Anarchist Age Weekly Review 23-29 Nov. '98 Number 327 23rd - 29th November, 1998 IN A TIME OF UNIVERSAL DECEIT - TELLING THE TRUTH IS A REVOLUTIONARY ACT - GEORGE ORWELL THANK GOD FOR KERRY!! If I believed in God, I would fall on my knees and thank her for creating Kerry Packer and the fruits of his loins, James Packer. Kerry and James Packer are just the shot in the arm that Anarchists need in this country. You'd have to go a long way to find a pair of Australians like Kerry and James Packer, the countries favourite media moguls. Flicking through Consolidated Press Holdings annual report (the Packers main company), it was interesting to note that C.P.H. had made over 614 million dollars in profits over the past two years. What's even more interesting is that profits have increased by over 70% in the last 12 months. A beautiful set of figures in the media moguls eyes. What's fascinating about the Packer's companies profit is not the amount of profit made, but that the dynamic duo didn't pay ONE CENT of company tax. What's even more fascinating about this great set of figures is that the Packer boys haven't done anything illegal. By using a complicated set of company structures, the Packer boys have been able to legally arrange their affairs so that they don't have to pay any tax to the fiscal fiend. While on the other hand the P.A.Y.E. as you earn crowd (the great majority of Australians), are paying 42 cents in the dollar in tax, if they earn more than forty thousand dollars in a year. As I said, thank you God for providing us with the Packer boys. The Packer boys have, through their complex company structures demonstrated to Australian taxpayers, that the system is geared towards the needs of the rich and powerful. Ten thousand anarchist militants fighting pitched battles with police on the streets of Melbourne, couldn't hope to create the same levels of disillusionment with the state and the corporate sector than the recent actions that the Packer boys have created. As I said at the beginning of this article, thank you God for providing the Anarchist movement with the likes of Kerry Packer and the fruits of his loins, James Packer. Men who through their actions do more to promote egalitarian social change then ten thousand anarchist militants could ever hope to achieve. PRIVATISATION BY STEALTH!! This week all Victorian households received a glossy publication from the states Human Service Department outlining the wonderful health choices, health "consumers" have in Victoria. Thumbing through this impressive (visually only) publication, you soon realise this is just another of the Kennett regimes pathetic public relations exercises. The facts (not my facts) but the governments own statistics paint a very different picture. Over two hundred and fifty hospital beds have closed in Victoria over the past twelve months and over five hundred public hospital workers have lost their jobs in the same period. Downsizing (wonderful word isn't it - it's a little bit like collateral damage) has occurred not because of supply and demand. (Demand for public sectors health services have ballooned over the past six years). It's occured because the Victorian State government has embarked on a conscious policy of running down the public health sector to suit its ideological agenda. The La Trobe Valley Hospital, a significant public hospital in regional Victoria, has been privatised. Tenders have been called to privatise Echuca Hospital, another significant regional public hospital. The Austin and Repatriation Hospital, Victoria's second largest hospital has also been earmarked for privatisation. Tenders have been called and will be called in the next few weeks to finalise the privatisation of this Melbourne icon. Ironically the Austin Hospital was left in a private bequest to the state by Mrs Austin, a Melbourne philanthropist who lived at the turn of the century. The Repatriation was handed over to the State government by the Hawke Labor government in the early 1990's. In my opinion Glib il Kennett, his Cabinet cronies and the governments' back benches, through their ideological drive to privatise the States public health services are personally responsible for the human pain and suffering that is occurring across Victoria as a consequence of their ideologically driven privatisation agenda. WHAT A JOKE!! I'm amazed by the extensive public debate that has occurred as a result of ever increasing bank charges. I've been astounded by the flood of calls to talkback radio stations about the "greedy" banks behaviour. It seems that people have been shocked by the latest round of bank charges. Listening to people waffle on about how unfair it all is, has been a real eye opener for me. I can't believe how many