The world situation is one of increasing political and economic instability, social polarization, and the ravages of war and famine. Across the planet, layoffs, cuts in social services, and the merciless squeezing of the working class and poor is on the order of the day. But there is an opposite side to these counter-revolutionary tendencies: the revolutionary movement of millions of people who are saying “enough is enough!”
After
Blackwater USA’s recent street shoot out in Baghdad, the role of mercenaries in Iraq has
received extra attention in the media. Although they have played a key
role in the occupation of Iraq, these
“private security contractors” have for the most part flown under the
public radar. During the 1991 Gulf War, the troop-to-private
contractor ratio was about 60 to 1. Now they outnumber uniformed
troops, more than doubling the actual size of the occupation force.
Most working people would agree that quality jobs, health
care, education, housing and infrastructure aren't too much to ask for.
Instead, capitalism gives us war, racism, economic turmoil, and
unemployment. It’s not as though the money isn’t there – over $2
billion is spent each week just on the occupation of Iraq – it’s a
matter of priorities. Just imagine how many badly-needed schools,
bridges and hospitals could be built, providing quality jobs for
millions of people in the process.