Brazilian President is openly racist
«This crisis was caused by people with black people and brown eyes»Can you imagine a more abominable statement to come from a head of state? Well imagine it because the Brazilian president Lula da Silva said exactly that except in place of «black hair and black skin» he said «This crisis was caused by white people with blue eyes». This is frankly insulting and racist to the hundreds of millions of Caucasian workers around the world who stand in solidarity with their brothers and sisters of all colours.
The Brazilian president may have had some good intentions behind his statement, but he would get a bit more credibility if he were to tell the truth: that this is a crisis of international capital, caused by a fall in the rate of profit, perpetuated by the auxiliary factors of a credit crunch, toxic assets, and a housing bubble (the later mainly being in the sphere of the Anglo-Saxon world).
It is a crisis of the capitalist oppressors, a natural part of the cycle of boom and bust which sees profits rise and fall as other factors play into their accumulation of wealth. To blame it on a certain type of people, even a certain sector of the economy (such as the finance industry) is pure stupidity.
On the subject of Brazil let us chastise M. da Silva not only for his racism, but for his open collaboration with the capitalist exploiters, both Brazilian and International. He is a Labour Party president and should be fighting for the rights of the people, not the interests of the bourgeoisie. For a return to socialist principles in the Partido dos Trabalhadores!
par Borges à 12:14
Immigration Loophole through Québec!
The new rules concerning applications for skilled workers to settle in Canada have caused quite a stir, but has not apparently put off the flow of immigrants into Canada. In the face of an economic downturn many might support tighter immigration controls, however it is now more than ever that Canada needs young talented people to support its rapidly ageing population.The rules are as such: Any application made will not be considered unless the applicant has secured a job offer from a Canadian employer, or if your skilled trade is on the list of shortage occupations provided by the CIC in collaboration with HRSDC and the trade unions. This means that anyone who has not secured a job offer and is not a professional in one of the listed trades, they will not be allowed to settle in Canada (sorry to reiterate).
But there is a clause to this, and this clause is that the new rules do not apply to Québec, which selects its immigrants independently, and simply gets a rubber-stamp from CIC for its chosen candidates. That means that if one qualifies under the Canadian immigration points system, but would not have their application treated because of the new rules, they can apply to immigrate to Québec, (the requirements are pretty much the same)and once they get their permanent residence status can move anywhere in Canada!
Libellés : Conservatives, Immigration, Québec, ROC
par Borges à 17:18
Why Labour is the future for Britain
The masses always move through their traditional organisations, mainly the trade unions and the parties built upon that movement, the Labour and Social-Democratic parties of the world. This will remain true no matter how distant and deranged the leadership becomes, the working class will eventually always take back its rightful place in its movement, and the bureaucrats and politicians will have no choice but to go acquiesce, if only to save their own skin!The Labour Party of the United Kingdom has changed unrecognisably since the days of MacDonald, Attlee and Wilson, the days of working class struggles and a party based on the founding of a truly equitable and prosperous society has all but disappeared, in its place a race to the bottom for greed and political gain. The battles once thought long won are being re-fought all over and the Labour government is leading the charge...against the workers.
The Labour Party of today is a pro-business, Keynesian caricature of its former self. Where as once the backbenchers of the Labour ranks could be proud of fighting for a better future for the country, they now must suffice with providing a better future for the bankers. The ideological gap between the Conservatives and Labour has never felt so tight, as they compete to out-manoeuvre the other in who can rescue the economy best, always at the tax payers expense and always to their detriment.
In social policy they are not much farther apart. Both Labour and Conservatives support the attacks on civil rights that have become a normal part of existence in Britain, they equally support the attacks on those on incapacity benefit and those out of work. Neither offers any way out to for the education débâcle, and the Minister and Shadow ministers for Immigration seem to be competing to see who can be most xenophobic and scaremongering in their rhetoric.
And yet for all of its faults, Labour remains based on the trade unions for its very existence, and that in itself shows enormous potential for change in the future. The trade unions, their members, perhaps even their leadership, will become more and more militant as the austerity measures of the coming period are unleashed upon the working class. The trade unions, along with militant party members, will in turn influence Labour Party policy and decisions, and we may see, on a day not so soon from now, that the famed Clause IV* is reinstated and Labour is again a party worth its name.
