Comments for The Rank-and-Filer

Comment on What is Progressive Social Work? by chuck fraser

chuck fraser — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 01:53:47 +0000

there are many oppressions and few oppressors. Therefore we must work as allies to achieve a just and civil society where everyone can reach self-actualization on their own terms. A rose seed can not produce a violet. We must be authentic to ourselves to be that which we were meant to be…This notion of conformity is outdated, patriarchy and paperarchy must go. Liberation not assimilation. As social workers we can choose to be allies or agents! Managerialism, neo-liberalism, and the global royalty wotk to continue oppressing the working classes. Our profession is to aid the citizens made marginalized for many reasons. First they came for the poor, then the unionized, the others, then the elite came for me, because they only look after themselves, and brothers and sisters they could care less about us… However there will always be those who will sniff out the oppressed for the state, they will answer in a different court. Us progressives, we continue to work as allies and sometimes we will win fight or two, be set back, smile, dance, sing labor songs, recite labor poetry, and continue on, but, never let the bastards grind you down. I have been a progressice sw 24/7, for the political is personal, 35 years in the trenches of inhumanity and have watched citizens die on the elites good streets, social murder, how can we stand by and say nothing. Our job is to assist, witness, document, for a higher court, ours is a just fight for our existance on this planet. Never mind star wars and space exploration, wars, genocides, and the billons of your tax dollars to pay for these phallic endeavours, my friends, this money could be used to eradicate poverty, oppression, the world over…it is over when we say it is over. progressive social work is a part of the vanguard needed for these planet saving endeavours, this is a part of our history. Sister Bertha was a part of that era and through her this vision still lives on, it is the direction we need to travel my friends. Organize, educate, live and breathe through a critical lens. When they come for one of us, we must stand together. Time for a new deal, remove them from the wheel, time is running out. Progressive social work can lead the way to work with the other social movements of the day: Liberate our planet!! Peace and Love

Comment on Radical Mental Health Social Work by chuck fraser

chuck fraser — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:03:51 +0000

It is not surprising that neo-liberal ideologies would attack citizens with mental health conditions. If they had their total way there would be no support at all. The states has 30 million homeless people and millions more as the working poor. Like medical services it is difficult for folks to get the help that they need, no one wins in this philosophy. Vulnerable citizens die on their good streets from neo-liberal policies, social murder, and yet, only 49% of citizens vote. Social workers are there to put on the bandages and support the walking wounded of capitalism and their managerialism approaches, some of whom become university instructors to ensure there is a supply of meanstream social workers. The struggle continues, back to the poor house mentality. Things will only change when the people come together, like the 60′s we need that loving feeling back again, people power, grassroots. Peace and Love, and don’t get lost in the struggle, we deserve some fun as well, so dance, sing, make love, and write poetry!!!

Comment on Organizing With Love by chuck fraser

chuck fraser — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:44:35 +0000

so true sister poo, love is the answer, we all know it to be so. but unfortunately, so suits are not capable of love, empathy, or remorse, for their sociopathis social policies that cause good folks to die in their good streets. since when has this become acceptable in a christian society ? or the murdering of innocent children and women in their invasions of other countries for their greed? Colltaeral damage or friendly fire, oops!! I fear there are other things a foot brothers and sisters, and love isn’t one of them. However, having saif that, love is still the answer and there is a lot of loving to be done in order to reclaim this planet from psychpaths in suits and uniforms. Peace and Love.

Comment on Anarchist Ideas in Action by chuck fraser

chuck fraser — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 02:43:48 +0000

I would have liked to meet this brother, I’m sure his activist spirit will be found with the others that went before us. These “happy helpers” have been tracked down and done away with. There are a few of us still in hiding or in disguise fighting for the oppressed and marginalized. Managerialism mentality is still gripping the social work world. Neo-liberalism continues to do away with the poor, genocide of the poor, like the highland clearances, jews of Germany, where will the poor go, the elite do not care, never have, never will. The poor laws referred to the poor as vermin that should be destroyed. Citizens are dying daily from state sanctioned murder on your good streets, and hardly a word said. Homeless in first world countries, shame on them and shame on us for not activating, protesting, anything, just sitting around until the elite domes for you, and they bloody well will brothers and sisters. I still work in the trenches, have for 30 years, born there, will die there, my claymore is ready to fight injustices. I salutue the spirit of brother Mark. La Lotto Continua~~ but we can still have fun, sing, dance, read poetry, never let the baztards grind us down!! Peace and Love.

