Category Archives: Uncategorized

Defeat in Afghanistan was completely predictable

By Jim Hayes

As the fallout from the hasty retreat of the United Sates forces from Afghanistan continues, are those things have been made perfectly clear.

This is the biggest defeat  the United States has suffered since Vietnam and is looking vulnerable. The flow on is that it will give encouragement to those in many other countries, fighting Washington’s pressure on their turf. Continue reading Defeat in Afghanistan was completely predictable

May Day 2021 is coming to Melbourne

May Day is workers day in Australia and throughout the world since 1886. This is a time when the workers movement sums up its experiences and charts its course for the next period.

An ongoing demand in Australia, is the right to belong to a union and take industrial action to defend and progress the interests of all workers. Denial of this right has helped to drive down wages and working conditions, by weakening collective organisation.

In 2021 May Day will also involve the demands for an independent foreign policy, proper, humane, and welcoming treatment for refugees and migrants, support for Australians First Nations peoples, action on the climate crisis and more.

Take part in Melbourne’s May Day activities for 2021.

May Day events

  • Thursday 29 April. Wreath Laying ceremony at the Eight Hour Day monument at 53.0pm. Corner of Lygon and Victoria Streets (opposite Trades Hall).

 

  • Thursday 29 International Solidarity Event at 6 pm. This will be at Trades Hall.

 

  • Sunday 2 May. The May Day March. Assemble at 1.30 pm at Trades Hall. March at 2pm and return to Trades Hall to hear more speakers.

Big business rorted JobKeeper and others are expected to go without enough to live on

By Jim Hayes

The proof is there. Ever since the introduction of JobKeeper last year, there had been allegations that the system was being milked by big business. An analysis by corporate governance advice firm Ownership Matters, shows that 34 of the biggest companies on the Australian Stock Exchange have pocketed $284 million of the government handout. Continue reading Big business rorted JobKeeper and others are expected to go without enough to live on

Economic downturn due to both economic structure and the Coronavirus

By Joe Montero

The U.S. economy looks like it’s going to the dogs. Europe’s is not well either. Countries, like Australia, are not too far behind.

Aggravated by the ongoing Coronavirus, the deteriorating situation can no longer be dressed by a pretense that everything is getting back too normal. Continue reading Economic downturn due to both economic structure and the Coronavirus

March on Rome in 1922 and its imitators in the United States today

By Glen Davis

America seems to be on its way to hell in a hand basket. Coronavirus deaths have passed 100,000, an estimated 40 million are receiving an unemployment benefit, and riots are setting big swathes of the county ablaze, after the murder of George Floyd.

The Tangerine Mussolini [Donald Trump] is unable to control this spiralling mess, with rumours he has gone into hiding; though still aggressively Tweeting.

Photo by Evan Vucci/AP: Donald Trump

In response to the growing death toll from Coronavirus, several Democrat governors imposed lock downs within their states. The lock downs are premised/supported by medical advice.

However, we’ve seen armed groups marching to the various State capital buildings, along with calls from the Tangerine Mussolini to ‘liberate’ states such as Michigan, Minnesota, Virginia.

Armed supporters of his, have taken to the streets, aiming to impose their will on these states. In Michigan we saw 300-400 armed protestors driving around holding up traffic, trying to pressure the elected government end the lock down.

It draws some parallels to the ‘original Mussolini’, Benito Mussolini. Yes, the specifics are different. But the parallels of an armed Right-wing mob taking to the streets to threaten an elected government is concerning.

The 1922 March on Rome saw an estimated 25,000 fascist marchers. From 26 October they seized control of government offices and railway stations, in preparation for the march on Italy’s capital.

The 1922 Blackshirts march on Rome

On 28 October, the fascist hordes, known as the Black shirts, commenced their March on Rome. Their goal was to capture Rome’s strategic posts.

The government of Prime Minster Luigi Facta prepared for them, ordering a state of siege for Rome, as he sought to defend it. Yet the King, Victor Emanuel III, refused to assist the elected government. This meant the support of the army was not available to defend the democratic structures being attacked.

The March on Rome continued with the King approaching Mussolini on 29 October, requesting his fascists form a cabinet and establish a new government.

Mussolini, who was in Milan, boarded a train on 30 October, arriving just prior to his marchers. A triumphant parade was then held, ushering in two decades of fascist rule.

Yes, what is happening in America is quite different but the parallels of capitalism spiraling out of control, with armed right-wing mobs seeking to prop up their choice of rulers has scary overtones.

Continue reading March on Rome in 1922 and its imitators in the United States today