Young Master Smeet
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Apparently the Kurds are skint too:http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/analysis-crisis-exposes-flaws-kurdistans-economy-1363406840Teh oil slump is kicking in.But, my rough view is that this is 2000, not 2008, it will be bad in some quarters, but US and Europe will just about scrape by, but the BRICS will banana skin…
Ooh, missed these. the bottom line is that, since workers have no property, the only way we get health care is if the capitalists pay for it. Whether they pay for it through our paypackets or via the state is, I'd suggest, for us a secondary considration to the actual use-value of medical care received, i.e. the quality of the care. Obviously, if they reduce the cost of healthcare, that lowers the exchange value we receive, and means lower wages as a share of the total propduct.So, in the UK, they decided that allocating health care through the NHS was the most cost effective way for them (and it was, and still is), but that means a vast market where profits could be made, but aren't. Obviously, those capitalists who employ fewer workers feel the burden of the tax to pay for healthcare more, and so they want to pass the cost off into wages (and thus onto those capitalists who employ lots of workers).We shouldn't allow ourselves to be blinded by loyalty to the NHS badge, what matters is the care we receive, and we need to be aware that it is a bargain between us and the capitalists.
http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/vincent-browne-do-not-worry-about-gerry-adams-and-sinn-f%C3%A9in-1.2545703This si a canny take down on the Irish elections:
Quote:Nothing of consequence will change in Irish society with this election. Over one million people will continue to live in deprivation; nearly one in five of everyone in employment will continue to be paid pittances; thousands of poorer people will die prematurely (this was estimated a decade ago to be around 5,000 annually); us – rich people – will crash the queues for preferential healthcare, others will be left on trollies and waiting lists; schools will make no significant difference to the life chances of children and young adults; only the few will exert any influence on public policy; our democracy will remain hollow.Quote:Now all [Sinn Fein] venture is to increase the minimum wage to €9.65 an hour. There is some decent analysis of social conditions in the Sinn Féin manifesto, but the thrust of the manifesto is so cautious and “responsible” one wonders why they don’t they just merge with Fine Gael, along with the Labour Party, Fianna Fáil, Renua and Shane Ross?Could hardly had put it better ourselves.
http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/socialist-standard/1990s/1996/no-1107-november-1996/free-trade-profits-and-environmentThis article from 1996 is also useful.
We've been here before:http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/pamphlets/should-socialists-support-federal-union
Hardy wrote:The true position is that, if Governments or other organisations have mutual interests and a common outlook, there can be unity without sovereignty and, conversely, even if there is a Federal Union and a central Government with power over all the area within it, if there are conflicts of interest and outlook the mere existence of an international machine, even with a strong armed force, will not prevent parts of the area from quarrelling with each other and going to war. You may say, as Federal Union does, that they would not have the armed forces to enable them to do that, but they will find them.Ireland looks set to buck the European trend:http://www.rte.ie/news/election-2016/2016/0223/770130-election-redc-poll/Labour is taking a hammering, and only the old Nationalist parties, Fine gael and Fianna Fail (both right of centre) are holding up, any leftward vote (even including Sinn Fein, if you feel so inclined) is looking hideously fragmented. Labour is being hammered as the minor coalition partner.Irelands PR system makes polling complex, but the only stable majority govrnment is Fine Gael/Fianna Fail : that might in some ways be a good thing for bringing things to a head and establishing a more normal European left/right split.A radical coalition could emerge, but I reckon another election within a year is mroe likely…
FWIW, with Coorbyn being largely out of the debate, he's come out fighting:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35633821This is grist to our "sideshow"narrative.
Quote:Mr Corbyn said the PM should have focused on issues like cyber crime, fair trade and the refugee crisis.And he claimed the "influence of Tory Party funders" could be seen in protections for the City of London.Quote:Conference voted overwhelmingly to support a left-wing, internationalist, anti-racist vote to leave in the EU referendum.At a tactical level, suporting 'out' makes sense for the left, sicne it will mean the Tories doing nothing else but implement the split for the remainder of this Parliament…
Callng on peopel to stay away in their droves is a clearer message, but write-in votes are about building the party's support. I don't see how much change eitehr in or out can make. Any new 'free trade treaty' would have to cinlude some element of free movement (no government wants those pissed off ex-pat Britains being repatriated); there'll have to be some sort of arbitration in any free trade treaty. This really is one for the passing show.
Paul Mason makes an interesting point: it doesn't make much difference if UK stays oir goes, there is now a 2 speed Europe, and the Euro/Schengan countries will continue to integrate without Britrain. It is in effect a complete waste of time and effort to vote at all in this farce, which is just a collosal distraction from real issues of poverty, housing and human needs.
alanjjohnstone wrote:Lbird, this debate has been going on for almost a couple of years now, hasn't it?Indeed, and the only reason I keep coming back to it is that Kbird has a remarkable propensity to latch onto any new user of the forum and start misreporesenting our positions, which needs rebuttal.
Oh, and
Quote:existed in the imagination of the labourer at its commencement.doesn't tell us how the imagination got there neither, so no claim to initiation on that score, neither. Try practicing close reading, it helps when folks dabble in English.
Quote:adapted to his own wants.human wants, which are linked to the
Quote:natural forces of his bodyshape what humans will. Initiator be buggered, though, there is no unmoved mover, there is an ongoing process.
Ah, as thouht, the first oif the end points, as police say by-elections have timed out under electoral law, and:https://twitter.com/MichaelLCrick/status/700687841110712320
