Socialist Standard April 2008

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Socialist Standard April 2008

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The Socialist Party is like no other politicalparty in Britain. It is made up of people whohave joined together because we want toget rid of the pro t system and establishreal socialism. Our aim is to persuadeothers to become socialist and act for themselves, organising democraticallyand without leaders, to bring about thekind of society that we are advocatingin this journal. We are solely concernedwith building a movement of socialists for socialism. We are not a reformist partywith a programme of policies to patch upcapitalism.

We use every possible opportunityto make new socialists. We publishpamphlets and books, as well as CDs,DVDs and various other informativematerial. We also give talks and take partin debates; attend rallies, meetings anddemos; run educational conferences;host internet discussion forums, make

lms presenting our ideas, and contestelections when practical. Socialistliterature is available in Arabic, Bengali,Dutch, Esperanto, French, German,Italian, Polish, Spanish, Swedish andTurkish as well as English.

The more of you who join the SocialistParty the more we will be able to get our ideas across, the more experiences wewill be able to draw on and greater will bethe new ideas for building the movementwhich you will be able to bring us.

The Socialist Party is an organisation of equals. There is no leader and there areno followers. So, if you are going to joinwe want you to be sure that you agreefully with what we stand for and that weare satis ed that you understand thecase for socialism.

IntroducingThe Socialist Party

EditorialDont vote for what you dont wantWe dont ha acc p h s lf-fulfilli gpr ph cy ha capi alism is h ly gami w .

Imagi ha all h p pl i h w rlma a s f i f rm , c ll c i a

m cra ic cisi s ab u wha ki f sys m w ul b s m h ir s as l gl bal pr bl ms. W ul h y ch sa m y a pr p r y sys m ha f rc

arly half h ir al umb r ry sur-i a llar a ay? or w ul h y pr -

f r rga is pr uc i a is ribu if g s a s r ic s h basis f whah y , wi h u h pr fi sys m?

W ul h y, if a wh gi hcha c , s rwh lmi gly f rca i a s wh wha r lab ls h y a -

ach h ms l s r h ir par i s s f r h c i ua i f s m f rm f capi alism? or w ul h y l c l ga s,fr m am g h ir w umb r, i i ia

h pr c ss f s i g up a ru i g afu am ally w f rm f w rl s ci y,a sys m bas h c mm w rshipa m cra ic c r l f h m a s f w al h pr uc i a is ribu i ?

W ul h y mbrac a i alism, i -l i g arm f rc s pai kill a i -

jur h r gr ups ( h my) wi h wh mh y ha quarr l? or w ul h y r -

gar h ms l s a b ha as ci iz s f h w rl , r gar l ss f a y g graphical,

cul ural r phil s phical a achm s h y may f l?

W ul h y i i h ms l s iclass s, rich a p r, l a rs a l ,pri il g a u pri il g , mi a asubmissi , sup r r i a a sub r i-

a , mas r a s r a , p w rful a

p w rl ss? or w ul h y, spi i i i -ual iff r c s i abili i s, p rs ali i s,i r s s, as s, lik s a islik s, hi ka b ha as m mb rs f h humarac , p rf c , s m im s fallibl r irra-

i al, bu r lib ra ly cru l r a i-s cial?

Wha r w r s h y us xplai rsl ga is h ir i l gi s, all par i s xc p

h S cialis Par y s a f r h c i ua-i f s m f rm f capi alism. Fr m h ir

p i f i w, a f r h ir w ca i ais b s ; a f r f h ir c mp i rsis s c b s . n i g c ul b a w r-ryi g sig f ali a i fr m h sys m.W rs f all, a f r h S cialis Par y ca i a r, wh r s a s, wri i gS cialism acr ss h ball pap r w uli ica h b gi i g f a r s lu i r -plac capi alism wi h s cialism.

d f rg :B f r h firs Lab ur g r m

cam i p w r, a wh s m m mb rsa supp r rs us pr f ss s cialismas h ir ual g al, h r was s m jus-

ifica i f r h argum ha : th La-b ur h ll is gr c l r ha h t ry h ll. S Ch s h l ss r f w ils.

t ay, af r succ ssi a mi is ra-i s f h sam sys m, h iff r c

i mp ra ur is small g xciab u . th sam appli s h rs li i gup b ur g r m h Lib d ms,

c. W wa h m a w h m.

Supp r f r s cialism is a ma rf campaig i g mak h p r rich i

ays rms f ma rial c sump i . tha w ul b ir m ally sus ai -abl . th s cialis aim is quali y i h s s f sam ss, lik am u s

f w rk c ribu r g s a s r ic sc sum . S cialism is ss ially ab us cial quali y, c uragi g a abli g

ry huma b i g r alis h ir full p -ial as gi r a ak r, buy r as ll r, i h c x f s ci y i s lf m i g

war s r achi g i s full p ial.

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4 Socialist Standard April 2008

h m is Wt h a kis...

I is h y ar 2028. Y u ha jus pu h ki s b , aa jus y ur ag i g par s igh ly f ub s. I is 11.00 pma y u ar s ill w ari g h sam r ssi g g w y u g upi . Y u ar ir u wi h l ki g af r h wh l family i fla , a w i s im g w rk.

Y u c mmu 12 m r s y ur ffic , wh r y ur firsh l graphic sig m i g is alr a y u rway. Y u hi hA bu a a fr sh-fac , sharp-sui , y u g mal

rsi f y urs lf app ars a h m i g. Y u gi y urr p r h r b ma ag r a ak y ur i s ruc i s.

this is y ur j b, b caus h r ar j bs. thisis jus f a z pr j c s y u curr ly s r , achsh r - rm c rac f u f r y u by h as Sc u

mpl ym w rk y u subscrib . As pr j c s, s h rs mus b f u , ach h subj c f h a y

c mp i i bi i g. o r y ars, y ur ra s ha b cua cu . Y u ar w rki g a l as 12 h urs a ay jus g by. Y u bar ly s a h r li i g s ul, u si y urfamily, fr m m h h x . Y u ar h m s

i rs ly a highly skill w rk r h capi alissys m has r pr uc , a f hm s rw rk .

Y u ar pai by r sul s, s b ss r s wa ch r

y u r ch ck y ur a a c rpu c uali y. th m i gs y ua ar i r al- im .

this gi s y u h fl xibili y b xhaus b y a y hi ga physical w rkplac w ul ball w l ra . S y u will

a ffic , b caush ffic will b i si y ur h a ,

as all huma s will ha micr chipbrai impla s, w war hr ugh which y urbrai ca i w h w rl ir c ly a , m rimp r a ly, mpl y rs a h s a ca i w

y ur brai . th ly hi g w rs ha his la i f y ur 21 s c ury sla ry is a p w r

w , a sus ai cyb r-a ack which ak su ly y ur abili y c mmu ica wi h

a y a all, bu y ur abili y ar a h c

y ur abili y li . th hr a f s ar a i isqui r al.All f his is b i g pr ic w, bu f r y ars im , w y. H m -w rki g

is b i g hail as h mi l -class a sw r raffic p llu i , xp si ffic -spac

a h a i g, a h i cr asi gly c mpl xa frac ur w rk im abl s r quir b hby busi ss s p ra i g i a 24/7 i r

ir m , a by w rk rs f rc by shri ki gh al h pr isi ak h car f h ir

l rly a i firm as w ll as h ir chil r(Guardian , March 14). A r p r pr uc by

h Char r Ma ag m I s i u , a kif mpl y rs hi k- a k, lis s a umb r f

immi a sirabl sc ari s, i clu i g

mass h m -w rki g, pr j c -bas mul i-mpl ym a aggr ssi s lf-mark i g,x r m fl xi- im , ir ual h l graphic m i gs,

r b ma ag rs, h m car f a ag i g p pula i , a blurri gf w rk a h m , a , a l ss gl ful , h p ssibili y f mic cyb r-warfar .

Wha s i r s i g ab u his is h spi plac i by hI s i u , which mphasis s h upskilli g f w rk rs g h rwi h h ir gr a r fl xibili y as if h s ar s lf- i ly i

h i r s s f h w rk rs h ms l s. th argum is haw rk rs, b i g abl pick a ch s fr m a hug , -g graphically bas w rk m u, will b i a p si i r fusm a i gl ss j bs a will ch s hical car rs a hra rac . th r is als a l f r p r guff ab u c mpa i sl ar i g r gar wis m as a aluabl r s urc . S mw ul ry ur ur ri uals a s ry lli g, a lis i g

h acc u s f l g- rm mpl y s. Ma ag rs ( h r bs, pr sumably) will b xp c sh w a gr a r gr

f m i al i llig c s h y ca u rs a h w p plw rk a h ir lik ly r ac i cha g .

I a pigs y . Wha will r ally happ , if w l i , is his:h gl bal j b-mark will b ma ch by a gl bal lab ur p l,

all u rcu i g ach h r a sp ra ly yi g f r rsh r r c rac s r w rs rms, whil simul a usly

aki g i s lf h c s f ffic spac , p w r a h a i g,

f rm rly b r by h mpl y rs, as w ll as h al hcar f r l w rk rs r chil r , f rm rly b rby h s a . U i isa i , a pr uc f a imwh w rk rs physically m g h r p rafac ri s, will b ma r m r ifficul , righ swill b r , h ar a acks a h r s r ss-r la is as s u p r y, l g h urs,

a li s, is la i a l li ss will r ck ,as will a is cial b ha i ur, bi g ri ki g, rug

a ic i , pr ssi a suici . All f his willb u s a i isibl H al h & Saf y a

W rk i sp c rs, hi away b hicl s rs, h s a is ics u c ll c ,

u c lla , a u r p r .empl y rs will li rally g away wi h mur r.

C i i s f r ays w rk rsi capi alism ar gr a , i a a c capi alis c u ri sa wh r h y ar iw rk. Bu w ca r m mb r h

im wh w w r l rgy w ul b ch ap m r a au ma i w ul gius all a pr bl m wi h h w

fill ur x si l isur h urs,s w k w wha such pr mis s

ar w r h. n r rus a capi alis whlls y u h fu ur is l ki g brigh ,

b caus h y m a your fu ur , h y m a theirs. thi gs ar s ba f rw rk rs ha h y c ul g w rs , a

x si h m -w rki g, h ugh i mighsa car bills, will sa mpl y rs ah s a a f r u by passi g c s s h w rk r, a i h pr c ss cr a i g

a w rkf rc r m r fragm ,ali a a asy c r l. L ki gah a , r w y y ars, if cab rr w H G W lls Time Machine , hfu ur f r w rk rs c ul b brigh , bu

as a br f pas y a r ahi- ch M rl cks, b a ri g away iwi wl ss c lls k p h pl asur -l i g el i i luxury a i l c . F rw rk rs r ally ha a fu ur , h y ha

s p b i g w rk rs. A ha m a sh y ha s ar b i g s cialis s.

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LettersCNDs weaknesses d ar e i rsAs a f rm r ba - h -b mb r I w ullik mak a f w p i s r gar i g Cnd(Socialist Standard March)

1. I s rigi al app al was ra h ri sular, aski g h g r m s am ral xampl a gi a l a h r s

f h - ucl ar w rl L Bri aish w h way.

