Spain in Revolt.

Spain in Revolt

Since the fall of Franco Spain has been in a kind of ‘leftover’ state – the reintroduction of democracy saw a positive mood that continued for decades as a victory over fascism. The demands of the working-class, that were laid out during the civil war had returned with the fall of Franco.

Of course, it was the capitalist class that declared the ‘victory’, with the transition to democracy bringing about an economic boom, but still problems persisted in Spain.

The restructuring of Spain’s economy brought about a number of things, primarily the destruction of the manufacturing industries that Spain relied on. Instead, the economic model was based on:

1.       Tourism.

2.       Service Industries.

3.       Housing and Financial Sector.

With the economy becoming vulnerable in 2007, like the rest of the world, the crisis hit Spain’s finance and construction industries. The state then took on the national debts.

As a consequence of this, unemployment hit 25 percent; a figure which does not include part-time employment. Some regions, including Andalucía, that figure reached 35 percent.

Like Britain, the crisis has had a hard impact on youth; 52 percent of young people are unemployed.

For the first time last year there were more people leaving Spain than entering.

In 2012 around 50000 Spanish people lost their homes. The economic model of Spain is such that if house payments are even missed by one payment, the bank can force the house to go to auction and buy it back for a lower price. Even then the family evicted still has to pay the bank the original mortgage payments! And with a weak welfare state, people have become more dependent on charities and families.

At first the government denied the crisis was happening, then accepted the austerity policies from the EU. The austerity measures in Spain were amongst the biggest in Europe.

The Spanish government introduced labour reforms that roll back the gains won by workers in struggles – there were tax increases, dole cut, increased retirement age and the dismantling of the welfare state. These policies were introduced by the politics of fear – they were told that this was an  inevitability, there were no other alternatives, and there was a danger of being expelled from the Eurozone.

Before serious struggle and protests were mounted, a climate of repression took over. There were arrests of key trade union leaders made and violence was used by the police in demonstrations that took place. Agent provocateurs were used in order to whip up violence in order to justify the repressive methods used by police.

In spite of this the 14^th November sees the 3^rd general strike taking place in 2 years, as Spanish workers continue to struggle against austerity.

There are weaknesses for the working-class in Spain however. A lot of demonstrations have been locally based, and no national organisation has taken the struggles forward in a progressive way. Also, the union leaders tend to demobilize the workers, not mobilize, and they have been all too ready to accept the cuts from government.

The last strike, which took place in March, meant that it has taken 8 months to mobilize again. We denounce this strategy and believe that continuous action is needed to sustain a consistent and effective struggle.

Our comrades in Spain are part of Socialismo Revolucionario, and from the beginning of the crisis, have stated that these weaknesses exist. Our demands included the civil war demands to be reinstated, such as the justice in society and the separation of church and state.

The largest organisation that is considered left is the United Left. This party has characteristics that could make it to be a working-class party – it has a solid base and many socialist elements in its programme. But it also has a lot of reformist policies too. And at the same time it does not go far enough. They suggest nationalising only part of the banking sector, and supports a coalition government.

It is also made up of different left Tendencies. In Andalucia they formed a coalition with a party that implement cuts. They also allowed the right wing PP in other areas, and used their votes to stop the PP in other areas. They wanted a coalition with the SDP in Astorias but the rank and file members voted against it. Socialismo Revolucionario always supported United Left, but opposed austerity and puts forward alternatives.

The situation in Spain changes extremely quickly from day to day, but the same tendencies remain – fighting austerity, and with the PP government, this is difficult.

Like Britain, the struggle and strategies have come from below. In this respect the trade union leaders have had no choice but to support a struggle.

The 14^th November strike is very important. It is the 1^st general strike to include all sections of workers. However, the trade unions in the Basque Country have now pulled out, making it slightly more difficult. But the government have now shown signs of weaknesses, and this is reflected in the problems and divisions shown by government.

The ‘National’ Question.

In September a demonstration for independence opens up a question of nationality for Catalunya.

