A deal to
raise the debt ceiling has now been reached, after weeks of incredible
fear-mongering on the part of both bosses’ parties and Wall Street, and
will reach the President’s desk by the deadline on August 2nd.  The
contents of the final agreement remain rather vague, but the broad
outline is enough to make clear what it means for workers in the U.S.

As the
earthquake of economic crisis sweeps across the globe, the political
establishment in country after country is being shaken to the core.
“Strong” governments have been exposed as, in fact, being extremely
weak, both at the ballot box and on the streets. The ruling class is
beginning to lose its political grip on society and people are beginning
to question the traditional pillars that society has rested upon for
centuries.

The world has been shocked by the
news of the bloody massacre in Norway. At least 91 people have been
killed, including 84 members of the Labour Youth Organization (AUF) in a
summer camp.