Posted on: March 20, 2009 @ 11:10
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Since the onset of the current economic crisis, there’s been a lot of talk about the salaries and bonuses being received by the very CEOs responsible for their company’s mind-boggling losses. Everyone is outraged by this and asking for accountability, and for good reason.
But we need to look a lot closer and ask why we, as the workers who produce this wealth, are those who are getting the least benefit from it? The answer has now become obvious: it’s because of our capitalist system – a system that is responsible for the unequal distribution of wealth.
We shouldn’t be afraid of advancing our own positions as workers on ways of getting out of this crisis. But first, we should refuse to be on the hook for these losses. The media keep on harping that we all need to tighten our belts. We have to reject this approach. Decent jobs need to be maintained in all areas of the economy, in both public and private sectors.
We also need to force every level of government to use our taxes for maintaining and creating employment. There are plenty of ways of doing this: through renewable employment insurance benefits, investing in infrastructure, green jobs, etc.
And finally, we need to stand up everywhere and demand more participatory democracy in our society.
The struggle continues.