people still expect the banks to do the right thing by them. A bank's primary responsibility is not to the government or its depositors. Its primary responsibility is to its shareholders. How a bank makes its profit has nothing to do with morality or fairness. Social and human costs do not enter into a banks calculations when it increases its fees. It will charge what ever fee the customer will tolerate. We're constantly told that in a capitalist society costs can be contained through competition. It's interesting to note that the government established the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission to try to force corporations to compete. What we are witnessing today in the banking sector is symptomatic of what is happening across the country. Although people are told that state assets need to be priavatised to stimulate competition and decrease prices, the very opposite normally occurs. Although State assets belong to the State not the people, the people can pressure governments that own State assets to provide subsidised services to the people. Historically the state has taken over non-profitable essential services to provide services that the private sector cannot deliver. The current orgy of privatisation has placed many of these assets back into the hands of the private sector. The immediate consequences of these decisions are plain for all to see. Private monopolies take over these state enterprises and squeeze every ounce of profit out of them. Moral, human and social imperative are replaced by the drive to create profits, irrespective of the social and human costs. Ladies and Gentleman, Comrades and Citizens, Boys and Girls welcome to the Brave New World, a world that looks depressingly similar to the world that the human race left behind when they entered the 20th century. MEANS TESTING What the Australian public Health Sector could do with an extra 1.5 billion dollars would fill a book. What the Australian private health sector will do with an extra 1.5 billion dollars can be written in one short sentence - "they would pass on the extra money to their shareholders." The Australian Senate seems to be deadlocked on the question of what to do about the Howard government's attempts to bolster the private health sector at the expense of the public sector. In an attempt to bolster the sagging fortunes of the private health sector and encourage people to take up private health insurance, the Howard government has promised people that they will subsidise private health insurance to the tune of $450 per family. The thinking behind this proposal is very simple. By subsidising private health insurance, the government hopes to keep more people in the private health sector and relieve the pressure on an underfunded public health sector. Fine sentiments indeed, unfortunately there seems to one problem that's worrying Senator Colston and Senator Harradine, the offer is not means tested. This means that the obscenely rich and the deserving poor (who scrape and save to keep their private health insurance) are treated as equals. It seems the Howard governments' attempts to bolster numbers in the private health sector are doomed to failure. Irrespective of what I think about the whole business, if the government was serious about increasing private health numbers, it would subject people with private insurance to a means test. By applying a means test, it's possible that many people who can't afford private health insurance today, would join a private health fund if their contribution was means tested. PERFORMANCE BASED BONUS You have to hand it to Jeffrey Glib Kennett and his Treasurer Alan Stockdale, both men believe that they are hard done by. If they were in the private sector, they believe they would be able to rake in the cash hand over fist. Poor Jeffrey and Alan are upset that their desire to serve the public has come (according to our heroes) at a significant financial cost to them. Considering that both Stockdale and Kennett have done more to help the corporate sector and their little mates in business then any other previous Premier or Treasurer, you'd think that if they didn't believe the public recognises their true worth, they would pass the hat around their corporate mates. Unfortunately for both Jeffrey and Alan, such behaviour is seen as unethical even in Kennett's Victoria. If Jeffrey and Alan feel their public efforts have not been sufficiently rewarded, they should resign, pick up their substantial superannuation payments and become private consultants to the corporate sector and the business world. Both Paul Keating and Robert Lee Hawke, birds of a different political feather, have found a comfortable niche among the corporate sector. If they can do it, I'm sure