*Clause IV: Just to be reiterate:
«To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange, and the best obtainable system of popular administration and control of each industry or service.»
Libellés : G.B., Labour, Politique, Socialisme
par Borges à 12:05
Ignatieff gains in polls, Harper plummets
Good news for M. Michael Ignatieff, the leader of the Canadian Liberal Party, in that he is slightly more well liked than his Conservative counter-part Prime Minister Stephen Harper. And while Harper faces a near 50% disapproval rating, the Liberal chieftain has made significant strides in his popularity. There is something to be said for the particular unpopularity of the Canadian Prime Minister. In the Conservative stronghold of Québec, where in the October elections he swept the province, Harper's disapproval rating is at 60% (compared to Alberta where of course it is 17%).The hallmark of the Harper response to the economic crisis has been above all moderation. Perhaps Canadian workers are sick of M. Flaherty standing up and reassuring them of Canada's economic viability even while they see their living standards fall and funding for public services ever-strained. Canadians can see that no amount of infrastructure investment, EI contribution and tax freezes, no amount of the attempted easing of credit, will shield them from the effects of recession. The government held its consultation and it did not listen. The Government has spoken and now the country will not listen!
Needless to say in a recession most national leaders (Prime Ministers, Presidents, Chancellors, etc.) will suffer a wave of hatred as ordinary workers suffer for the calamities of the Capitalist system, but let M. Harper beware all the same...
Libellés : Conservatives, Politique, ROC
par Borges à 16:21
The Healthcare Canadians Deserve!
The Chief Doctor of the Canadian Medical Association, Robert Ouellet MD, has decried the state of existence of the Canadian healthcare system, specifically waiting times and funding, as well as the preferential treatment received by some of its patients, those with personal connections. He claims that the industrialised world's healthcare system has overall seemed to improve in the past few years, noting Britain, France and the Netherlands as specific examples, while Canada's 13 different healthcare system seems to be rotting.The Canadian working class has fought hard for the gains of the universal healthcare system, and has from the beginning been a top priority for every Canadian. However there is a lack of political pressure, according to Dr. Ouellet, which is lacking in Canada that is demonstrated elsewhere. There is concerted political effort in most countries to develop and improve the efficiency, service and overall quality of the national healthcare systems. However that is not the case in Canada, perhaps owing to the balkanised nature of its administration.
The Canadian working class ought to rally around the banner of truly equitable and worthy universal healthcare, defend its rights to fair access and decent treatment.
par Borges à 12:19
Obama: Afghanistan foremost, Pakistan next, Imperialism always
American President Obama has finally truly and boldly turned his eyes to Pakistan. In a press conference concerning his approach to Afghanistan, terrorism and the Taliban, he has outlined several key measures which he believes will bring success to the American mission in Afghanistan, however he has places significant attention on neighbouring Pakistan, he believes stability there will mean increased peace in the region. His goals for the region are:Afghanistan:
- 17 000 extra troops in Afghanistan for the presidential elections
- Increase and train Afghan security forces (4 000 U.S. instructors)
- American-Afghan partner units for all troupes
- Meet the statistical goal of a native Afghan Army of 134 000 and 80 000 strong police force by 2011
- Agricultural engineer and other economic engineers to support the legal economy
- Reconciliation tribunals
(Along with continued military support and incursions)
- 1.5 billion dollars every year in donations to Pakistan from the United States government,
- A border-fund which will help serve to develop the area economically and socially in favour of Western Democracy
The only way to discourage people from terrorism and supporting guerilla tactics is to provide them an economic and social escape from the oppression and poverty and social exclusion that they are feeling. Capitalism provides no way out for the Islamic world, nothing more than exploitation and humiliation, as it wreaks havoc for everyone on the planet.
Only the ideology of peace, prosperity, and international solidarity, that of revolutionary socialism, can solve the problems of the Earth. Only with the abolition of wage-slavery and feudalism once and for all can we be free of the scourges of war and terrorism.
