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Elections are not the answer

category indonesia / philippines / australia | community struggles | press release author Friday July 01, 2016 23:04author by Melbourne Anarchist Communist Group - Anarkismo Report this post to the editors

The Australian Federal election campaign grinds on, with most people being heartily sick of the whole thing. Neither the Liberals nor Labor are trusted by most voters and the major parties are horrified at the drift of voters to minor parties of all stripes. Anarchists have something to say about this, something deeper than just advising people about voting. We say if you’re looking to fix the problems in society, Parliament is the wrong place.
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ELECTIONS ARE NOT THE ANSWER

The Australian Federal election campaign grinds on, with most people being heartily sick of the whole thing. Neither the Liberals nor Labor are trusted by most voters and the major parties are horrified at the drift of voters to minor parties of all stripes. Anarchists have something to say about this, something deeper than just advising people about voting. We say if you’re looking to fix the problems in society, Parliament is the wrong place.

Real power in a capitalist society doesn’t reside in Parliament, but in the boardrooms of the major companies, in the editorial rooms of the mainstream media, in the officers’ mess of the military, in the courts and in the offices of top public service mandarins. Even if a government reflecting the electorate’s opinions came to office, it would be hamstrung by the power of society’s real rulers. It would be unable to implement its program and the results of its legislation would be contrary to expectations. There is no Parliamentary road to a just society.

And what’s on offer anyway? Exhibit One is the Liberal Party, the open mouthpiece of Big Business and advocate for capitalism itself. Its actions of the last few years speak for themselves – the Liberal politicians replaced Tony Abbott with Malcolm Turnbull purely because they needed a better salesperson.

Exhibit Two is the Labor Party. This cowardly bunch is far more committed to occupying the Treasury benches than standing up for their supporters. They want to govern capitalism far more than they want to change it. Over time, they have become the neo-liberals they once denounced, because capitalism demands a neo-liberal policy framework. If they have the misfortune to win office it will be their allotted task to kick Labor voters where it hurts, all the while arguing that the Libs would kick harder. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

Exhibit Three is The Greens. If this mob ever offered a real alternative to the major parties, they gave that up the day they decided to tackle global warming by putting a price on carbon. Their intention to tackle climate change is not in doubt, but they ignore the way carbon pricing would make working class people pay – and how this would drive workers into the arms of climate deniers and the coal mining bosses. Their carbon price flows from their belief that a just and sustainable capitalism is possible. Greens members are not advised to go shopping for used cars on their own.

Let’s leave aside the assorted Right Wing Nut Jobs (pausing only to note that they range from religious bigots to bona fide Fascists) and the plethora of middle-of-the-road to mildly progressive single issue groups – listing them would send readers to sleep. Their grievances and causes, to the extent to which they are legitimate, will bog down in direct proportion to their significance to the operations of capitalism. If it would stop the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, it would have Buckley’s chance of being implemented. Finally, the Nick Xenophon Team presents a moderate image even while they peddle protectionism and uphold Australia’s imperialist military build-up.

What about the various Socialist parties running in selected electorates and some Senate races? No, there’s still no Parliamentary road for them. While it’s no crime to enter Parliament in order to oppose every capitalist government consistently, refusing them confidence and blocking attacks on the working class, the campaign necessary to get there is a massive waste of time and effort. Any opponent of capitalism would get a better reward for their efforts by building a working class movement in workplaces and communities, rather than entering a forum where the rules are rigged against us.

Whoever wins this election will find a global economy which is stagnating and threatening to spin completely out of control, while international events are both breaking up the European Union and building towards a conflict between the United States and China. Parliament, necessarily focused on the national arena, cannot solve these questions. Under pressure from uncontrollable global events, it will inevitably attack the working class to solve the problems of capitalism in Australia. Removing the capitalists from power is necessary, but Lucy Parsons was right when she said:
“Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth”

WORKERS’ REVOLUTION IS THE ANSWER

Melbourne Anarchist Communist Group

https://melbacg.wordpress.com

Verwandter Link: https://melbacg.wordpress.com/2016/07/01/elections-are-not-the-answer/
author by Alternativa Libertaria/FdCA - Ufficio Relazioni Internazionalipublication date Sat Jul 02, 2016 02:03author address author phone Report this post to the editors

LE ELEZIONI NON SONO LA SOLUZIONE
Posted on 1 July, 2016 by ablokeimet

Va a concludersi la campagna elettorale in Australia. Cala la fiducia verso i Liberali ed i Laburisti, entrambi preoccupati della fuga degli elettori verso partiti minori di tutte le fogge. Gli anarchici hanno da dire parecchio sulle elezioni, qualcosa di più del dare alle persone una qualche indicazione sul voto. Diciamo che se state cercando di risolvere i problemi della società, ebbene il Parlamento è il posto sbagliato.

