Fight for a socialist alternative
THE general election is now just a few weeks away. Many people will
regard this prospect with complete indifference. The contest will be
seen as an unprincipled fight between different parties of liars. Tony
Blair in particular has a big reputation for lying.
Iraq
Blair’s reputation comes largely from the war and occupation of Iraq,
which has killed tens of thousands of Iraqis. The occupation’s economic
costs are also spiralling out of control.
Recent revelations suggest that Blair’s senior New Labour friends put
"huge pressure" on attorney general Lord Goldsmith to lie by
declaring the war ‘legal’ before Bush went in, back in 2003. But war’s
not the only thing Blair and Co are deceiving us on.
Economy
Chancellor Gordon Brown says Britain’s economy has been healthy for
the longest period for 300 years! But a million jobs in manufacturing
industry have disappeared in the eight years since Blair came to power.
Britain’s capitalist class have managed to lower both factory
production and business investment. And economic ‘experts’ all agree
that Brown will have to raise taxes or cut spending – or even both –
after the election.
Health
Blair boasts about record levels of health spending. But a lot of
that increase is lining private profiteers’ pockets through Private
Finance Initiative deals. Meanwhile the trusts running the hospitals
face huge budget deficits.
Blair and Co. want us, the public, to pay for worsening services,
while health workers are asked to treat more patients, faster, in
hospitals with fewer beds!
Education
Again record spending is claimed. But where’s the money going? Huge
amounts are being wasted on Blair’s beloved ‘city academies’. These
divisive schools entice wealthy individuals or corporations to put up to
£2 million into them, then give these millionaires the right to do what
they like. The rest of the cost will be met from government – i.e.
taxpayers’ money.
And as a teacher said at the National Union of Teachers conference,
these academies would "hamper the drive to raise standards for all
children”.