Article published on 'Rizospastis' Sunday Edition, 15 January 2017 / Translation: In Defense of Communism.
The priorities of the government of the newly-elected U.S. President, Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20th, do not differ from those of the outgoing President Barack Obama because- despite the existing differences in their declarations- their common denominator is to safeguard the general interests of the bourgeoisie. That doesn't negate a multilevel intra-bourgeois confrontation for the way through which this will be achieved more effectively, especially in a period when the inter-imperialist antagonism is exacerbated, with an estimated relative loss of U.S. leadership in the international capitalist economy and given the difficulties for a more impetuous capitalist recovery. More specifically Trump promotes a different mix of management with stronger elements of protectionism, an issue which however creates difficulties in international trade, which in turn displeases other parts of the (U.S) capital.
Last Wednesday, Donald Trump gave his first press conference after his electoral victory, offering a foretaste of the new tactics and the fronts of a possible collision. In the background, of course, is the peak of the confrontation between the intelligence agencies (inside and outside the U.S), especially after the publication of a controversial 35 pages-long "report" written by the British former MI6 agent Christopher Steele, currently owner of the "stratetic advice company" named Orbis Business Intelligence. The report claimed that the Russian intelligence services keep the new President under control because of intelligence information regarding financial and sexual activities. These informations were denounced by Trump as "vile and fabricated lies", giving him rise to criticize part of the bourgeois media, such as CNN.
In any case, the "war" between secret services isn't expected to settle down soon, as it reflects intra-bourgeois contrasts. It is characteristic that on Thursday night, the Inspector General of the U.S. federal Justice Department announced an inquiry regarding the decision of the outgoing FBI Director James Comey to re-open, shortly before the election, the investigation about the e-mails of the Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton.
Review of inter-state agreements.
Trump also seemed taking a position regarding a possible conflict with competing forces, such as China, thus bringing back to the fore his campaign promises and intentions to renegotiate trade agreements. This is a fact which, of course, will influence international developments and which, obviously, creates concern to staffs and other imperialist centers, combined with the developments such as the bazaar for Britain's disengagement from the EU (Brexit) and the Eurozone's cohesion itself. Trump has already warned for the U.S. withdrawal from the "Trans-Pacific Partnership" (TPP), something which inevitably mean new big bazaars and sharpening of the confrontation between competing monopolies that will seek the biggest piece from the "pie" of the new opportunities. It is not clear which power will gain more from a new negotiation, nor it is certain that the U.S. will be that power. Some analysts believe that the possible withdrawal of the U.S. from the TPP will leave an open door to Beijing, in order to push forward for China's benefit the "Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership" (RCEP) which began in 2012.
In his interview, Trump "shook his finger" to China which, as he said, "makes billions of dollars by taking advantage of U.S. weaknesses". That happened while, a few days ago, he had announced, after his meeting with the 52 years-old Chinese business magnate (owner of the e-commerce firm "Alibaba") Jack Ma, the latter's plans to create "one million jobs in the U.S.".
Respectively, regarding the so-called "Transatlantic Trade and Investment Agreement" (TTIP), Trump has said that he will seek hard renegotiation in defense of the U.S. companies.
In relation to Russia, Trump seems to keep a more conciliatory stance, despite the wild war between intelligence services which has targeted him for this choice. It is characteristic that he described as a "plus" the fact that the Russian President Vladimir Putin "likes" him, because, as he explained, this could contribute to the restoration of the bilateral relations which, as he said, are "terrible" today. One must point out that Trump's choice to compromise with the Russians is not a matter of preference but an issue of interest, as he may use a possible bridge with Moscow in order to exacerbate the pressure towards Beijing. Nonetheless, during their confirmation hearings at the Senate, the proposed Trump's ministers, Rex Tillerson for the Department of State and James Mattis for the Department of Defense, marked Russia as a "threat".
A significant part of the press conference was also dedicated to the need, as Trump pointed out, for the U.S better defense towards cyberattacks, which, for the first time he admitted, have been unleashed "from Russia, China and many other countries". It is interesting that he appointed the former New York Governor Rudolph Giuliani in the new position of the cybersecurity adviser, responsible for private sector's cybersecurity. That means a very positive action for the monopolies operating in the field of cybersecurity, such as Giuliani's company "Giuliani Partners".
