Amidst the current economic crisis, many students are searching for answers and alternatives to conventional politics. The United Socialist Movement of the Americas' (USMA) Buffalo chapter is looking to provide students that opportunity.
Socialism is a set of economic views where society owns and controls production and wealth is distributed equally amongst its members, according to William Richardson, a junior sociology major and USMA chapter president.
"[Socialists] organize in a democratic way where workers control the factories and things that need to be produced," Richardson said.
After transferring from another college, Richardson saw the opportunity to begin a chapter at UB.
"The group started on Facebook, actually," Richardson said.
Joseph Dubonnet, a socialist from Hamilton, Ontario, created a Facebook group that called for all socialists of the Western Hemisphere to unite as the USMA. Richardson contacted Dubonnet and organized a sect in Buffalo.
The group covers the entire Buffalo area and is open to students from local colleges and high schools. Since it only formed this semester, Richardson and his fellow members are still working to make USMA Buffalo an official group at UB.
"We want to make it a recognized club," Richardson said.
The group is set to promote socialist ideals and show students the possibility of running the U.S. in a different way. Richardson believes that the current system of government is only trying to keep the affluent on top. However, through socialism, all people would be provided for regardless of class, race, or gender.
"We believe that all of humanity should be taken care of," Richardson said.
USMA Buffalo also looks to spread its message of equality by examining the current state of the economy.
"As we have seen with the current financial crisis, free market capitalism has flunked out," Richardson said.
Richardson believes that in order to solve the crisis, socialism should be considered as an alternative. The government currently operates under capitalism, where production is controlled by private entities for profit.
"Capitalism creates greed," Richardson said. "We need to nationalize the banks. The government needs to reap the benefit, then pass that onto the people."
USMA Buffalo's meetings are informal. Members sit down and discuss current events and the climate of the campus. Richardson is considering working with other groups such as UB Students Against Sweatshops to showcase USMA's ideals.
With high dissatisfaction amongst American citizens, Richardson believes that socialism is the only way to create balance and order for all people.
"The ship is going down, and we are on it," Richardson said. "We have no choice but to find an alternative."
USMA Buffalo's next meeting will be held on Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Undergraduate Library in Capen Hall.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
