Unseen wealth… January 30, 2015
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Economy, European Politics, Irish Politics, The Left.7 comments
In his book Capital, Thomas Piketty observed that in advanced economies wealth has become so concentrated among the few that most people are virtually unaware of its existence. Great wealth is secret, and its hold on power even more so. Who knows what goes on over country suppers in the Cotswolds, where the prime minister’s neighbours include Rebekah Wade and Rupert Murdoch’s daughter Elisabeth, with Mark Carney’s sister-in-law and lobbying magnate Lord Chadlington next door? Yet people have inklings. Cameron provokes nothing like the visceral response that Thatcher did, but he has not erased people’s resentment of privilege. Today’s opinion polls reflect a scratchy sense of unfairness. George Osborne’s mantra, first chanted at the 2012 party conference, “all in it together” raises a hollow laugh.
In Prospect some years back in a piece on Ireland during the crisis it noted that the most conspicuous displays of consumption by the very rich in this state had been ramped back and quoted one person (I think a still wealthy developer) who talked about how boats were kept at private marina’s or otherwise well out of view, and so on, because those who owned them were aware of the friction they might generate. And if one considers how wealth is gated away it’s both disturbing and revealing. It also suggests that reaching towards democratic control of same is going to be a mammoth task.
Regarding groups/parties/formations not in the Irish Left Archive… January 30, 2015
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Irish Politics, The Left.1 comment so far
…many thanks to John O’Neill for the suggestions here of formations that are still missing.
He points to the Irish Citizen’s Army of the 20s and 30s. Laochra Uladh of the late 40s. The Anti-Imperialist League of the 1930s. The Irish Republican Brotherhood of the 1950s. Saor Uladh of the 1950s. The Wolfe Tone Societies. And of course there are more.
Any other suggestions very welcome and anyone with documents or copies of documents from the above that they are willing to place in the Archive please contact us by email.
402 documents and counting. 52 odd per year, just about 7 to 8 years of posts. Not bad going and thanks to all who have forwarded materials or commented on it.
Connolly Youth Movement Statement on Greek elections January 30, 2015
Posted by WorldbyStorm in European Politics, Irish Politics, The Left.4 comments
Thanks to the person who forwarded this…
The Connolly Youth Movement welcomes the Greek election results and sees the election of a left political party as a deepening of the class awareness of the Greek people. Syriza were just shy of 2 seats to form a majority government but as it stands they have now entered into coalition with the Independent Greeks, a far right party of the bourgeoisie, who happen to also oppose austerity and the debt – their common platform.
It seems the whole of Europe has taken inspiration from the Syriza victory and now the people of Europe will look forward with hope, that the Austerity measures of the last 6 years will be stopped, the debt will be renegotiated and the gains lost over that time period can be regained. These are the hopes of the Greek people and they have put their faith in Syriza to follow through on their election promises. We can only hope and wish that Syriza live up to these expectations.
The slogan ‘Hope is Coming’ are words that people hold on to, a people that have been beaten and impoverished due to the economic policies of the EU and carried out by Greek governments. The politics of hope, the catchphrase of Syriza, is what people want to believe in. Hope that the future will bring bread, peace and prosperity to a new Europe, rid of all the problems and crisis of the past.
In Ireland, the liberal left, those who have gotten the Syriza t-shirts, those who have shouted from the rooftops, and written reams of threads and tweets about the glorious victory of Syriza and the radical left have maintained this divinity and hope in Syriza. However, lest we forget the past and the great ‘Hope’ campaign of Obama in the United States, the CYM would caution those who are being swept by the euphoria of the initial election success.
There is one Greek left party however that will not be swept up in all the hype, the KKE. The KKE – the Communist Party of Greece – are perceived to be a deeply sectarian party by many on the left in Ireland, who through their actions and their lack of cooperation with other Greek parties, including Syriza, are seen to have made themselves redundant to this resurgence of left wing politics in Europe. The obvious question being, why didn’t Syriza and the KKE form a deeply radical left government coalition? The KKE received 5.5% (a 1% increase from 2012) of the vote and would have easily been in a position to form the new coalition government.
It is easy to criticise the KKE, they haven’t won a lot of favours or allies by remaining constant in their criticisms of Syriza. All the soft left wing groups in Ireland are absolutely disgusted with them. Some would even blame the KKE for Syriza having to go into coalition with a right wing party! However, for all the criticisms there is very little analysis done on WHY the KKE remain unwilling to partner up with Syriza.
There are two strategic areas as to why the KKE will not go into government with Syriza: 1) The past legacy of European Communist Parties or ‘eurocommunism’ and 2) The ideological difference between the KKE and Syriza. The legacy of eurocommunism has been to strip many communist parties of their Marxist-Leninist ideology, to leave a disbandoned party with a left wing rhetoric without the revolutionary guiding principles. The KKE put simply have looked at the past and based on their analysis have found that putting faith in a Parliamentary party, whether in government or opposistion has never led to a transition from capitalism to socialism. All it has done has been to weaken the party, the class and the international communist movement. So the KKE are correct to be cautious about going into coalition as their statements reflect a revolutionary rather than a parliamentary path.
