By this stage, there can be no doubt, even to the dyed-in-the-wool capitalist proponents: the chickens are coming to roost! The mountain of debt, based on fictitious money, that is capitalism’s “lifeblood,” is now falling as an avalanche that threatens to sweep the Old Order to oblivion. Pundits talk of a “bloodbath,” “greed” and “misbehaviour” by the financial elite. This is all bollocks. The capital enterprises went there, because there was profit to be made, as analysed by Marx and Engels more than 150 years ago. Attempts are also made to shift the blame on the victim, in accordance with the “individual responsibility” principle, so beloved of the neo-cons. Now, the whole elaborate ideological superstructure is being revealed as a house of cards, the corpse of capitalism is on life support, ready to be taken out feet first. But then, where are the gravediggers? At this time, this situation recalls the darkest days of 1915, a time of utter confusion and disorientation of the working class; but at least there was a Bolshevik Party to drive a progressive political perspective and clarity. Today, despite worldwide discontent, the pauperisation and the rising consciousness of the masses of the working people, there is no attempt to organise a mass movement that would challenge capitalism. A mood of hopelessness and helplessness takes over, leading to a widely held view that “there is no alternative” to the capitalist mode of production. The result is widespread cynicism and alienation of the population towards political parties, the state and its institutions, and big business.
There are continuing signs of a deep social malaise and alienation, as witnessed in a comparative “backwater” of Finland just recently. As Rosa Luxemburg remarked about 90 years ago, mankind stands before a stark choice: “either socialism or barbarism”; and, of course, the corollary is also true: without socialism, there will be barbarism. This is why the role of WSWS and SEP is so crucial, and even more so in these uncertain and potentially revolutionary times of ferment and rising working class consciousness. The challenge is to begin to form a mass socialist revolutionary movement from what still remains, a largely marginal propagandist activity. Of crucial importance is a membership drive to widen support amongst the working class, with all the benefits of a mass movement, such as political weight and effectiveness. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
