Reversing capitalism
As much as I applaud Alex Bainbridge's sentiment that "all that is needed is for humanity as a whole, rather than the wealthy profiteers, to control production", I am anxious to know how he intends to wrest that control? While we, the poor citizens of Australia, wait for Bainbridge to reveal his plan, we already had to reduce our needs.
To produce towards one's own consumption not only denies capitalism that much of our welfare dollar, but gives us something we can accomplish and be proud of, as well as providing us with a means of exchange and points of contact in our communities. Before Bainbridge can achieve a "democratically planned, ecologically sustainable society", he will need to find a way of networking the Australian society.
Welfare recipients and other structurally poor cannot live on the promise that "once the productive capacity is in the hands of the majority", but the "socialists" who do associate with what people such as Ted Trainer are advocating, do so because it is a natural expansion of a system which is already at work in our communities.
The day Bainbridge's socialist world comes about, I will be in the garden because the success of such a society will depend on the independence of its constituents.
Mayfield NSW
[Abridged.]
Ted Trainer
In "But should we fight the cuts?' (GLW #262) Ted Trainer suggested that only the experience of the destruction and pain caused by the inevitable attacks on living standards of the global capitalist system will make large numbers of people reject that system and want to take a radically different path. But this concept — and his resultant political strategy of "ignore Howard ... build local alternatives" — doesn't resolve the problem of how to achieve such an anti-capitalist consciousness.
The resolution lies in what is to be done about the attacks. If people resist cuts, then from their own experience they can generalise from opposition to an aspect of the capitalist system to opposition to the whole system (and this is what members of the Democratic Socialist Party, such as myself, seek to encourage in supporting GLW's urgings to "fight the cuts").
If we ignore the cuts, then that acceptance becomes a hard-to-break habit. Thus Trainer's strategy would leave only a few to take on the system as a whole. They would only have an "alternative" if they have enough money to buy space and resources within the capitalist system.
Leichhardt NSW
Howard a Manly supporter?
John Howard's desire for a sporting image is fulfilled. One week his government says old Australians must pay wads of cash to get into nursing homes. Next week we hear private health companies from the USA bought a big slice of NSW private health care. What a beautiful flowing pass, John, even if it was a metre forward!
Wentworth Falls NSW
GST and sales tax
I read Green Left for the first time last weekend. The article on the GST failed to mention that we already have a sales tax. Except for the big department stores, the tax is levied on the final wholesale transaction. To give some examples: biscuits 12%, confectionary 22%, engagement rings 32%.
About one-fifth of grocery lines are currently taxed. The big chains such as Coles and Woolworths pay the tax before warehousing and distribution, and the independent supermarkets such as Tuckerbag and Foodtown after. This is a completely legal rip off by the large supermarkets. The current wholesale tax introduced in the 1960s as a stop-gap measure has become permanent and grown.
The proponents of the GST argue that "inputs" are taxed and therefore exports are in effect taxed, making Australia less competitive on the world stage. I would levy the tax as goods leave the factory or in the case of imported goods as they come onto the wharf. An exemption would be allowed for inputs. For instance, a manufacturer of washing machines would be able to claim a deduction on electrical cord as washing machines are taxed. An electrical contractor would not as their work is not subject to sales tax.
The main problem with a GST even if it were on the UK model is the enormous administrative costs involved for both government and business. Implementing my suggestions would not bring in the current amount of revenue. To overcome this situation raise the taxes to 15%, 25% and 35%.
Hay NSW
[Abridged.]
Zionism vs. anti-Semitism
I am not sure what point Philip Mendes is trying to make by "proving" that Marxist ideas can co-exist with reactionary views (GLW #260). Working class consciousness is quite heterogeneous, and every activist recognises the need to combat reactionary views by positing revolutionary solutions. The left has consistently opposed all reactionary ideologies, and Zionism is an extreme form of bourgeois nationalism based on the fallacy that a particular religious group, the Jews, constitute a "nation" and therefore should congregate into a political state. Zionism is a political and colonialist movement guilty of dispossessing the Palestinian people.