This question of independence is one that has arisen fairly quickly, and primarily as a result of the economic crisis. 3 years ago 20 percent of Catalan people wanted independence from Spain. Now, this figure is closer to 50 percent. The right wing Catalan government since the fall of Franco, the CIU, uses the question of independence as a smokescreen to the crisis even though they seem in favour of independence. Even now they are ambiguous, and implement austerity policies. The Catalan president made the elections solely on the basis of independence.

Socialists denounce the use of this nationalist question. We support the rights of self-determination, but we argue that social issues are more important to the workers of the whole of Spain. Successful independence for Catalunya can only be implemented with socialist policies.This is a historic opportunity for the left if socialists are prepared to intervene.

The far right have spread an anti-immigrant feeling amongst the populace. Only relatively recently was Spain opened up to immigration. Many people are blaming immigrants for their situation, and various areas around Barcelona have moved to the right. It is possible that a party may come in on xenophobic policies. There are, of course, differing layers of the right wing within the PP, so an outright fascist government may be complicated to achieve.

The most likely outcome is that the United Left will continue to grow. It needs to break with coalition alliances. If this happens then other left organisations could develop within its framework.

There is a growing sense of optimism within Spain’s working class, in challenging the government’s austerity measures. There is a strong feeling from children and pensioners for example, who have stood up to fight cuts. Indeed 75 percent of Spain’s population now support demos and strikes.

The post-Franco sense of optimism may have gone, but the workers of Spain are seeking to struggle like their Republican forebears in their demands.   

Why the Original Star Wars Trilogy is more Beloved Than the Prequels.

The worldwide phenomenon of Star Wars has been a part of popular culture for 35 years. In fact it’s hard to imagine a time when we weren’t aware of a ‘galaxy far, far away’, or had no idea who Darth Vader or Boba Fett were.

The original Star Wars films are universally accepted as being more beloved than the prequels, or ‘new’ trilogy, even after 7 years have elapsed since the last film ‘The Revenge of the Sith.’ Why is this? Why, given that we live in an age that elevates special effects more than ever? The reasons are, I believe, numerous.

Firstly, the context that both sets of trilogies were released in differed greatly. In 1977 the ‘New Hollywood’ films of the star directors were everywhere. Scorcese, De Palma, Coppola, Bogdanovich and all those visionary filmmakers of the 70s were delivering their artistic, personal, and often pessimistic films that, whilst critically successful, presented audiences with a realistic and gritty experience; the time was right for a more fanciful movie full of spectacle to allow the audience an escape from these realistic movies, and in a sense, their own lives.

What’s more, two year earlier, George Lucas’ friend and fellow nerd Steven Spielberg released Jaws, which set the standard for all blockbusters that came after. The tide was turning, and studios were searching for big budget epics that would strike a chord with audiences and make huge profits.  

By the time the new trilogy came around with ‘The Phantom Menace’ in 1999, the context had changed considerably. Rather than setting a new trend like the originals, Lucas now releases Episode One amongst other films like ‘The Matrix’, and the soon-to-be-released Lord of the Rings trilogy; audiences were now used to seeing spectacular effects-laden movies, so Star Wars now had competition. Obviously this new prequel trilogy was going to be successful, that was a given, but George Lucas could no longer automatically assume that a more tech-savvy audience would respond to Star Wars in quite the same way this time.

However, it is not just a case of different contexts in which both trilogies were released. The simple fact is that still, the original trilogy is more beloved. Why? Well, there is the obvious argument that the new trilogy is just not that good. It has been noted that the main characters simply do not have the same chemistry that the original trilogy have. Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher shine in scenes together.  None of the numerous characters in the prequels, real or CGI, have quite the same chemistry, if any at all. The Force just isn’t as strong with this one.

