It is a historical fact that in certain phases, after long periods of apparent inertia, the economic and

social dynamics produced by capitalism itself in its most aggressive and destructive phase (that of imperialism) suddenly accelerate, with violent repercussions and unexpected breaks, coming closer and closer to the time of reckoning in the world of capitalist production and involving the world proletariat. It is too soon to tell whether we are now in one of these phases and in fact our task (theoretical and practical, political and organizational) must be to follow and analyse step by step the evolution of the world economic crisis, in terms of its reflections on society and the way classes (and groups and factions within them) move, operate and start to align. The fact is, and we cannot help but dwell on this, that the world economic crisis is constantly at work deep down, wearing away certainties and conventions (and, above all, those fictitious economic reserves – savings, pensions, homes – as well as the social – pensions, healthcare, education – which constituted the real illusion of all reformism), breaking down what was supposed to be solid and provoking a situation of growing uncertainty and instability in terms of hard economic facts and daily life. Observers and opinion-makers of limited intelligence fall back on medical-psychiatric terminology to define the “human condition” today: they speak of the “onset of global anxiety”, “globalization and crises of rejection”. This is a sorry demonstration of the depths to which the caste of power ideologists has sunk! Behind this demonstration of historical, theoretical and conceptual ignorance loom deep tension and lacerations, which affect and cause harm to our proletarian class itself.

And now what will the convenient idiots do on both sides of the ocean (whatever ocean), still convinced as they are that what decides politics (domestic, foreign, economic, social, etc. etc.) is the Man (Woman) sent by Providence, elected every few years or so to the beating of drums and showers of streamers, fireworks and sequins, flag-waving, thirty-four-tooth smiles and handfuls of all sorts of promises, like sweets?

What will the prostrate do, now that the only programme that remains to them is a whining “vote the least objectionable, but vote”, thrashing about in a tormented dilemma of “what have (haven’t) we done? What should (shouldn’t) we have done?” Barely concealing a touch of rancour towards Democracy, so highly praised, by Whom they have been punished (“Ah, how ungrateful! After all we’ve done for you!”)?