Jeffrey and Alan could also do it. As far as performance based bonuses are concerned, neither deserve ONCE CENT. ANARCHIST QUESTION AND ANSWER Q. Market forces, capitalist plot or anarchist nirvana? A. Listening to some anarchists, you'd think egalitarian social change will only occur when you drive a wooden stake through the heart of market forces. What are market forces? Simply put, they are the pressures within a society which drive people to produce in a particular manner. The problem doesn't lie in the concept of what are market forces, but what parameters drive production in a particular direction. The difficulties with market forces in a capitalist society are two fold. Production is based on profit not satisfaction of human needs and the means of production, distribution and exchange are held in the hands of those who through force and the exploitation of other peoples' labour have been able to acquire capital. When the corporate sector and governments dribble on about letting the markets decide. They are talking about a market which they control, own and manipulate to create profits. When anarchists talk about market forces they are talking about the internal drive within a society to satisfy human needs. They are describing a drive that is harnessed to satisfy the needs of everybody, not just the needs of those who hold capital. Anarchist market forces are not determined by a small elite, who manipulates the market to suit their needs, they are determined by everyone. People within an anarchist community decide through information and discussion, what are society needs, what common assets do they have to satisfy these needs and what is the best way to utilise these assets, so these needs are met. Through participation, discussion and action they are able to organise their communities human and natural resources to satisfy real human needs, not manufactured corporate ones. ACTION BOX - TALK BACK RADIO Co-hosting a talkback show on community radio 3CR in Melbourne. Talk Back With Attitude has reinforced my ideas about the importance of radio talkback. Radio is immediate, you never know who's listening and what type of effect you can have on people. Talkback on commercial and state run radio stations is a game. The talkback caller is seen essentially as a commodity that can be used to improve ratings or reinforce a particular train of thought. The wild card in the equation is the caller. I strongly recommend that readers of the action box who listen to radio, climb onto the talkback bandwagon. It's anonymous and with a little bit of practice, callers can put forward egalitarian concepts, ideas and strategies on talk back radio. When you ring up, your call will be taken by a producer, be polite, have a dozen words ready to describe your point of view. The producer is keen to put callers on radio who seem to know what they are talking about. They act as a gatekeeper for the programme. If you tell them you're an anarchist or seem aggressive, they won't put your call through. When you eventually get on air, initially say something nice - "I'm a regular listener to the show" or "I enjoy your show". As most hosts are egomaniacs (I include myself in this definition), it goes with the job, they'll be put off guard. Once you've lulled them into a false sense of security, get into your spiel, have your thoughts in order. NEVER READ (It's a great run off to listeners) and talk without taking a breath. (You can do it with practice). This prevents the radio host from cutting you off. Once you've made your point, waffle on about how pleased you are that the presenter allowed you to make you point. This puts the radio host on the back foot, because if he/she is rude to you, they look like an idiot. If a host is giving you a hard time, hang up on them, this makes it look like you've had the last word. If you have a few friends who are interested in playing the talkback game, ring simultaneously, approach the discussion from different angles, but make the same point. Two or three people making the same point reinforces the idea among listeners that the ideas you've presented are legitimate and mainstream. Once you have said your piece, don't be frightened to mention that you are an anarchist and that's why you have these ideas. The radio host may then be drawn into an on air conversation about anarchy. As I said, it's a game, treat it as a game and you'll get a lot out if it. If you're interested in community TALK BACK RADIO, give our producer CARMEN a ring on TALKBACK WITH ATTITUDE every Thursday. Start calling (03) 9419 0155 at ten to nine every Thursday morning. The programme last an hour (9.00am - 10.00am). The difference between community talkback and commercial and state run talkback, is