How to fight Trump? Break with both capitalist parties!
2017Mark Ugolini 2017-02Read it in the scan (PDF at ETOL), page 1 →
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VOL. 35, NO. 2, FEBRUARY 2017 WWW.SOCIALISTACTION.ORG U.S. $1 / CANADA $2 Donald Trump, a pompous real-estate mogul and multi-billionaire, has taken the White House while surrounded by billionaire cabinet appointees who have a combined net worth greater than one-third of the United States. An Ivy-League-educated bigot, who from childhood has become accustomed to an opulent lifestyle, including a Manhattan “grand pent house mansion” with gold-plated furnishings, has the temerity to present himself as the voice of the down trodden and the defender of American workers.
Trump’s inaugural address was a demagogic mix ture of populist and nationalistic rhetoric. The as sembled dignitaries were a “Who’s Who” of the ruling elite: nationally prominent political hacks, lobbyists, and influence peddlers intermingled among the most powerful captains of industry and finance.
Oblivious to the irony, Trump said: “Washington flourished, but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered, but the jobs left and factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. … That all changes, start ing right here and right now.”
Trump’s comments are intended to manipulate and deceive workers into believing that he can bring back good paying manufacturing jobs. Despite his orches trated media events, posing to “threaten” companies planning to move operations elsewhere, he has of fered few details on how more jobs will be created.
Trump blames Mexico, China, and other countries when U.S.-based companies outsource jobs and build factories outside the U.S. where wages are very low. He also continues scapegoating immigrants for loss of jobs.
The new administration plans a major shift in trade policy, and Trump has already threatened Mexico with a 20% tariff if they don’t pay for the wall on the border. Other statements, and selection of Peter Na varo as a top trade advisor, signal an aggressive move on China. Navaro is a well-known advocate of this approach. However, the administration has received harsh warnings that raising tariffs will only cause higher prices for consumer goods, added unemploy ment for some sectors of the U.S. workforce, and run a high risk of a trade war.
Trumps words are deceitful, cynically ignoring the reality of an ever-expanding global economy domi John Lamparski / WireImage nated by huge multinational corporations and banks. The only way U.S. capitalists might attract new jobs would be to accelerate severe austerity measures that drive down wages and weaken or eliminate unions and all the protections they provide.
According to Trump, the U.S. role in the world will reflect “a new vision … America First,” to advance U.S. domination and supremacy over world markets by means somewhat different from past administra tions. His aggressively nationalistic foreign policy will drive toward the same objective as Obama’s be fore him—free reign for the huge multinational cor porate and banking interests to dominate and control the world economy.
Trump revealed more of his view of “America First” in a Jan. 25 interview with ABC News. He explained, “We should’ve kept the oil when we got out” of Iraq in 2011. “To the victors go the spoils,” said Trump in an other interview, arrogantly declaring an intention to steal Iraq’s national resources. He prefers this course, recognized as “illegal” under international law, rather than the more veiled imperialist approach of previ (continued on page 8, in “‘The powerful forces of change’”)
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INSIDE Black history — 2 SOCIALIST Oil Pipelines — 3 Immigration — 4
Sustainable jobs — 5 Hacking? — 9 Women’s Marches
Socialists on trial — 10 Canada news — 11 Refugee ban — 12