The Spark

the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist

“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx

EDITORIAL
Elections:
Oppose the Republicans and Democrats, the Parties of the Ruling Class

Oct 11, 2010

The Republicans say the economy is getting worse–and it is. But who would vote for the Republicans if they had a choice? Bush and the Republicans were in charge when the economy crashed and burned, bringing on the worst crisis since the 1930s Great Depression.

The Democrats say they are not to blame for the economic crisis, because it started under Bush–and it did. But who would vote for the Democrats if they had a real choice? The Democrats followed in Bush’s footsteps and gave away trillions of dollars in taxpayer money to big business and the banks.

The Republicans say their priority is to close the budget deficit. They call for slashing social spending, social services, education, Social Security–all the programs that serve the working population. All this to keep the enormous tax cuts for the wealthy and increased spending for wars and weapons. The Republicans openly take the side of the wealthiest against the working class.

Like the Republicans, the Democrats say they want to cut the budget deficit. But the Democrats say they want to tax the wealthiest more. Unfortunately, or so the Democrats say, they can’t do it because they don’t have the forces–despite Democratic control of the White House, the House of Representatives and the Senate for almost two years. So Democrats say they have no choice but to cut spending on social programs, services, Social Security, etc. The Democrats pretend to be the friends of working people–but stab us in the back all the same.

The Republicans are more open about attacking working people, while the Democrats carry out attacks, while pretending they don’t like them.

What are the major so-called "accomplishments’ of these two parties?

Both parties have taken turns managing and supporting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. These wars are aimed at strengthening the U.S. imperialist grip over the Middle East and Central Asia through terror and blood. While both parties claim the war in Iraq is practically over–a lie–they both support extending the wars into Pakistan.

Second, both parties have spent trillions to bail out big business and the banks. This did not rescue the economy, as advertised. The capitalists used the taxpayer money for even more wild speculation, which, in turn is strangling and sabotaging the economy, while paving the way for another crash.

For workers, we have no real choice in these elections, no party that represents the interests of the working class. Many workers know this and they don’t vote at all.

Others vote for the "lesser of two evils," or they vote against the party in office. It’s all a trap. By voting for either of the bosses’ parties, working people give the politicians a blank check, a stamp of approval for their policies.

If you vote for either Democrats or Republicans, you are authorizing both of these parties to continue attacking us.

Don’t give them your vote!