Tariffs here, tariffs there, but no “liberation”, anywhere! & “There is no safe place in Gaza”

As “Awful” April began, with increases in energy, council tax and water tariffs, to the detriment of every household, Starmer let it be known that he was going to “stay calm and pragmatic” against those “other” tariffs, currently being brandished by Donald Trump on his so-called “Liberation Day”.

    Actually Starmer has nothing to say to the 24% of the British population living in poverty.  He doesn’t care about domestic “tariffs”.  He is now preening his reactionary self on the “world stage” alongside the world’s over-bidder-in-chief!

   Today, Trump’s overbids sound even more outrageous than they did last time.  And never mind reality.  For instance, that the US economy has dominated the world economy ever since the end of WW1, certainly since the end of WW2, and is certainly no “victim”.  Quite the contrary.

   However the capitalist class and its increasingly imbecilic and degenerate representatives in governments has less and less of a clue as to what it can do to get out of the vicious cycle of debt, declining growth and chronic crisis:  the inevitable consequence of attempting to keep its sick system alive, against the odds.

   Certainly it’s not trade tariffs nor any other petty tinkering which can possibly cure it.  It’s a sickness that permeates every cell of the capitalist system like a slow virus.

   But the image of “victim hood” and blaming others - be they desperate refugees, foreigners, or the unemployed, sick and disabled, suits the politically bankrupt who are today in power - not because of their popularity (Trump actually didn’t win a true majority and neither did Starmer’s Labour), but because of electoral systems which are designed to work to their advantage.

   And while the largest of economies may well be able to carry on breathing (for now) despite its infected cells, it is terminally infected, nevertheless.

   Indeed, having already lasted long beyond its ability to “serve” humanity, the capitalist system is relying on prima donna caricatures like Trump, but also Macron, Starmer, Carney etc., to “save” it.  However, whether they posture towards the right or the left, they offer nothing but devastation to the world’s populations.

   In fact it’s precisely because of the catastrophic cost paid by humanity (over 100 million dead) in 2 world wars, consciously entered into by the world’s leaders at the time, that it’s possible for them to threaten people with the spectre of “World War 3".

   It is obvious to any sane person that there needs to be new world order given the ever-shrinking corner that capitalism (and the climate change it aggravates) has painted humanity into.

   This is why the working class is right to turn away from conventional politicians.  But that’s not enough.  It needs to start, with urgency, to build a political organisation worthy of the tasks which face the whole of humankind in the years to come: which will reshape the world as one whole and holistic entity, rubbing out all borders so all the planet’s resources can be used in the interests of everyone.

Finally at least some of the British media (not the BBC of course, but ITV) are starting to tell the truth about the situation in Gaza.  How Netanyahu’s far-right government - of course, to save Netanyahu’s own political neck - is going in for the final kill against Gaza’s Palestinian population.  The cease-fire is long-violated.  Over 1,200 people have been killed since it was broken by Netanyahu.

    And now, despite the huge demonstrations by the Israeli population calling for its reinstatement, (as the only way that hostages were released), the Israeli army has re-invaded and is now seizing and occupying parts of Gaza.  Israel’s defence minister says these will be incorporated into “security” zones.  The Israeli army isn’t leaving.

   In the meantime the total blockade of the Strip (no food, water, fuel, medical supplies) continues into its 32nd day.  There is no flour left to bake bread.  And hospitals and clinics are routine targets of Israeli bombs.

   What’s more, the people of Gaza are presented with an ultimatum:  if they don’t want to be bombed into complete annihilation they’re told it’s up to them to “overthrow Hamas” and free the hostages!  This would be laughable if it wasn’t so utterly cynical!  And predictably, reports now appear in the British media (see the BBC...) which feed such an absurdity.

   But, as even the Israeli daily, Haaretz argues, if the Israeli population didn’t manage to overthrow Netanyahu’s government, despite mobilising on the streets for months, despite its support among current and past military leaders and despite its own army training, how could anyone expect the starving, homeless, traumatized Gazans to “overthrow Hamas”?  And that’s assuming they wanted to, given that the oppressor state blowing them to shreds isn’t Hamas, but commanded by Netanyahu...

   In that sense, Israelis and Palestinians have a common enemy.  We can only hope that in the future their respective working classes will find a way to build a bridge over the bloody torrent which, through no fault of their own, separates them today.