A report by Tim and his thoughts on the direction we could take.
On Wednesday evening around fifty trade unionists, political activists, community group leaders and rag tag left-wingers assembled for the launch of the Plymouth Fight-back Against the Cuts. The public meeting was called by Plymouth Trades Council to officially set up a group affiliated to the national Right to Work Campaign.
And it was good. I shan't go into the facts of what was said, because you can read that here: http://www.plymouth-tuc.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44:sucessful-meeting-launches-plymouth-right-to-work&catid=3:news.
I'd much rather let you know my own thoughts about the meeting, and what can be learnt from the campaign that Plymouth is launching.
Thursday 19 August 2010
Will we see this sort of thing in Devon too?
Nick Clegg was red faced today after visiting a community centre in Shepherds Bush, which is being axed...
http://politicalscrapbook.net/2010/08/exclusive-red-faced-nick-clegg-visits-community-centre-he-didnt-realise-was-being-axed/
Devon County Council are planning massive cuts too. What services will we see cut here, when John Hart, Tory Council Leader, obediently announces his programme of cuts for Devon and Exeter?
Watch this space.
http://politicalscrapbook.net/2010/08/exclusive-red-faced-nick-clegg-visits-community-centre-he-didnt-realise-was-being-axed/
Devon County Council are planning massive cuts too. What services will we see cut here, when John Hart, Tory Council Leader, obediently announces his programme of cuts for Devon and Exeter?
Watch this space.
Wednesday 18 August 2010
The heresy of the Greeks offers hope, John Pilger Published 21 May 2010 in the NewStatesman
Greece is a microcosm of a modern class war rarely reported as such.
As Britain's political class pretends that its arranged marriage of Tweedledee to Tweedledum is democracy, the inspiration for the rest of us is Greece. It is hardly surprising that Greece is presented not as a beacon, but as a "junk country" getting its comeuppance for its "bloated public sector" and "culture of cutting corners" (Observer). The heresy of Greece is that the uprising of its ordinary people provides an authentic hope unlike that lavished upon the warlord in the White House.
The crisis that has led to Greece's "rescue" by European banks and the International Monetary Fund is the product of a grotesque financial system that itself is in crisis. Greece is a microcosm of a modern class war rarely reported as such, but waged with all the urgency of panic among the imperial rich.
What makes Greece different is that it has experienced, within living memory, invasion, foreign occupation, military dictatorship and popular resistance. Ordinary people are not cowed by the corrupt corporatism that dominates the European Union. The right-wing government of Kostas Karamanlis that preceded the present Pasok (Labour) government of George Papandreou was described by the sociologist Jean Ziegler as "a machine for systematically pillaging the country's resources".
The crisis that has led to Greece's "rescue" by European banks and the International Monetary Fund is the product of a grotesque financial system that itself is in crisis. Greece is a microcosm of a modern class war rarely reported as such, but waged with all the urgency of panic among the imperial rich.
What makes Greece different is that it has experienced, within living memory, invasion, foreign occupation, military dictatorship and popular resistance. Ordinary people are not cowed by the corrupt corporatism that dominates the European Union. The right-wing government of Kostas Karamanlis that preceded the present Pasok (Labour) government of George Papandreou was described by the sociologist Jean Ziegler as "a machine for systematically pillaging the country's resources".
Mark Thomas joins Coalition of Resistance, taken from Counterfire website, Monday, 16 August 2010 00:06 Written by Brendan Montague
Comedian and campaigner Mark Thomas has become the latest stand up to join the growing Coalition of Resistance against cuts to public services and privatisations being driven through by the Conservatives and Lib Dems.
No mandate for cuts and privatisation, taken from the People's Charter website, Tuesday, 03 August 2010 13:41
Now the government has cut a new, giant opening in the NHS for the profit makers. Already private business makes £80 Billion a year from contracts in Health, Education and other government departments. Now GPs are to decide where health money goes. Last time this was tried in the 1980s the majority of GPs rejected the government’s offer.
Under the new Act they will have no choice. Last time it meant that financial consultants were bought in to the surgeries involved – with ‘surpluses’ going on fancy decorations and other perks away from front line services. This time even the start-up cost of letting the private parasites further into the NHS is going to cost £1.7 Billion MORE on the health budget this year.
