Howard Has To Go
Submitted by Resistance on Thu, 15/11/2007 - 11:44am
In Australia the parliamentary scene is dominated by a two party system. So if we want to kick out PM John Howard, what do we do? Join the Labor Party?
Over the past few months, Howard's popularity has been at an all time low. There is widespread disgust with the government's policies, from the war in Iraq, inaction on climate change and the assault on workers' rights through Work Choices through to the racist "intervention" into the Northern Territory and the continual denial of same-sex marriage rights. Anger over these policies - and others - has seen Howard's public opinion ratings slide.
It is clear that Howard has to go, but what is needed is a progressive alternative to the Liberals. The Labor Party, however, is not providing this alternative.
Kevin Rudd, the self described 'economic conservative', has come down on the side of big business and private profit. The ALP now say it won't keep its promise to rip-up all of Work Choices, and it will continue to deny the right to strike if elected. It has committed to an expanded uranium industry in Australia, which will fuel the nuclear industry worldwide, as well as supporting the environmentally destructive pulp mill in Tasmania.
Rudd and the Labor party have shown themselves to be nothing but pale imitations of the Liberals.
Since joining the Labor Party, Peter Garrett, once known for his firm stance on environmental and Indigenous issues, has completely sold out on these values. Garrett has already announced that a Rudd Labor government would not try to overturn or amend environment minister Malcolm Turnbull's decision to allow Gunns' pulp mill to go ahead, even though its environmental standards will be dubious and it will be
built in the world Tamar Valley.
So if the ALP is no alternative then why doesn't Resistance support the Greens? We see the growth of the Greens in the last few years as a positive sign. However, the Greens aren't enough. While we support many of the Greens' policies, we need a political party that understands that capitalism is not a sustainable economic system and is willing to fight for the radical transformation of society, which is what we need if we're going to avoid catastrophic climate change, and put an end to racism, war, and all the other issues young people are angry about. Resistance believes we need a democratic socialist society, where economic decisions are made based on the interests of people and the planet, not corporate profits.
Now more than ever we need protest parties like the Socialist Alliance that are prepared to put up an alternative vision, and which are involved in the grassroots struggles for a better world, for example, the campaign against the "anti-terror" laws that limit our rights to speak out and the campaign for Indigenous rights that give communities real decision-making powers. These are just some of the critical issues that the Socialist Alliance has been raising in this election campaign.
As Ewan Saunders, a Socialist Alliance candidate and a member of Resistance put it, "Australian workers need a party of their own. It's high time Australians were given the chance at the ballot box to cast a vote for our rights at work, for real action on the climate disaster we're in, and for a chance of a future where access to health, education and free speech doesn't depend on the weight of your wallet."
This is why Resistance, as a socialist youth organisation involved in all these campaigns, is supporting the Socialist Alliance's election campaign.
The Socialist Alliance formed in 2001. It draws together activists, students, trade unionists and environmentalists. In the process of building social movements, alliances have to be forged between people in struggle, and this is what the Socialist Alliance is attempting to do.
The Socialist Alliance preferences the Greens before Labor and the Liberals. Unlike the two major parties, the Socialist Alliance represents working people and students, not their exploitative bosses, and seeks to inspire people to be active in campaigns that affect them and the planet as a whole.
As young people become increasingly marginalised from 'mainstream' politics, parties like the Socialist Alliance become an important avenue for empowering young people and giving us the confidence to help change our world.
Jess Moore, candidate for the Socialist Alliance in the NSW seat of Cunningham, commented that the Socialist Alliance is a different type of party. "Our approach couldn't be more different to that of the two major parties. The Socialist Alliance stands for involving the community in decisions, not making backroom deals with the corporate elite. That's why our platform reflects community need not corporate greed.
"Every Socialist Alliance candidate has pledged to take only the average worker's wage if elected, and donate the rest back to campaigns for social justice and environmental solutions. If the other parties were serious about social justice they would so the same."
The Socialist Alliance will be running a number of young people as candidates - people who bring a commitment activism and social justice to politics. The Socialist Alliance is campaigning around a number of youth issues including: lowering the voting age to 16 years; for an end to junior pay rates so that young people are paid equal wages for work of equal worth; for a guaranteed independent income for all at a living wage, and an end to discrimination based on age, sexual preference or marital status.
Resistance will be getting behind the Socialist Alliance election campaign, but we - like the alliance - won't be stopping when the polls close at the end of the day on November 24. Resistance will be continuing to campaign in the streets and across the campuses, and do our best to link up with others in action, and we'd urge you to join us!
