Editorial: The Rising Tide of Protest Must Form a Real ‘People and Planet’ Alternative

By Ken Ferguson

The millions across the US and the planet rejoicing at the stunning defeat inflicted on Trump and his MAGA acolytes by voters across the republic are right to do so.

Trump  presides over a regime of wanton cruelty, ICE repression including the murder of its victims, war including threats to “wipe out” entire civilisations and an unrelenting enrichment of his clan and their Neo fascist big money backers.

The mass rejection of this kleptocracy by millions of voters at the ballot box is doubly welcome when, as was clearly the case, it was based on anger at the rising costs of fuel and food caused directly by his war on Iran.

However our justified delight at this defeat needs to be tempered by the fact that we face two more years of the egotistical Trump–now a wounded beast–holding immense power and likely to use it.

As we go to press a third US  aircraft carrier is deploying to the Gulf raising concerns that a resumption of war on Iran is on the cards and there is no sign of any rowing back on the bluntly stated war threats which lie behind his “America First” rhetoric already used against Venezuela and increasingly threatening Cuba.

Already the self described “experts” are counselling the victorious Democrats not to stray far from the centre and warning that not to much attention should be paid to “progressive Democrats” seeking action to curb the rich’s power and tackle the cost of living crisis which torpedoed Trump.

What is undoubtedly true is that while initially attention will focus on who takes the rap in Trump’s team –warmonger Hegseth fan of public executions hot favourite–the key battleground will be for the policy and direction taken by the Democrats.

However , and heartening for all opponents of the people and planet trashing Neo Liberalism, the US is not the only centre of challenge demanding change across the planet.

The striking victory chalked up by Lula to win the Presidential election in Brazil stunned the the Neo liberals based as it was of mass mobilisation of millions and literally put his opponent Bolsonaro junior to flight.

This is a hugely significant result firstly for the people of Brazil but also is a direct rebuff for the idea that the region is answerable to US policy in an updated ‘Monroe Doctrine’ and is a direct counter to their meddling on the side of the right in country after country.

As Lula underlined in his victory speech ‘Brazil is nobody’s backyard.”

While the events in the US and Brazil are significant for their citizens they also sit in a context of growing resistance to the consequences of austerity in country after country as centrist governments wrestle with stagnant economies, living standard crisis and a gathering war drive.

France, as we. write, is a scene of mass confrontation between the brutal forces of police and CRS wielding tear gas, batons and their customary brutality at the behest of supposedly “moderate” Macron government and workers, students and citizens over austerity, crumbling schools and a cost of living crisis.

True to form the mass media are spinning events to focus on fringe act of looting and violence laced with the claim (hope?) that such activities will boost the forces of the far right Le Pen in next spring’s presidential polls.

However this is in effect a desperate attempt to damage the mass protests and the forces of youth and the working class who are taking to the streets demanding an end to austerity, pro business rule and police repression.

Of course the fear sweeping the Chancellories of Europe and the EU is that the, given that the grievances driving the French events are felt across Europe the protest, already spreading including in Germany, Italy, Spain and Serbia will grow and force concessions.

This fear also underpinned the timidity of the recent UK budget. Having promised to break with 40 years of Neo liberalism introduced by Thatcher and implemented by Blair, Brown and Starmer it delivered scraps.

The real danger is that, having raised hopes of “change” with the dumping of the detested Starmer voters discover that they are being offered a more articulate version of the same politics.

Burnham is surely at the peak of his popularity now and is likely to face increasing challenges as prices continue to rise and yet his supposed plans–if they exist–are due to bear fruit in 10 years.

Not so for war spending where Billions are still slated to be spent on nuclear missiles, submarines, warships and jet bombers as a strident campaign of warmongering is run to justify war production a we are asked to stockpile baked beans.

The choice grows ever starker.

Either a movement for real change involving peace and solidarity campaigners, communities facing data centres, trade unionists, homeless and a myriad of other issue is built to force change or the extreme centre will slide to defeat opening the way to horrors yet unknown.