(en) Britain, Solfed, Vote With Your Feet! - elections
political parties anarcho-syndicalism today
In the last election, about 22 million of us didn't vote [1]. That's more people than
voted for any political party. It's not because we're apathetic - it's because most of us
see through the "good cop, bad cop" routine of Labour and the Tories. Both parties support
cuts, privatising the NHS, and making life hell for benefits claimants. [2] In the same
way that a "good cop" will offer a cup of tea and a "friendly chat" while a "bad cop"
shouts and makes threats, the Tories jeer at "scroungers" while Labour smiles and talks
about the need to be practical. But whatever they promise in their manifestos, they both
want to do the same thing - to screw us over on behalf of the rich. ---- So what's the
alternative? If you listen to most of The Left, either we should create a new party (why
would they be any different?) [3] or "vote labour without illusions", because they are
"the party of the working class" (bollocks are they!) [4]. This is obviously not going to
change anything. All it does is channel our anger at being screwed over into a process
designed to pacify us. If we want to make our lives better we need to take action for
ourselves, not vote for "representatives" to do it for us.
Rather than trying to get another rich liar politician into power, anarchists are working
in their communities to solve problems through "direct action". When workers aren't paid
the wages owed them, rather than asking the government to give us better legal protection,
we take action to force employers to pay. We've won many cases like this [5]. Rather than
asking the government to end the "workfare" programmes currently used against benefits
claimants, we are shutting them down one by one [6]. The government has even claimed that
AFed and SolFed, among other groups, are a serious threat to workfare! [7] This is despite
the involvement of only a few hundred people. Imagine what we could do with several thousand!
Anarcho-syndicalists also work towards a society where we have real democracy. In SolFed,
we vote on the issues facing us directly, rather than electing representatives and
expecting them to make decisions for us. All our roles are taken on by volunteers - people
with the same pay and the same troubles as all the rest. And unlike politicians, if anyone
steps out of line they can be recalled right away. In the future we want workplaces and
communities to be run like this: with everyone having a say, and decisions made by a
majority rather than a few managers and shareholders. Bosses are the dictators of the
workplace. We can't be free until they are overthrown.
Voting is a waste of time and only serves to dull our anger. On the other hand anarchist
tactics - grassroots organising and direct action - are making a difference right now. If
all of us who don't vote got together and took action (voted "with our feet"), then we
could take back all the rights and benefits we lost under the last Tory government, with
more besides. So let's get organised, get active, and give 'em hell!
[1] stats from govuk website - 15 million plus estimated 6 million not registered
[2]
https://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/2015/04/13/here-comes-the-forced-labour-party-massive-extension-of-workfare-and-benefits-to-be-slashed/;
https://libcom.org/library/driving-nhs-market;http://libcom.org/library/labouring-vain
[3] http://libcom.org/library/should-brighton-vote-green-03032010
[4] http://libcom.org/blog/let%E2%80%99s-all-vote-labour-without-illusions-16112011
[5] UK examples:
http://www.solfed.org.uk/south-london/victory-in-the-wage-theft-fight-against-green-eco-plus,
http://www.brightonsolfed.org.uk/brighton/solfed-chalks-up-another-wages-win-with-brighton-hospitality-workers,
International: http://www.iwa-ait.org/content/struggles-and-victories-iwa-2014
[6] For example:
http://bristolaf.wordpress.com/2013/06/05/victories-in-the-battle-against-workfare
[7]
http://www.informationtribunal.gov.uk/DBFiles/Decision/i1437/Department%20for%20Work%20&%20Pensions%20EA.2014.0073,%200109%20&%200130%20%2822.12.2014%29.pdf
http://www.solfed.org.uk/bristol/vote-with-your-feet
