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USA: “Death by a Thousand (Budget) Cuts”

USA: “Death by a Thousand (Budget) Cuts”

As ratings
agency Moody’s considers the possibility of cutting the US AAA debt
rating, concerned that the US could default on its debt obligations, we
publish a recent editorial statement of the US Socialist Appeal on the
forthcoming wave of massive cuts in public spending in the United
States. As the article points out, “the capitalists must impose a new
normality on the U.S. working class. The crisis of their system means
that small cuts or adjustments are no longer enough. The hatchet is out
now…”

Greece: What next? – A balance sheet of the mass movement

Greece: What next? – A balance sheet of the mass movement

In spite of a
massive mobilisation of the workers and youth, a movement of
revolutionary dimensions, the PASOK government managed to push through
parliament its austerity measures. This comes at a price, however, for
now the masses have had a taste of their own strength and have been
deeply politicised. The Greek Marxists of Marxisti Foni and Revolution provide here a balance sheet of the situation.

 

The Masses Return to the Streets in Egypt: Revolution Until Victory!

The Masses Return to the Streets in Egypt: Revolution Until Victory!

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Friday 8th
July saw the largest protests since the departure of Hosni Mubarak as
tens of thousands took to the streets of Cairo, and thousands more came
out to protest in other cities across Egypt, such as Alexandria and
Suez. Material conditions have not improved for the workers and youth of
Egypt, and Tahrir Square has once again become a visible epicentre of
the revolution.

The
authors of this article visited Egypt last month to see the state of
the country after the fall of Mubarak and to get a first hand view of
the revolution. What they saw was a society still fraught with
contradictions that were barely concealed. All these contradictions have
now burst to the surface once more.

NORTHERN IRELAND: Tensions rise again

NORTHERN IRELAND: Tensions rise again

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PSNI sources as saying that
there was no “paramilitary” involvement in Friday night’s rioting in
Belfast’s Castlereagh Street and Albertbridge Road, but it’s
clear also that events a couple of weeks ago in the Short Strand have
contributed to what looks like an explosive situation moving into the
marching season, no matter whether the loyalists were there or not.

Greece: A critical moment in the struggle

Greece: A critical moment in the struggle

Yesterday
the Greek parliament approved the austerity measures required to get
further lending from the European Union. The PASOK government is
determined to force through its austerity measures, even though 75% of
the population is totally opposed to any further austerity being imposed
on them.

Greece: 48 hours that prepare the political general strike!

Greece: 48 hours that prepare the political general strike!

Today (Tuesday) the
Greek trade unions embarked on a 48-hour general strike against the
austerity measures which are being debated today and are to be voted on
tomorrow. Papandreou says the cuts and privatisations are the only way
of rebalancing Greece’s finances, but the workers and youth on the
streets have other ideas.

China on the edge

China on the edge

The introduction of capitalism, accompanied by rapid industrialisation
over the last 30 years, has turned China into a seething cauldron of
discontent. Conditions faced by the workers, many of them migrants with
no rights, are similar to Victorian times in Britain. “Masses of
labourers, crowded into factories, are organised like soldiers”,
explained Marx and Engels in the Communist Manifesto, which is a fitting
description of working life in China today. The scene is being set for a
massive social explosion.

Greece on the brink of revolt

Greece on the brink of revolt

Greece stands on the threshold of a revolutionary situation. In the last
period two million workers and youth have repeatedly taken to the
streets to say that enough is enough. Capitalism, which has become a
world-wide and interdependent system, today manifests itself in a global
crisis which is in turn generating an international movement. For this
reason the developments in Greece cannot be viewed in isolation, but as
the latest flashpoint in what is an interlinked chain of events.

Greek government survives but working class prepares for 48-hour general strike

Greek government survives but working class prepares for 48-hour general strike

The powerful 24-hour general strike
and the mass demonstrations of June 15 in Greece demonstrated how deep
the anger of the Greek working masses runs. It served to send the ruling
class a warning: that this is no ordinary protest movement, but one
with revolutionary connotations. That is why they hurriedly patched
together a new government, in the hope of cutting across the movement.
But to no avail!

Irish economy inches forward…

Irish economy inches forward…

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Ireland: There have been a number of reports in today’s media that the
Irish economy has grown by 1.3%. Although this is no bad thing, as it
will help to rebuild the confidence of working people, the real picture
is somewhat more complicated than the headlines might indicate on the
first examination. Certainly any economic perspective that doesn’t make a
sober assessment taking into account everything that is happening in
Europe and particularly Greece just now will not stand up to much
challenge.

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