Another big factor, I believe, is the age-old theme of how good and evil is presented. It is possible that the original trilogy is more beloved by audiences everywhere because we are under no illusions as to who’s good, and who is bad. A huge towering figure clad in black and a wrinkled old cloaked pensioner leave nothing to the imagination for people to identify with; the blue-eyed, blond young kid and the princess clad in white surely personify our perception of ‘good’. But in the new trilogy, the clone troopers, those equivalent forms of storm troopers, can now switch loyalties. What’s more, we know that throughout the course of the prequels, the main protagonist will grow up to become the series’ chief antagonist. Maybe we just want our heroes to be heroes and our villains to be uncomplicated villains for a film series to become beloved.

 

Lastly, to be slightly cynical for a moment, George Lucas was accused of pandering to the toy market in Return of the Jedi with the addition of the Ewoks, or, ‘those bunch of muppets.’ Serious fans of the series up to that point must have felt slightly aggrieved that kiddies were now being force-fed characters who were ready-made for the toy market. So how much more would these same fans respond to Jar Jar Binks? Beloved is surely not a word they would use for who, in their eyes, is one ‘cutesy’ character too far.

Though less beloved by fans than the original trilogy, and containing more stilted dialogue, more effects and more confusing taxation sub-plots, does still not warrant the claim that George Lucas stole millions of childhoods worldwide. Maybe when those younger fans of the newer trilogy grow up, the context then may be different and ‘Attack of the Clones’ might be regarded in the same way ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ has been for 3 decades. But I doubt it.

Library Cutbacks

So £735,000 is about to be cut from libraries across the region. Can we really be surprised, given we have just had an election in Newcastle? What is shocking is the swiftness of the attacks on this type of public service, and one on an already minimal existence.
   What's really disgraceful, is that this, I feel, is an attack on a lifestyle. I must surely not be the only person out there who, with excited anticipation, visited a local library growing up with a sense of wonder at all those books to borrow - for free! Now that possibility for kids, their parents, or both, is being eroded to a degree that people just won't bother going in the first place.
You may think this is being overly dramatic - that library services will continue in some form; they no doubt will, but by removing a desire to visit a library on a regular basis, what motivation is there for kids to get into reading in a way that remains with them their whole lives? And when you consider that Stoke-on-Trent (the biggest cuts culprit) doesn't exactly have a reputation for a high level of literacy, the council appear to have shot themselves in the foot. How can they hope to 'market' themselves as a thriving city when the vast majority of its population are the ones to suffer?
   These draconian cuts are getting more and more personal. And once more the working-classes are the ones paying for them - not just financially but socially and ideologically. It all comes back to holding down the prospects of ordinary working people whose avenues for learning are constantly shrinking.
  Welcome back Labour. Can you spell b*****ds?

Local Elections

Today's the day for people to vote for TUSC. It will be interesting to see the results. Although we are not expecting to win, it is a very definite statement of intent from us.
On a stall last week a guy came up to the stall and asked how long we were there for. As Andy said, "until we achieve socialism!"
This is how we see TUSC and the Socialist Party in general.

There's...Something on the Wing.

