En Passant

It is because Labor’s policies have been the policies of neoliberalism, of kowtowing to the rich and powerful, with occasional rhetorical flourishes of class war merely showing how far removed we are from it, that it offers no class analysis of society and the way forward for workers that Tony Abbott will be the next Prime Minister.

Rather than this being a rupture it is a continuation of Labor’s politics of neoliberalism. As Hawke and Keating led to Howard, so Rudd and Gillard are now leading to Abbott.

The solution for workers seems clear enough. Fight both brands of neoliberalism, not with television advertisements but with strikes.

Tax the rich and business to pay for better public services for all Australians and to fully fund a totally renewable energy society by 2025.

Yes, it is obviously very important work talking to Boris, William and Mervyn in London instead of reading the damning indictment of one of your mates. Is this how your government will operate Mr Abbott? Mates can do no wrong? Ignore the findings of judges when they impugn your mates? Is that it?

Without class struggle no alternative working class political ideas can prosper, can break through, can shine, let alone lead. So enjoy your reading about Ricky’s retirement and Ralph’s rort, about Abbott’s allegations and Gillard’s gadflying. One day politics, real class politics, will burst forth and we will be able to say, like Marx, well grubbed old mole.

Instead of taxing Gina Rinehart, the world’s richest woman, Labor is attacking single mums, some of the least well off women in Australia. Maybe it’s time for the social media crowd to defend them in a massive campaign against Gillard.

If you want to know what an Abbott government will be like on economic policy, look at Campbell Newman. If you want to know what it will be like on social policy look at Alan Jones.

Abbott’s instability, his thought bubble approach to policy, his climate denialist base within the extreme right of the Liberal Party and the looming economic crisis in Australia all make for a possible tumultuous period of rule for the current leader of the Opposition and his by and large unremarkable front bench if they win, as they will, the next election.

The key will be class struggle. How much longer can Australian workers not fight?

We all know Rupert Murdoch’s Australian newspaper is big on free speech. (Its own, if no-one else’s.) And investigative journalism. And making sure our leaders are people of integrity. So I thought I’d post the letters I sent to The Australian in the last few days that it hasn’t published.

The lack of a real union fight against the Bligh government laid the groundwork for a vicious anti-worker Newman government. The same lack of a union fight against the Gillard government is laying the groundwork for a vicious anti-worker Abbott Government.

The time has come to stand up against the Bobbsey twins of job slashing wage cutting neoliberalism, Labor and the coalition.

Two simple questions Tony Abbott. Will you remove the GST exemptions on fresh food, health, education and child care? Will you increase the GST rate?