Il potere reale in una società capitalista non risiede nel Parlamento, bensì nei consigli di amministrazione delle più grandi imprese, nelle redazioni dei media più potenti, nella mensa ufficiali dell'esercito, nei tribunali e negli uffici degli alti mandarini dei servizi pubblici. Anche se governasse un governo che mettesse in atto il mandato dell'elettorato, verrebbe subito ostacolato dal potere dei veri governanti della società. Verrebbe messo nelle condizioni di non poter realizzare il suo programma ed il bilancio della sua legislatura sarebbe l'opposto di quello che ci si aspettava. Non esiste nessuna via parlamentare per una società giusta.

Qual è l'offerta in campo? Primo pezzo all'incanto è il Partito Liberale, la voce delle grandi imprese nonchè avvocato dello stesso capitalismo. I fatti degli ultimi anni parlano da soli: i Liberali hanno sostituito il primo ministro Tony Abbott con Malcolm Turnbull semplicemente perchè avevano bisogno di un venditore più bravo.

Secondo pezzo è il Partito Laburista. Questa accozzaglia di codardi è più impegnata ad occupare i banchi del Tesoro che a battersi per i suoi elettori. I Laburisti vogliono governare il capitalismo molto più di quanto vogliano cambiarlo. Nel corso del tempo, sono diventati come i neo-liberisti che una volta erano soliti denunciare, perchè il capitalismo richiede politiche strutturali neo-liberiste. Se avessero la sfortuna di vincere le elezioni, gli sarà assegnato il compito di prendere a calci i loro elettori nei punti in cui fa più male, sostenendo che se avessero vinto i Liberali avrebbero colpito ancora più duro. Non dite che non vi avevamo avvisato!

Terzo pezzo sono i Verdi. Se costoro sono mai stati in grado di porsi come un'alternativa ai partiti maggiori, smetterrebbero di esserlo il giorno stesso in cui decidessero di affrontare la questione del riscaldamento globale mettendo una tassa sulle emissioni di carbonio. Non è in dubbio la loro intenzione di affrontare il cambiamento climatico, ma non si rendono conto che la soluzione della tassa sul carbonio verrebbe pagata dalla classe lavoratrice – e come ciò portebbe i lavoratori tra le braccia dei negazionisti del problema del clima e dei padroni delle miniere di carbone. La tassa sul carbonio nasce dalla loro convinzione che un capitalismo giusto e sostenibile sia possibile. E' meglio che i Verdi non si facciano vedere andare a fare la spesa con la loro macchina.

Lasciamo perdere quei pazzi nazisti della destra (se non per dire che vanno dai religiosi bigotti ai fascisti veri e propri) e la pletora di gruppi tematici moderatamente progressisti, chè ad elencarli tutti ci si addomenterebbe. Le loro rivendicazioni e le loro idee, per quanto possano essere legittime, si impantanerebbero nell'impatto del loro significato rispetto alle scelte del capitalismo. Se si smettesse che i ricchi diventino più ricchi e i poveri più poveri, saremmo di fronte al verificarsi della possibilità più remota. Infine, il senatore Nick Xenophon presenta il suo centrista NX Team con un'immagine moderata anche se sostiene il protezionismo e vuole un'Australia più imperialista e militarista.

Che dire dei vai partiti socialisti in corsa in alcuni collegi elettorali ed in alcuni collegi per il Senato? No, ancora una volta non c'è nessuna via parlamentare per loro. Anche se non è un crimine entrare in Parlamento allo scopo di opporsi fermamente a qualsiasi governo capitalista, di negargli la fiducia e di bloccare gli attacchi alla classe lavoratrice, la campagna alettorale per ottenere questo obiettivo non è che un enorme spreco di tempo e di risorse. Qualsiasi oppositore al capitalismo vedrebbe di buon occhio tutti i loro sforzi se portassero alla costruzione di un movimento della classe lavoratrice nei luoghi di lavoro e nei territori, anzichè entrare a far parte di un consesso in cui le regole sono truccate contro di noi.

Chiunque vincerà queste elezioni si troverà a fare i conti con un'economia stagnante che minaccia di andare del tutto fuori controllo, mentre a livello internazionale accadono fatti che scuotono l'Unione Europea e che aprono la strada ad un conflitto tra USA e Cina. I Parlamenti, necessariamente occupati sulle questioni nazionali, non possono far nulla per risolvere questi problemi. Ma messi sotto pressione da eventi globali fuori controllo, non faranno altro che attaccare la classe lavoratrice per risolvere i problemi del capitalismo compreso quello australiano. E' giusto rimuovere i capitalisti dalla gestione del potere, ma Lucy Parson non aveva torto quando diceva:

“Mai farsi ingannare dai ricchi che vi permettono di votare di portargli via le loro ricchezze".

LA SOLUZIONE E' LA RIVOLUZIONE DEI LAVORATORI

Melbourne Anarchist Communist Group

(traduzione a cura d AL/fdca - Ufficio Relazioni Internazionali)

author by jessRDpublication date Wed Oct 12, 2016 00:24author email author address author phone Report this post to the editors

The same situation can be observed in the USA at the moment. None of the candidates are trusted by the voters and I am afraid no matter whom we choose it can be a hard time for America, a time of sharp debates and changes.

 
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Fri 29 Mar, 21:24

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