Sunday, October 4, 2015
An establishment figure speaks about inequality
Last months television programme on the state-controlled RTE dealing with inequality in Ireland, presented by David McWilliams, was of interest by virtue of the fact that an establishment figure spoke about inequality.
Any regular reader of Socialist Voice, the monthly paper of the CPI, would have been well aware of the nature of the economic crisis and the strategy of past and present governments: of making working people pay for the crisis of the system.
We would like to remind people that the CPI was alone of all political parties and “alliances,” represented in the Dáil or otherwise, to argue the following:
1. That austerity is working. It was imposed to transfer wealth from working people to the rich. It was for the transfer of wealth upwards to the rich and outwards to the coffers of the international finance houses.
2. That the debt was the weapon of choice for attacking workers’ rights, terms and conditions and their living standards; that austerity would be permanent for working people.
3. That the Irish ruling class and Irish governments are gatekeepers for the interests of the EU, transnational corporations, and the rich and powerful.
4. That NAMA was for socialising toxic assets, and that the people would pay the debt while the rich and powerful would get away scot-free.
5. That NAMA was for re-establishing the Golden Circle.
6. That the strategy of both the government and the EU was to socialise debt and risk, while profits would remain firmly in private or corporate hands.
7. That the majority of economic and social policies are skewed in favour of transnational companies.
8. That repudiation of the debt was necessary to make those who created the debt pay for it, and not the people.
9. That membership of the EU, and in particular of the euro zone, is a political straitjacket, the means of imposing external political and fiscal controls, to make austerity permanent.
10. That water charges were primarily for establishing the means of privatising this resource.
11. That precarious employment would become the norm throughout large sections of the economy.
To quote James Connolly, “governments in capitalist society are but committees of the rich to manage the affairs of the capitalist class.”
We could go on.
The battle of ideas is a central part of the intense class struggle that is going on in our country. This ideological struggle is for shaping how people understand the world around them.
The role of the elite’s mass media is to weave the illusion that we all partied so we all must share the burden. Their role is to protect the system, not to present objective news or to enhance your understanding.
Communist Party of Ireland
Any regular reader of Socialist Voice, the monthly paper of the CPI, would have been well aware of the nature of the economic crisis and the strategy of past and present governments: of making working people pay for the crisis of the system.
We would like to remind people that the CPI was alone of all political parties and “alliances,” represented in the Dáil or otherwise, to argue the following:
1. That austerity is working. It was imposed to transfer wealth from working people to the rich. It was for the transfer of wealth upwards to the rich and outwards to the coffers of the international finance houses.
2. That the debt was the weapon of choice for attacking workers’ rights, terms and conditions and their living standards; that austerity would be permanent for working people.
3. That the Irish ruling class and Irish governments are gatekeepers for the interests of the EU, transnational corporations, and the rich and powerful.
4. That NAMA was for socialising toxic assets, and that the people would pay the debt while the rich and powerful would get away scot-free.
5. That NAMA was for re-establishing the Golden Circle.
6. That the strategy of both the government and the EU was to socialise debt and risk, while profits would remain firmly in private or corporate hands.
7. That the majority of economic and social policies are skewed in favour of transnational companies.
8. That repudiation of the debt was necessary to make those who created the debt pay for it, and not the people.
9. That membership of the EU, and in particular of the euro zone, is a political straitjacket, the means of imposing external political and fiscal controls, to make austerity permanent.
10. That water charges were primarily for establishing the means of privatising this resource.
11. That precarious employment would become the norm throughout large sections of the economy.
To quote James Connolly, “governments in capitalist society are but committees of the rich to manage the affairs of the capitalist class.”
We could go on.
The battle of ideas is a central part of the intense class struggle that is going on in our country. This ideological struggle is for shaping how people understand the world around them.
The role of the elite’s mass media is to weave the illusion that we all partied so we all must share the burden. Their role is to protect the system, not to present objective news or to enhance your understanding.
Communist Party of Ireland
October issue of SV out now
http://www.communistpartyofireland.ie/sv/index.html
October's Socialist Voice out now and available online.
This issues looks at precarious work, the irish language, right2change and the homeless crisis amongst other issues of concern to the working class.
Check it out and share it amongst your family and friends.
Friday, September 25, 2015
Hope for a Left Revival?
Full post available here:
http://zzs-blg.blogspot.ie/2015/09/hope-for-left-revival.html
http://zzs-blg.blogspot.ie/2015/09/hope-for-left-revival.html
To any sober observer, capitalism is in the throes of a
deep, profound, multi-faceted crisis. The celebration of fifteen years ago was
a hollow and unwarranted declaration of the unstoppable success of capitalism.
War, deprivation, and uncertainty are the legacy of those hailing that moment.
Few alive today know a time when the future looked so unsure.