The anti-Zionism of the left is a position of principled opposition to a reactionary ideology and a state built on that ideology. The left has always opposed all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism. The left supports all peoples that are struggling against national oppression, including the Palestinians in their fight against Zionist colonialism.
To equate anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism is to divert attention from the substantive issues. Charging critics of the Zionist government with the epithet "anti-Semite" is used by the defenders of the Israeli government to suppress any debate or criticism.
In fact the Zionist has a good deal in common with the anti-Semite, sharing the view that all Jews from different countries and classes form a homogenous bloc and therefore belong in one state.
Westmead NSW
[Abridged.]
Ask me about me
On November 29, 1995, I wrote of my need for an attorney and Green Left Weekly published my plea for funds. Needless to say I am grateful. Someone, I suspect in the state of Florida, saw that plea and put it on the Internet. They installed an asterisk after my use of "resentencing [*] trial" and at the end of the text the following was added on:
"*The new sentencing trial isn't about guilt or innocence, but 12 jurors will have to decide if the death sentence should be imposed again or if there are enough mitigating circumstances for a sentence of life in prison without parole".
My desire in writing this letter it to warn anti-death penalty folk: the wording used at the end of my text is not mine; and, if you pay attention to it closely, you will see that by its very nature it is not anti-death penalty; and it was composed by someone who (a) does not know that "life in prison without parole" does not apply to me; (b) never consulted me on the use of such wording; and © without consulting me such wording puts power into the hands of those whose intentions are to kill me. By way of this letter I publicly disclaim any association with the quote preceded by the asterisk.
I walk a very fine line when I write publicly and the words I use are chosen with an awareness of how they will be received by those who mean to harm me. So I respectfully request that anyone who attaches worlds and/or erroneous presumption to any of my past or future texts please be considerate enough to consult me first lest your words be attributed to me. Remember, there are always "enough mitigating circumstances" not to kill someone. Please do not assume to know about me. For me this is a matter of life or death. Ask me, about me.
Georgia USA
Disappointed
I was disappointed to see that the article entitled "Support for Redfern community" (GLW #262) was actually a Green Left subscription drive advertisement.
The residents of the Block are saying clearly and strongly that they need our support, but on their terms. Aboriginal people have been subject to the interventions of white political power-play for too long. Please don't use their fight as a vehicle for your own political agenda.
If you do want to support their struggle, contact the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, or the Settlement. By all means offer skills, donations, contacts and resources. But above all, listen.
Werrington NSW
[Editor's reply: The piece referred to, on page 2 of the February 4 issue, was in fact a subscription advertisement. (We are currently running a campaign and wanted to highlight this with readers.)
On page 5 of the same issue, we ran a feature article "Redfern Aborigines under attack" in which the author, Chris Spindler, interviewed and reported on the views of a number of the Block's residents.
With Australia's media so monopolised by the establishment, Green Left Weekly is committed to putting itself at the disposal of all those struggling for change. The attacks on indigenous people's rights and their struggle to defend their democratic rights has always been a central part of Green Left's coverage. This is called solidarity. And it is something that Green Left Weekly will continue to carry out.
Sydney
Zapatista solidarity hunger strike
I am writing to announce that for 10 days, beginning on February 18, I will not eat as an expression of solidarity with the indigenous peoples of Chiapas Mexico. Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon has in effect reneged on the Indigenous Rights and Culture Accord — choosing instead to increase government military presence in south-east Mexico.
On February 28, at the Mexican Consulate, 135 New South Head Rd, Edgecliff, there will be a demonstration, organised by the Committee in Solidarity with Latin America and the Caribbean in support of the Zapatista/EZLN. I hope GLW readers will join us at lunch hour in solidarity with the Mayan peoples of Chiapas, Mexico.
Sydney