2. I r c g is ha i w uls m c mpl ly u r alis ic mau ila ral ac i fr m i h r f h

w gr a ucl ar p w rs. Much m rr as abl s k pr ucl arp ss ssi spr a i g h s wh ha h m sh ul mak h m.

3. th Lab ur Par y l a r Gai sk lla h rs (a h m ia) c sis ly a qui k wi gly mis-s a h Cndp licy as: Aski g h W s isarm.Which i never i urgi g mul ila ral agr m a r uc i s by m a s f

ari us r a i s.4. Cnd s m im s ma lu icr us

claims ha i i flu c t s Baagr m s c.All t s Ba s r W ap sLimi a i r a i s w r c cluwh (a) t s i g was l g r m

ss ial r (b) wh h warh a s bscrapp ha b r r u f a

r l g r c ssary as ch l gy abl h pr uc i f small r, bu

m r accura a ff c i , w ap s ali ry.5. Sig ifica ly, Cnd supp r i h

UK b ga imi ish wh i br ai s campaig pp s all ucl arw ap s.

6. S m Cnd supp r rs supp r

h xis c f nAto.7. S m (S ali is s a s m tr skyis s c) m mb rs f Cnd did wa -si isarmam a w rs au ch supp r rs f h w rk rsb mb.

8. S m C mmu is s i ha hi gri y pp s capi alis a w rk rs b mbs.

9. Pacifis s (lik mys lf) w ra mi ri y i h m m m sacc p i g ha - ucl ar c i alwar may s m im s b c ssary.

10. e ryis s i achi s mlimi succ ss (c r ai ly mp rarily c r lli g a l as Bra ch), bu h y

w r g rally flush u by h m rg ui ly ra ical l m s am g hm mb rship.

n r h l ss, i w ul b churlish ig r h r markabl c ribu i

Cnd ma i raisi g public awar ssf h ucl ar issu . S m im s i is

f rg h w ply limi was hpublic k wl g f h ki f fac s

ha Cnd r u i ly u c r . Sp aki gp rs ally, h ki f s uff ha I ha

ri ar icula xp si g (i h causf s cialism) h br a h aki g hyp crisy f

ubl ali g f c p lici s f h pasa pr s was spaw by Cnd. thr al isapp i m is ha c mpara i ly

f w Cnd m mb rs m b yh p imis ic (bu arr w) bj c i smbrac by h rigi al p lici s.

ob i usly, h f r p a claim

ha h r will b im f r a p rbj c i ha ucl ar isarmam (I

ma i mys lf) has, ha kfully, pr b rr us.RICHARd HeAdICAR, H h rs , n rf lk

Back to basics

d ar e i rs tha k y u f r h c mm s. Ill lik r sp ly wha I hi k ar h maiissu s rais by A am Buicks r marks my b k (Socialist Standard , March). this

s c ssarily m a ha I am iagr m wi h him r h r hi gs haI ak up h r .

(1) th Sp hamla sys m is ab uas similar Basic I c m (BI) as ggis a ch s u . W ar m r ha whu r y ars fr m ha agraria

c my. M r r, Sp hamlawas a c i i al sys m a BI is, by

fi i i , u c i i al. Cri icisms f ac i i al sys m ca har ly b appli

a sys m ha is u c i i al per excellence.

(2) th bj c i a h c r f hwh l ar icl , ha BI w ul b a wagsubsi y mpl y rs is ra h r . If

h law pr hibi s mpl y rs fr m payi gl ss ha a Mi imum Wag , as happ si ma y c u ri s, h argum si ksall by i s lf wi h u a y x ra h lp. S m

ra u i s ar m r ha awar f hisa , f r xampl , h eSK (Basqu U iGr up) ha b BI supp r rs f r s m

im w.(3) th au h rs i ws ha a BI w ul

b a wag subsi y mpl y rs wi h uaki g i acc u h c mic f rc sf h im a wi h u b h ri g l k

i wha ff c s a BI migh ha hw rki g class ar ly m r - ha -

ubi usly bas i his rical rms buh als s ms b argui g as if h ly

cisi -mak r is h ma ag m . Buar ma ag m wish s c i ii a y way by r sis a c fr m hw rk rs? Acc r i g his li f argum , migh alm s uc

ha h w rk rs sh ul gag i ma y is rac i g s ruggl s impr

h ir c i i s b caus h mi u aba c mic si ua i c m s al g hma ag m will ak away wha h yw pr i usly. this is a way f u rs a i g hi gs.

(4) Ha y u p r h w a BI mighaff c h s c r f h w rki g class hais subj c h m r pr cari us f rm f c rac (ab u 40 p rc f h w rk rsi my c u ry, Ca al ia)? I s i

h alks I gi r h y ars ha ,wh h public c sis s i par icular

f ry y u g w rk rs, BI is u rsas a m asur ha w ul h lp h m a i acc p i g h ry ba a i s curw rki g c i i s h yr blig acc p a pr s . A BI w ul gi h m

h cha c say j b si ua i sha h y ha agr w. Ha y u

w r h w a BI migh aff c a l f w m wh p c mically h irhusba s? Ha y u r ally h ugh ab u

h p ssibili i s f r w rk rs pr s s haa BI c ul ff r as a r sis a c fu ?

I g ral, h righ imm ia ly graspsh wh l p ial f BI a is h r f r

ally agai s i (as h ba i hSpa ish Parliam r al 2 oc b r2007). th l f , a l as par f h l f ,has m r pr bl ms i u rs a i g f

h wh l p ial a BI c ul ha f ra g par f h w rki g class. I s asham , bu ha s h w hi gs ar .dAnIeL RAventS (by mail)

Reply:W ca s h w, gi h way

ha capi alism w rks, a s a paym ,wh h r c i i al r u c i i al, all w rk rs is g i g up b i ga wag subsi y mpl y rs. I is b u

ups h lab ur mark by s i g im i w war pr ssur s wag s asalari s. of c urs w rk rs, hr ugh h iru i s, sh ul r sis such pr ssur s (as

h y always sh ul ), bu h mpl y rs rump car is g i g b L k, y ur

m mb rs ar g i g b w rs ff,si c h ir al i c m fr m us a

h s a is g i g b m r r l ss hsam . I h r w r s, a Basic I c msch m w ul mak w rk rs b r ff i rms f m y i c m ; i w ul jusb a m r r l ss u ral r rga isa i

f p r y. Sur ly y u hi k haif BI was fix a as l w as 5000a y ar w rk rs w ul b b r ff by

ha am u ? or ha mpl y rs c ulb pr by law fr m aki g hispaym i acc u wh fixi g r

g ia i g h wag s h y pay?Y s, w ar awar f h b fi s ha

ar claim f r BI a h y s u alrigh .Bu xcus us if w ar ra h r sc p ical asw h ar claims f his s r ma f rma y r f rms f capi alism (i clu i g f rfamily all wa c s, which h a ca s f BI w wa r plac by h ir sch m ).

th fac is ha , whil w rk rs ca b ais m impr m s u r capi alism,capi alism i s lf ca b p rma ly r f rm s as w rk i h i r s f wag a salary w rk rs. A h pr s

im , wi h h fiscal crisis f h capi aliss a , a y r f rm ha will c s m rm y is lik ly pass a yway. Muchb r, h , ha w rk rs sh ul gf r h bak ry ra h r ha a f w m r ,p rhaps u b ai abl , crumbs s cialismra h r ha a r f rm capi alism

Editors.

Police strikes

d ar e i rsMa y ha ks f r f rwar i g h ar iclfr m h Socialist Standard (Ja uary)ab u h las , fail , p lic s rik . Imsur ma y f h ffic rs wh h h

l P lic U i s s rik call w ul haagr wi h h s im al h ugh Im

sur his ry has c ssary pr iru .

o hi g ha h ar icl s r fl c is h p lic s r luc a c , as ru

w as i was h , ha r s r his fi al x rcis f i us rial ac i .

CoMMUnICAtIonS dePARtMent, P licF ra i f e gla a Wal s.

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t h xpr ssi i isibl primaryc m s fr m Ar hur t. Ha l y,The Invisible Primary (Pr ic -Hall, 1976). A m r r c s u y r f rs h m y primary (Micha l J.

G ff, The Money Primary , R wma &Li l fi l , 2004). th w rms r f r

h sam pr c ss: h ff r s f w ul -b ca i a s ga h r supp r , raisfu s a cul i a h m ia i h

y ar b f r a pr si ial l c i ,b f r h isibl primari s b gi .

Charl s L wis, ir c r f hC r f r Public I gri y, fi s hph m as a pri a r f r umi which h w al hi s Am rica s

subs a ially pr s l c a pr rmiwh ur x pr si will b thh s ca i a i h ch ck-wri i gsw ps ak s is m w r hy by

h maj r m ia ia hu r s f wss ri s All h rs ar ubb l s rsb f r h firs [public] s ar cas .

this sligh ly rs a s h cas . thumb r f ca i a s m w r hy

may, as his im r u , b w rhr . Bu h gr a maj ri y f w ul -b

ca i a s ar i hr w u .

Money and media coverageS g hr ugh h i isibl primary

y u w hi gs: m y a m iac rag (l s f b h). L s l k a his abi m r cl s ly.

M y a m ia c rag ar cl s ly c c par ly b caus m y cabuy m ia c rag i h f rm f p li icala r isi g, par ly b caus (as L wis

s) h m ia r a fu raisi g succ ssas a imp r a cri ri f cr ibili y.A als b caus b h m y a m iac rag ar all ca mai ly by m mb rs

f h sam class, h capi alis class. th y mak m s f h larg fi a cialc ribu i s a s m f h m w ac r l h m ia.

this is say ha m y am ia c rag ar p rf c ly c rr la .A ca i a s m y f r ma y h rpurp s s b si s m ia c rag , suchas hir s aff, pay ra l xp s s, abrib u c mmi c i l ga s.n r s m ia c rag p s l ly

fu raisi g succ ss. F r i s a c ,h b ss s f F x, CBS, a nBC alsak i acc u ca i a s p li ical

p si i s wh ci i g wh will ball w ak par i l is ba s(ac ually, grilli gs by tv j ur alis s) awha qu s i s, if a y, ach par icipawill b ask .

I rms f h a al gy f ar f r um f h capi alis class, i is ar f r um i which h m ia w rsha h cas i g .

No challenge to corporate interestsWha mak s h p li ical p si i s f a ca i a acc p abl r u acc p abl

h m ia w rs? th y w ul c r ai ly ju g a y

pp si i h capi alis sys mu acc p abl . Bu h limi s ar i facmuch arr w r ha ha . I r r pass

h s a ca i a mus c y aa i-c rp ra m ssag r chall g a y sig ifica c rp ra i r s . tha m a si ff c ha h r sh ca a caa y s ri us r f rm.

