En Passant

Having socialists involved in the struggles of the day, socialists with an understanding of the tasks necessary to win a better world here and now and into the future and coalescing around common ideas about socialism and democracy is an important part of the ultimate success of the liberationist project.

We have to be united in our opposition to their attempts to silence us. The fight is on in cities across the country to defend encampments and our right to protest. And on November 17, activists in many cities will participate in a labor-backed national day of action that can continue the process of building a broader Occupy movement, with more and more people mobilized behind it.

The political representatives of the 1 percent may get away with the attack on our encampments, but they’ll never silence the anger, the desire for change and the determination to struggle that is at the heart of the Occupy movement.

As the European crisis worsens, perhaps engulfing France next, the temptation for the ruling class to reach for solutions outside the democratic norm will become greater.

Whether they do or not depends on a range of factors, including the depth of the crisis and the strength of our side. We should be preparing now to defend democracy. Every union struggle, every demonstration against the problems capitalism creates, every occupation deserves our support and helps build our strength.

Obama is speaking to the politicians of Australia’s one percent on Thursday. That day there is a demonstration against him at Federation Park outside Parliament House in Canberra at lunchtime. Be there to show your support for the Wall Street Occupiers and the protesters around the globe. And for the other members of the Occupy movement across Australia – support the 99% in struggle. Support the QANTAS workers, the Baiada picketers, the maritime workers, the public servants, the nurses, all those fighting for better wages and conditions. That is our future. That is our hope.

Ideas like those espoused by Ron Paul and his libertarian supporters, such as opposition to government social programs, are the opposite of what the Occupy movement is about. We need more taxes on the rich and corporations, with the money devoted to helping workers and the poor, by increasing the quality of public schools or providing an effective social safety net.

Likewise, there is no place for ideas that divide us and make our movement weaker by vilifying undocumented immigrants or trade unions. We need political discussion and participation that builds solidarity and unity within the Occupy movement.

Next time, to beat the cops back, we need thousands upon thousands of protesters. Partly that will happen when the economic crisis arrives in Australia. But partly it is the task of socialists to point out the need to build an organisation of the working class to take on the one percent and free the rest of us from our economic slavery.

It is and will be a hard road. But we are in this for the long haul. Join us in the fight for a world where all are equal and we share democratically in the wealth we as workers create.

A large number of police today smashed up Occupy Melbourne Rally in solidarity with Occupy Melbourne and against the power of global capitalism 12:30 Saturday 22 October Petrie Plaza

Certainly the reported turnout in Madrid of 500,000 protestors, in Times Square of up to 100,000 and in Santiago of 60,000 shows widespread anger about the inability of the system to deliver benefits to all, not just to those who own capital.

Whatever happens from this point, Occupy has already changed the reference points of U.S. politics. No longer can the hateful, corporate-funded Tea Party claim to speak for the disgruntled majority. Working people are finding their own political voice–and they’ll no longer keep silent.

That’s why it’s so important that everyone who supports the Occupy movement get actively involved–and build the fightback.

If the necessity for a democratic society to run production to satisfy human need becomes clearer, then the very real possibility of addressing inequality and corporate greed can arise, not through the chimera of capitalist ‘reform’ but through the reality of revolution.