November Elections:
The Ruling Class Prepares to Change Horses

Oct 16, 2006

As Election Day approaches, poll after poll shows there is a good chance that the Republican Party will lose its grip on Congress.

Republicans are being engulfed by the corruption scandals around Jack Abramoff, Tom DeLay, Bob Ney, and the sex scandal around Congressman Mark Foley.

There have even been revelations from inside the Republican party about the open disdain and contempt that the Republican leadership has for the people of their religious fundamentalist voting base.

Then, of course, there is the general discontent over the disastrous war in Iraq, the handling of Hurricane Katrina, and the effects of the huge redistribution of wealth to the rich.

All this means that at least some of the Republican base, especially religious fundamentalists, may sit out this election.

Of course, what is happening to the Republicans, after 12 years in power, is nothing new. The Democratic Party held control of Congress from the time of Roosevelt up through Clinton, that is, over 50 years, until it was swept out of power in l994 by these very same sort of scandals.

Certainly a great many working people are ready to rejoice at the well-deserved troubles of the Republicans. But the only “alternative” presented, the Democratic Party, is no less an enemy of the working class.

Despite their rhetoric, the Democrats have worked hand in glove with the Republicans on all of their key policies, whether it was the war, or taxes, or benefits to the wealthy. On the local and state levels, in office, the Democrats have carried out the same sorts of cuts in education, health care, and social services. This should be no surprise. The Democrats are just as much a bosses’ party as are the Republicans.

To change things–really change things for the better–workers will need to take matters into our own hands, and bring our own forces to bear, in our own interests–against Republicans and Democrats alike.