I r ach his c clusi by bs r i gwha happ h m s l f -wi g

f h d m cra ic Par y ca i a s

d is Kuci ich, h C gr ssi alR pr s a i f r Cl la . Kuci ichis agai s capi alism, h ugh u lik

h g ral ru f Am rica p li icia sh app ars b i p f sp cificbusi ss i r s s. (As may r f Cl lah r sis pr ssur pri a iz hci ys public u ili y sys m.) Lik Fra klid. R s l i h 1930s, wi h wh s

ra i i h ass cia s hims lf, haspir s sa capi alism fr m i s lfby i s i u i g l g- r u r f rms.H was h ly ca i a s a f ra si gl -pay r sys m f h al hcarfi a c ha w ul limi a h parasi ich al h i sura c c mpa i s. Similarly,

h was h ly ca i a chall gh mili ary-i us rial c mpl x by calli gf r big cu s i f c sp i g. th sr f rms ar r a ily jus ifi i capi alis

rms, as ss ial r s r hc mp i i ss f U.S. ci ilia i us ry.

th m ia i h ir b s ig rKuci ich, xc p ri icul him as ak k b caus , lik Car r a R aga ,h says h c saw a UFo. th w rks

xclu him fr m tv ba s, wh ha r quir cha gi g h ir wrul s. (H su nBC, bu h c ur suph l i s righ xclu him.) As ar sul m s Am rica s w r u awar f his ca i acy, al h ugh p lls i ica

ha h p lici s h a ca s j y wisupp r . I Ja uary h wi h r w fr m hrac , bu has ma ag h l hiss a i c gr ss.

Change as a mantraI r r g hr ugh h i isibl

a h isibl primari s, a ca i a ,a sp cially a d m cra ic Par y ca i a , has gag i agu a

c p i rh ric. obama a Hilary Cli alk l ssly ab u cha gb caus ha is wha h rs wh m

h y app al ar l ki g f r. th y ar fup wi h s i g h ir chil r war,wi h lay ffs a h m f r cl sur s, wi h

scala i g h al h c s s. obama r p a sh w r cha g s f ha i has

b call his ma ra. Bu jus ch ck

u wha sp cific cha g s Cli aobama ha i mi a y u ca c u b i g u rwh lm . th y w ul

ha g hr ugh h i isibl primary ha h y b rmi s ri uscha g .

F r xampl , obama a Clic y h impr ssi ha h y ar fi ally g i g mak pr p r h al hcar a ailabl

ry . Bu his ur s u m aly ha ry will ha access

h al h i sura c . Y u will s ill ha pay f r i . W ll, i that s s h U.S. alr a y has u i rsal h al hcar ! oK, h y willmak h h al h i sura c c mpa i si r uc a wi r ari y f m r

aff r abl sch m s. tha may r uch umb r f u i sur s m wha .Bu ch ap r sch m s ar sch m s wi hp r r c rag a / r high r c -paysa uc ibl s. (A c -pay is h par f a charg f r s r ic s ha is pai by hpa i , h i sura c c mpa y. A

uc ibl is h am u ha h pa ihas pay b f r h i sura c c mpa y s ar s mak a y c ribu i a all.)A s m p pl w b abl aff r

h ch ap s sch m s ff r. th m ia a h ca i a s

h ms l s r li h s rai afrus ra i f ryi g ass ss ac mpar p licy p si i s by is rac i g

us wi h ri ps u -issu s such as hr la i m ri s f y u h a xp ri c a wh h r h U.S. is r a y f r a

whi r f mal pr si .

Media reform?S cialis s c si r m s f wha

pass s f r m cracy i h U.S. ah r m cra ic c u ri s b ph y

a c rrup h b s m cracy ham y ca buy. Bu w y h

xis c f s m m cra ic l m si h p li ical sys m f h s c u ri s.o such l m is h suffrag i s lf,which w h p will ually play ar l i s ablishi g h full r m cracy

f s cialism. th s r g h f h sm cra ic l m s cha g s r im ,a h ir c i f cha g ca b ama r f i iff r c s cialis s.

A crucial fac r is h x which h capi alis class is

abl ff c i ly sil c cri ics f capi alism by m p lizi g c r l rc mmu ica i s m ia. U il h mi -20 h c ury u r public sp aki g wasa imp r a m ium f fr p li ical

iscussi , hr ugh which s cialis sc ul r ach qui a larg au i c . this

m cra ic m ium was isplac by l isi , which s cialis s ha ir ually acc ss. n w h i r is s ar i g

u rmi h m p ly f h c rp ramass m ia, al h ugh i s impac s farhas b m s .

Selecting a US President:the invisible primaries

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April 08.indd 7 25/3/08 15:14:21


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Uk Branches &contactsL ondon c l L d b . 2nd Weds.6.30pm. The Shakespeares Head, 64-68Kingsway, Holborn. (Nearest tube:Holborn.) Tel: Tristan 0207 6223811En eld and Haringey branch . 2nd &4th Monday. 8pm. Angel CommunityCentre, Raynham Rd, NI8. Corres:17 Dorset Road, N22 7SL. email:

[email protected] s u L d b . 1st Tues.7.00pm. Head Of ce. 52 Clapham HighSt, SW4 7UN. Tel: 020 7622 3811W L d b . 1st & 3rdTues.8pm, Chiswick Town Hall,Heath eld Terrace (Corner Sutton CourtRd), W4. Corres: 51 Gayford Road,London W12 9BYPimlico . C. Trinder, 24 Greenwood Ct,155 Cambridge Street, SW1 4VQ.Tel: 020 7834 8186

M idLands West Midlands branch . Meets everytwo months on a Sunday afternoon (seemeetings page for details. Tel: TonyGluck 01242 235615

n ortheast n b . Contact: Brian Barry,86 Edgmond Ct, Ryhope, SunderlandSR2 0DY. Tel: 0191 521 0690.E-mail [email protected]

n orthwest L b . P. Shannon, 10Green Street, Lancaster LA1 1DZ. Tel:01524 382380M b . Paul Bennett, 6

Burleigh Mews, Hardy Lane, M21 7LB.Tel: 0161 860 7189B l . Tel: H. McLaughlin.01204844589

Cumbria . Brendan Cummings, 19Queen St, Millom, Cumbria LA18 4BGCarlisle : Robert Whit eld.E-mail: [email protected] tel: 07906 373975r d l . Tel: R. Chadwick. 01706522365s u M . Enquiries:Blanche Preston, 68 Fountains Road,M32 9PH

Y orkshirehull : Keith Scholey, 12 Regina Crescent,Victoria Ave, HU5 3EA. Tel: 01482444651Skipton . R Cooper, 1 Caxton Garth,Thresh eld, Skipton BD23 5EZ.Tel: 01756 752621

s outh /southeast /southwests u W b . Meets every twomonths on a Saturday afternoon (seemeetings page for details). Ray Carr,Flat 1, 99 Princess Road, Branksome,Poole BH12 1BQ. Tel: 01202 257556.Bristol . Shane Roberts, 86 High Street,Bristol BS5 6DN. Tel: 0117 9511199Canterbury . Rob Cox, 4 StanhopeRoad, Deal, Kent, CT14 6ABLu . Nick White, 59 Heywood Drive,LU2 7LPr d u . Harry Sowden, 5 ClarenceVillas, Redruth, Cornwall, TR15 1PB.Tel: 01209 219293

east angLia East Anglia branch meets every twomonths on a Saturday afternoon (seemeetings page for details).David Porter,Eastholme, Bush Drive, Eccles-on-Sea,

NR12 0SF. Tel: 01692 582533.Richard Headicar, 42 Woodcote, FirsRd, Hethersett, NR9 3JD. Tel: 01603814343.

Richard Layton, 23 Nottingham Rd,Clacton, CO15 5PG. Tel: 01255 814047.Cambridge . Andrew Westley, 10Marksby Close, Duxford, CambridgeCB2 4RS. Tel: 07890343044

n orthern i reLand Newtownabbey : Nigel NcCullough. Tel:028 90852062

s cotLand Edinburgh branch .1st Thur. 8-9pm.The Quaker Hall, Victoria Terrace (aboveVictoria Street), Edinburgh.J. Moir. Tel: 0131 440 0995 JIMMY@

jmoir29.freeserve.co.uk Branch website:http://geocities.com/edinburghbranch/Glasgow branch . 3rd Wednesday of each month at 8pm in CommunityCentral Halls, 304 Maryhill Road,Glasgow. Richard Donnelly, 112

Napiershall Street, Glasgow G20 6HT.Tel: 0141 5794109. E-mail: [email protected] : D. Trainer, 21 Manse Street,Salcoats, KA21 5AA. Tel: 01294469994. E-mail: [email protected] d . Ian Ratcliffe, 16 Birkhall Ave,Wormit, Newport-on-Tay, DD6 8PX.Tel: 01328 541643West Lothian . 2nd and 4th Weds inmonth, 7.30-9.30. Lanthorn CommunityCentre, Kennilworth Rise, Dedridge,Livingston. Corres: Matt Culbert, 53Falcon Brae, Ladywell, Livingston, WestLothian, EH5 6UW. Tel: 01506 462359E-mail: [email protected]

w aLes

sw b . 2nd Mon, 7.30pm,Unitarian Church, High Street. Corres:Geoffrey Williams, 19 Baptist WellStreet, Waun Wen, Swansea SA1 6FB.

Tel: 01792 643624Cardiff and District . John James, 67Romilly Park Road, Barry CF62 6RR.Tel: 01446 405636

InternatIonaL contactsa frica

Kenya . Patrick Ndege, PO Box 56428, Nairobi.Swaziland . Mandla Ntshakala, PO Box981, Manzini.Zambia. Marxian Education Group, POBox 22265, Kitwe.a sia

India . World Socialist Group, VillGobardhanpur. PO Amral, Dist.Bankura, 722122Japan . Michael. Email:[email protected] urope

Denmark . Graham Taylor, Kjaerslund 9,oor 2 (middle), DK-8260 Viby J

Germany . Norbert. E-mail:[email protected] . Robert Stafford. E-mail:[email protected]

coMPanIon PartIes

oVerseas

World Socialist Party of Australia. P. O. Box 1266 North Richmond3121, Victoria, Australia.. Email:[email protected] Party of Canada/PartiSocialiste du Canada . Box 4280,Victoria B.C. V8X 3X8 Canada. E-mail:[email protected] Socialist Party (New Zealand) P.O. Box 1929, Auckland, NI, NewZealand.

