same time, they are cutting funding for SNAP, Medicaid, student loans, aid to schools, scientific research, environmental programs and funding to government agencies which provide some protection for our health and safety.
They attempt to distract us from their greed and theft by creating false enemies and fear in the population. They claim that our neighbors, friends, co-workers, and even family members are a threat to our safety. They are violating the most basic laws: arresting, incarcerating, kidnapping and deporting entire groups of people. They are mobilizing more ICE forces and now the military to defend their acts of terror. International students are being banned from studying. University funding is being slashed in retaliation for students, faculty, and staff speaking out. And now, people from countries around the world are branded as possible criminals and barred entry to the U.S.
These reckless and lawless actions are meant to terrorize us into silence, fearful that we could be next. In their eyes, we and the majority of the population of the world are just tools to be used by them. Tools that can be tossed aside when no longer useful.
But we are not expendable regardless of where we live! We, who live in Gaza, mine cobalt in Congo, and live in refugee camps in Sudan are not expendable. Nor are we, who are forced from our homes due to war, extreme weather, and industrial destruction. Nor are we, who live in the wealthy countries of the world and lack access to food, healthcare, education, or housing, and have their wars waged in our name.
This system of capitalism is not natural. It was put in place by people and it can be replaced. Trump’s and Musk’s public cat fight on X and the fallout of Trump’s funding bill show how unstable and chaotic their system is. Electing new people won’t change their system of destruction.
But a different world is possible: a system where the needs of the majority and the health of the planet are prioritized.
Imagine what our world would look like if it really served the majority. We would prioritize food, healthcare, housing, education, and services that we need. We would organize globally to meet the needs of everyone, everywhere. The divisions and inequalities that are created and maintained by nationality, race, and gender would no longer exist.
We would collaborate internationally. We would share all of the resources of society, including science, the arts, and everything that makes life livable and meaningful.
Education would be accessible for all. We could pursue our interests and contribute meaningfully to society. Advances in technology would free up our time.
Our food and energy production would be tied to the natural world and ecosystems we are a part of. Energy sources would be developed to replace the profit-driven extraction and burning of fossil fuels.
This is not just some fantasy of the imagination. We already have what we need to create this new world. Everything already exists to produce and meet all people’s needs on this planet. If these resources and our labor were unleashed for our benefit and prosperity, we would all have much to gain.
It will take our determination and collective effort to build this new world. We already produce everything and keep the societies of the world running. We hold the power to determine our future.
The Triangle, North Carolina: Danger! Heat Stress at Work!
Heat-related injuries are increasing around the world due to climate change. Already, extreme heat is the most common weather-related cause of death. In North Carolina, emergency room visits due to heat increased 20% from 2023 to 2024, and 2025 is on track to be even hotter.
In May at RDU1, the Amazon facility outside of Raleigh, three workers passed out due to heat. This comes after more than 100 workers at RDU1 passed out last summer. Heat stress is an inevitable consequence of the high pace of work demanded by Amazon’s notorious time-on-task work regime, combined with Amazon’s refusal to properly ventilate or air-condition many work areas.
Amazon thoughtfully air-conditions the areas around its computers because computers shut down if they overheat. So do workers—and it’s our lives at stake. These dangerous conditions will only worsen unless we support each other and prepare for the hot summer.
Bay Area, California: Californians Hunger Strike for a Free Palestine
It is the 20th month of Israel’s latest genocidal attack on Palestine. For the last three months, there has been a systematic starvation of Palestinians.
Activists are desperate to help save Palestinian lives and free Gaza. Here in California, students and faculty at San Jose State, Sacramento State, San Francisco State, CSU Long Beach and Stanford have engaged in a month-long hunger strike. Commencement speakers across the nation (MIT, Harvard and others) have spoken out. In Chapel Hill, NC, 50 high school students walked out of school. International activists took to the seas headed to Gaza to bring aid.
The mainstream media is not covering these acts of protest, and so most people are unaware. We must continue to speak out in any way we can!
Baltimore, Maryland: Federal Cuts Hit Hopkins and Baltimore Workers
On June 2, Johns Hopkins University announced that it would pause all salary increases for employees making more than $80,000 a year; there would also be a staff hiring freeze, a slow down on building projects, and an overall reduction in spending.
These cuts result from the federal government’s cuts to university funding generally. Currently Hopkins has lost nearly $850 million in federal funding. New federal funding to Hopkins has dropped by nearly 67% versus last year.
These cuts don’t affect just Hopkins staff and students. Hopkins spends huge amounts of money in the Baltimore area on contractors of many kinds, who in turn hire many workers. Combined with other federal cutbacks around Baltimore, including Social Security and others, it’s clear that a huge portion of workers in our area are affected. And it is likely to get worse before it gets better.
Those in power always place the biggest burdens on workers first. This is unacceptable!
Newark, New Jersey: Depend on Ourselves, Not on the Courts
Another big developer in Jersey City was caught failing to pay workers, not paying overtime, and not giving required sick leave. A local union representing dozens of the workers filed complaints with the state Department of Labor, leading to an investigation. Developers of luxury apartments continue to try to screw workers out of every penny they can. Once again, the union took legalistic action to get even belated action from the state.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Those who do the work could organize and stand together, even stop work completely, as soon as the bosses try to pull a fast one. We should rely on ourselves.