Libellés : Guerre, Socialisme, États-Unis
par Borges à 13:49
Liberals suffer a massive fall in popularity in Québec
The Liberal Premier of Québec M. Jean (John) Charest , has seen his popularity plummet amid recent handling of the Caisse de Dépôts and the economy in general, not to mention the troubling news concerning the transition to private work of former Health Minister Philip Couillard. Let us remember that M. Charest fought an electoral platform based on being best-able to lead the country through the recession «The Economy First and Foremost. Yes!», indeed...M. Charest has made a number of initiatives in order to help the workers of Québec, or at least shield them from the effects of the economic decline. The government has promised to make workers the utmost priority in its next budget (although with a projected deficit of between 3 and 5 billion dollars, some of which the PQ claims is due to mismanagement of Québec-Canada relations, which has supposedly let 6 billion dollars slide). It has promised to fund in-vitro fertilisation, along with huge tax credits for child-care. It has declared Québec «A Paradise for Families».
Despite all this, the government currently has a 37 pc approval rating, compared to the mid 50's a few months ago. Their share of the vote today would be 33 pc, while the Parti Québécois would gain 40 pc. The real shocker is that Québec Solidaire has 8 pc, double its December poll ratings and nearly edging out the Adéquistes with 10 pc!
The entire political climate in Québec seems to be shifting to the left, whether it be the Liberals and their worker-oriented policies, or the rise of Québec Solidaire, there is a ferment among the workers that will sooner or later be expressed in the polls, and on the streets!
par Borges à 12:26
What a Labour defeat would mean
The Labour Party could be embarking upon a major period of change if it suffers an electoral defeat. This was brought to my attention by a comrade who believes that Labour will feel a massive shift to the left once in Opposition, and hearing that argument one must tend to agree. One always feared what a Labour loss would mean for the country, let alone the party, but this hypothesis, which is new to me, sound promising.If Labour is defeated in the next election, it could mean a broad push towards socialism and the ideas upon which it was founded. One could even hope for the return of Clause IV! But let us not get ahead of ourselves. We must look at the present situation in a sober manner and assess the prospects ahead:
- The Labour back benches are already clamouring towards opposition to NuLabour and its policies, whether it be the row over the 10p rate, the Post Office, etc. Whether these politicians are defending what they believe in or simply want to keep their seats is debatable. But that the Back Benchers are defying the whips, going off on their own and allowing themselves to be pushed by their constituents to the left is a promising sign.
- The masses are moving: Protests over Gaza, massive solidarity campaign, led from below with the Lindsey refinery workers shows that the people are ready for action.
- A Conservative government will be forced to make serious cuts in public spending, and has already said so. That will means cuts in services, the NHS, employment programs when they are most needed, etc. Severe austerity is on the order of the day, and the workers will not tolerate it.
Libellés : G.B., Labour, Politique
par Borges à 12:00
What will a Conservative Government mean for Immigration in the UK
(Cross-posted from Student Immigration Blog)The way in which David Cameron has approached the subject of immigration has been very careful. He leaves his shadow ministers to do most of the dirty work, only really commenting on the «issue» when there is something so outrageous to the British public that he must (such as several thousand illegal immigrants working for the security services). However that is not to say that the Conservatives don't have a comprehensive scaremongering platform for Immigration.
Their main gripe: Population growth. The population is of the Great Britain is expected to reach 70 million within the next 20 years, something that strikes fear into the heart of Middle England. It is estimated that there will soon be more pensioners than workers, meaning that the social services system will be under more pressure and that the country will become more crowded and more diverse.
None of these are problems however. An increase in immigration will mean able-bodied qualified young men and women will come and support the ageing population through their tax contributions and the services they provide in Health, Education, civil authorities, etc. Diversity is a non-starter, already 1 in 10 children in Britain are mixed race, not to mention the UK being comprised of 4 distinct national groups along with many other strong minority communities. And crowding, well let us remember that there is a huge amount of empty land in the UK which is neither protected nor build on.
And lets not blame Conservatives alone for this fear-invoking prediction, NuLabour Immigration Minister has pledged to not let this happen!
Libellés : Conservatives, G.B.
par Borges à 10:48
Québec and Canada: Pas de contradiction
M. Ignatieff, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, has given a rousing speech in front of several hundred activists claiming that there is no exclusivity in an affinity towards Québec and another towards Canada. He claims that unlike the Bloc's perennial argument about the necessity for a distinct Québécois opposition in Parliament, Ignatieff believes that the Québécois deserve, neigh must, be included in government.So how different are the Québécois from the Canadians, and what do they have to offer each other? I would say that Québec's advantage is that it is a lot more socially concious and politically active than those in the rest of the country. Canada can offer a multicultural tradition of unity and a history of co-operation and negotiations. Together they make for an interesting balance of forces in the country, but it should be remembered always that the workers of North America are not divided by state, provincial, nor national lines, but by their capitalist oppressors. None of us are all that different after all...