As you may know, if you have any kind of freeview/Sky channels, Star Trek is doing the rounds in various guises. At the moment Voyager is being repeated a second time on Sky Atlantic, and the Next Generation has started again somewhere else.
   But at the moment I'm watching the Original Series on CBS Action. Not because I haven't seen them before, but because like the anally-retentive soul I am, they are in order.
   Though I remember them being shown (repeated, obviously) on BBC2 at some point, probably on Wednesday evenings and after the ill-fated Def 2, it's that old adage of vaguely remembering what happens in an episode and from what season - this time, to quote Kirk in Generations, I'm doing it right.
  I'm not a comic book guy-esque individual who can quote dialogue ad verbatim, (I've not even seen an episode of Deep Space Nine) rather the opposite, I actually find these episodes hilarious in their stiltedness. But I am writing this blog to highlight what I see as interesting differences between the Original series and later series', not necessarily stylistically, but culturally.
     The main thing that crops up in the 60's show is the fact that all strange situations/characters/events tend to be 'unexplained' - ie "somehow", "unknown", etc. Only this morning I was watching (on planner) the episode 'Miri'. (featuring a young Michael J Pollard! He of Scrooged, Bonnie and Clyde and Tango and Cash fame!) The ultimate line was delivered by Kirk to his log when describing a replica of Earth - "it seems impossible, and yet there it is", as if "there it is" solves the need for any feasible explanation!
   I'm not even halfway through the first season and I'm 'lol'ing already. "Seems unlikely, but what the hell!"
     The Next Generation on the other hand, started the trend actual Trekkies refer to as 'technobabble' - the gobbledegook that usually involves sensors, replicators, warp core, etc. Only in the first season do some of the old habits creep through. Even in '87 sometimes "something", or "unknown entities" creep through, or some other variation of "Captain, somehow, against all laws of physics, the planet has disappeared". Makes the Death Star explanation look credible! But by and large, the Next Gen gave some attempt of scientific explanations for causes and effects, even if they were unintelligible. By the time we get to Voyager, these scientific explanations and technobabble seem to be the only rationales given -  in this respect the series goes from ridiculous to being so rooted in actual physics or theories that I as the viewer just don't care!
  Still you've got to admit, the remastered Enterprise looks pretty damn good. (The ship, not the sacreligious series)
It's life Jim, but not as we've known it.

Newcastle Election Campaign.

Everything's registered, officially standing under the TUSC banner for the ward of Wolstanton. I will be out leafleting on Friday.
Other comrades have already started in the other ward of Kidsgrove, so this will be a good opportunity to go out into my ward.

TUSC Election Campaign Launch in Newcastle!

TUSC STAFFORDSHIRE
Trade unionists & socialists prepare for May elections
* * * Public Meeting * * *
“No to Cuts & Privatisation
Make the Bosses pay!”
Speakers include (all in a personal capacity)
Matt Wright – Unison Combined Health Care
Steve Wheeler – NHS Unite rep
Ritchie Steele – CWU
Wednesday 29th February – 7.30pm
Holy Trinity Community Centre
London Road, Newcastle, Staffs ST5 1LQ
* * * * * All Welcome * * * * *
www.tusc.org.uk

Monday's Branch Discussion.

The Struggle For a Free Press

Murdochgate.

The News International (NI) phone-hacking scandal went right to the top of society. NI's billionaire owner Rupert Murdoch's bullying tactics exposed the rotten deals and self-serving manoeuvres of Britain's ruling class. The trail of guilt leads from the capitalist media through the tops of the police force up to establishment politicians including Tory prime minister David Cameron.
Murdoch had already been forced to close his News of the World (NoW) rag and to give up trying to totally control BSkyB broadcasting when he bought advertising space to 'apologise' for what he had done.
People who had suffered at the hands of Murdoch's press rejoiced at a 'Gotcha' moment. Next day NI chief executive Rebekah Brooks resigned and was later arrested.
Then top Metropolitan Police officers with close connections to NI, Sir Paul Stephenson and John Yates, both bit the dust.
Former NoW editor Andy Coulson was until January David Cameron's communications director. Coulson was arrested over "allegations of corruption and phone hacking". Cameron himself was also in Murdoch and Brooks' dinner party set.
Labour MPs were at first told not to oppose Murdoch's total takeover of BSkyB and the party's leaders have long bowed their knees to him and his reactionary anti-working class politics.
So it's no surprise that Labour leader Ed Miliband merely wanted Cameron to 'apologise' for his misdeeds. But Brooks and the Met Police chiefs were forced to resign.
The impact on the mass consciousness after the whole Milly Dowling saga underlined and exposed the corruption of the establishment. This was not a case of a one-off scandal, here the difference is that scandals such as this were normally hidden from the public eye and this was the corruption that happened to be exposed. This was described as our equivalent of Watergate. What’s more, despite the closure of the News of the World, and all the surrounding scandals, even now police operations have uncovered Sun reporters paying for information. The victims of the 7/7 London bombings and the families of soldiers in Iraq can testify to this.
However, Murdochgate has more repercussions than first meets the eye to the average members of the public. For instance, although Murdochgate came out only last year, the police sat on incriminating information for 5 years. Politicians of all parties did not expose this information because of their level of involvement with Rupert Murdoch to get elected. Only after the Milly Dowling scandal came out did they perform a u-turn and ‘condemn’ the cover up between police and News International.