where we are interested in using as a medium to help people get together and fight dominant culture and the state not support it. AUSTRALIAN ANARCHIST HISTORY - MELBOURNE'S ANARCHIST BOOKSHOPS A few Melbourne Newsagents acted as Anarchist propaganda outlets in the late 1880's and early 1890's. The Italian Anarchists in exile in Melbourne in the 1920's and early 1930's, had a number of public outlets (initially in the city, later on outside Trades Hall), that sold Italian Anarchist Literature. The first specific post W.W.II anarchist outlet that sold and produced anarchist literature in Melbourne was the Collingwood Free Store at 42 Smith St. Collingwood. It operated in 1971 and 1972. An Anarchist Centre that provided access to anarchist literature was opened in Richmond at a disused butchershop at the Corner of Willis and Church St, Richmond in 1977. In 1980 the Libertarian Workers for a Self-Managed Society opened up the first specific Anarchist Bookshop in Melbourne's history, CHUMMY FLEMMING BOOKS. The bookshop was located in Toorak just off Toorak Road, near the corner of Chapel St and Toorak Road. Interestingly Toorak is home to Melbourne's ruling classes. Surprisingly in 1980 the rents in the new Toorak shopping centre, the bookshop was located in, were the cheapest in Melbourne. As the arcade was off the main road, the owners found it difficult to lease the shops. The shop closed in 1982. The Melbourne Anarchist Centre/Bookshop M.A.C. was opened in 1984, initially it was based at a shop near the corner of Johnston and Gertrude St, Fitzroy, a year later it moved to premises near the corner of Punt Road and Victoria St, Collingwood. The shop closed down in 1987. No specific Anarchist Bookshop was opened in Melbourne until 1996 when an anarchist Collective opened up Barricade/Information Centre. The Bookshop became a target for NeoNazi groups and had its windows smashed twice in 1996. Barricade Books looked like a real live Barricade for over twelve months, temporary iron sheets were placed over the front windows, but the bookshop continued to function. Eighteen months ago the shop was fitted with bullet proof glass and the collective that runs Barricades has not looked back since then. The Barricade Bookshop/Info Centre collective are in for the long haul, they believe it's importance there is a public outlet for anarchist ideas and literature in Melbourne. The Bookshop is located at 115 Sydney Road, Brunswick Tel (03) 9387 6646, email infoshop@xchange.anarki.net Pop in and see them. Without public support, Barricade Books/Info Centre runs a very real risk of becoming another footnote in the history of Melbourne's Anarchist Bookshops. I realise that I may not have mentioned all of Melbourne's Anarchist Bookshops. If you know about one I haven't mentioned, give me a call on (03) 9828 2856 - Joe Toscano or fax the information to (03) 9482 4371. BOOK REVIEW THE ANARCHISTS by James Joll, First published in 1964 by Eyre and Spottiswoode Review Copy Methuen & Co Ltd 1969 edition, SBN 41669600 7 I found the Anarchists by James Joll, a fascinating book for all the wrong reasons. Fascinating because it was written in 1964 a period when anarchism was viewed as a philosophy that was dead and buried. Fascinating because James Joll states in his introduction "their political theories are full of logical flaws and mistaken assumptions". Fascinating because it brings another view to bear on a movement that tends to edit out the more unpleasant parts of our history. The Anarchists, is not for the faint hearted, if you're being brought up on a diet of the "noble anarchist", don't pick up this book. If you can read between the lines and you are willing to read other peoples' accounts of our history then read The Anarchists. James Joll is not hostile to anarchist ideas, he thinks "they're impractical", he believes that the trend is "towards centralisation not decentralisation". He believes "anarchism is both a religious faith and a rational philosophy". Joll explores the European background to anarchism in Chapter One, Heresy and Reason. In the next nine Chapters he covers the period from the Middle Ages to the end of the Spanish Revolution. Although James Joll's book doesn't extend anarchist thinking or explores different anarchist strategies, it makes interesting reading. If you've some time to spare and have an understanding of anarchist theory and strategy, read the Anarchists by James Joll. If you're new to anarchist ideas, don't waste your time reading James Joll's potholed version of European Anarchist History. Other books will give you a much better insight into anarchist theory and practice, than James Joll's book ever will. PERSONAL OBSERVATION What do you say to an eighty year old woman who's