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Syriza created an action program for the election, the Thessaloniki program - <http://www.syriza.gr/article/id/59907/SYRIZA---THE-THESSALONIKI-PROGRAMME.html#> I haven't spent much time studying this program but my impression is that a large part of it was about what they were going to demand/negotiate vis-a-vis the 'troika.' Syriza's initial effort on these eurozone points did not succeed except to open up a little time and space and a little wiggle room - and maybe to gain some sympathy and support internationally. Settling for this for the moment has apparently almost split the Syriza central committee. Hopefully not split in the sense of a dynamic that will lead to organizational separation, but split in the sense of containing two developed contradictory strategic perspectives with close to equal support. I think that the Syriza leadership has to engage its supporters/the public in some sort of discussion about what alternative strategy they should be considering and what necessary preparation is required to be able to follow an alternative strategy. In the meantime i hope that Syriza will begin implementing the Greek-specific/internal planks of the Thessaloniki program. Use the wiggle room they have won to steadily implement the humanitarian measures of their program, i.e.: "Free electricity to 300.000 households currently under the poverty line up to 300 kWh per month per family; that is, 3.600 kWh per year. Total cost: €59,4 million. Programme of meal subsidies to 300.000 families without income. The implementation will take place via a public agency of coordination, in cooperation with the local authorities, the Church and solidarity organizations. Total cost: €756 million. Programme of housing guarantee. The target is the provision of initially 30.000 apartments (30, 50, and 70 m²), by subsidizing rent at €3 per m². Total cost: €54 million. Restitution of the Christmas bonus, as 13th pension, to 1.262.920 pensioners with a pension up to €700. Total cost: €543,06 million. Free medical and pharmaceutical care for the uninsured unemployed. Total cost: €350 million. Special public transport card for the long-term unemployed and those who are under the poverty line. Total cost: €120 million. Repeal of the leveling of the special consumption tax on heating and automotive diesel. Bringing the starting price of heating fuel for households back to €0,90 per lt, instead of the current €1,20 per lt. Benefit is expected." I think Syriza should just steadily, using the parliament, implement more and more of their Greek/internal program, demonstrating in action that they are more committed to the well-being of Greek working people than they are to the dictates of "the institutions," i.e.: [From Thessaloniki program] National plan to regain employment - Restitution of the institutional framework to protect employment rights that was demolished by the Memoranda governments. Restitution of the so-called "after-effect" of collective agreements; of the collective agreements themselves as well as of arbitration. Abolition of all regulations allowing for massive and unjustifiable layoffs as well as for renting employees. Employment programme for 300000 new jobs. including Restoration of the minimum wage to €751. And be prepared at whatever point they are confronted by the "institutions" for working for the benefit of the people instead of the banks, to mobilize their growing number of supporters in defense of their own economic and social well-being. This is class warfare of course and has to be carried out with optimal possible political education, mobilization and organization. According to the Greek publication "Times of Change" on Feb. 27: "The fledgling SYRIZA-led government will begin to table legislation in parliament next week to address the following first six priorities: "Legislating for the 100-instalment repayment plan for citizens’ and businesses’ outstanding tax and social security debts. Protecting primary residences from foreclosures Combating the humanitarian crisis. This legislation package will include rehiring some unfairly dismissed public servants and anti-poverty measures such as providing free energy to impoverished households among others Re-establishing the shuttered former state broadcaster ERT Establishing an inquiry about how Greece ended up in the memoranda Combating tax evasion and corruption, particularly among the wealthy." <http://www.thetoc.gr/eng/politics/article/syrizas-first-parliamentary-moves> Syriza Offers Free Food and Electricity in First Legislation Telesur, March 3 Greece's new ruling party, Syriza, used its first legislative act in parliament to confront what it refers to as the country’s “humanitarian crisis,” offering free food and electricity to the most impoverished. As the rest of the world looks on and speculates over the left-wing government's economic deals with Europe, Syriza is pressing on with its planned social reforms, demonstrating it is honoring its pre-election pledges. "The deep recession due to austerity policies and the economic crisis in the past six years had a dramatic social impact," said the bill, which was tabled late Tuesday. "This draft law aims at tackling the humanitarian crisis through measures which ensure access to basic goods." The crisis to which the bill refers was created, in part, by years of harsh austerity measures, leaving many Greeks out of work and on the poverty line. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said that it was his government's “foremost duty” to eradicate that damage that austerity has caused, while remaining committed to balancing the budget. Under the new bill, some 300,000 Greeks will receive food vouchers, while families with young children will have priority for restored electricity. A poll released this month revealed that Syriza has seen its approval ratings leap over 10 percent since snap elections in January. Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis announced Saturday that Greece is considering implementing an “extraordinary tax” on the wealthy in order to help balance the budgets. Greece’s economy is a key worry for those who feel that Syriza cannot fulfill its social promises while honoring the country’s debt program. <http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Syriza-Offers-Free-Food-and-Electricity-in-First-Legislation-20150303-0028.html> Greece to pass anti-austerity bill <http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/03/03/eurozone-greece-bill-idINL5N0W43SU20150303> On Wed, Mar 4, 2015 at 4:05 PM, Louis Proyect via Marxism <marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu> wrote: > > On 3/4/15 5:04 PM, James Creegan wrote: >> >> Has it ever occurred to you that there is a marked preference for things >> that seem easy to do, and a strong aversion to things that are hard. > > > I think it is actually quite easy to call for nationalizing the banks, etc. > People like you do it at a drop of the hat. It is also quite easy to > nationalize banks if you have the people on your side. You just need to show > up at the bank with a squad of armed workers acting on behalf of the state. > What is not easy is uniting the left, especially when you have so many on > the left with hair-splitting tendencies if you know what I mean--but I guess > you don't know what I mean apparently. _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
