the need for socialist policies is limited in the the full on socialism policy -- state ownership of means of production -- isn't needed. we want sweden, not USSR.

sweden has capitalism well tamed by "socialistic" policies. right wingers call it socialism. whatever you call it, it's not full on state ownership of the means of production. the fact that capitalism also creates wealth, lifted europe out of mass scale poverty -- when tamed -- and is helping do so today in india and china etc. needs recogniction, too.

capitalism is like a bull. you need a fucking fence to limit it and prods to govern it. WE have to control IT. but killing the bull and having state bureacracies take over won't work -- ussr didn't invent computers cell phones or laptops did it. capitalism did. I'd add to the list of two things needed a few more like limiting role of money in politics and taming capitalism's impact on environment -- actually, it's better to call it environmental regulation with or without capitalism, ALL systems of production harm the environment and can do so -- so it's a robust amount of regulation and redistribution we need to have. but really, what nation that is socialist would you prefer to live in that manages things better than germany sweden finland denmark etc. the epitomes of the social democratic policies? where is better, north korea? cuba? what? by saying limited need for socialist policies I think what was meant was "policies to regulate capitalism at all times without going full on USSR style ownership of means of production" NOT "policies for a few months then stop the socialist policies for a few years till it crashes again." the limit is not going all the way to ussr, I think we'd all agree we need regulations, tax, redistribution, and other controls on capitalism AT ALL TIMES WITHOUT LETTING UP AND OFTEN MAKING THE REGULATIONS STRONGER. eg now we need that $15 min wage, right? but we don't ned the state to pay everyone's salary!

How many times is Slog going to repost this story? Repetition does not increase one's significance.

@8, whoosh!

I approve of 15Now, with no tip adjustment (I'm fine with taking SS, insurance and such out of the 15, since it is the way it is done now). But posting/linking the same article on Sunday at 11:38 am, Saturday at 10:38 am, and some nebulous time on Friday (the original post relinks to the Sunday post) doesn't help the issue any. All it does it exacerbate issue fatigue.

Fast food strikes in Seattle in 2013 did nothing for 15Now. It was already a movement, and fast food strikes were already happening all over the place (including Seattle). If anything, Slog is further marginalizing the issue by "chest pounding" and claiming credit for themselves and others rather than the real people who both got this movement off the ground and made it what it is today.

I love seeing workers in the news. I hate seeing workers' issues reduced to poor copy/paste jobs on blogs in an attempt to bolster views/"hits". I hope you can see the difference.

@10. Inflation may be (is) coming for far more significant reasons than workers simply getting a living wage.

Quantitative easing giving easy money to speculators to buy up assets which drives up the cost of assets (food, energy) is causing a lot of unrest around the world.

I've never understood the sympathy folks have for big businesses brazenly shaving extra profit from workers who need to then must get public assistance to continue living while working even full time.

This raise will only affect about 100,000 workers in Seattle (hardly inflation inducing number of workers). Nominal raises in prices for small businesses to help them pay better wages will help keep money local. Big business can easily handle the increase. When inflation (or deflation or both) rears it's (their) head(s) in the future at least this city will have put it's foot down on what is an essential community value.

#12, I do stay away from their blog, for just that reason. I don't mind campaigning, I mind repetition. If the cause is that worthy, surely Slog can type something new about the campaign, rather than literally just repost the same story and pictures three days in a row. A worthy issue deserves more, doesn't it?

Also, there is no sic. 15Now is the precise way it is written both on the .org site and on the Google "hit", supporter is spelled correctly and is not supposed to be capitalized..

Oddly enough, I was unable to delete the double period at the end of the post. Mea Culpa.

First thing I hear Sawant say when I go to a town hall meeting: "Let's step away from the numbers..." Okay Mrs. Doctorate in Economics - are you stepping away from the numbers because you know they don't support your position?

She needs to stick with teaching socialist economics to pot-smoking college existentialists, because she's a horrible politician.