been bashed, stabbed and raped? She'd heard me on the radio, she thought I cared, so she rang me. She had listened to the programme for a number of years. She wanted to be an anarchist, it's funny how conversations develop. I'd never meet her, I was just a voice at the end of a telephone. We just began an ordinary conversation, talking about this and that. She had that sing song quality to her voice that some very elderly English women seem to acquire. Soon we embarked on that one way conversation that people starved of human contact are prone to. I listened to her family problems. She told me she couldn't find a black ribbon to attach to her ballot paper, so she drew one instead. She told me how she was forced from her home and now lived in a little unit. Almost on queue, her doorbell rang. I heard her open the front door and say a few words to a man. She told me the man from meals on wheels had just delivered her tea. It was one of those conversations that you have with someone who you've known for years. To her, my voice was part of their weekly routine. She listened every week, she wanted to donate money to the movement. I told her it wasn't necessary. She should keep it to look after herself. In a very calm, dignified manner, she told me how she'd been viscously assaulted in her own home, how she lay in a pool of blood for 12 hours, until someone found her. It had happened a few years previously, she believed she was now over it. They never caught him, she told me. She hoped they'd catch him before he did the same things to another woman. She told me the police were wonderful, very kind, they came for over two years, just to see she was alright. Long after all the other so called caring agencies had stopped coming, they came. What do you say when a total stranger tells you all this. You don't say much, you listen, occasionally you break into the monologue to add a word of support and encouragement. Radio is a marvellous medium, it's immediate, it's direct, it's personal. Just listening to her talk to me on the phone as if she'd known me since I was a toddler, make me realise what a privilege it is to be able to host the Anarchist World This Week and Co-host Talk Back with Attitude every week on Community Radio 3CR. STOP PRESS - PULLING THE LEVERS!! Melbourne's Herald Sun is read by over 1.5 million Victorians, day in day out. Over the past eighteen months, the Herald Sun has led the charge against One Nation, because Murdoch knows that if you're an international media mogul, racism is very bad for business. Interestingly when Pauline Hanson initially hit the headlines, the Herald Sun was her main supporter, in many ways it made her what she became. About eighteen months ago the paper changed its position on One Notion, overnight. Obviously Murdoch was smart enough to read the direction of the political wind. Six years ago Murdoch appointed an editor to the Herald Sun, who's task it was to make sure Kennett was elected into office. Once he was elected, the editor went back to his job in the States. Over the past twelve months some Herald Sun reporting has been critical of the Kennett regime. Over the past two weeks the Herald Sun has adopted a strategy of using Victorian Government Press Releases as front page news. It's obvious the Murdoch's have once again decided to throw the resources of the Murdoch empire behind the Kennett regime and why shouldn't they, the Kennett regime is the best thing that has happened to the corporate world since sliced bread. What's interesting about this whole scenario is how the Herald Sun doesn't even bother to make a pretence of being "even handed". If anybody has the time to observe the papers fluctuating opinions, it soon becomes transparently obvious that the opinions that the paper serves up as the opinions of its reporters and feature writers are fed through a sieve that reflects Murdoch's view of the world, and why shouldn't it? Murdoch owns over 70% of Australia's newspapers. So he's in a position to set the political and social agenda for the country. What's interesting about the Herald Sun is they don't even make a pretence that they're anything else but the Murdoch's family mouthpiece. JOSEPH TOSCANO (Libertarian Workers for a Self-Managed Society). ANARCHIST PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED THIS WEEK ANARCHIST DIARY 1999, Barricade Books/Info Shop, 115 Sydney Rd, Brunswick 3056, Melbourne Australia Tel (03) 9387 6646, email infoshop@xchange.anarki.net IN YA FACE No.4 1998, PO Box 199, East Brunswick 3057, Melbourne, Australia Tel (030 9387 6646 Email infoshop@bedlam.anarki.net THR@LL No.4 Nov'98, PO Box 22-076, Christchuirch, New Zealand/AOTEAROA email cybersmog@geocities.com ABATALHA No.171 Nov'98, R Marque's de Ponte