The ideological difference between the KKE and Syriza however is the most fundamental point that seems to be lost on all those who will bash the KKE as being secterian. The two parties are ideologically opposed. Syriza has stated that it will stay in the EU, that there will be no Grexit, that the monopolies will remain and that they will remain in the imperialist war club NATO. They call themselves a radical party but there really is nothing radical about their ideology. They, just like many left wing parties of the past will do what they are ideologically driven to do – try and better manage the capitalist system. The KKE are diametrically opposed to these fundamental policies of Syriza.
The KKE have remained unwavering in their position in that they don’t see themselves as a party that wants to try and better run capitalism, the KKE wants to overthrow the capitalist system and to replace it with a real and substansive alternative – socialism and they don’t see this as something in the distant future either. No election result will bring this about and the KKE are not in the business to try and hide their aims and objectives. Syriza on the other hand have the rhetoric of a strong radical left party, however their policies and statements would suggest that the radical elements, which they do have within the party, will be silenced.
The main reason why Syriza was able to form a coalition with a right wing party of the Independent Greeks (ANEL) and not with the KKE is because Syriza are ideologically closer to ANEL. This sentence may cause our Irish Syristers to come out in their defence, however this isn’t an attack on Syriza, these are just facts. What the three parties do have in common is their opposition to debt and austerity, what separates the KKE from them is their unapologetic anti-imperialist policies.
If the new Greek government of Syriza and ANEL manage to alleviate any pressure from the Greek people the CYM will most certainly welcome it and if people are being politicised in the process then these elections are a definite step in the right direction, but there can be no illusions that this will inevitably lead the way to a pro-people, pro-worker state, not as long as Greece remains in the EU, the euro, Nato and that the means of production remain in the hands of the monopolies.
The CYM gives full support to the KKE in their endeavours. The path they have chosen seems to be a lonely one at the moment, but with a proud 93 year history and maintaining a discplined and principled position, the next phase of Greek politics will most certainly involve and need their activity, militancy and leadership.
The CYM like the KKE are fully aware that no matter the outcome of an election, and, to paraphrase Connolly ‘unless you set about the organization of the Socialist Republic your efforts would be in vain. The EU and monopolies would still rule you. They would rule you through her capitalists, through her landlords, through her financiers, through the whole array of commercial and individualist institutions she has planted in this country and watered with the tears of our mothers and the blood of our martyrs’.
SF call for Irish Left Alternative in wake of Syriza victory… January 30, 2015
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Economy, European Politics, Irish Politics, The Left.30 comments
Writing in An Phoblacht (in shops Friday), Declan Kearney (SINN FÉIN National Chairperson) says:
“This is the time for serious political discussion among progressive Irish political, community and trade union activists on ideas and strategies to ensure the future election of a Left coalition in the South…
“Those on the progressive and republican Left need to make that change irreversible by alter- ing the current balance of forces to create a new political realignment. That will only come about through popular support for a credible political alternative that can effectively challenge the conservative power blocs and their policies…
“Political engagement needs to take place among all those genuinely committed to democratic control of the economy, social justice and an agreed, united Ireland. Progressive political, social and community movements should collectively discuss the development of an agenda which mobilises the greater mass of Irish society in support of equality, protecting the most vulnerable, distributing wealth and resources according to citizens’ needs, and guaranteeing their rights.
“As new international political forces move towards governmental power, formal political discussion should commence in Ireland on how to forge consensus between Sinn Féin, progressive independents, the trade union movement, grassroots communities, and the non-sectarian Left. That process should concentrate on building durable, strategic, cross-sectoral, cross-community and political alliances North and South.”
This Week At Irish Election Literature January 30, 2015
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Irish Election Literature Blog, Irish Politics.add a comment
The above is from 1989
A 1954 leaflet from Fine Gael in Carlow Kilkenny
A leaflet from Mary Lou introducing Paul Donnelly to the new voters in Dublin West
then an article “The Count” written by one of Éilis Ryans team about the count in last years Local Elections
Then a Call for Papers on Social movements, workers agitation, and left-wing activism in Ireland, 1968-2010
Finally a new site ‘League of Ireland Through The Years’ which may be of interest to some here
“There is another group organising a March in the city centre” January 29, 2015
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Irish Politics, The Left.2 comments
This flyer forwarded on to me….
So it appears Sinn Fein , as is their right, have deemed Saturday “Sinn Fein Day of Action Against Water Charges” and I’m told they have organised local protests in Dublin and elsewhere. However by holding their own protests and not encouraging people to join the main march in Town…….. the numbers marching will invariably be down.