If you get a change hit up the Student Immigration Blog
Libellés : La question nationale, Libéraux, Québec, ROC
par Borges à 13:17
Québec Liberals: Don't worry, we can get out of this
Prime Minister Charest has made a unique set of promises to the people of Québec, in a Liberal manner, however dressed up in the language of the Left. The Premier claims to be able to secure a similar level of services to the population as a whole, while giving much needed help to the working poor and unemployed, despite the looming recession and the first budget deficit in his tenure.Liberals are famous for trying to reconcile the crises of capitalism with the needs and desires of the working class. Despite the desperate need by the capitalist class for austerity, there are some stead-fast Liberals who remain committed to holding onto power and allegiance among the working class. This is, I believe, a step forward for the party in Québec, in that it can show that it is not only concerned with the bankers and businessmen, but the regular men and women of Québec.
That's not to say that Capital and its survival is not their main concern. They are focusing a good part of their initiative on the small to medium term enterprises. These companies are struggling, however it is their employees, the workers of Québec, which deserve the most help, not the business and financial sector. Many would argue that small business and the finance sector keep people in employment. I have a one phrase answer to that rebuke: Nationalisation under workers democratic control.
If you get a moment check out my latest post at the Student Immigration Blog
Libellés : Libéraux, Politique, Québec, Socialisme
par Borges à 13:50
Spend your money elsewhere: Capitalism offers no hope for Africa
Even the most bourgeois of Africa's leaders are recognising that the economic downturn will affect the lives of the great number of people to which the continent plays home to. The capitalist system, with its loans, investments, pillaging, and plundering, has already kept Africa decades behind the West in terms of development, in all areas that matter: Access to water, child-death rates, life expectancy, hunger, constant warfare, etc. are all a damning testament to what exactly capitalism has to offer to the developing world. After 50 years of independence and native capitalism, Imperialism and foreign domination remains, as it always will under the rule of Capital.The capitalists and their henchmen the local politicians, can't help but beg for more money to be poured into the continent, claiming that every dollar spent in Africa has an exponential effect on regeneration of not only the African continent, but the World's financial well-being. This is pure and utter nonsense. Extra spending, liquidity, quantitative easing, all these mechanisms can but just stave off further wreckage.
The only way for the capitalist crisis to be solved is through socialism. There is no other group of people offering any way out of this mess. And as Marx becomes ever more popular once again in the West, the people of the developing world are also turning to the revolutionary ideas which are their inheritance as workers, and will arise with a new strength, and forge a world worthy of the human race.
For those of you who are more proactive, I suggest reading Trotsky's «Results and Prospects» as well as donating to SOS Children, an orphan agency which does extensive work with AIDS orphans in Africa.
par Borges à 12:59
New Student Immigrant Blog
In an effort to help better understand myself, and make it clearer for others in the process, I have started a blog documenting my immigration process to the United Kingdom. So please, check my new blog, « Student Immigration Blog: To the UK!», please and thank you!par Borges à 12:08
How the capitalists divide the working class
There have been many different groups which have come to make up the demographic make-up of the Canada. The working class of Canada is a multicultural, multiracial, heterogeneous group. Any divisions between the proletariat is simply that which has been invented by the capitalists lords and rulers.Despite the most desperate attempts to combat their own self-made monster (racism, sexism, etc.) the ruling class continues in the exploitation nonetheless of the most vulnerable people in society. regardless of the legislation that the bourgeois representatives put in place.
What must be understood is that the ruling class depends on pitting worker against worker, to see who can sell their labour most effectively for the cheapest price. Our sweat and blood and pain and endurance is nothing more than a commodity to them, and the best way to extract that commodity is to create competition.
Competition in the labour market manifests itself in the competition for social services, and even into a wider sense of generalised racism among entire groups of people. It is easy to write off racism and sexism as an age-old problem which can never be stopped, regardless of how many laws and regulations are put in place. The truth is that the only way to put an end to these atrocities is to take the economy under democratic workers control, where all parts of society have a stake and a place in the running of the World.
Libellés : Socialisme
par Borges à 08:33
