04) TUNIS TO BAHRAIN TO WISCONSIN....

People's Voice Editorial

     Held just three months ago in South Africa, the annual meeting of the world's communist parties called the current global crisis "a particularly severe capitalist downturn." The Tshwane Declaration issued by that gathering pointed to the decline of US global hegemony, sharper attacks on political and social rights, and the escalation of popular resistance struggles.

     The first weeks of 2011 have absolutely confirmed the Tshwane Declaration. The ruling class and their pundits exclaim that "nobody could have foreseen" the explosions of anger in the Arab world or in the streets of Wisconsin. But in fact, the only question was where and when the next uprising against the dictates of big capital would begin.

     Outraged by the corruption of dictatorial cliques and "elected" politicians, and unable to feed their families, millions of desperate working people are in open revolt. The old rulers are either fleeing with their stolen riches, or turning the police and military on the people.

     Any idea that this "year of revolutions" would bypass the "developed" capitalist countries is challenged by the massive rallies against the anti-union governor of Wisconsin, and by the stubborn resistance of the Hamilton steelworkers against U.S. Steel's lockout. In both cases, workers and their families and communities are proving that it is possible to unite and defend their hard-won pensions and social benefits from the predatory attacks of transnational capital.

     Of course, there is no guarantee of victory for any of these struggles. But we reject the nay-sayers who look for every flaw to denigrate the emerging movements, even as working people sacrifice their lives to win a better future. We stand with their courageous struggles, which will ultimately open the doors to a world of peace, democracy, equality and socialism.

(The above article is from the March 1-15, 2011, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)