Read on at http://zzs-blg.blogspot.ie/2015/09/hope-for-left-revival.html
Sunday, September 6, 2015
EXODUS OF THE MIDDLE CLASSES
GERMANY’S NEW REFUGEE POLICY IS TARGETTING
IN PARTICULAR TEACHERS, CHEMISTS, ENGINEERS AND DOCTORS
GERMAN LEFT-WING DAILY, JUNGE WELT, REPORTS
FROM SYRIA
Everyday, buses with emigrants are leaving the
Syrian capital Damascus. A ticket can be got from any travel agency. Depending
on the destination the cost will be between $300 and $400. The cheaper option
is to travel across the border to the Lebanese port city of Tripoli, from there
one can connect with a ferry to the western Turkish Izmir. Pay a little more
and one can also take a flight from Beirut Airport to Istanbul.
From Turkey, the route continues across the
sea to Greece, some refugees make two, three or four attempts to reach a Greek
island by boat. The refugees perform this task themselves. The boat is
skippered by one of their number, who in return does not have to pay for the
dangerous voyage.
For such a journey it can cost up to €10,000.
The money for this voyage the refugees get either from their families or by
selling property. It is mainly the middle class who can afford it. The new
refugee policy of Germany attracts mainly teachers, pharmacists, engineers and
physicians from Syria. Magically nationwide
courses in German are all the rage. In the past few years many have tried
unsuccessfully to get a visa from the German embassy in Beirut. Now they are
embarking on the dangerous and expensive escape route.
There is a rumour circulating in Instabul
and even in Baghdad that the German government is planning to send ships to the
coast of Turkey to accommodate the refugees and bring them to Germany, in order
to avoid any more tragic images of dead children on the Mediterranean coast.
The misery being endured by the Syrian poor
and Palestinian refugees from Syria remains very much in the background of the
media coverage. More than 150,000 Syrian Palestinians now share their cramped
living quarters with relatives and friends in the Palestinian refugee camps in
Lebanon. Living conditions are catastrophic in the mafia controlled Zaatari camp
in northern Jordan and even more so in the Jordanian cities. The situation is so disastrous that more than
120,000 people have returned from there to Syria. In July alone, the United
Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) registered more than 1,300 Syrian returnees. The
people return to Syria due to the lack of security and the complete hopelessness
of finding work in Jordan. In addition, back in Syria the children are able to
return to school.
Meanwhile, the fighting continues on many
fronts in Syria. Neither side has made any breakthroughs. The Lebanese channel
Al-Mayadeen reported this week that two villages in the northern Syrian
province of Idlib have literally been colonised by Turkish Uyghur units, who are
defending them. Back in 2013 it was reported that Chinese Uyghur came to Syria via
Turkey and joined the Jihadi Al-Nusra Front and later the "Islamic
State" (IS). Through this colonisation policy, Turkey is obviously trying to
bring parts of northern Syria under its influence. Earlier this year the Idlib
province was attacked by the "Army of Conquest" militia, which is
financed by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
On Thursday allegations were made that
IS-combat forces had repeatedly used poison gas again in northern Syria. A
spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said reports from various sources had
been received and the UN Security Council would have to take “appropriate
action” to deal with this danger.
Meanwhile in Damascus, the Iranian Deputy
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian met with Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad and reaffirmed his country’s political, economic and military support
for its war-torn neighbour. In particular, they would cooperate in the fight
against terrorism. Syria is a sovereign state and has the right to decide
"its own future". At a joint press conference with his Syrian
counterpart Faisal Mekdad Abdollahian stressed that both Iran and Russia were
united in their view the Syrian president must play a central role in any
political resolution of the conflict. An Iranian peace plan was being discussed
with Damascus. Tehran is seeking the United Nations involvement in making the
following proposals a reality: ceasefire, national unity government,
constitutional changes, parliamentary elections
In Beirut Abdollahian had already spoken with the UN special envoy for
Syria, Staffan de Mistura, and the Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil.
Friday, September 4, 2015
Large CPI gathering at r2w demo
Éilíonn na mílte
ceart ar uisce
Ghlac na mílte ceardchumannai, baill d’eagraíochtaí pobail
agus daoine eile páirt i léirsiú ollmhór i mBaile Átha Cliath Dé Sathairn 29
Lúnasa le cur in aghaidh bheartas an rialtais táillí uisce a thabhart isteach
mar réamhullmhúchán do phríobháidiú na hacmhainne poiblí seo.
Thousands demand the
right to water
Tens of thousands of trade unionists, members of community
organisations and others took part in a massive demonstration in Dublin on
Saturday 29 August to oppose the government’s plan to introduce charges for
water as a preliminary to the privatisation of this public resource.
Forward # 19 out now
http://issuu.com/connollyyouthmovement/docs/forward_issue_19_pdf
Forward is brought to you by the Connolly Youth Movement, an
Ireland based youth organisation committed to fighting for democracy, freedom
and unity in this country. The CYM takes part in the struggle to build
socialism in Ireland and everywhere around the globe.
www.cym.ie
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