World Socialist Party of the Uniteds P.O. Box 440247, Boston, MA02144 USA. E-mail: [email protected]

Contact Details

d m a ?President Bush has vetoed a law prevent-ing the CIA using interrogation techniquescondemned by many as torture, becauseit would take away one of the most valu-able tools in the War on Terror ...The vetothrows the spotlight back on to Americasuse of so-called coercive interrogationmethods like waterboarding, the simulateddrowning technique invented by Spanishinquisitors and adopted by regimes suchas the Khmer Rouge. ( Times , 0 March)

l f ?For the rst time in U.S. history, more thanone of every 00 adults is in jail or prison,according to a new report documentingAmericas rank as the worlds No. incar-cerator. It urges states to curtail correctionsspending by placing fewer low-risk offend-ers behind bars. Using state-by-state data,the report says , 9, 5 Americans werein jail or prison at the start of 00 oneout of every 99. adults. Whether per capitaor in raw numbers, its more than any other nation. The report, released Thursday by

the Pew Center on the States, said the 50states spent more than $49 billion on cor-rections last year, up from less than $billion 0 years earlier. The rate of increasefor prison costs was six times greater than for higher education spending, thereport said. ( Yahoo News , 9 February)

t am d mMore American homeowners are miredin negative equity than at any time sincethe Great Depression of the Thirties ...Close to 9 million Americans, or 0. per cent of homeowners in the US, now owemore on their mortgages than their houseis worth, according to the latest guresfrom Moodys, the ratings agency, as in-

ventories of unsold homes continue to pileup in an already over-supplied market.(Observer , 4 February) House pricesin America are now falling at their fastestrate since records began in 9 4, whilerepossessions and new houses for saleare at levels not seen since the Depres-sion in 9 9. ( Observer , March)

W s SThe last French veteran of World War I,an Italian immigrant who lied about hisage to join the Foreign Legion and ght inthe trenches, died Wednesday aged 0,President Nicolas Sarkozy said. LazarePonticelli, the last of more than eight million

men who fought under French colours in the9 4- war that tore Europe apart, died

at the home he shared with his daughter inKremlin-Bictre, a Paris suburb. Re ectingon his wartime experiences, he once said:You shoot at men who are fathers: war iscompletely stupid. ( Yahoo News , March)

t s s f m? As if the Government doesnt knowenough about us already, it is now us-ing lie-detector equipment (or voice-riskanalysis, as it is euphemistically known) tosignal whether people claiming bene t aretelling the truth. If you receive a phone callfrom a town hall of cial asking about your circumstances, it seems that your answers

- or rather, the tone of voice in which yougive them - could well be scrutinised by acomputer for telltale signs of stress. ... Inthe Governments book, apparently, stressin the voice is a pretty good indication of

agrant dishonesty. You will be investi -gated further. Big Brother is most certainlywatching you. ( Times , 7 February)

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S sai , wi h m r ha a hi f sham , h p rs r al by Forbes magazi las m h b h w rl s rich s ma WarrBuff . Wi h a f r u s ima bi h r gi f 62 billi llars, Buf-f is w a c upl f billi ah a

f h M xica l c ms yc Car-l s Slim, a f ur billi r s ah a

f his fri a bri g par r, BillGa s. Bri ai s rich s ma , Lab urPar y r Lakshmi Mi al, is f ur h,

f 49 billi air s li i g i h UK.Buff , ubb h Sag f omaha

b caus f his h m spu wi a wis m,is s m hi g f a igma, a c mpulsiaccumula r f w al h ha h is i s mr sp c s mbarrass ab u . H may b

h rich s ma i h w rl , bu li s ih sam h us h b ugh f r $31,000

wh h was 28, xis s a i f ham-

burg rs, ca y bars a Ch rry C k ,a r fus s ha m r ha car (al , a ha ). I a w rl bs ss by

c spicu us c sump i , h is har ly

a ma gi s a i us isplays f w al h.

Fr m a ry arly ag Buff wasfasci a by umb rs, ma h ma ical cal-cula i s a m y, a was bs sswi h b c mi g rich, such a x

ha acc r i g Mary Buff , as a chili 1938, i h sw l ri g summ r h a f n braska, h walk mil s h rac -

rack wh r h sp h urs his ha sa k s sc uri g h saw us -c rfl rs f r iscar raci g s ubs, h pi g

fi a wi i g ick (The New Buffet- tology ). th s f a n braska s ckbr -k r, h ma his firs s ck mark i s -m wh h was l ( hr shar si a firm call Ci i s S r ic ) a by h

im h was l ugh g c ll g hha ma $6,000.

Harvard rejectAf r his gr , Buff appli

s u y a h pr s igi us Har ar Busi ssSch l a was r j c . Bu his was abl ssi g i isguis f r him, b caus h

up g i g C lumbia U i rsi y i s a wh r h s u i u r B -

jami Graham, c si r by ma y ah im (a pl y si c ) ha bh gr a s i s m a alys f hw i h c ury. Graham wr w

s mi al w rks: Security Analysis (c -au-h r wi h da i d ) i 1934, a The

Intelligent Investor , h rigi al i i f which was publish i 1949. th ach-i gs f Graham, a h s w b ks ipar icular, ha a pr f u impac Buf-f , such a x ha h ually p rsua Graham ak him a his

w Wall S r i s m firm (a s ag h ff r w rk f r fr ).

Wh Graham r ir i h 1950s,a h m sick Warr Buff r ur n braska s up his w i s mpar rship. this was h r al b gi -

i gs f his f r u , wh r h b ga ur a i i ial i s m f $105,000

c ll c fr m fri s a family ( ly $100 f which was his w ) i h$62,000,000,000 i is w. Buff s fu

Theres class warfare all right, but its my class, the rich class,thats making war, and were winning. New York Times, 26 th Nov 2006

If I Were A Rich Man . . .

April 08.indd 9 25/3/08 15:14:22


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ma ag m f s w r p rf rma c -r -la a by 1969, wh h ci cl s w h par rship, ass s u rma ag m ha gr w ar u $104milli , i which Buff s p rs al s akwas r $20 milli . By his im Buf-f was c i c ha a b ar markwas ar u h c r r, wh r sus ai

w war pr ssur w ul b pu shar pric s af r h f h 1950sa 60s c mic b m.

Bu i was als i his p ri ha Buf-f lai h f u a i s f r his gr a sl ap i w al h, aki g r h c mpa y wi h which h has b sy ym us rsi c : B rkshir Ha haway. this aili g

x il c mpa y was s a ily b ugh upby Buff a his par rs ypically f rar u s igh llars a shar ai 1965 h y s iz c r l f i . WhBuff iss l his i s m par r-ship h ff r his par rs a ch ic f

i h r cash r a s ak i B rkshir Ha ha-way. th s wh k h shar s i s a

f cash ha s h m ris i pric i hp ri si c h x h y curr ly

ra i xc ss f $140,000 ach hn w Y rk S ck excha g .

Woodstock for capitalistsS , h w i Buff r ally b c m s

rich a h lp h r B rkshir Ha haway shar h l rs b h sam ? By b i g,i Buff s w w r s, i h righ plac ,a h righ im , bu als by b i g hp rf c capi alis . As Buff w ul b hfirs a mi , h has r i rma a y hi g; i , h is ry far fr mb i g h gr a all-Am rica r pr ur

f p pular my h l gy h s happy lBill Ga s ak ha s briqu . I s a , his h m s fam us xampl f a ph -

m Fri rich e g ls wr ab ui h i h c ury, wh r e g lsi ifi ha h k y ch ical r l ha

r pr urs play i h gr w h f capi alism was h wa :

All h s cial fu c i s f h capi al-is ar w p rf rm by salari mpl y-

s. th capi alis w has h r s cialfu c i ha ha f p ck i g i i s,

ari g ff c up s, a gambli g hs ck xcha g , wh r iff r capi al-is s sp il a h r f h ir capi al. (Socialism: Utopian and Scientifc ).

I his s s , h capi alis class, asw rs f capi al wh l g r ha

w rk a wh s k y ch ical fu c ii h ris f capi alism has b larg ly

ak away, b c m fu c i ari s f capi al a i r s i gly, Buff has

fi hims lf as b i g a all ca r f capi al ab all ls . I his r sp c ,Buff is a ry m r capi alis ai s r i c mpa i s a mark s ra h r

ha a i r f hi gs. e ry y ar,B rkshir Ha haway shar h l rs arrii n braska f r h ir a ual shar h l -

rs m i g pay h mag Buff ahis si -kick Charli Mu g r i a

h y call W s ck f r capi alis s; h ris li l r pr urial spiri b s ,f r h r is .

Meet Mr MarketBuff us B rkshir Ha haway as

a i s m hicl , usi g i ak

r i sura c c mpa i s a h r firmsha g ra s a y cash fl w. I w -

i g firms u righ , h was abl mi igahis xp sur h s ck mark whh f l i c ssary. o r im , h ugh,Buff us B rkshir s xc ss cash s l c i ly buy back i s cks.

I i g s , h abi by h i s -i g pri cipl s ha w him by hism r, B Graham, f r f rr as alu i s i g. I ss c , his m ai s i g i c mpa i s bas h irr al alu a ass s (a h ir abili y gr w h m) ra h r ha wha was lik ly

happ h ir sh r r m ium- rmshar pric . Graham a Buff b h k

h i w ha alu a pric w r i ical, if h y gra i a i hsam ir c i r h l g- rm (l a i gGraham fam usly c mm ha i hsh r ru h s ck mark is a i g ma-chi bu i h l g ru i s a w ighi gmachi ).

I par icular, Graham a Buff kissu wi h h aca mic h ry k w aseffici Mark s Hyp h sis. this h ry s a s ha s ck mark pric s (all g ly lik all h r pric s) ar ffici , i haall k w i f rma i is r fl c i h ms ha i is imp ssibl f r sig ifica mar-k i ffici ci s ccur, a imp ssiblf r a y i s r b a h mark i

h l g ru hr ugh a y hi g h r hapur luck.

B Graham ha a ack his i wwi h his parabl f Mr Mark , a agr -abl p ial busi ss par r wh is al-ways r a y a y gi ay a al

r a busi ss r shar f a busi ss sl g as h ca am h pric . o Gra-ham a Buff ac ly has xplai hc c p his way:

Mr Mark is bip lar. our par rg s hr ugh giga ic m swi gs fr m

h high s uph ria h l w s pr s-si . M s f h im Mr Mark is aki ghis m s, a m s ays h s pr y luci ab u h pric s h s lls a buysa . tha m a s m s f h im h pric

f a busi ss is pr y cl s i s alu .Bu s m im s h ca g s i sa ly

p imis ic ha h pric s ry hi g i -sa ly high. o h r ays Mr Markca g s pr ss ha , u lik A i ,h s c i c h su will not c m up

m rr w . . .I s ki f a sham ak a a ag

f s m wh s m i ally u bal-a c , bu h agai , h s s m mi . H s b bip lar f r s l g h jus

hi ks i s rmal. H s h s ly hi k ha h s misprici g a y hi g,

if ay h pric is $100 a shar a jus a f w m hs la r i s $10. A if y u ask h pr f ss rs wh s u y Mr Mar-k , h yll ll y u h guy is fi . (Phil

t w , Rule 1 .)I ss c , his is h w Buff has

ma m s f his m y by r alisi gha h mark c my is i ri sically

a ffici all ca r f r s urc s a isri by wil swi gs f s im haf b li u rlyi g r ali y. I h gr a

b ar mark f 1973-4, wh s cks i hUS m r ha hal i pric m asurby h S & P 500 i x, a f ll by arly

hr -quar rs i h UK, Buff sai h

f l lik a r-s x guy i a wh r -h us . H i s massi am u s asaw shar pric s r c r wi hi a y ar rs , spi sig ifica cha g i hp rf rma c f h u rlyi g c my r

h c mpa i s wi hi i .Buff is l r f h fr -mark

a has ma much f his m y hr ughxpl i i g h fac ha capi alism is

arly h c mp i i i al ha ma y f i s fi rc s a ca s assum . Illus ra i

f Buff s appr ach is h yp f c m-pa y h has us B rkshir Ha haway

buy i : h s h i ifi s as ha i ga c mic m a , a urabl c mp i-

i a a ag r quasi-m p ly p si iha h ir c mp i rs (if h y ha a y)

ca asily br ach. Buff ha s, as rs cl ar f, c mpa i s ha p rai pric -c mp i i mark s, as h y ar

h m s ul rabl h icissi u s f h capi alis c my a h s wh s

gr w h is l as assur a s a y rim . I s a , h ypically i s s i c m-

pa i s ha ha ry iff r charac r-is ics f r xampl , firms:

