Mantra Of Failed Left Reformism!
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politics / elections |
other press 
Tuesday November 02, 2010 13:24
by IT Reader
Article in Irish Times by RBB
Richard Boyd Barrett of the SWP outlined in an Irish Times opinion piece his vision (and we must assume also the vision of the SWP) on why there is an economic crisis in Ireland and how it can be resolved. This piece should be read as it is enlightening as to how far to the right Richard Boyd Barrett and the SWP have moved in recent years.
In the article RBB fails to place the blame for the economic crisis and recession at the "door" of capitalism. Instead he clearly argues that it was light regulation and the ideology of politicians both in Ireland and internationally that caused the crisis - but not capitalism!
If only we could break from the failed doctrine of neo-liberalism then everything would be okay! RBB then goes on to explain his solution which is a variant of failed left reformism with a bit of keynesianism thrown in, but unfortunately no socialism.
Apparently what we need is to "stimulate real enterprise and develop strategic, sustainable industry". No mention of nationalisation Richard or democratic working class control of industry, nor a planned economy. RBB's solution sounds quite similiar to Gilmore's Labour Party.
"Renegotiate terms with Shell and other multinatinals...to ensure Irish people receive the royalities...". Whatever happened to calling for the nationalisation of the Corrib gasfield and the state's oil and gas reserves? The SWP are now advocating that ownership of the nation's oil and gas reserves should remain in the hands of the capitalist multinationals!
Read the article yourself there is a link below.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2010/1028/1....html
Comments (3 of 3)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3I also meant to draw attention to this part of the article.
RBB wrote, "More than at any time in history, the mass of ordinary people today have the ability, eduction and social conscience to construct that kind of movement for a just, fair and sustainable society". Again no mention of the need to get rid of the capitalist system which is the cause of the crisis and the inequality and poverty and of course no mention of the need for a socialist society.
I read this on the ICTU website which is strikingly similiar to RBB's line of argument.
"There is a Better Way. This campaign aims to bring about change in how Government responds to the crisis we face. So far we have seem little evidence of any fresh thinking, no evidence that fairness and justice are at the heart of that response. We believe there is a better, fairer way."
RBB is right in that Ireland's crisis is not a failure of the fundamemtal tenet of Capitalism ie " The Entrepenuer " , the basic economic force of productive & progessive societies.. but with 1/ The connection/cosiness between most of our Political Class with the Bankers, Developers and the light regulation that ensued ...
He is right not to mention socialism because as a economic & political model it will not work in the future as it did not in the past, ie The Soviet Block... look up ...Economic Calculation & the Socialist CommonWealth written in the 1920's by Ludwig Von Mises ...
Socialism as being mentioned, as a future panacea to Ireland's problems , does not offer us any future ....
regards, exlabour
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