Limerick City: Cian Prendiville

Plutocrats wield power and influence by virtue of their wealth. The ultra-free-market, globalised capitalism of recent years has produced a new breed of super-rich plutocrats. Wealth gives them influence, which gives them power, which enhances their wealth. socialistparty.net reviews a recent study of the super-rich elite.

Now is an ideal time to take stock of the battle against the Household Tax in 2012 and learn some of the lessons from this historic struggle.

Elysium is a dystopian sci-fi action film released in August 2013, starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster. Set in the year 2154, it follows the story of Max da Costa, a factory worker living in the ruins of a future Los Angeles. In this future, the rich and powerful have fled the poverty, disease, and environmental destruction they’ve wrought on the world, and moved to a space station called Elysium. There they live in an idyllic society, far removed from the struggle of ordinary people on earth.

The successful implementation of the property tax is a Pyrrhic victory for the government. It comes at enormous political expense, particularly for Labour.