1 ha achi mi a c hr ughha i g s r g bra s ha i l r p abuyi g (Buff has b a maj r shar -h l r i b h C ca-C la a Gill ),

2 ha ca x rcis c r l r as r ic hr ugh which h y all w acc ssby chargi g h rs f r h pri il g (suchas s m u ili y w rk c mpa i s),

3 ha s cur massi f rwarr rs bas maj r l g- rm c -rac s, ypically wi h h s a s c r, f ru s urci g, r g ra i , c.,

4 ha ha a pr uc ha b -c m s s all-p r asi ha swi chi g ac mp i r is w r h h r ubl (Micr -s f ),

5 ha ha a c mpa y s cr suchas a pa ha ac s as a barri r ry f r h r firms ( .g. I l, Glax Smi h-Kli ),

6 ha ha such c mi s f scal h y ca u rcu h ir c mp i rsa achi mark mi a c ( .g. Wal-Mar i h US a a r c Buff buy i

h UK, t sc ).Wh h s yp f firms ar mis-

pric i h s ck mark b caus f ga i s im gi i g wha Gra-

ham call a margi f saf y hbuy r h Buff s ar s accumula i gshar s. C mpa i s wi h a c micm a ypically gr w h ir pr fi s w lli xc ss f 10 p r c p r a um a rag ; i , Buff usually l ks f rfirms ha ca gr w h ir b k alu apr fi s a 15 p r c , p ially gi i ghim a hug c mp u r ur r h

y ars, sp cially if h has alr a y b ughh m w ll b l w h ir r al alu . A h

has clar his fa uri h l i g p rif r such c mpa i s b f r r (Buf-f rar ly i l s hims lf i sh r - rmsp cula i a wh h s i s b hr ugh aki g a a ag f arbi rag

pp r u i i s, agai bas markmisprici g).

UnionsI ma y r sp c s, Buff pr bably

has a b r u rs a i g f h w capi-continued on page 19

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i s h US pr si ial l c i y ar.P pula i s f h w rl ak ic . th m ia circus is i full fl w a hs as is a l g . th mai s r amm ia l a g figh a will p u c

a y juicy m rs l, wri gi g i a hi h caus f m cracy Cli sm m wi h ars i h r y s r h

cisi r - cisi sh w s mcl a ag ; obamas plagiarizi g r agrb rr wi g f phras s fr m a hir par yssp ch gris h mill f i f rma if r h mass s, ss ial i h c mm

rs cisi maki g pr c ss. Wh w hi k will mak h ugh s

C mma r i Chi f a b abl

mak h har cisi s? I app ars haim is k p h publics y s as faraway fr m r ali y a h r al issu s asp ssibl . d fl c h ir a i whilshyp isi g h m i b li i g h ir

will ac ually mak a iff r c ia y sig ifica ar a f h ir li s.

e h m r s ri us lib ral rpr gr ssi US m ia ar sp i g ai r i a am u f im a spac

ba i g a iss c i g which s c i sf h p pula i will f r (1) a black,r (2) a w ma . th fac ha h y ar

fr m h sam par y a br a ly back hsam ag a a may ul ima ly s a

h sam ick is l ss imp r a

ha sp cula i g ab u i which ir c ih ari us s c i s f h l c ra arlik ly b sway i h r by p pularapp al a rs m f c l bri i s rby muck-raki g a ga i campaiga r is m s.

S mi gly isc c fr m hmul i-milli llar, mul i-m ia fr zy

f h rac f r h pr si cy ca bf u h r ar icl s gi r pics

c r i h mai s r am m iabu which ugh b i h f r fr f r

h pr si ial ca i a s, h wh ll c ra a h r s f h w rl .

Wri rs f s ral ar icl s r c ly hai s iga h car f physically i jur

r m ally scarr US r ps r ur i gfr m Iraq, a ha r al s m chilli g

ru hs. Las y ar c i i s a h Wal rR M ical C r , a mili ary h spi al,b cam s ba ha i r h r alm

f i r a i al c rag f r a sh r im .equipm was i sh r supply, sp cialis sw r l a i g, h u i was s ri usly u rfu l a i g lack f appr priacar f r s ri usly w u pa i sa a P ag M al H al h taskF rc m i s s affi g l l w fully i a qua . Bush ma pr mis s ha iw ul b s r a h hu a cry iaway. Fairly arly i h c flic i Iraq s m c rs, psychia ris s, psych l gis sa c u s ll rs r c g is ha sig ifica

umb rs f mili ary p rs l w rsuff ri g fr m p s rauma ic s r ss

is r r (PtSd), sp cially if h y ha ha u rg a s c r hir rm f u y.Ma y w r simply gi a c urs f rug

h rapy, a p p- alk a s back h iru i r, whils i h US b w urs,s m f h m, wi h imp ccabl r c r sa c mm a i s f r h r ic ac i ,

l p pr bl ms wi h rugs, alc h l,gambli g, wri i g ba ch qu s a up i mili ary jail, s m l si g ra k a

h rs b i g ischarg ish urably.I h arly ays c u s ll rs a

psychia ris s w r pr ss acc pPtSd, c r ai ly r gis r i r c r , ra h r r bra h afflic ias P rs ali y dis r r a sugg s

ha h s s afflic w r b i usly u s abl before h y r h mili ary a w r c s qu ly kick u f hs r ic . e ually af r pr ssur fr mc r ai quar rs h usa s, ra h r ha

h rigi al f w z , w r acc pas b a fi suff r rs f PtSd a w rpu a lis awai r a m . Bu s ill

ial f PtSd p rsis s, sp cially i hMari C rps which has a ply machcul ur . I is 93% mal , 66% f wh mar 25 r y u g r a 13% ar ag rs.o ci ilia psychia ris wh r a s Iraq a Afgha is a ra s lls f y u g

ra s b i g ri icul by h ir chai f c mma if h y ask f r h lp.

th P ag s M al H al h taskF rc r p r las Ju ha 31% f mari s s r i g i Iraq a Afgha is aar suff ri g fr m rauma ic s r ss a

ha mari suici ra s ha b aba rag si c h i asi f Afgha is a .(32 ac i u y suici s i h MariC rps i 2004, m i f h umb ram g ra s). th r ar s rsh r c mi gs i pr i i g car f r h swh qualify. A y ar af r h MariC rps r i w f l ss- ha -h urabl

ischarg s r c mm scr i gall mari s a sail rs wh c mmipar icularly u charac ris ic misc uc f ll wi g pl ym h pr gramm

has y s ar b caus h y lack hma p w r.B f r h s r ly w u r

rauma is arri back i h US h y ar ra sp r h La s uhl R gi alM ical C r i G rma y. th AirF rc c l l wh was chi f f m ical

p ra i s i h eur p h a quar rsf r 2 y ars, 2004-6 sai p li ics i fus

ry asp c f car a ha h fu i gwas h w rs sh ha s i 20 y arsi h mili ary. th y w r all w i cr as s affi g b caus i w ul gi

h wr g m ssag , ha i w ul l klik h y w r xp c i g m r casual i s.

th y w r all w s h isibly

w u h m c mm rcial pla sb caus i migh ups US ci iz s sh m a h mili ary pla s w r s c l

ha chari y app als w r ma i r r pr i ha s, scar s a mi s f rh w u . Mi s, b caus h y fi

w u ha s b r ha gl s.H r s h rub his hug mili ary

s -up wi h a a ual bu g f billi s,sp ra ly r crui i g fr m all quar rs,

pr misi g c ll g uca i s f r fra la r r gi g, pr misi g full USci iz ship -ci iz s a hr gi g a pr misi g full supp r

ra s a r gi g wh r r p ssibl . th r as PtSd is a c i us

iag sis is b caus i m a s hasuff r rs ar i l full supp r ,fr rugs a ra s b fi s f r lif

(i. . xp si ). If i ca b r uc p rs ali y is r r h y ca b hr wu a i i l m . If h y ca

b r c mm f r a h r- ha -h urabl ischarg (f r rug us whilsr c ri g r h r mis m a urs)

wi hs a i g a x mplary s r icr c r , ra s b fi s w ul b i ,i clu i g h al hcar , f r lif .

th b m li , s l i rs, sail rs,airm a mari s, ki y urs l sab u pa ri ism r figh i g rr ris s

r pr c i g y ur c u ry. Wh waswar a y iff r ? I s jus h w rk rspr c i g h i r s s f h ir mas rs.I s h sam f r y u as i is f r h r s f

us. Y ur simply h r b us , abusa pai as li l as h y ca g away wi h. th s ar h issu s ha sh ul b

gagi g h m ia circus, placi g h msquar ly i fr f h l c ra a hpr si ial ca i a s. Bu h y ar a h y w b b caus h mass m iasupp r s h s a us qu . Will h w rk rs

r l ar ?JANET SURMAN

Who Cares?The US presidential election circus passes, people continue tosuffer even in the US.

Want to receive notifcations about

m g S s p m gs,v s, s? t

s s s , wm m g s . p

w ws ://g s. . m/g /

s / s -m s @ g s. m.

April 08.indd 11 25/3/08 15:14:22


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G r Br w w app ars b li ha , lik Ca yma , if y u say Bri ish ss, Bri ish ss,Bri ish ss i a mirr r, i will c m g y u. A l as , ha s h w i s ms wi h

h u p uri gs f his g r m . of c urs , i his r p r , L r G ma wasm r ly sugg s i g ha all sch l l a rsg ha a ci iz ship c r m y, iwhich h y migh sw ar ru a las i gall gia c Qu a c u ry iis p licy (y ). e if ha small par

f h r p r was spu mak hh a li s, all ha am Br w ar i gis fl a i g a i a, s if i has l gs.

Br w w ul say ha h is jus ryi g pr m a shap a s s f c ll c i

i i y; impr s cial c h si aw lfar ; pr i a pla f rm f r h

iff r i i y c mmu i i s i Bri ai rc m h ir a ag isms. Br w

simply wa s us c l bra h sBri ish alu s f l ra c a fair ss(which, f c urs , h r p li y ear h

sp us s).As G ma xplai s:a alysis als sh ws ha [pa ri ic]

f li gs ha fall r im ; h y arl ss pr al am g y u g r p pl ;a h r is isaff c i i par s f urc mmu i i s.

