Green Left Weekly's $250,000 Fighting Fund: The mask slips

August 30, 2008
Issue 

Every now and then the mask slips and we see the true face of the corporate dictatorship that Every now and then the mask slips and we see the true face of the corporate dictatorship that pretends to be democratic Australia.to be democratic Australia.

August 29 was one such day. The journalists at Fairfax newspapers (which include the Age, the Sydney Morning Herald and the Australian Financial Review) were on strike over management's plan to slash 550 jobs.

The scabs and management at the SMH cobbled together a paper that day but in their haste they dropped any pretence of objective reporting.

The front page screamed out the big end of town's fury at the collapse of the Iemma NSW government's attempt to force through laws enabling the privatisation of the energy industry. The Liberal-National opposition, which opposed the laws (mainly for opportunist reasons), was howled at for being "conservatives who said: NSW is closed for business".

The management/scabs then added a threat to the public: "Now the state will pay, with interest".

Finally, they cheered the Iemma government's outrageous decision to ignore parliament and proceed with the part sale of the industry!

The big end of town only accepts "democracy" in a modern form of the ancient Athenian slave owners' democracy. On August 21, the Business Council of Australia released a study threatening capital flight if the Rudd Labor government did not give the worst corporate greenhouse polluters even more subsidies and free pollution permits than Rudd has already offered! (See article page 11).

"Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full", was the Rudd government's slavish response.

The mask momentarily slipped then as well but the corporate media rushed to assure the public that big business was not angling for a "free ride" in the fight against climate change. Tell us another one!

We're up against a ruthless and narrowly self-serving corporate dictatorship. But Green Left Weekly fights for, and runs on, people's power. Can you donate to our $250,000 fighting fund for 2008? Last week, our supporters raised $3413 through donations and numerous fundraisers (see calendar on p.23 for details of the next fundraising event near you). So far this year we have raised $137,726 but we need your help to raise the remaining $112,274 to make our target.

You can directly deposit a donation at: Greenleft, Commonwealth Bank, BSB 062-006, Account No. 901992. Alternatively, ring in your donation by credit card on the toll-free line at 1800 634 206 (within Australia only), send us a cheque or money order to PO Box 515, Broadway NSW 2007,
or donate online at http://www.greenleft.org.au/donate.php.

You need Green Left, and we need you!

Green Left is funded by contributions from readers and supporters. Help us reach our funding target.

Make a One-off Donation or choose from one of our Monthly Donation options.

Become a supporter to get the digital edition for $5 per month or the print edition for $10 per month. One-time payment options are available.

You can also call 1800 634 206 to make a donation or to become a supporter. Thank you.