An immigrant to this country from the former Soviet Union, I am an electrical engineer by profession, a Russian newspaper editor and, with my wife, the owner a business that manufactures women’s fashions.
Before 2009 I wasn't political. But in 2009, the words "labor movement” drove me to activism, and not in a constructive way. Americans who never experienced the Soviet system surely can't understand the negative connotations there. I was invited to do a political magazine on Staten Island; a conservative borough of New York City. Living a place filled with conservatives, including many other immigrants from the former USSR who are attracted to the Republican Party because of its strong stand against the Soviets in the 1980s, my American political journey began as a tea party Republican...
By Ilya Galak
An immigrant to this country from the former Soviet Union, I am an electrical engineer by profession, a Russian newspaper editor and, with my wife, the owner a business that manufactures women’s fashions.
Before 2009 I wasn't political. But in 2009, the words "labor movement” drove me to activism, and not in a constructive way. Americans who never experienced the Soviet system surely can't understand the negative connotations there. I was invited to do a political magazine on Staten Island; a conservative borough of New York City. Living a place filled with conservatives, including many other immigrants from the former USSR who are attracted to the Republican Party because of its strong stand against the Soviets in the 1980s, my American political journey began as a tea party Republican.
Eventually, after observing, reading, listening to people (like my progressive friend Michael Califra), my views changed. I realized our biggest problem is the relentless war on the middle class and the outsourcing of good manufacturing jobs.
There are many important issues to debate. But without manufacturing our middle class is doomed. Restoring manufacturing became my passion.
I and others organized the “Make It in the USA” movement and I want to share our goals with the Kos community.
That is why I am here.