People across the political spectrum share one thing: they sense that we are living at a critical moment in the history of capitalism. Where the last decade of the twentieth century brought a near-universal and smug celebration of capitalism’s success, the second decade of the twenty-first century and beyond finds uncertainty, doubts, and fears in every conversation about global capitalism. 

The Speech of SCYU-KBY in the eighteenth General Assembly of World Federation of Democratic Youth

 

 

Honorable Presidium:

Dear comrades and friends:

 

On behalf of the executive committee of the Syrian Communist Youth Union – Khaled Bagdash Youth, we salute the eighteenth General Assembly of World Federation of Democratic Youth, and we wish them all success at all fronts.

The current deep crisis, in which the capitalist system witnesses, associated with hostility of the global imperialism in targeting all peoples around the world especially the working mass.  This climate requires a strong international front to defend the rights of people and youth, and stand against imperialist aggression and capitalist exploitation. Hence, it is very important to maintain the unity of World Federation of Democratic Youth, and its anti-imperialism character, and enhance its role at international level. (WFDY) is an urgent need nowadays for the world youth and its progressive forces exactly as it was necessary along its glorious past, the past of struggling against the imperialist domination in all shapes to achieve economic, social and political liberation. The past of glorious struggle of progressive youth against the aggressive imperialist wars for achieving independence and national sovereignty, for the rights and interests of people and youth, for social justice.

When, in the last few weeks, insiders and economists like Jeffrey Sachs and David Stockman – not noted for their radical postures – decry the state of the economy and the direction of policies, all of us should take note.
Sachs, one of the fathers of neo-liberal "shock therapy,” recently cited decades-long stagnant wages and obscene levels of inequality: "We’ve reached the greatest income [and] wealth inequality in history… This is a new ‘Robber Baron’ era, of course.” He went on to say "…the people at the top buy the politicians… All of them – all parties. Everyone is in the hands of the super wealthy.” (Interviewed by Aaron Task, Tech Ticker, Yahoo! Finance).

In a recent radio commentary, Glen Ford, executive editor of the Black Agenda Report, lashed out at what he calls the "The Phony Anti-War Movement” (BAR, 5-3-11). Based on a comprehensive study conducted by two academic writers, Michael Heaney, of the University of Michigan, and Fabio Rojas, of Indiana University, Ford charges that "many of the folks that turned out in such large numbers to demonstrate against America’s wars when George Bush was president, were really only opposed to Republican wars. Thus, when Barack Obama captured the White House, the so-called anti-war movement largely collapsed.” The study, as well as Ford’s commentary, gives voice to what many of us on the left have felt for some time. In the US, during the Bush administration and prior to the 2008 election, the anti-war movement surfaced, grew, and gathered momentum. Subsequent to the election, the movement appeared to hesitate and immobilize.

What the voters wanted was unquestionably significant change. What they were promised was change. Whether change will come from the Obama administration is - at best - questionable….
And every indication is that the Obama administration will continue down the path of advancing imperial interests and privileging corporate America.” ZZ’s Blog, 11-06-08
"Has Obama betrayed his progressive promise? Obama never made a progressive promise. The idea of Obama as a water-bearer for liberal or progressive reform came not from Obama's mouth, but from the sheer wishes and dreams of the left…"

Nearly thirty-five years ago, in a rare moment of truth-speak, President Gerald Ford, participating in a televised pre-election debate with future President Jimmy Carter, denied that the socialist countries of Eastern Europe were "captive nations” under Soviet domination. Ford, not known for his political acumen, violated one of the cardinal rules of national political campaigns: thou shall not deviate from "truths” held closely by the US ruling class. The media came down on Ford like a ton of bricks; some say his indelicate comment cost him the election.
It is likely that the bumbling Ford misread his cues or suffered a brain lock since he had earlier signed a proclamation designating the week beginning July 13, 1975 as "Captive Nations Week.” Breaking with the unity of thought that ruling elites fight so hard to establish is not easily forgiven, even if it is inadvertent.

Though Ben Bernanke, the head of the Federal Reserve, prides himself on his extensive research and expertise on the Great Depression, he is strangely quiet on the glaring parallels between this moment and a similar moment four years into the New Deal "recovery” from that earlier economic catastrophe. I wrote in February, 2008:

The [Roosevelt] Administration lost further steam by aggressively attempting to balance the budget in 1937. With the economy sharply rebounding, administration officials began to sound the fear of inflation, urging budgetary restraint. Federal spending was cut drastically, with the WPA nearly shut down. Consequently, the economy quickly sank into decline. Industrial production fell drastically (35% in 9 months), prices fell and unemployment jumped dramatically.

To understand the fate facing the people of Greece, you have to imagine an intruder coming to your home, putting a gun to your head and demanding that you turn over your earnings, surrender your savings, and sell off your car, your television, and your refrigerator t. Greek citizens neither benefited from the profit frenzy of international bankers nor encouraged their irresponsible behavior, yet they are being asked – no, forced – to pay the price for the damage incurred in the collapse of the world capitalist system.