‘Low-Wage Capitalism’ author speaks in Midwest

A standing-room-only audience turned out Sept. 11 in Detroit to hear “Low-Wage Capitalism” author Fred Goldstein speak on “What the economic crisis means for workers and the ever-growing poor — and how to strategize a working-class fightback.” Goldstein, a national leader of Workers World Party and contributing editor of Workers World newspaper, addressed a WWP/Harriet Tubman School public forum.

He explained the workings of the capitalist profit system of wage slavery and exploitation and the character of the current economic crisis within the context of the Midwest’s historical importance in manufacturing and subsequent deindustrialization. A lively discussion took place afterwards and many copies of “Low-Wage Capitalism” were autographed and sold.

The meeting also heard a report from Kris Hamel about the case of Ahlam Mohsen, an Arab-American college student who is facing felony charges for putting a pie in the face of U.S. Sen. Carl Levin as an anti-war protest. Journalist Abayomi Azikiwe talked about an unprecedented rash of home fires that broke out in Detroit on Sept. 7 and the role of banks and corporations in causing them. The program was chaired by Andrea Egypt.