That ‘unique position’ of the Ceann Comhairle… January 29, 2015
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Irish Politics.16 comments
…criticised Mr Barrett’s ruling. He felt that such a ruling could lead to a scenario in the future that someone could go to the courts and seek a judicial review. This would have the effect of avoiding parliamentary scrutiny.
And then he upped the ante:
Sources at the meeting also said Mr Kelly spoke of a “constitutional crisis” while others said he was severely critical of Mr Barrett. It is understood Mr Kelly made his contribution at the end of the weekly meeting, in an intervention that surprised those present.
Did it indeed?
Then today we have Joan Burton making more emollient noises:
“The Ceann Comhairle has a unique position as the person who rules the Dбil. We have to respect that. We would have been very happy to have seen a debate,” Ms Burton said.
However, Ms Burton said the Ceann Comhairle had been in correspondence with Mr Shatter and had made a ruling in the context of Dáil rules.
Given the fluff a week or so back about a certain P. Rabbitte being in line for the CC’s job should the incumbent decide to retire – though to where is a good question – could it be that we’re watching something of a destabilisation of that ‘unique position’?
It really would constitute an enormous win for the LP to have at least one TD, particularly in a certain constituency, returned automatically, as well as making the mountain others have to climb there that bit steeper.
But that surely can’t be the logic of all this, can it?
Statement on the elections in Greece – CPI January 29, 2015
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Economy, European Politics, The Left.1 comment so far
Thanks to the CPI for forwarding this:
The working people of Greece have delivered a clear message to the European Union, to the IMF and to the Greek oligarchs that they have had enough of “austerity,” enough of being bullied, enough of being dictated to by the these forces. They desire to be treated as citizens with dignity, with honour; they desire to live free from fear of what tomorrow will bring, without fear of what will happen to them if they become ill or fear whether their pensions will be there tomorrow.
Fear is the weapon that the Irish establishment, the European Union, the IMF and global bankers and finance houses have created and orchestrated, in a climate of fear dutifully promoted by their mass media against any possible alternative. They wish us to believe there is no way forward for the peoples of Europe other than the one imposed on them in the interests of saving the capitalist system itself.
Already the chorus has begun from the EU and other international powers and institutions, that the Greek people must be “reasonable,” must modify their aspirations, must be “realistic” about what is possible. We must reject such fetters upon the people’s hopes. Only working people can decide what is reasonable and where the boundaries of our desires are.
The victory of Syriza, in the eyes of the Greek people, is a victory for the popular desire for a different path and a better way forward, for real substantive change. Time will tell whether the trust they have placed in Syriza was ill judged. It may well turn out to be just another wave of social democracy that will crash on the rock of real, existing monopoly capitalism, leaving a trail of disillusionment and broken promises.
Radical anti-imperialist forces cannot afford the luxury of confining themselves to predicting the future but rather must struggle for the future. Syriza has raised expectations in Greece; it has raised hopes throughout the European Union. Here in Ireland some are attempting to clamber onto the Syriza bandwagon; but for those forces and individuals who desire more radical change the task now is to build the forces for real change, to hold those who claim to speak and act for the people to their promises.
To Irish youth, the future is the one that is built upon the struggle of today. Freedom and justice are not handed to us from above but are won by our united actions. Everyone has a place and a role in that struggle. True individual freedom is gained in the liberation of us all.
Communist Party of Ireland.
26th January
The rich truly are different… part of a continuing series… January 29, 2015
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Uncategorized.4 comments
…or so it seems from this report in the SBP where it notes that:
The country’s wealthiest retirement savers have shielded close to €3.3 billion in pension savings from tax in the last four years, according to official figures.
While the figures aren’t as astronomical as they might once have been…
Budgetary changes have significantly reduced the maximum tax relievable pension pot that a person can build up in their lifetime. The standard fund threshold (SFT) for pensions fell to €2 million from January 1, 2014, down from the previous threshold of €2.3 million and substantially lower than the €5.4 million limit that applied in 2008.
…nevertheless:
…high-earning pension savers who have accumulated a pension pot above the new threshold can protect their retirement savings from additional tax by applying for a higher limit, known as a personal fund threshold (PFT).
Figures cited by Minister for Finance Michael Noonan in response to a parliamentary question by Fianna Fáil’s Michael McGrath revealed that hundreds of pension savers have availed of the higher limit since the threshold was cut.
The actual breakdown of figures is interesting too:
“I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that since December 7, 2010, when the SFT was reduced to €2.3 million, they have issued 924 PFT certificates with a value of some €2,926 million,” Noonan said. “Since January 1, 2014, when the SFT was further reduced to €2 million, Revenue has to date issued a further 159 PFT certificates with a total value of some €354 million.”
