Radical changes in consciousness often spring from arbitrary collective
experiences. Last week’s bombings in London are no exception. On the
surface, the story being broadcast and repeated by the journalists,
politicians, and purveyors of “objective information” appears to be
true. But there is more to it than that.
Trotsky’s ‘ABC of Materialist Dialectics’ is a brilliant short explanation of Marxist philosophy. It was written as part of a defence of Marxism against a middle-class revisionist tendency in the American Trotskyist movement in the late 1930s, which attempted to challenge its basic principles. As opposed to pragmatism and empiricism, Trotsky defended dialectical materialism as a richer, fuller, more comprehensive view of society and life in general.
We received messages from the Dadu Sindh branch of the PTUDC and the
American Workers’ International League addressed to the people of
London.
The recurring theme of today’s mass media coverage can be summed up in three words: “Business as usual.” After all, life goes on for most Londoners. This indomitable spirit of the ordinary people is something that Tony Blair and the Establishment are seeking to exploit. One thing is clear: if the imperialist bullying continues, the epidemic of terrorism will continue to spread uncontrollably, a terrible expression of the impasse of the capitalist system on a global scale.
Whoever was responsible for today’s terrorist attacks in Central London
showed no mercy to the innocent victims of their actions. Such
activities are utterly repugnant to anybody who defends the cause of
socialism and the working class. This kind of action serves only to
bolster the forces of reaction. It must be condemned outright.
“Attending this conference and its fringe meetings has indicated a
change in mood. Derek Simpson has said that he wants to return Amicus
to where it belongs that is in the hands of the membership, not as an
extended hand of the multinationals. Activists in the union have to
make sure that this is carried out in practice.”
House price increases are slowing down in Britain. In June in London
prices actually fell. This is the beginning of the end of the house
price bubble and it will be very painful for many families who have
borrowed on the basis of the increased equity in their property. It
will have a knock-on effect on the whole economy as spending is already
slowing.
This article was written before today’s terrorist attacks on Central
London. However, today’s events will undoubtedly be used to strengthen
Blair’s attempt to introduce ID cards in Britain, with the excuse that
they will help "fight terrorism". They exist in the rest of Europe, so
“what’s the big deal?” many may think. The point is they will not be
mere ID cards. The legislation that is being prepared will allow the
government to have detailed files on the activities of every person
living in this country.
The
establishment of the Premier League in Britain, a renaming of the old
First Division, in the early 1990s opened up a period of naked
commercial exploitation of football. The new league exists to maximise
the profits and commercial potential of the richest clubs at the
expense of the rest. Central to this are clubs like Manchester United,
the world’s richest club which has now been virtually bought up by US
tycoon Malcolm Glazier, who has grabbed control of over 75% of the
club’s shares.
Over the weekend of May 28th to 30th the National Association of
teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE) held its annual
conference in Eastbourne, Britain.
Over the past weekend the Annual National Conference of the 67,000
strong college and university lecturers union, NATFHE, which took place
in Eastbourne, Britain, unanimously agreed to support the Bolivarian
revolution and the measures that it has taken to help the workers and
poor in Venezuela.
Speaking at a meeting in solidarity with Venezuela in London, Frances
O’Grady, Deputy General Secretary of the British Trade Union Congress,
made clear the opposition of the TUC on US interference in Venezuela. See the article on the Hands off Venezuela website.