As the Coalition intensifies its attacks on working people, it
clearly reveals itself as a government completely in the pockets of big
business. In fact it is a government of the stinking rich, for the
stinking rich, by the stinking rich.
“Millionaires often give money out of ‘kindness’. They aren’t always sinister. When you are worth £100m, giving £50,000 is like giving sixpence.” Lord Bell.
As the Coalition intensifies its attacks on working people, it clearly reveals itself as a government completely in the pockets of big business. In fact it is a government of the stinking rich, for the stinking rich, by the stinking rich.
Corruption and cronyism has always been the hallmark of this murky relationship. Their interests are completely entwined and could not be better illustrated than by the recent scandal surrounding Liam Fox, the now ex-defence secretary. While responsible for the defence of the Realm, he established a close relationship with one of the world’s richest men, Michael Hintze, in order to bankroll his lobbyist friend and adviser Adam Werritty.
There exists a stream of other such wealthy advisers who feed the government with anti-working class policies.
Despite the best efforts of the Tory Party to distance themselves from the Fox scandal, stories have now come out linking Werritty directly to Conservative Central Office. Of course we should be clear, this is a government which listens to big business first, second and last. Over 1,500 meetings were held between Ministers and business lobbyists during the first 10 months of the government’s life, far more than with any other group in society.
It confirms Marx when he explained, “The executive of the modern state is but a committee for managing the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie (ruling class).”
Cuts
Their “affairs” now centre on making the working class pay for the crisis of capitalism. Living standards are set to fall at a rate not seen since the 1920s. According to the Financial Times, “even that assessment appears rosy.” With inflation at a 20-year high, real wages are being dramatically cut.
Britain’s recovery is “off track”, states the governor of the Bank of England, which has “lengthened the period over which a return to normality is likely.” In order words, the working class is facing years of deep austerity. This is the price we are being asked to pay for the most serious crisis in history, according to the governor Sir Mervyn King. In reality, this crisis is the new “normality” for millions of working people.
It is a mistake to believe that these attacks are just “ideological.” They are being implemented by all governments in Europe. They are the direct consequence of the capitalist crisis, where the state was forced to step in and bail-out the banks and rescue the system. The bosses and the bankers intend to get out of this mess whatever the cost – to us that is!
Blame
The Wall Street Occupation and similar movements internationally are a recognition that capitalism and big business is to blame. Everyone knows that the bankers and financiers, whose actions triggered the crisis, have made billions at taxpayers expense. As Michael Moore in an interview on Newsnight explained, “we must put an end to capitalism. It is too late for reforms and tinkering with the system.”
The only alternative to capitalism is a democratically planned economy under the control of the working class. Capitalism is based on profit. We say we need a system based on needs. That means taking economic power out of the bankers and capitalists and placing it in the hands of ordinary working people. Only then can the resources of society be used for the benefit of the majority and not the interests of the billionaires.
If that was done, we could democratically plan the economy. Such a socialist plan of production would immediately abolish unemployment, eradicate homelessness, increase living standards, and guarantee a decent future for all. We could end all imperialist wars, which cost precious lives and billions of pounds and are used by big business to plunder the world. We collectively have the resources and the know-how to make things much better. It is the key to solving our problems.
Capitalism now stands as a massive barrier to human progress.
It is an obsolete system, which threatens to plunge humanity back into the dark ages. The choice now facing humankind is socialism or barbarism.
Working people have no alternative but put an end to capitalism and fight for a socialist future.
