ECM 2012, Contribution of the Communist Party in Denmark [En.]

Communist Party in Denmark v/ Betty F. Carlsson

European Communist Meeting. Brussels October the 1^st- 2nd. 2012.

The stance of the Communists and workers parties in relation to the capitalist crisis: Assimilationor rupture?

The illusion of the pro-people management of capitalism and the struggle of the communists for the interests of the working class and the popular strata, for overthrow of capitalism, for socialism.

Assimilation is not a possibility for Marxists and communists. The date has run out for the capitalist system. They know it, but won´t accept it, we know it, but how can and shall we act to rupture this rotten system? The bourgeois, the social democrats and most of the left wing parties give people the illusion that the former so-called welfare policy still can be saved,by making the necessary cuts and priorities to save money. In the North they say to the people, that “we” cannot afford it just now. In the South they say that “we” have no money just now. Whatever they say and do, all their black reforms are “to save the welfare for the future”.

But is it true that we cannot afford it, that there is no money?

In all our countries the workers’ productivity has raised much more than the wages. It is why the quota for profit in the EU area has raised from 24 to 35 % since 1975. If the workers’ wages had been at the same quota of the BNPtoday as in the beginning of the 80’s, the states would have had billions more to secure welfare. So – by the way – it is not an advantage to the society to keep the wages low.

In Europe about 10 million people owes 10, 2 billion US Dollars. But 87 % of all active finance capital is spending on speculation. They are not taking part in creating any values.

So, there is enough money. Let us tell it again and again, and that the fact is, that the system doesn’t want tosolve the socio economic problems in the societies.

People ask: Where is all the money we have paid and pay in tax? Answer: They are redistributed. From 2008 to 2010 our EU member countries gave about 13 % of the total economical results in each country to the so-called Bank – securing. The income tax for the riches has been muchreduced; the same goes for the company-tax.

The EU-Commission has just been forced to redraw their proposal to criminalize strikes and to report so-called social unrest. It was too much directly fascist dictatorship. Dictatorship in the EU must be carried out in a more discreet way. Like the Finance Pact, which also Denmark and Sweden – although they are not a part of the EMU countries – by freewill has acceded to join.

The Danish population have two times voted no to join the European Monetary Union. The Danes where very aware up to the referendums, that this was not aboutthe name for the coin, but theimportance of thepossibility to have our own economic policy.

But the new government inDenmark has rapidly incorporated all the wishes and demands from the Finance pact. First the reform of our rights to early/ invalid pension if you have or get a handicap gets chronically ill, mentally disordered etc. Now you cannot get such pension before you are 40 years. The young handicapped will be parked on the very low social security benefit, and every five year they shall prove that they are still not able to work. This was in the spring.

In summer came the reform of income tax. It is the second reform in 2 years. Last time the bourgeoisie government gave huge tax reductions to the most wealthy. This time the social democratic leaded government gave tax reductions to all in job (as the employers’ wishes) and raised the amount from where you shall pay extra top-tax. It is financed by stop for regulations of pensions, social security benefit, unemployment benefit, and other more or less public payments.

Next announced is a reform of the right to get social security benefit and the Study benefit.

The election one year ago changed the government after 10 years bourgeoisie supported by the nationalist right wing party into a Social democratic leaded government together with the Socialist People Party and a social-liberal party. They are secured and supported by the United Left. The people hoped and longed for the promised change. But no changes came, except removing the worse xenophobic legislation.The policy was the same EU policy as the former. All 3 parties are now in the polls fare away from the majority, and the SD’s has never in its history had so low support in the population. Like in your countries, some workers instead will vote for the United Left, but mostly again for the biggest bourgeoisie party…

The most important for the majority – says the polls again and again – isjobs and welfare! The SD’s are dismantling the so-called Nordic welfare modelpaid through income tax. The SAMAK – North European SD parties and leaders from National Trade Unions has decided to make a common proposal, how to “adjust the Nordic Model into the new challenges”. They are giving people false illusions. The ruling finance capital has no use for welfare to the people. They accept a minimal variant securing survival. It means that the struggle for a social state, struggle for security and welfare will be an anti-capitalistic struggle. This is important to get people and labour movements to understand. This neo-liberalistic variant is sign of still more private security for those who can afford it, more private and supply assurances, forced labour for the benefit, forced tests to – what they cynical call – Possibility for help to self-help.

The level of the minimal variant will be depended on what working class can fight through. And here is the problem. In Denmark a new examination of what is the biggest worry tells us, that it is fear of unemployment, fear of being sacked. Frightened people are not the best fighters. And we see today people working longer than the labour agreements tells, that people goes to work although they are ill, accept lower wages “to save the working places” etc.

Never the less, there is only one way out of this measure: The road of struggle.

Capitalism in our continent has a strong machinery of power: The EU, ruling all of us. We are all subjugated the same dictates. Some countries are more willing and fast to assimilate than others, and we still have differences about the EU among our population. In Denmark – if it was possible again to have a referendum about EU, it would be a huge NO. But if we could have a referendum about capitalism, the result would not be the same. In other EU countries it maybe will result in the opposite. Many Danes and Swedes too, say that everything will be better if we left the EU. If we came so far, the situation would be another than the present. But it is strengths to us all, that we in all our parties and countries mobilize to fight the EU and the EU policy. We shall try to coordinate and inspire each other. In Denmark we have called for demonstrations today October the 2^nd where the finance budget for next year will be introduced.

No doubt that the system is having its death struggle. The problem is that many people say that there is no alternative. It is why it is fundamental important that our parties agitate and explain for people socialism as the alternative.