Monday, February 10, 2025

Election? Cancelled


Churchill said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others. In socialism there will be true democracy but no 'governments'

For The Socialist Party's view on achieving socialism through using the democratic system even with its imperfections see the SPGB pamphlet, What's Wrong With Using Parliament? Available to read online.

https://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/product/whats-wrong-with-using-parliament/

The chutzpah of the Ukrainian 'leader', see below, in providing reasons why elections are cancelled there 'During this war, our population are against elections and, having an election would require martial law to be lifted. if we suspend martial law we will lose our army, he said, explaining that Kiev would not be able to keep the troops on the front lines otherwise.'

In the UK nine Council elections have been cancelled leaving more than five million people unable to vote in them this year.

The excuse given by Angela Rayner, The Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary, is a reorganisation to unitary authorites.

Social media is seeing an increase in people who, as a protest, say they will stop paying their council tax. Whether this 'protest' will be as large, or as effective, as the one against the ex Conservative Prime Minister and her attempts to introduce a poll tax, remain to be seen.

As has been said, if voting changed anything they would abolish it.

The only solution for the many ills within a capitalist system, whether it be assault on democratic rights, exploitation or involving innocents in devastating wars is the replacement of the minority benefiting system by socialism.

To quote William Morris;

'One man with an idea in his head is in danger of being considered a madman: two men with the same idea in common may be foolish, but can hardly be mad; ten men sharing an idea begin to act, a hundred draw attention as fanatics, a thousand and society begins to tremble, a hundred thousand and there is war abroad, and the cause has victories tangible and real; and why only a hundred thousand? Why not a hundred million and peace upon the earth? You and I who agree together, it is we who have to answer that question.'

'Holding an election during the conflict between Russia and Ukraine would be a disaster for Kiev for a number of reasons, ranging from popular disapproval to running the risk of losing its army, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky claimed.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Ukraine conflict, Keith Kellogg, said Washington would like to see Kiev hold presidential and parliamentary votes before the end of the year. Elections have been suspended indefinitely by Zelensky, due to martial law.

According to Zelensky, having an election would require martial law to be lifted. We suspend martial law we will lose our army, he said, explaining that Kiev would not be able to keep the troops on the front lines otherwise.

People will come back home and will have every right to return home, he said, adding that those who do not would still lose their combat capability and morale.

Elections in Ukraine at this time would only benefit Russia, the Ukrainian leader claimed in an interview with ITV News. The topic of elections has been brought up by Russians, he said.

In his interview, Zelensky maintained that Russia only wants to see elections in Ukraine to bring about destabilization. He also claimed that the people do not want to have an election, and that he is absolutely not afraid of them.

During this war, our population is against elections, all people are against it.

According to Zelensky, having an election would require martial law to be lifted. We suspend martial law we will lose our army, he said, explaining that Kiev would not be able to keep the troops on the front lines otherwise.

People will come back home and will have every right to return home, he said, adding that those who do not would still lose their combat capability and morale. Ukraine launched a massive mobilization campaign after imposing martial law, following the start of Russian military operation in February 2022.

Kiev has faced criticism over its heavy-handed approach toward mobilization. Numerous videos have appeared on social media showing Ukrainian conscription officers chasing potential recruits in the streets and subjecting them to abuse.

The mobilization campaign was also marred by widespread draft dodging, corruption, and desertion. Last year, the elite 155th Mechanized Brigade made headlines after around 1,700 members reportedly fled the unit without firing a single shot.

According to Zelensky, having an election with the troops still in the trenches is not fair. He also described it as nearly impossible logistically, with around 8 million Ukrainians now living abroad. Earlier in the interview, he called on Kiev and Western backers to first provide Ukraine with security guarantees and economic aid sufficient to convince people who have fled the country to return.'


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