Under the new Act they will have no choice. Last time it meant that financial consultants were bought in to the surgeries involved – with ‘surpluses’ going on fancy decorations and other perks away from front line services. This time even the start-up cost of letting the private parasites further into the NHS is going to cost £1.7 Billion MORE on the health budget this year.
Devon County Council announce £6 million cuts Posted on July 15, 2010 by devonsocialistarticles
Tory-controlled Devon County Council has announced £6 million of budget cuts, with the worst cuts earmarked for childrens services and transport. In a time of dire job shortages, careers advice is slashed by £600,000 and £122,000 has been cut from services to help pregnant teenagers. The Council hasn’t yet specified what else is to be cut, but no doubt public transport and upkeep of roads will also suffer. This is on top of massive cuts announced last December, and will cut services not just to the bone (that was already the case under New Labour), but to the marrow.
Yet again, cuts demanded by the Con-Dem coalition will hit those that neither prospered in the ‘boom’ times or caused the mess of the financial crisis. They are busy collecting massive bonuses and dining with their minister friends. It is not inevitable that these cuts occur. Even a Tory-controlled council can be pressured into making concessions, though it will ultimately take a national movement against cuts to throw out the rotten coalition, whose only principle is ‘Government for the millionaires, by the millionaires’.
Yet again, cuts demanded by the Con-Dem coalition will hit those that neither prospered in the ‘boom’ times or caused the mess of the financial crisis. They are busy collecting massive bonuses and dining with their minister friends. It is not inevitable that these cuts occur. Even a Tory-controlled council can be pressured into making concessions, though it will ultimately take a national movement against cuts to throw out the rotten coalition, whose only principle is ‘Government for the millionaires, by the millionaires’.
* Comment is free The time to organise resistance is now We reject these cuts as simply malicious ideological vandalism, hitting the most vulnerable the hardest. Join us in the fight: Tony Benn, Published in the Guardian August 4th
It is time to organise a broad movement of active resistance to the Con-Dem government's budget intentions. They plan the most savage spending cuts since the 1930s, which will wreck the lives of millions by devastating our jobs, pay, pensions, NHS, education, transport, postal and other services.
The government claims the cuts are unavoidable because the welfare state has been too generous. This is nonsense. Ordinary people are being forced to pay for the bankers' profligacy.
The £11bn welfare cuts, rise in VAT to 20%, and 25% reductions across government departments target the most vulnerable – disabled people, single parents, those on housing benefit, black and other ethnic minority communities, students, migrant workers, LGBT people and pensioners.
Women are expected to bear 75% of the burden. The poorest will be hit six times harder than the richest. Internal Treasury documents estimate 1.3 million job losses in public and private sectors.
We reject this malicious vandalism and resolve to campaign for a radical alternative, with the level of determination shown by trade unionists and social movements in Greece and other European countries.
This government of millionaires says "we're all in it together" and "there is no alternative". But, for the wealthy, corporation tax is being cut, the bank levy is a pittance, and top salaries and bonuses have already been restored to pre-crash levels.
An alternative budget would place the banks under democratic control, and raise revenue by increasing tax for the rich, plugging tax loopholes, withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, abolishing the nuclear "deterrent" by cancelling the Trident replacement.
An alternative strategy could use these resources to: support welfare; develop homes, schools, and hospitals; and foster a green approach to public spending – investing in renewable energy and public transport, thereby creating a million jobs.
We commit ourselves to:
• Oppose cuts and privatisation in our workplaces, community and welfare services.
• Fight rising unemployment and support organisations of unemployed people.
• Develop and support an alternative programme for economic and social recovery.
• Oppose all proposals to "solve" the crisis through racism and other forms of scapegoating.
• Liaise closely with similar opposition movements in other countries.
• Organise information, meetings, conferences, marches and demonstrations.
• Support the development of a national co-ordinating coalition of resistance.
We urge those who support this statement to attend the Organising Conference on 27 November 2010 (10am-5pm), at Camden Centre, Town Hall, London, WC1H 9JE.
