Build for 30th November

Unions, communities, anti cuts groups and the left need to steel themselves for action before, on and after the 30 November strike

Posted by Ken Ferguson on October 28, 2011. Filed under Opinion,Public Spending Cuts. Posted with the tags:Public Spending Cuts, Trade Unions
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SSP Defy All Cuts banner on the march in London

Like the old fable of the Emperor’s new clothes the EU rebellion exposes the truth behind the confident façade of the “no alternative” ConDem millionaires cabinet - they can be beaten.

The smug public schoolboys use their expensively acquired Eton and Oxford “born to rule” arrogance to smoothly suggest that their way is the only way.

Of course it would be a mistake to think that, as they put the boot into jobs and services to defend their wealth and power that the ConDems will rely solely on sweet reason and the strength of their argument.

In common with their grisly predecessors such as Thatcher the current gang are quite at home with the idea of riot cops cracking heads and judges dishing up long jail terms.

Any illusions that this wasn’t the case were blown away with the draconian sentences – recently upheld in the appeal court-imposed on those charged after the summer riots.

The revolting racist evictions by taser wielding riot cops at Dale Farm vividly confirmed that this gang have the same mindset as those who have dished out repression and violence at home and abroad on capitalism’ behalf since Britannia ruled the waves.

However what the EU revolt tells us is that behind the bold front deep divisions are in play both between the ConDem partners and within the Tory party.

Faced with this reality and the meek and mild Labour response, the proposed 30 November strike takes on an added importance as a means to drive home the truth of mass opposition to ConDem slash and burn.

Elsewhere in this Voice we report the growing pressure on living standards as basics such a food a fuel prices soar as wages freeze.

We highlight the grisly reality that an official government report has said that a shocking 27,000 people will die as a consequence of fuel poverty this winter in a country with massive energy resources.

But socialists cannot confine themselves just to exposing the glaring injustices in the system, vital as that is.

We also propose a range of short term demands from action of power prices, free school meals to free public transport as we fight for the only permanent solution, a socialist society based on meeting the needs of people not profit.

In the weeks and months ahead the watchword needs to be that action can defeat the ConDem bullies, defend jobs, wages and services and open up the way to an alternative.

Despite the ConDem arrogance they are deeply divided, increasingly faced with public anger and under growing pressure.

Unions, communities, anti cuts groups, the left and others opposed to the pampering of the rich need to grasp that fact and steel themselves for action before, on and after the 30 November strike.

We need to do it to them before they do it to us.