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Friday, September 06, 2013

Food for thought reforms one and two

The futility of reform - This week marks the fiftieth anniversary of Martin Luther King's famous "Dream" speech. It has been described as a defining moment in American civil history. But Americans are still debating how much of the dream has taken hold -- not bloody much!
Modern economic realty has got in the way. Long-time labour activist and author, Stanley Aronowitz, who helped to make the march a
reality, comments (Toronto Star, 24/08/2013), "On a scale of 1 to 10, Americans as a whole have gone from one in 1963 to minus three in terms of economic well being, and African Americans today are now at minus-five." We need a lot more than stirring speeches, maybe a class consciousness would help?
The futility of reform II -- Layoffs in Japan have always been taboo. Workers got jobs for life in return for fierce company loyalty and hard work that produced the Japanese economic miracle after WWII. Now Sony are forcing the issue by putting those who refuse early retirement in a special room with nothing to do hoping that the workers in question will be so bored they will be glad to go. This is part of a general movement by companies and supported by
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to end the 'privilege' of a job for life. A stagnant economy for years has prompted the capitalist class to go after this particular perk and to get a more 'flexible' (read poorly paid, no benefits and no security) work force. Easy come, easy go for reforms -- time to ditch them and the system where workers must beg for decent treatment and standards! John Ayers.


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