The government claims the cuts are unavoidable because the welfare state has been too generous. This is nonsense. Ordinary people are being forced to pay for the bankers' profligacy.
The £11bn welfare cuts, rise in VAT to 20%, and 25% reductions across government departments target the most vulnerable – disabled people, single parents, those on housing benefit, black and other ethnic minority communities, students, migrant workers, LGBT people and pensioners.
Women are expected to bear 75% of the burden. The poorest will be hit six times harder than the richest. Internal Treasury documents estimate 1.3 million job losses in public and private sectors.
We reject this malicious vandalism and resolve to campaign for a radical alternative, with the level of determination shown by trade unionists and social movements in Greece and other European countries.
This government of millionaires says "we're all in it together" and "there is no alternative". But, for the wealthy, corporation tax is being cut, the bank levy is a pittance, and top salaries and bonuses have already been restored to pre-crash levels.
An alternative budget would place the banks under democratic control, and raise revenue by increasing tax for the rich, plugging tax loopholes, withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, abolishing the nuclear "deterrent" by cancelling the Trident replacement.
An alternative strategy could use these resources to: support welfare; develop homes, schools, and hospitals; and foster a green approach to public spending – investing in renewable energy and public transport, thereby creating a million jobs.
We commit ourselves to:
• Oppose cuts and privatisation in our workplaces, community and welfare services.
• Fight rising unemployment and support organisations of unemployed people.
• Develop and support an alternative programme for economic and social recovery.
• Oppose all proposals to "solve" the crisis through racism and other forms of scapegoating.
• Liaise closely with similar opposition movements in other countries.
• Organise information, meetings, conferences, marches and demonstrations.
• Support the development of a national co-ordinating coalition of resistance.
We urge those who support this statement to attend the Organising Conference on 27 November 2010 (10am-5pm), at Camden Centre, Town Hall, London, WC1H 9JE.
Facebook Comment
Consider these as a starting point for an alliance: We should oppose ALL cuts - Build an open and democratic alliance- local groups (' Save our Library' for example) can organise and produce their own material under their name and have representatives on a City wide federal organising committee - Councillors are welcome, provided they oppose all cuts -Build links with local Trade Unions - Build links with Plymouth and rest of Devon - and work for national and local demonstrations. I have high lighted opposition to ALL cuts because there seems to be a thought going around that some cuts are necessary - who is controlling that agenda, I wonder? It's not part of one I want to be involved in! I think that calling an initial meeting in Sept would be a good idea Date? Time? Place? and work on invites
Tuesday 17 August 2010
What is the Anti-Cuts Alliance?
Exeter Anti-Cuts Alliance is a federal organization that seeks to organize individuals, trade unions, charities, students and community groups who refuse to be Con-Dem-ned to cuts, closures and privatisation – the price we are paying for a crisis caused by casino economics. Cuts to our living standards, health, education and hard won benefits are not inevitable. It will take a concerted fight back to stop John Hart and Devon County Council obediently laying into the region's budget. Help us build this group so we can create an all Devon Anti-Cuts Alliance that will put a stop to the jobs massacre and the assault on our public services.
1) We are forming a group along federal lines to oppose the cuts and want as broad as possible a coalition of groups to join us.
2) We believe that the cuts are ideological, based on the dictatorship of the markets along with Tory small government ideology.
3) The concept that the cuts are necessary is a marketing ploy to hoodwink the electorate.
4) The cuts are far from being sustainable and will lead to a further increase in the division between rich and poor.
5) The best way of opposing the cuts is to propose a positive, progressive alternative budget and we welcome input to that process, especially with regard to sustainability.
6) We are affiliated to Tony Benn's Coalition of Resistance .
1) We are forming a group along federal lines to oppose the cuts and want as broad as possible a coalition of groups to join us.
2) We believe that the cuts are ideological, based on the dictatorship of the markets along with Tory small government ideology.
3) The concept that the cuts are necessary is a marketing ploy to hoodwink the electorate.
4) The cuts are far from being sustainable and will lead to a further increase in the division between rich and poor.
5) The best way of opposing the cuts is to propose a positive, progressive alternative budget and we welcome input to that process, especially with regard to sustainability.
6) We are affiliated to Tony Benn's Coalition of Resistance .
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