In Australia the parliamentary scene is dominated by a two party system. So if we want to kick out PM John Howard, what do we do? Join the Labor Party?
Over the past few months, Howard's popularity has been at an all time low. There is widespread disgust with the government's policies, from the war in Iraq, inaction on climate change and the assault on workers' rights through Work Choices through to the racist "intervention" into the Northern Territory and the continual denial of same-sex marriage rights. Anger over these policies - and others - has seen Howard's public opinion ratings slide.
It is clear that Howard has to go, but what is needed is a progressive alternative to the Liberals. The Labor Party, however, is not providing this alternative.
Kevin Rudd, the self described 'economic conservative', has come down on the side of big business and private profit. The ALP now say it won't keep its promise to rip-up all of Work Choices, and it will continue to deny the right to strike if elected. It has committed to an expanded uranium industry in Australia, which will fuel the nuclear industry worldwide, as well as supporting the environmentally destructive pulp mill in Tasmania.
Rudd and the Labor party have shown themselves to be nothing but pale imitations of the Liberals.
Since joining the Labor Party, Peter Garrett, once known for his firm stance on environmental and Indigenous issues, has completely sold out on these values. Garrett has already announced that a Rudd Labor government would not try to overturn or amend environment minister Malcolm Turnbull's decision to allow Gunns' pulp mill to go ahead, even though its environmental standards will be dubious and it will be
built in the world Tamar Valley.
So if the ALP is no alternative then why doesn't Resistance support the Greens? We see the growth of the Greens in the last few years as a positive sign. However, the Greens aren't enough. While we support many of the Greens' policies, we need a political party that understands that capitalism is not a sustainable economic system and is willing to fight for the radical transformation of society, which is what we need if we're going to avoid catastrophic climate change, and put an end to racism, war, and all the other issues young people are angry about. Resistance believes we need a democratic socialist society, where economic decisions are made based on the interests of people and the planet, not corporate profits.
Now more than ever we need protest parties like the Socialist Alliance that are prepared to put up an alternative vision, and which are involved in the grassroots struggles for a better world, for example, the campaign against the "anti-terror" laws that limit our rights to speak out and the campaign for Indigenous rights that give communities real decision-making powers. These are just some of the critical issues that the Socialist Alliance has been raising in this election campaign.
As Ewan Saunders, a Socialist Alliance candidate and a member of Resistance put it, "Australian workers need a party of their own. It's high time Australians were given the chance at the ballot box to cast a vote for our rights at work, for real action on the climate disaster we're in, and for a chance of a future where access to health, education and free speech doesn't depend on the weight of your wallet."
This is why Resistance, as a socialist youth organisation involved in all these campaigns, is supporting the Socialist Alliance's election campaign.
The Socialist Alliance formed in 2001. It draws together activists, students, trade unionists and environmentalists. In the process of building social movements, alliances have to be forged between people in struggle, and this is what the Socialist Alliance is attempting to do.
The Socialist Alliance preferences the Greens before Labor and the Liberals. Unlike the two major parties, the Socialist Alliance represents working people and students, not their exploitative bosses, and seeks to inspire people to be active in campaigns that affect them and the planet as a whole.
As young people become increasingly marginalised from 'mainstream' politics, parties like the Socialist Alliance become an important avenue for empowering young people and giving us the confidence to help change our world.
Jess Moore, candidate for the Socialist Alliance in the NSW seat of Cunningham, commented that the Socialist Alliance is a different type of party. "Our approach couldn't be more different to that of the two major parties. The Socialist Alliance stands for involving the community in decisions, not making backroom deals with the corporate elite. That's why our platform reflects community need not corporate greed.
"Every Socialist Alliance candidate has pledged to take only the average worker's wage if elected, and donate the rest back to campaigns for social justice and environmental solutions. If the other parties were serious about social justice they would so the same."
The Socialist Alliance will be running a number of young people as candidates - people who bring a commitment activism and social justice to politics. The Socialist Alliance is campaigning around a number of youth issues including: lowering the voting age to 16 years; for an end to junior pay rates so that young people are paid equal wages for work of equal worth; for a guaranteed independent income for all at a living wage, and an end to discrimination based on age, sexual preference or marital status.
Resistance will be getting behind the Socialist Alliance election campaign, but we - like the alliance - won't be stopping when the polls close at the end of the day on November 24. Resistance will be continuing to campaign in the streets and across the campuses, and do our best to link up with others in action, and we'd urge you to join us!