S h chall g is r w urshar s s f b l gi g a ak s ps

gag h s wh shar i .esp cially i h ligh f s cial cha g s,w a arra i f wha w s af r g h r; a w may s u

ha arra i i m r xplici rms haw ha ha us b f r a usi gfram w rks ha ar cr a f r hispurp s .

I is , y u u rs a , a crisis,bu , lik h sp us i a faili g marriag ,f li g h r ma c s ar bb away,G ma r c mm s w cry u url f c u ry r m r ar u usly. Wsh ul , h pi s, ha a a i al ay,gi r b i g Bri ish.

Si c Bri ish is wha w wh happ li h u lyi g archip lag jus

ff h r h r c as f eur p arsupp s b a yway, ha s ms mak as much s s as a ay c l bra i gcarb .

U l ss, such a i al i i i s ar as a ural as w ar l b li ,

a h y ly w rk by c i ually sh ri g

up h fragm s f h ir highly ar ificialwalls. If h y ar a par f ma ufac uri gc s sus ha w ul m a ha all h s

ra i i s a alu s w r i ;

a ly as a ural as h s f hi rs.

Qui h w h s s ar s rwas ic ly illus ra i March his y ar.Br w l i b k w ha h wa rais h pr fil f h Bri ish mili ary by

c uragi g r ps w ar h ir u if rms h s r s. W w r b c urag f l pri i h pr s c f h ir

r spl a ir , a b c i ually r mi f h mar ll us s r ic h sb ys a girls f r us, pu i g h irli s h li f r h ir c u ry, b i g

h r ugh m wh l us sl p qui ly iur b s. th p li ical purp s f such

a sub l r mi r w ul b assis hm ral f r ps figh i g i h ari usf r ig a ur s (Iraq a Afgha is ai par icular) ha h Lab ur g r mhas s fi c mmi i s lf .

I als was a way spik h gu s f h C s r a i Par y a h a ural

t ri s i h mili ary s ablishm whha su ly isc r s m hi gcall h mili ary c a s mpr c ss by which h s a assum s a

u y f car l k af r s l i rs. this isf r c i i , a f rms h basisf all bl a i g ab u s l i rs b i g

pr p rly car f r r pr c . I is aclaim f r sp cial r a m a a us ful

s ablishm ma if s . d ub l ss, w rh t ri s i charg , w r h ar f i

agai .B y ha , is h h p ha g i g

h f lks back h m mpa his wi h hmili ary will ir u a y p li ical fall u

ha fr m lau chi g a u p pular war ipursui f l a pr fi s. G i g p pl

hi k f h ms l s as b i g agai sh war bu f r h r ps is a xc ll

m a s f qu lli g prac ical pp si i h wars ur i g h r ps i

h p li ical asymb lic h s ag s

f h ir mas rs.All his was

gi a fillip by hhighly rch s ra(as r alby Private Eye )

u i g f Pri cH ry Charl sAlb r da iWi s rs ur iAfgha is a . Hb cam , i a blaz

f publici y, ar i ary h r , s

c mmi hisc mra s i arms

a his u y, ha h pu his R yal lif h li g a figh .

Pic ur s f h smili g pri c li gplayi g sp r i h s r s u am ssag f h quali y f s r ic , h w all

h b ys ar qual u r h ba g aa ha air f glam ur pr c i gs

ha c m s wi h a R yal p rs ag ah ir sa ura i c rag i h m ia.

tha i simul a usly impr himag f h R yal Family was, sur ly,

jus a c i ci c .H , i was r p r , kill r

hir y taliba mili a s. or, ha is,ra h r, h c - r i a h a ack s haair s rik s c ul b br ugh w

h s r a ful fa a ics. H bra ly gs m ls his killi g.

Alas (i s m ) his wa f pr paga a was pu c ur . o 6 Marchi was r p r ha p rs l a RAFWi ri g, ar P rb r ugh, ha bi s ruc w ar h ir u if rms ipublic, spi h wish s f h gr al a r, b caus h r ha b i ci s

f rbal harassm f r ps by acr ss s c i f h c mmu i y. thisf ll ws similar c mplai s f harassm

f r ps f rc shar r gular nHSh spi als wi h m mb rs f h public.

o c up a im , such i ci sw ul lik ly b r p r , a hwall f pr paga a w ul hi h

i isi s i s ci y. this im , h ugh,h pr ss la ch his s ry, a

b ga b m a i g h abus f urb ys wh pu h ir li s h li .S l i rs b ga b clapp i hs r . n wspap rs br a cas h irsupp r f r h r ps. P li icia s sai

ha w sh ul all g b hi h s brala s. Su ly, a s ry ab u h w hu p pulari y f h war was ur i g

Getting school leavers toswear allegiance to the Queen,whats it all about?

April 08.indd 12 25/3/08 15:14:22


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i abus f h r ps, ur i ya h r x rcis achi h p li icia saim f bi i g us g h r i l ar sp c f r h l hal arm f h s a .

H r i is h rub. th s p pl ari g a ir y j b. Skills, al , rgy

a r s urc s ar b i g ir c fr mcr a i pr uc i w rk, a i s ab i g ica a h a s ruc i .

e , w r w , f r m m , acc p h u f r u a c ssi y f ha i g

k p a s a i g f rc f r mur r, wc ul s ill qu s i why h y sh ul blau s . tax c ll c i g a b i g abailiff is a u f r u a c ssi y f urcurr s ci y, bu - asks us c l bra bailiffs.

Wha f, h ugh, pu i g h ir li s h li ? W ll, fr m acci r p r s

w k w ha h usa s f buil rs arpu i g h ir li s h li ry ay.

trai rack gi rs ar riski g lif alimb. A l as , h s w rk rs c ul p i

s m acc mplishm , a a i i h w al h a w llb i g f s ci y fr mh risks h y ar pu i g h ms l s .

I was c a c mm plac f ra icalp li ics, r mi s cialis p li ics, haa s a i g p ac im army is a sig f

yra y. th p i r s r l half rc r mai s i plac , a implici ly backs up a y cisi f h s a ai s ag s. Wh t y Blair sai i wasi h i r s s f Bri ai g war, hwas sayi g, p rhaps wi h u h ac ual

h ugh cr ssi g his mi , ha s m

s ak s ar s high ha h y ar w r hm r ha a huma lif . tha h y arw r h killi g f r. th l gic f h mafia

.As s cialis s w c si r ha his

i r a i al sys m f p rp ualwarfar s ms ir ly fr m h i isi

f h w rl i u i s f pr p r y, aha i ca b r plac by h c mmw rship f h w rl by h huma

rac , c - p ra i ly a m cra ically ru i g h ir w li s. th u f r u a

c ssi y f r h ir y w rk f slayi g cab limi a , a - suff r w ar a mili ary u if rm agai .

W u rs a ha , much lik h ssupp s talibamili a s, wh arusually b ys figh i gf r a pi a c aa rifl a h b h s

f w ll-h ll a rs, h mili ary is ma up f w rk rs i u if rm,pr l aria s para , hir kill rsplyi g h ir ra .

th ir w rk is ir y a spicabl , bu

h y, as humab i gs ar m rw r h spi i g

r abusi g haa y h r p rs .Wha h y s r ,

a , is f r h ir p li ical mas rswh ar usi g h m b r m , s

ha all ha skill a rgy ca br ir c i us ful w rk, a usagai s us.

this c ul buil h prac ical u i y f li i g, w rki g a shari g g h r, s

ha w i h r pa ri ic para s ra hs f all gia c bi us g h r,

a w ca pu h sp c r f h ismalim wh r mur r rs w r h r s far

b hi us.PIK SMEET

W s c s

g m ?An interesting take-over battle is now tak-ing place in the world mining industry. To-wards the end of last year, BHP Billiton, theworlds largest mining company, made a bidto take over Rio Tinto, the worlds secondlargest mining company. According to theTimes (5 February) a BHP-Rio merger would create the worlds largest

iron ore, aluminium and coal supplier . . . A merged BNP-Rio would control about per cent of the worlds iron ore,which is used to make steel, and consolidate 75 per centof that market in the hands of only two companies. (Theother would be Vale, the Brazilian mining corporation).

Steel-producing countries dependent on imports of iron ore China, the EU, Japan are not too happy about this prospectof an OPEC for iron ore. But so far only China has acted. Atthe beginning of February Chinalco, the Chinese state-ownedaluminium company, splashed out 7 billion in cash to acquire a

percent holding in Rio Tinto, probably to at least have a say inthe disposal of Rio Tintos assets.

There is a theory which sees multinational corporations suchas BHP and Rio Tinto as agents of the Western imperialiststates, but here the victims will be other capitalist corporationsin the developed capitalist world who are consumers of iron oreand aluminium. In any event, there can be no doubt that Chinasvarious state-owned companies such as Chinalco, SinochemPetroleum and China Shenua Energy are agents of the Chinesecapitalist, not to say imperialist, state.

Capital accumulation is going on apace in China and Chinahas a desperate need for the materials to sustain this (while itlasts):

China is forecast to consume more than half of all the worldskey resources within the next decade and the country is seek-ing to control mines and oil elds to ensure its supplies. China

is already the worlds largest consumer of every big resourceexcept oil and accounts for 47 per cent of all iron ore, per centof aluminium and 5 per cent of copper. ( Times , 5 February).

China is also the worlds leading consumer of nickel and zinc.To ensure a s teady supply of all these essential materials, Chinahas set up a whole range of state-owned capitalist corporationswhich operate on the stock exchanges of the world, doing dealswith and acquiring shares in Western capitalist corporations.

Western nancial journalists such as Patrick Hosking of theTimes are intrigued as to why is China playing the Western capi-talist game ( Times , 5 February). Hosking doubts that Chinesestate corporations such as Chinalco are interested in maximisingpro ts or in maximising dividends to their single shareholder, theChinese state, and concludes:

In one sense it is encouraging that Beijing is buying liter-ally into joint-stock capitalism. But it would be nave to assumeits business leaders are motivated by the same forces as their Western counterparts.

He is probably right. While non-state capitalist corporationsare motivated by maximising pro ts and dividends to their share -holders, states can take a longer and broader view of the overallnational capitalist interest. They need to take into considerationsuch factors as the security of supply of essential materials toindustries within their borders. Many a war has been fought toachieve this. But wars are expensive and risky. Much better to tryother means rst, commercial as well as diplomatic.

This is what China appears to be doing via its state-ownedcorporations operating alongside Western corporations. At thesame time China is building up i ts armed forces just in case thisfails and other means of acquiring a secure supply of essentialmaterials have to be employed (see for example http://www.

comw.org/cmp/fulltext/cafnaval.html).

c k g

b ks 1

Lizzie,I cant tell if the

bastards are swearingTO us or AT us.

April 08.indd 13 25/3/08 15:14:23


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a s in all previous stages of human social development,today wealth is produced and can only be produced bythe application of human labour power to the resources of nature. Capitalism complicates the process of wealth production bythe separation of these two productive essentials; a relatively smallminority of human beings claim a right to the ownership of naturesresources, which are effectively the means of life of the whole of humanity, while the great majority are obliged to sell their physicaland mental abilities to these owners. The wealth that results from thiscombination of resources and labour power becomes the property of the owners who give those who have expended their labour power tokens which are called wages with which they can purchase the partof the vast aggregation of wealth they have created.