de Lima, 37, 20 Dt0, 1100, Lisboa, Portugal. CNT No.240 Nov'98, Apdo Correos 4040, 18080 Granada Soain Tel 958220065, Fax 958220119. LE MONDE LIBERTAIRE No.1140 12th-18th Nov 98, 145 Rue Amelot, 75011 Paris France Tel 0148053408, Fax 01 49299859. OTHER PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED THIS WEEK DISCUSSION BULLETIN 98, Nov/Dec'98, PO Box 1564, Grand Rapids MI, 49501 United States THE OTHER ISRAEL No.86, Oct/Nov'98, PO Box 2542, Holon Israel, 58125 Tel/Fax (03) 5565804 Email ANARCHIST WORLD THIS WEEK NOW ON THE INTERNET - FOR ANYBODY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD TO LISTEN IN TO. LIKE THE PROGRAM - TELL YOUR FRIENDS AROUND THE PLANET ABOUT OUR INTERNET ADDRESS - http://www.freespeech.org/anarchistAge ANARCHIST WORLD THIS WEEK POSTER AVAILABLE FOR THE COST OF A FEW STAMPS Want to help us find new listeners for the Anarchist World This Week, then send us a few stamps to AWTW, Po Box 20, Parkville 3052, Australia and we'll send you out a colour poster (A3) for your use and a black & white poster you can photocopy and put up to help us increase the number of people who listen to the Anarchist World This Week. DEBT ELIMINATION APPEAL - BACK TO THE BAD OLD DAYS Our debt stands at $1426.40. Our frenzied activities over the past month have pushed our debt WAY OVER the $1200 mark. Once again we need your urgent assistance. We know its a bit boring asking for financial help but unfortunately we need the money. We especially ask our web site readers to help us meet this debt. Subscribers to the Anarchist Age Weekly and Monthly Review cross subsidise our net expenses. DEBT 25.11.98 - $1426.40 please send STAMPS, MONEY ORDERS OR CHEQUES to L.W.S.S. PO BOX 20, Parkville 3052, Melbourne, Australia. Overseas Donors please note - please have cheques at your end made out in Australian dollars as it costs us ten dollars to convert one overseas cheques to Aust dollars. STAMP APPEAL We normally spend over $400.00 per month on postage stamps. If you have any spare stamps floating about or are about to write to us, stuff a few stamps in the envelope. Every little bit helps. A) ANARCHISM TOWARDS THE 21ST CENTURY B) TOWARDS AN ANARCHIST SOCIETY - Libertarian Workers for a Self-Managed Society Position & Activities 1998. Send $4.00 of stamps to L.W.S.S. PO Box 20 Parkville 3052 Melbourne Australia and we will post out both booklets to you. TALK BACK WITH ATTITUDE - NEW RADICAL TALKBACK PROGRAM on Community Radio 3CR (855am dial)- EVERY THURSDAY 9.00AM - 10.00AM, Co-hosted by Joseph Toscano and Sasha Shargot. Ring On (03) 9419 0155 between 9am to 10am every Thursday morning if you want to participate. Barricade Books/Info Shop presents Friday 27th November 6.30 Onwards, The Great Debate, Marxism V Anarchism, Promises to be bigger than the split in the FIRST INTERNATIONAL Cost $4.00 (inc. Vegan Meal). All Welcome All Welcome: Barricade Books/Infoshop - 115 Sydney Road, Brunswick. #19 tram route. Tel (03) 9387 6646 NEW PUBLICATIONS FROM BARRICADE BOOKS 1999 ANARCHIST DIARY - $4.00 - $5 my mail. IN YA FACE NO.4, 44 PAGE ZINE FROM BARRICADE BOOKS $2.50-$3.50 by mail. Write to PO Box 199 East Brunswick 3057 Melbourne Australia for your copy. email infoshop@xchange.anarki.net Tel (03) 9387 6646. ANARCHIST MEDIA INSTITUTE OBSCENITY OF THE WEEK Has been awarded to Murdoch's Melbourne Rag the Herald Sun for printing the Kennett regimes press releases verbatim as front page news - Good one boys and girls. If You Like What You Have Read, Photocopy This Publication and Leave It In Doctors, Dentists, Vets Waiting Rooms and In Railway Stations, Bus Stops, Libraries and Restaurants Etc. The articles in the Anarchist Age Weekly Review express the opinion of individuals within the Libertarian Workers for a Self-Managed Society/Anarchist Media Institute. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Libertarian Workers for a Self-Managed Society/Anarchist Media Institute. P U B L I C A T I O N S Anarchist Age Weekly Review - 4 pages of Anarchist commentary on Local, National and International events. $50.00 for 50 issues $10.00 for 10 issues Anarchist Age Monthly Review - Issue 80 out July 1998 $48.00 wage earners - 12 issues $30.00 non wage earners - 12 issues Make out cheques or money orders to: Libertarian Workers, PO Box 20, Parkville, 3052 Victoria Aust. All material in the Anarchist Age Weekly Review can be used by anarchists, anarchist collectives and non-profit organisations as long as the source of the material is mentioned in the article. The Anarchist Age Weekly Review reserves all rights as far as commercial publications are concerned. NEVER DOUBT THAT A SMALL GROUP OF THOUGHTFUL COMMITTED CITIZENS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD - MARGARET MEAD.