Trump clarified once again that he will immediately proceed to the construction of the wall in the southern borders of the USA with Mexico, despite "the friendship and respect" for the people and the government of the neighboring country. He (Trump) tried to show consistency with his central electoral campaign promises, taking into account his objective to present himself as the "antisystemic president" who wants to "make America great again" and to create in the long term a "movement" which will resonate in the middle and lower social strata.
As it has been seen, it is in the immediate priorities of Trump to withdraw and replace the reforms promoted by the outgoing President Barack Obama (Obamacare), in order to benefit specific monopolies of pharmaceutical groups and parts of the diagnostic medical centers' "industry".
Trump claims that he will replace Obamacare with a "cheaper and better" system. Chances are that he will attempt to redistribute the "pie" in favor of the monopolies operating in the sectors of Health and Insurance.
Furthermore, Donald Trump repeated his promises for the "rescue" and the creation of new jobs, thus "throwing down the gauntlet" to those industries which didn't correspond strongly to his efforts to prevent the transfer of factories abroad, such as in Mexico. He managed to highlight his recent agreements with industries, such as the automobile company "Ford" and the air-conditioning manufacturer "Carrier" that withdrew their plans for transfering their factories in Mexico and he threatened with very heavy imposts or "border taxes" those industries which will resist the pressures for keeping job positions in the US, such as the automotive "General Motors" corporation which doesn't seem to "give in".
It becomes obvious that the choice of Trump, like the one of Obama previously as the first black President, serves the specific needs of the capital in every given time. However, the billionaire businessman has managed more effectively to manipulate the popular strata which had no benefit from the slight capitalist recovery after the outbreak of the 2008 capitalist crisis. The fact of the absence of a strong Communist Party with a revolutionary strategy and a class-based orientation undoubtedly contriubutes to the overal entrapment of popular forces.
Rizospastis, 15/1/2017, p.30.
A significant part of the press conference was also dedicated to the need, as Trump pointed out, for the U.S better defense towards cyberattacks, which, for the first time he admitted, have been unleashed "from Russia, China and many other countries". It is interesting that he appointed the former New York Governor Rudolph Giuliani in the new position of the cybersecurity adviser, responsible for private sector's cybersecurity. That means a very positive action for the monopolies operating in the field of cybersecurity, such as Giuliani's company "Giuliani Partners".
Trump clarified once again that he will immediately proceed to the construction of the wall in the southern borders of the USA with Mexico, despite "the friendship and respect" for the people and the government of the neighboring country. He (Trump) tried to show consistency with his central electoral campaign promises, taking into account his objective to present himself as the "antisystemic president" who wants to "make America great again" and to create in the long term a "movement" which will resonate in the middle and lower social strata.
Promises for better healthcare and employment.
As it has been seen, it is in the immediate priorities of Trump to withdraw and replace the reforms promoted by the outgoing President Barack Obama (Obamacare), in order to benefit specific monopolies of pharmaceutical groups and parts of the diagnostic medical centers' "industry".
Trump claims that he will replace Obamacare with a "cheaper and better" system. Chances are that he will attempt to redistribute the "pie" in favor of the monopolies operating in the sectors of Health and Insurance.
Furthermore, Donald Trump repeated his promises for the "rescue" and the creation of new jobs, thus "throwing down the gauntlet" to those industries which didn't correspond strongly to his efforts to prevent the transfer of factories abroad, such as in Mexico. He managed to highlight his recent agreements with industries, such as the automobile company "Ford" and the air-conditioning manufacturer "Carrier" that withdrew their plans for transfering their factories in Mexico and he threatened with very heavy imposts or "border taxes" those industries which will resist the pressures for keeping job positions in the US, such as the automotive "General Motors" corporation which doesn't seem to "give in".
It becomes obvious that the choice of Trump, like the one of Obama previously as the first black President, serves the specific needs of the capital in every given time. However, the billionaire businessman has managed more effectively to manipulate the popular strata which had no benefit from the slight capitalist recovery after the outbreak of the 2008 capitalist crisis. The fact of the absence of a strong Communist Party with a revolutionary strategy and a class-based orientation undoubtedly contriubutes to the overal entrapment of popular forces.
Rizospastis, 15/1/2017, p.30.