Comment on Organizing your ‘clients’ by chuck fraser

chuck fraser — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 02:15:59 +0000

Good discussion. I like participant, but usually refer to the folks I work with/for as friends. Social workers/students, need to know social polcies, how they are made, agency statement and protocols, especially if working for the state. I know, most people do not like policy. I have taught critical social work policy at UNBC. Know thy social policy. This enables structural socialw workers to manuver the system to better assist their participants. Know where the food banks are, and other vital resources in your community, become a board member, advocate, know the stake holders, be active in your association and your union. Being an ally to folks who have been made marginalized by a patriarchal/cpitalist government takes a lot of work from the heart. Being an activist is a 24/7 job. For new students who are aching to get into the fielf, pace yourself, come into your agency slowly, learn the ropes, use your ears and eyes. Now, if you are a consenus social worker and promote the system and “blame the others’ well, sniff out the oppressed for the state, like a Doberman Pincher, you will not be effective in bringing about social change because you like the way it is now. Never mind, one must learn to think outside the ballot-box. In northern Canada, I work with aboriginal people in their altruistic struggle for self-determination and self-government as an ally. They face continued racism, poverty, oppression, on a daily basis, as they have for 500 years. Elders have told me that I am needed in the struggle to assist when needed, where ever I can. Authentic ally or Indian Agent. Yes, it is an honour and a privledge to assist “the others” on their altruistic journey for social justice, this is what social work was always meant to do, from the Industrial Revolution to the modern day struggles against neo-liberal cuts to social programs that benefit the wealthy. Soar with eagles, or snore with begels ( l mean no disrespect to the two breeds of dogs mentioned.) We have much work to do my friends!! Peace and Love. Chuck MSW, RTC, RSW.(these credential s assist me in advocation for the subalterns of Canada. All my relations.

Comment on The 1965 New York City Welfare Strike and Worker-Client Alliances by January 4: Social Workers on Strike

January 4: Social Workers on Strike — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:19:11 +0000

[...] “Throughout the late 1930s and early 1940s, NYC’s militant social service workers pushed a vision of strong worker-client alliances in a broad anti-capitalist working class movement. These city workers were disproportionately Jewish, and saw the need for strong alliances with the city’s African-American poor. . . . [In the 1960s] Most of these social workers were Jewish and working with Black and Latino clients. Later, when African-American social workers led the union, it did less to ally with clients than in 1965.” —The Rank and Filer [...]

Comment on The Human Cost of “Efficiency” by chuck fraser

chuck fraser — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 04:48:04 +0000

the neo-liberalagenda does not care about the working classes, never have, never will. least of all social workers and the vulnrable people they are suppose to serve. Survival of the richest, the rest can dig ditches, oh yeah, they can’t do that. machines took that work. The greatest attack in a long while was the last Bush years of subsidizing the stock and bond market at the expense of the ordinary citizens and then letting the working classes pay billons in bail=outs, marx and gramsic are still rolling over in their graves. wake-up people!! we have the numbers to change government, which has happened by electing Obama, he is the best that we have to make needed changes to advance the causes of the people. the republicans have and will continue to block his progressive agenda. now folks will feel the brunt of the elite, who will not lose their jobs, nor do they know the anxiety this causes working class families.People must stand together and show solidarity to the mean spirited tea-baggers out there and send a message to the likes of trump and tell them : you’re fired. so come on people, get fired up, stand together and keep this social justice train rolling for the stakes are high. Bush should be jaiked for the policies he approved that caused this financial nightmare, the biggest heaist in history full of greed and hatred towards the working classes and sub-alterns. Keep the spirit alive, obama care is a good way to go, I know, Canada has a great medical system, basiclly free to all users, which is under threat from your profit for pain medical supporters. Stay the course, God knows you will not fare well with a republican government. Good Luck!!

Comment on Progressive Social Work Manifesto, Hong Kong by Rank and Filer Editor

Rank and Filer Editor — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:44:30 +0000

Hello Meghna!

Where do you live? The Progressive Social Network is in Hong Kong. In the US, the most similar group is the Social Welfare Action Alliance. In NYC (US), you could join the Radical Social Work Group. In Great Britain, there is the Social Work Action Network. In the Bay Area (US) there is the Bay Area Mutual Aid. Here is a list: http://www.rankandfiler.net/resources/

If you are in Hong Kong, I can work on tracking down contact info for PSWN.

Comment on Progressive Social Work Manifesto, Hong Kong by meghna

meghna — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:00:05 +0000

How do i join the progressive social work network?

Comment on The Social Welfare State, Not the Police State: Taking on Obama’s Center Right Budget Deal and Challenging “Entitlement Reform” by chuck fraser

chuck fraser — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 06:21:41 +0000

Left on brother! Corporate america is different then country america. The class struggle has begun, the people need to continue organizing and keeping the fire burning. This last election showed clearly how extreme the neo-liberal agenda is, thanks to the tea baggers for showing how evil the republican party is. There will be more violence as gun buying soars, for there are those in the uSA who are content in seeing 35 million citizens homeless, no medicare, there is no pleasing these fanatics.The rank and file must continue to organize everywhere possible, write, sing, play, dance, do what ever, where you are at, you must keep this momentum moving forward, bearing left of centre. Obama did his part, now we must continue to do ours. if we continue to win elections then we can shift the hearts and minds of the centre, after all, there are people and a planet that needs saving. I believe yje movement has started, keep your seat belts fastened, it will be getting turbulent. Don’t forhet to write poetry and dance in the street, change is coming!! Poet 911.