"This strategy is designed to help pensioners, carers and families, and first home buyers." - Kevin Rudd in his address to the nation earlier this evening, announcing the $10.4 billion "economic security strategy" in response to the global financial crisis. Read transcript.
by Peter Boyle
Well that's total bullshit, Prime Minister. It's design to help the capitalist system recover from "worst financial crisis in our lifetime", as you described it.
Pensioners get a one-off Xmas bonus which the government and the capitalists hope will be spent in the shopping malls straight away - so call that what it is - a policy designed to help the retail giants.
Pensioners DON'T get the increase to a living wage they need and deserve.
The unemployed MISS OUT - never mind their ranks are going to swell before Xmas. Many big companies are already putting their lay off plans in place.
First home buyers get a doubling of their rebate - but again let's call that what it is: a policy designed to help the building bosses!
And remember the billions Rudd has already sent the way of the banks and financial institutions via soft loans and the nudge-nudge wink-wink deal so that the banks got to keep 20% of the last RBA interest cut.
If Rudd is Santa Claus, all the pressies are really for the corporate rich.
The Rudd Labor government should:
- cut the bullshit and stop bailing out the capitalist system.
- nationalise the banks (for a start) and run them in the communityinterest.
- give pensioners and the unemployed a living wage now.
- put the entire surplus (and borrow at least the equivalent) andinvest immediately in renewable energy conversion, public transport,public health, public education and public housing.
