(en) wsm.ie: Sinn Féin, Welfare Reform, and Building a
Culture of Resistance by Sean Matthews
As our bankrupt local political class squabble over the crumbs from Westminster's table,
the class war continues with the re-packaged 'Welfare Reform' bill - a further erosion in
the standard of living of the vast majority while transferring wealth to the small
minority. Don't be fooled by token opposition from mainly nationalist political parties to
oppose the bill, particularly from Sinn Féin, that they are 'defending the most vulnerable
in our society' because they are part of the problem rather than the solution proving that
the parliamentary route ends in disempowerment, corruption and betrayal. Rather than
'defending the most vulnerable', let's remember their record in power from consistently
rolling out the red carpet to representatives of Imperialism at home and abroad, to their
rolling out of the red carpet to the Queen and Commander in Chief of the Parachute
Regiment Prince Charles, to their support for tax cuts for the rich, cuts to education and
healthcare, opposition to women's right to choose, to the criminalisation of republican
prisoners over the last decade.
Stormont is a business with competing sectarian interests and its first interest is with
the rich and powerful in society, this is why we never hear about any proposals in the
budget to tax the richest in our society or raising the minimum wage to a living wage. The
battle lines have clearly been marked with our local political class willing enforces of a
brutal austerity agenda which defines the capitalist system we live under.
There are no easy short-cuts and we need to begin the task of building a mass movement
built in every street, workplace and community because we are the only solution to the
rotten status quo.? If we want to turn the tables and start defeat this continues vicious
cycle of cuts imposed by our ruling class, we need to recognise that being right isn't
enough. Unfortunately, our society is not a debating chamber where everyone is given an
equal voice, and the decisions that affect our lives are not taken on moral grounds but by
a small minority in the interests of profit. ?Mass unemployment, poverty, homelessness,
erosion of workers' rights and high rates of suicide among young people is a symptom of a
system that institutionalises violence and domination, scarring every aspect of our lives.
But it does not have to be this way, because we are the majority and have the power to
transform society to fulfill our needs and desires.??
Our rulers don't care about doing right by us. What they care about is power and wealth,
and supporting the interests they represent. Unless we want more of the same and want to
build a better society for ourselves and future generations, we will have to empower
ourselves through direct action, by fostering a culture of resistance and solidarity in
every aspect of our daily lives.
http://www.wsm.ie/c/sinn-fein-welfare-reform-culture-resistance