That is the basic nature of capitalism. However,in effect it is much more convoluted and wastefulthan this might suggest. In todays world all thegoods and services needed by people are producedmainly in the form of commodities against thebackground of their real or imagined use value.But the shareholders who own the enterprisesthat produce these goods and services and theusually richly-rewarded directors who organise theenterprises are not philanthropists concerned withthe public good.

Their interest is not primarily the use value of the commodities they produce; it is the exchangevalue of those commodities; the price for whichthey are bought and which contains, in normalcircumstances, that surplus beyond the costof production (including the cost of sale) whichenriches the shareholders and allows for continuedeconomic viability.

So the kernel of this complex and extremely

wasteful exercise is pro t which is yielded only when purchasersare persuaded to buy speci c goods or services from among thecompeting suppliers. It is important for capitalist enterprises toascertain public attitudes either to adopt their products or prices toprevailing modes or to in uence change in those attitudes by productdesign, price or advertising.

p s In the last British General Election, the Labour and Tory parties

spent some million each and the Liberal Democrats spent 4.million. These large sums were additional to what might be called their constant capital in the form of existing organisation, publicly-fundedof ces, salaries and equipment; vast sums that must surely con ict

with the notion of free elections.These amounts are being dwarfed by the massive

sums currently being invested in the US primaries, wherethe two candidates for the role of capitalisms politicalof ce manager are being selected. In contradistinctionto the nonsense about spreading democracy inareas deemed of consequence to US interests, theAmerican variety of that system reveals a monumentallyexpensive and cynical exercise between two politicallyindistinguishable groups concerned with sculpting politicsin the general interests of capital. As in Britain and therest of the developed world, other aspiring politicians,denied real public exposure by a pensioned media,will be permitted to enter the hustings to make up thenumbers and reinforce the ction that the public areoffered a fair and informed choice.

Obviously Public Opinion in both politics andcommerce is of considerable importance; but it ispolitically innocuous in that it never questions thefundamental way in which the needs and requirements

tw - s am s

vg v m

s g g

s sk g

ms v s

In the vicious world of capitalist competition, opinion polling nds avital and pro table niche not for the laudable purpose of discerning or complying with the public interest but with the manipulation of

public opinion in the interest of pro t.

What is the publics opinion?

April 08.indd 14 25/3/08 15:14:23


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of the human family are organised. Politicians, the business fraternity,clerics and journalists may criticise some aspect or aspects of thesystem: show a preference for making some adjustment in planning or administration or suggest a different political or economic strategy butalways within the framework of the existing social system.

Such people may display courage, energy and enthusiasm incampaigning for a cause but always they do so on the assumptionthat there is no alternative to the present order of things; that the oldpolitical and economic fundamentals of capitalism are as inevitable asthe seasons; that they have always existed and that there is no other

way of running society.

d m sKarl Marx made the obvious point that the ideas that dominate in

society are those of its ruling class. It doesnt follow that in our presentsociety the majority of people like capitalism. On the contrary, themere want or dire poverty of capitalism, the frightening destructionof the biosphere, the increasing disparity of wealth between rich andpoor, the permanent threat of war, violence and crime, these thingsare too pronounced, too close to the lives of the people to escapebeing the daily staples of news and public concern.

The point was well made by a contributor to the World SocialistMovements website (tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/WSM_Forum)who quoted a University of Michigan opinion poll showing that sometwo-thirds of Americans believe government is being run by biginterests looking out for themselves (message 5 0).

We do not need an opinion poll to con rm this nding; ask thoseyou work with or the people in the pub or in the club. It is no secretthat a small minority of people are millionaires and billionaires or that such people do not actively participate in producing goods andservices. Unfortunately, despite claiming that they live in a democraticsociety, most peoples reaction to their own condemnation of thesystem is likely to be something like. Yes, its true but, unfortunately,theres not much we can do about it!

i sCapitalisms great historic mission has been

to make the production of wealth social; socialistswant to make the distribution of wealth social. Toachieve its purpose the bourgeoisie overthrewfeudal society and its aristocracy by means of violent revolution. To do that, to get the political

control of that combination of labour power andthe resources of nature, they had to contest andovercome the prevailing public opinion.

A stalwart of the, then, prevailing public opinionwas the church. It proclaimed that the power of kingsto rule was ordained by God. In turn this ordinance of Divine Right was reciprocated by loyalty from king tochurch. Power under the monarch was organised by patentsof vast estates to men who were favoured by the monarch for service to the crown and who paid tribute and pledged loyaltyto the crown. This aristocracy of lords and titled personages inturn granted servitude to the poor and dispossessed serfs who,in return for working their landlords estates and being available for military service, were afforded the privilege of a portion of land onwhich to provide habitation and subsistence for themselves andtheir families.

As the medieval merchants, the burghers of the towns, grewmore af uent and nascent technological developments created thebasis of greater productive units for the employment of labour themiddle class, the bourgeoisie, challenged the aristocracy for politicalpower in order that it could legislate political conditions conducive toits interests. The public opinion that underpinned feudalism had to bechanged including the theological dictums of the church which upheldthe power base of the king and the aristocracy and condemned suchpractices as usury, as banking was an important function in the new

edgling capitalism.So Europe saw the birth of Protestantism and religious wars that

concealed the profane interests of the opposing owning classes. Thevictory of capitalism over its archaic rival was assured; it representeda progressive social development, in fact an idea whose time hadcome and it was ultimately irresistible.

p Today capitalism reigns supreme throughout the world not

because the majority support it but simply because the majorityaccept it and they accept it because they know of no alternative to it.

Socialists offer a clear, practical and rational alternative but as yet thesocialist movement is small and unfortunately the broad Left, whatever its intentions, has not only created massive confusion amongour class but in claiming state capitalism as its goal, these ersatzsocialists have created a mass consciousness of the cure being worsethan the disease.

This notion of the immutability of capitalism is the bulwark thatdefends that system and the ruling class and their political hirelingsare not slow to use lies and scare tactics in defence of their system.The millionaires and billionaires do not invest their millions and billions

in the electronic and print media to inform the working class about thecause of their problems; these are valuable instruments in fashioningcontemporary public opinion. The media will nd space for acres of nonsense: a man who bites a dog, a Prince whose mother, the Headof the Anglican Church, advised him to go killing in Afghanistan, thelunacies of celebrities. . . Effectively, what we call news is part of theconditioning process of capitalism.

The fare served up by political journalists is simply the currentvicissitudes of capitalism; the vices and virtues, as they or their masters see them, of the inevitabilities of the system. Rarely are theyequipped with a knowledge of the socialist alternative and even if theywere and wished to advise the public it is unlikely that their materialwould pass muster with the concealed editors the shareholders.

Socialism is not a palliative for the ills of capitalism; those ills areendemic to the system and they have de ed the best plans and thebest intentions of the wise and the well-intentioned right across the

political spectrum. Uniquely socialists do not suggest that they havethe answer to either the system or any of the systems problems; infact we argue that they are not problems, they are inevitable aspectsof capitalism; that instead of voting to change the politicians whorun the system we should be voting for representatives mandated toabolish capitalism and establish socialism.

Still, whether they like what is happening or not, the media mustdeal with what are deemed newsworthy situations They must reportthe presence of 00,000 people demonstrating in Trafalgar Square

about the war in Iraq. The case for socialism, too, willbecome news when 00,000 people are demonstratingnot against a particular war but against the system thatcauses wars and the multiplicity of social evils of whichthe Left make separate causes.

t s s j v

The public opinion that socialists want to promote isone that encourages the public to consider the case for socialism and ultimately to use the limping

democracy afforded by capitalism toabolish that system and establishsocialism.

Socialism will mean that allthe instruments of production anddistribution will be taken into the

common ownership of society as awhole and will be used solely to produce

the goods and services needed by thehuman family. The axiom: From eachaccording to their ability; to each accordingto their need will become the generalprinciple underpinning the production anddistribution of wealth. The wages andmoney system, so wantonly wasteful of most

human activity today, will become redundant;people will no longer be strati ed by class divisions; the nexusbetween property and crime will be broken and the vested intereststhat promote armaments and wars and a frightening threat to theentire biosphere will cease to exist.

The nature of the socialist case determines the means by whichit will be achieved. Socialism from its inception will need the voluntaryco-operation of its citizens. The mass of people will no longer beanonymous wage slaves. Those who opt for socialism must know thelife-changing bene ts to be derived from the new system; equally, theymust be clearly aware of their individual obligations to that system.

That is what socialism is about; it is not a quick- x; it involvesclarifying the meaning of socialism and shattering the belief that thereis no alternative to capitalism and that cannot be done by claims thatwe can patch-up the system with piece-meal reforms.

That is something we would ask out fellow-workers on the Left toconsider.richard MontaGue

April 08.indd 15 25/3/08 15:14:23


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K s m rg as a i p S a af rca s f u asy xis c as par f S rbia. th r was a i i abl w a h m a w flag.Bu h r ar r al p li ical c c r s b s f rgi h ballyh a h p s f r a brigh r fu ur .

o ma i r i w by h BBCs Mark Ma ll scribh w uri g h war h fl his illag wi h ma y r la i s u ra ack by S rbia r ps. H ha l a his au b hi ash was bur a h. H sai : K s is rich i mi ralsa rich i farmi g la , is rich i all h r asp c s. H r , wpr i w al h f r s ma y y ars f r h wh l f Yug sla ia,

h r is r as why w ca pr i w f r jus K s . tha s why Im sayi g K s has a brigh fu ur . (MarkMa lls eur bl g: Mi i g K s s Fu ur 29 Ja uary)

Al gsi h clar huma i aria r as s f r h Uni r i i h Balka s i h 1990s h r w r h r,

c mic a p li ical, c si ra i s als i play. I is h si r s s ha will shap fu ur l pm s i h s a s f hf rm r Yug sla ia a mi a h li s f w rk rs h r .

th New York Times (8 July 1999) carri a ar icl by Chris H g s ab u h S ari trg mi i g c mpl x i tr pca,K s . P ssibly i a r ly, i ga a i sigh i s m f

h c si ra i s ha surr u hcisi i r . Acc r i g H g s,

th sprawli g s a - w tr pca mi i gc mpl x, h m s aluabl pi c f r al

s a i h Balka s, is w r h a l as $5billi .

