Socialist Action (Limerick): no. 7, April 1985

JOE HARRINGTON will be our candidate in this area. With Peoples Democracy, Joe has always supported workers in struggle and is more interested in organising people to fight for what is rightfully theirs than being a "Mr Fix-it" on their behalf.

While always ready to assist with individual problems, Joe encour- |; ages people to seek collective solutions through independent working-class action. The election of JOE HARRINGTON, a revolutionary socialist, to the City Council would be a major breakthrough for working class people, not because of anything he could achieve in what is, after all, a fairly powerless body but because it would signal a fighting response to the attacks of the rich and powerful and away from dependence on capitalist politicfans. A vote for JOE HARRINGTON means you are not content with letting the rich and powerful walk all over you, It means you wish to fight back, Joe asks not just for your votes but for qa committment to fight for a better life in a Workers' Republic.

Joe Harrington If you would like to support our election campaign please contact us immediately at - 109 O'Malley Park or - 39 Elm Place Rathbane, 215 O'Malley Fark, 147 Carew Pk, 108 Glasgow Pk.

Election campaigns cost money and, wnlike the parties of the wealthy, we depend on the contributions of working people. Please support our campaign Fund. Contact 109 O'Malley Fark.

a er ee. SOCIALIST ACTION No?) iSsSueC Oy PEOPLES DEMOCRACY April 2965

LOCAL ELECTIONS ’85

Building the Fightback The Local Elections take place on June 20 against a background of growing attacks on demo-~ cratic rights, living standards and increased collaboration with Britain's oppression of the Northern minority. Working class people are under severe attack from the rich and powerful.

The unjust PAYE system, the Water Tax, the cuts in Health and other services, the massive unemployment are all aimed at inflicting a decisive defeat on the working class.

In this context these are not ordinary elections.

Many people intend using them to hit back at the government and we agree with this, However, more than this is required. We say these elections must be used to boost the working class fightback already underway.

4ll over Ireland workers are fighting back.

Factory occupations like Atari are comion.

Community groups have mushroomed in the campaign against Service Charges, There was strong opposition to the repressive Criminal Justice Bill and the campaign against plastic bullets and strip searches in Armagh vail have gained wide support. The northern minority continues to spearhead the struggle against british imperialism in Ireland. Progress for working class depends on extending and co-ordinating these struggles.

In the longer term we must work for a government answerahle to the working class and which defends its interests. Only “ocialist Republicans are committed to the fight for a Socialist Republic as outlined by Connolly. We in P.D. fight for this goal. Capitalism isn't working, The economic recession isn't a passing phase. There is no boom around the corner. What we now have is "normal". ill the establishment politicians have to offer is advice on how to tighten our belts, But things don't have to be bad. As socialists we know that a society based on social ownership of the big industries, banking etc, with democratic control exercised by working class people can assure qa decent life for all our people.

eee met a (see back page) Water Tax The refusal of Timerick City Council to sanction the Government imposed Water Tax is entirely due to the campaign against the £50 levy. It is a major boost to NaTO's national campaign against Service Charges and is a severe setback to the government's unjust policy of double taxation.

NaTO's campaign has also forced Fianna Fail to undertake to abolish Service Charges if returned | to power, This promise has nothing to do with pees opposition to injustice but, rather, s political opportunism by the party that first proposed these Charges.. However, it is a victory and Fianna Fail must be pushed to turn their promise into concrete support now for those being harassed for refusing to pay existing charges. While some people have been blackmailed into pouine the charges the campaign is winning. This Tax can be beaten if we stand firm, The anti-Water Tax Committee meets in Connolly Hall each Monday, 8pm. All are welcome.

Nicaragua - 4n Example for Ireland.

Seven Nicaraguan musicians, members of the Rural Workers Union (ATC) are now on a tour of Ireland, At a meeting in Limerick they outlined the changes that have taken place in their country since the revolution overthrew the Somoza dictatorship in 1979.

Since then housing has been provided for 11, illiteracy has been reduced from 50% to under 13%, the school student population has doubled, polio has been eliminated and infant mortality has be2n more than halved. The country became self sufficient in food in 1983. The reason for this dramatic progress is to be found in the decision of Nicaraguans to introduce a system that puts people before profits, Our Irish capitalist society puts profits before people. Thousands languish on housing licts.

Unemployment reaches record levels. Thitcher uses thousands of troops to maintain the oppression of the nationalist minority. The Coalition has only more prisons and repressive laws to offer our fustrated young people w..o0 see nothing but fraud and corrupticn at the highest level. Nicaraguans rebelled against the capitalist system of exploitation and have begun to build 3 fundamentally different type of society based on people's needs. ‘Theirs! is a shining example to Irish workers. SO4K THE RICH, a P.D. pamphlet on the campaign against the Water Tax. Price 25p. Available from 109 O'Malley Park,