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News & Views by Terry Bell
Browsing All posts tagged under »politics«
The need to talk about Marxism
The ideas of Karl Marx have, in one way or other, had the greatest influence on trade union and labour movement internationally. But these ideas have been more distorted and lied about than those of any other social theorist. What, in fact, does Marxism actually mean?
Still none so blind…..
May 18, 2018
Economic growth remains the mantra across the board as the economic crisis staggers on. This, despite all the evidence that the drive for economic growth is part of the problem and not any form of solution.
Farm wages, workers & common interests
May 13, 2018
We are all trapped in an economic system which, if its demands were judged by human standards, would almost certainly be regarded as criminally insane. Government, perhaps encouraged by the unions, could take steps to introduce an element of stability and fairness to those who suffer most in this global asylum. This could be a step forward to dealing with the lunacy itself.
The democratic centralist curse
April 30, 2018
Democratic centralism is one of the most abused concepts within the South African political and labour arena. It has come to the fore again in debates around the strike protesting a proposed minimum wage and amendments to the labour laws. Hopefully, such debate will lead to the democratic reforms needed in much of the labour movement.
SA govt’s public sector pay gamble
April 16, 2018
The SA government — the biggest employer in the land — has effectively reneged on its own proposals for a settlement with more than 1 million of its employees, gambling that ANC aligned unions will accept the new, austerity measures. This has caused growing anger at rank and file level and may mean the government has overplayed its hand.
The YES gambit for 2019 SA elections
April 1, 2018
The Youth Employment Scheme (YES) announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa is not unique. Sucvh schemes have been tried — and have failed — before. In fact, YES may add more fuel to the ticking time bomb of dissatisfaction among the army of unemployed youth.
The “hymn of labour” that still survives
March 17, 2018
The Internationale, that labour hymn of protest and call to action has survived being appropriated by that grotesque parody of socialism in the former Soviet Union. It should be celebrated on Sunday, March 18, the anniversary of the start of the 1871 Paris Commune that provided the inspiration for it.
Which women best epitomise IWD?
March 11, 2018
As was noted at the International Women's Day founding conference in Copenhagen in 1910: “It is a matter of indifference who is the ‘master’, a man or a woman.” Is it women who support this point of view who best represent the ideals that should be striven for?
Terry Bell Writes 
May 21, 2018
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