In many states, grass roots political movements are taking place that could ultimately change the face of politics in America. Efforts to place independent candidates on the ballot through an organization called Unity08 have received widespread notice. And efforts by the Greens, Libertarians, and the Constitution Party (of which California's American Independent Party is a part) to get on the ballot in every state are making great progress. For the many socialist parties throughout the country - including California's Peace and Freedom Party - discussions are underway to form affiliations that could ultimately lead to a unified socialist party within the U.S.

In Louisiana, the establishment of the Reconstruction Party by New Orleans city council candidate Malcolm Suber may best symbolize the new politics of America. In an interview, Mr. Suber said "If we want real justice and equity, we'll have to do it ourselves. The Democratic politicians, the same old folks, won't do it. The two big capitalist parties, the Democrats and the Republicans, make empty promises to the people, while awarding the politically connected."

Malcolm Suber's assessment of the situation - enlightening as it may be to some - is not new. But it does reflect the political awareness and resolve of a new generation of oppressed peoples to throw off the yoke of capitalism.

In 1966, in a speech given in Frogmore, South Carolina, the Reverend Martin Luther King said, "You can't talk about solving the economic problem of the Negro without talking about billions of dollars. You can't talk about ending the slums without first saying profit must be taken out of slums .... we are treading in difficult water, because it really means that we are saying that something is wrong .... with capitalism .... There must be a better distribution of wealth and maybe America must move toward a democratic socialism."

Reverend King's astute observation of the need to move toward socialism did not come without scrupulous observation and study. Both he and Rosa Parks were trained at the Highlander Folk School, a labor organizing and training center with socialist underpinnings located in Tennessee.

Likewise, the Black Panther Party - known for its community programs to alleviate poverty - matured politically through the study and adoption of socialism and socialist ideas.

In the San Joaquin Valley, in the African-American community, in the Immigrant community, among the poor, the wage earners, and in our youth, we see an awakening to the oppressive and discriminatory nature of capitalism. More and more people are choosing to identify themselves and finding political solidarity as "anti-capitalists."

Indeed, among the voters (and those who can not legally vote) who are looking beyond the capitalist parties and beyond the politicians that currently control our government there is - more than anything else - hope.