Here we post a video of a speech by Lynn Walsh, editor of Socialism Today (political journal of the Socialist Party, England & Wales) on the crisis in the world economy and international perspectives. An article dealing with some of these themes in more detail will be included in the new edition of the Socialist
Lynn Walsh: A world in crisis from Stephan Kimmerle on Vimeo.
Brian Lenihan introduced the budget for 2010 with the statement that “the worst is over”. This astounding declaration was accompanied by rising unemployment, attacks on public and private sector wages, and the admission that the savagery of the 2010 budget will be matched in 2011 and 2012. There is no question that for working people, the worst is far from over. Part One of a three part article.
Back in February, Enda Kenny said that if elected to government Fine Gael wouldn’t put “another cent” of taxpayers’ money into Anglo Irish Bank. Kenny also said “The junior, and senior, and non-guaranteed bondholders are going to have to pay the price”. These populist statements and promises were cynically made during an election campaign simply to get votes. Now that he is Taoiseach, Enda Kenny has done another u-turn and is handing over not just a few cent to pay off Anglo’s debts – his government is handing over billions!
The last-minute rescue package put together by eurozone leaders on 21 July has averted an immediate Greek debt crisis. A default by Greece would have triggered a European financial crisis, with world-wide repercussions. The package, however, merely eases the Greek government’s cash-flow problem. It does little or nothing to reduce the unsustainable debt mountain or stimulate economic growth. While the eurozone leaders are heading for the beaches or the mountains, Greek workers continue to labour under the yoke of intolerable austerity measures.