I was h r p r i w f h mi sir c r, n ak Bj lic, ha th war i

K s is ab u h mi s, hi g ls . thisis S rbias Kuwai h h ar f K s . Ia i i all his, K s has 17 billi

s f c al r s r s. th Yug sla w b si www.yug sla ia.c m ( w fu c ) scrib

tr pca as ha i g h rich s l a a zi cmi s i eur p . th capaci y f h l a a zi c r fi ri sra k hir i h w rl a h ar a as a wh l r pr ss m 80% f Yug sla ias mi ral p si s. th pr bl m was

h y w r l a i ffici a s ri usly p llu i g.Acc r i g Micha l Palair f h U i rsi y f e i burgh,

a l a i g au h ri y h c mic a s cial his ry f hBalka s,

th tr pca sys m as a rul l s m y u r Yug slas cialism B caus f tr pcas i capaci y g ra fu i g

f i s w f r i s m , all i s m fu i g ha bfi a c x r ally, by fu pr i rs wh i a icipa

ha h y w ul s a y r ur ( r f) h ir capi al. Ihis pi i h $5b figur qu by H g s ab was

xagg ra . H w r whil tr pca c sis ly p rf rmp rly, his was b caus i c ul ha b ma agm r ff c i ly: U lik m s h a y i us ry tr pca ha gmi i g ass s a l w c s acc ss rgy, s h fac f

hi gs h r w r s ruc ural r as s f r i s i abili y rapr fi ably. (eur p a S abili y I i ia i h p://www. siw b.

rg/p f/ si_bri g s_i _2_a.p f )Fur h r i sigh may b gai i h c mic

u rpi i gs f h Un i r i fr m a r p r by hI r a i al Crisis Gr up. th r p r is i r s i g i hai pr i s fur h r i c ha h br akup f h f rm r

Yug sla ia was i larg par m i a by c flic i g c mici r s s. th ari us r gi s f h F ral R public ha fallu r h w h ir ass s a liabili i s w r b i i a

all ca . th iff r c s w r l g s a i g a c ul

b r s l p ac fully. I h r w r s i was a figh am gc mp i g capi alis s i r s s. o f h s i r s s lay iK s h supp s h ar la f S rb i i y.

tr pca is a sprawli g c gl m ra f s m 40 mi s afac ri s, l ca m s ly i K s ... I s gr a mi ral w al his h basis f h c my f K s , bu h c mpl x is ba ly ru - w as a r sul f u r-i s m a r- xpl i a iby g r m s i B lgra . (Trepca: Making Sense of the Labyrinth (ICG eur p R p r n82, 26 n mb r 1999) h p://www.crisisgr up. rg/h m /i x.cfm?i =1585&l=1)

I 1974 ti s w c s i u i acc r h pr i c ar-r public s a us, wi h i s w parliam a c ur s, K s

li s j y a p ri f gr a ly i cr as c r l r h ir wr s urc s. th y us h ir ha c au h ri y buil fac ri si K s ha capi alis h ir mi ral pr uc i , cr a

h usa s f j bs, a br ugh s m i c m i h pr i c .Af r ti s a h, pr ssur gr w f r m r righ s a gr a r

p li ical a c mic au my, bu wi h li l succ ss.B lgra r ass r c r l f h mi s. K s Alba iaw rk rs w r accus f ha i g s l as qua i i s f g la sil r a ma y gi rs a ch icia s w r fir .

Fr m 1981-89, B lgra m p lis h xp r f tr pcasmi rals Russia a ls wh r ,r api g h pr fi s i har curr cy a

il, whil c mp sa i g h K s arsly wi h l c rici y a h r -

fu gibl f rms f paym . tr pcas K s ar ma ag m

a mp s ll i s pr uc s heur p a mark a m r is hfacili i s m s f pr uc i , ly b f il im a agai by h S rbiag r m , which was i h pr c ss

f i gra i g S rbias c my hais, f h ri g all c mic s c rs m r cl s ly B lgra .

By h la 1980s, wi h h fi al i gra i i h S rbiasys m f h p w r g ra i g sys m, K s ars ha l s

ir ually all c r l r h ir c my, as h y w ul rh ir p li ics a ci ic fr ms. (Trepca: Making Sense of the

Labyrinth (ICG))I 1996 tr pca ha xp r $100 milli f pr uc s,

maki g i h larg s xp r i g c mpa y i h F ral R publicf Yug sla ia a a i aluabl f r ig xcha g ar r a

a im wh h c u ry was xp ri ci g gra c micifficul i s.

thr ugh u h 1990s h w rship f tr pca c gl m rawas r ir ly cl ar. I n mb r 1997 tr pca was u rc si ra i f r pri a isa i by h f ral g r m iB lgra . this pr c ss s all wh h r busi ssma Z ra

t r ic, was mur r by a gu ma i B lgra . t r icha b a cl s c fi a f Sl b a Mil s ic a was

f h rich s m i Yug sla ia. H was f a gr up f s acapi alis s wh ha b abl us h ir p li ical c c i s

purchas s a ass s a bargai pric s. (H was alsir c r f B p r l, a h r s a firm i h pr c ss f b i g

pri a iz .) this was i ff c a c rsi f s a w ass si de facto pri a ly w s by h ruli g capi alis class.

officials f h Un I rim Missi i K s (UnMIK), whk r g r i g K s i 1999 af r h wi h rawal f

S rbia r ps, c clu ha h c mpl x was rall publicpr p r y a h r f r cam u r h ir au h ri y i acc r a cwi h i s ma a . th h h a f UnMIK, B r ar K uch r( w Fr ch F r ig Mi is r), c firm ha a i r a i al

Kosovo: Open for BusinessKosovo became an independent state in February and wasimmediately recognised by the US and most European

countries. We look at one of the reasons why.

t w K s vs m s,

g s . t s sS s K w

K s v .

April 08.indd 16 25/3/08 15:14:23


17/24


c s r ium ha b app i ru h pla . A $16m(10.7m) i s m packag was als a u c , fu by Bri ai , Fra c , Spai , G rma y, a h eU. th m y was

b sp a full-scal r furbishm f h pla pri r ib i g s l ff. W ha i i f cl si g a y par f h

tr pca mi i g c mpl x. o h c rary, w r g i g maki saf a pr fi abl . h sai . (The Guardian , 15 Augus 2000,h p://www.guar ia .c .uk/w rl /2000/aug/15/balka s)

Bu i was ly h mi s ha capi alis i r s s hah ir y s . I July 2000 i was a u c ha a fu ru

by h billi air G rg S r s was i s $150 milli (m sback by U.S. guara s) i c mpa i s i h Balka s. S r sFu Ma ag m w ul i s $50 milli f i w qui y i

w busi ss s, xpa si s r pri a iza i i h r gi aw ul ha full au my ch s h i s m s i a wh l

swa h f S u h eas eur p . S r s ha i s milli sf llars i phila hr pic a rs i h r gi , bu saihis fu w ul prac ic ugh l , a b ri pur ly

by pr fi . th U.S. o rs as Pri a I s m C rp ra i ha

agr pr i a l a guara f r a h r $100 millif i s m s. oPIC scrib s i s lf as a s lf-sus ai i g

f ral ag cy ha s lls i s m s r ic s Am ricabusi ss s xpa i g i m rgi g mark s ar u hw rl . I pr i s a l l playi g fi l f r U.S. busi ss s i

m rgi g c mi s.Si c 1971, oPIC has supp r arly $130 billi

w r h f i s m s ha will g ra r $61 billi iU.S. xp r s. (h p://sk pj .us mbassy.g /s u h as _

ur p _ qui y_fu .h ml ) th S r s i s m was c c i a a r

c f r c i Saraj i 1999. I was f a s ri sf ff r s ak a a ag f m rgi g i s mpp r u i i s i h Balka s. A y ar ag , af r nAto

w h war i K s , m r ha 40 l a rs cam g h ri Saraj rmi wi h p ac wi h c mici s m s, acc r i g na i al S curi y A is r Samu l

M. B rg r.G rg Mu z Pr si a Ceo f oPIC sai h was

pl as ha h y w r maki g h r gi saf f r i r a i alcapi al. I was a m s ra i ha S u h as eur p is aimp r a r gi which w sh ul f cus ur ff r s, abli r buil a r h gl bal mark plac as a full par r.

th S u h as eur p equi y Fu is a i al hicl c cAm rica i s i u i al capi al wi h eur p a r pr urs

ag r h lp Am rica s ap h ir gr wi g mark s. th S r s Pri a Fu s Ma ag m , h sai , was s i g

a s r g, p si i sig al ha S u h as eur p is p f rbusi ss.GWYnn thoMas

t s

smIn the FebruarySocialist Standard ,in an article onthe price of bread(http://www.world-socialism.org/spgb/feb0 /index.html),we commented onthe fact that under

capitalism a basic foodstuff such as wheatwas a world commodity traded on worldmarkets and so subject to internationalspeculators betting on its future price going

up or down.At the end of the month the news broke

that a rogue trader called Dooley workingfor a rm called MF Global had lost hisemployers $ 4 .5 million. Rather foolishly,it might be thought, he bet that the price of wheat would go down. But it went up:

He had bet on the price of wheatdeclining by entering into about 4,000futures contracts, which would require himto deliver about 0 million bushels of wheatat an agreed time and price. The greater the decline in the price between agreeingthe contract and delivering the wheat, thecheaper the cost of satisfying the deliveryand the larger the pro t Mr Dooley stood tomake. But instead, the price of wheat kept

on rising . . . ( Times , 9 February)It should not be thought that MF Global

is in the business of delivering wheat. Itdoesnt run a eet of ships or trucks. It is a

nancial institution specialising in specu -lating on how the price of wheat andanything else moves. When the deliverydate of, in this case, wheat comes near they pass the contract on to a shipping or delivery rm.

As Marx once pointed out, the capitalistis not interested in any particular prod-uct. All they are interested in is pro t andthey dont care whether they make it fromproducing and selling bibles or producingand selling whisky. Firms like MF Global,with no connection with actual production,

illustrate this point well.Wheat is not sold to individual consum-

ers. It is sold to capitalist rms with moneyinvested in milling it into our, who, in turn,sell this on the other capitalist rms withmoney invested in baking it into bread.These intermediary rms are not happywith the rise in the price of wheat which hasdoubled over the past year. The head of one of them, Sir Michael Darrington, lashedout at wheat speculators on the occasionof his retirement as managing director of Greggs, the high street bakers:

There are stocks of wheat and grain

in the world, and crops are growing at themoment but funds are being set up asspeculators see an opportunity to make

some short-term money and someone hasto pay for it. Its really sad for people in thedeveloping world where food can accountfor 70 per cent of the family budget. Wheatis predominantly grown in America, Aus-tralia, Europe the wealthier areas andpeople in under-developed countries arehurting the most.

The Times ( March), reporting this,said he added:

I suppose thats just capitalism but its jolly disappointing. If society looked downon these funds then perhaps it would makea difference.

It is indeed a powerful indictmentof capitalism that rms like MF Globalspeculate on the price of wheat while at the

same time millions throughout the worldare suffering from a lack of food. Proof, asif any more were required, that capitalismis a system geared to pro t-making not thesatisfaction of human needs.

But would it make any difference if MFGlobal and other speculative funds werelooked down on? It is probably true thatmost people in the world do already lookdown on them, including a decent-mindedcapitalist like Sir Michael. But they cant doanything about it. After all, investing moneyto make more money is what capitalism isall about. MF Global and the other funds

are just applying the pro t motive.

c k g

b ks 2

Billionaire George Soros

April 08.indd 17 25/3/08 15:14:23


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Socialist Standard April 2008