Before the scandal broke it was well known that Murdoch was trying to get his hands on BSkyB, and sought to get the green light from the Con-Dems. When the story broke this was put on the back burner.

As socialists we question the ownership of the media, and the amount of power given to one individual, as this is not just a question of a consolidation of power for power’s sake, but can be a dangerous monopoly of an ideology.
For example, Murdoch’s son tried to get the BBC to open up the market, similar to the Fox network in America. This would mean a push by the Murdochs to a right-wing ideology. Consider the news coverage, or lack thereof, of the Occupy New York movement. Beyond a simple virtual blackout of coverage by the media in America, the coverage afforded was particularly negative towards the protestors. Murdoch’s ideology influences the stance taken by the media not only in America, but worldwide.

The reason for this is the fact that 10 Media companies own and control 75 percent of the media. This has led to a certain method of producing news called ‘churnalism’. News and figures are churned out from agencies such as Reuters. In his book Flat Earth News,[1] the journalist Nick Davies reported a study at Cardiff University by Professor Justin Lewis and a team of researchers[2] which found that 80% of the stories in Britain's quality press were not original and that only 12% of stories were generated by reporters.[3] The result is a reduction of quality and accuracy as the articles are open to manipulation and distortion. For around 20 years now genuine investigative journalism has been at a minimum, or non-existent. For example only 1 in 10 stories in the Guardian actually come from journalists. Not only is this a reduction in the quality of the media itself, but this is a symptom of a capitalist system – a system that requires ever faster demands from its media. As a capitalist tool, its own ideology is spread through these news agencies – racism, attacks on the working-class, immigrants and of course, the public sector. Indeed the private sector is used as the stick to beat public sector workers, with reference to the recent pension issues and strikes.
This is sadly not a new phenomenon, but merely a continuation of the capitalist machine attacking the public. During the Miners’ strike The Sun described the miners at the time, so eloquently, as ‘scum’. There are no longer any journalists, left or otherwise, who question the establishment.
However, it is possible to challenge the authority of the capitalist machine. During the Miners’ strike the National Union of Journalists refused to print their newspapers with Scargill apparently giving the Nazi salute. This was successful and highlights the need for a strong union presence in the Media.

Despite a negative and pessimistic outlook, there is hope for us as socialists and the media. Although we know from previous experience that the capitalist media will do their best to minimise our party and policies in the public sphere, the changing technologies and habits of its users mean that we are striving to build our own media through the use of sites such as facebook, twitter and youtube. Through outlets like these we can reach potential supporters directly. In today’s digital age people can actually bypass the ideology of the mainstream media and choose which information to receive in a way that we never could before.

Under a socialist government the above-mentioned methods of production that the capitalist machine produces is not needed. We would of course strongly oppose the monopoly of only a few individuals or organisations controlling all of society’s media output. The current control of a right-wing mogul and empire highlights the danger of a negative ideology being foisted upon the working-class, and it makes it harder for us to operate under such a regime. However, we would also oppose a state-controlled media, as this is not a position we would operate from. History shows us that this could lead to a dictatorship. We would argue for a nationalised media, and one that means free expression of all aspects of media resources. Under socialism there would not be a singular viewpoint. The criticisms and discussions that could occur within the media would enable all to express ideas, and ideas that are free from capitalist influences and demands, which always seeks to defend the system it operates under.

Like other establishments and workplaces, under socialism the media could be publically owned. Even the local media is now part of a national news organisation. The Sentinel is one such outlet, and as part of a national group it becomes harder for working-class people to see through capitalist ideology. A privately owned media machine allows capitalists to have more outlets for their ideologies and the status quo remains. A socialist media, rather than be a tool of the state to control all, as the perception may be from the ruling-class, would be the most perfect expression of a truly free media.