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From The Socialist newspaper, 9 February 2006
Bush not going Green
HAS US president George Bush, the die-hard neo-conservative former Texan oil man, gone green? His state of the union speech attacked his country's "addiction" to imported oil. Instead, he proposed all manner of alternative clean fuels and technologies that his administration was funding research into.
But Bush's 2005 energy bill, approved by the Republican-dominated House, gave 93% of $8 billion in tax breaks to companies involved in fossil fuels and nuclear energy and only 7% to renewable energy research. He gave billions to oil companies to 'incentivise' oil exploration while companies such as ExxonMobil are making billions in profits because of current record highs in oil prices.
The energy bill also opened the door for such companies to get leases to drill for oil in the Alaskan wilderness, thereby threatening pristine natural habitats.
Moreover, there is little incentive for capitalists to switch producing petrol-driven automobiles to electric or fuel cell-powered vehicles. Clearly oil will account for nearly 100% of fuel for transport in the foreseeable future. Only a workers' government with a socialist energy/transport policy can end capitalism's addiction to the 'black gold'.
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Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 9 February 2006:
Socialists must build a united workers' movement to fight divisions
Victory for trade union militancy
NHS - hands off our GP services!
Campaign for a New Workers' Party
Venezuela: Women occupy Caracas factory
Venezuela: We are a mighty river
Sri Lanka: Back from the brink of war?
Are Trotsky’s ideas of socialist revolution still relevant today?
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