Vision
for the Future – Democracy
Vision for the Future
In the current stage of revolutionary struggle for socialism, the stage of winning Australia 's independence from US imperialist domination, there are many opportunities to raise the positive alternative of a peoples' democratic republic. What does this mean? What sort of broad vision can we sketch to inspire people that fundamental change is both possible and practical?
In this special section of Vanguard, we will consider a number of issues and the general principles that would guide a peoples' democratic republic in its approach to these issues. Readers' suggestions and comments are welcomed. |
Vision
for the Future – Agriculture
Australia's farmers have
to battle not only the ravages
of drought, floods, bushfires,
cyclones, insect pests and
mouse plagues, but they face
an even more dangerous enemy – capitalism.
They are forced to pay ever-higher
prices for machinery, seed,
fertilisers, finance and
other inputs, while they
receive lower prices for
their outputs; the meat,
grain, wool, milk, fruit
vegetables and all the other
products we need to feed
and clothe ourselves.
What would the situation
be for Australia's farmers
in a people's democratic
republic of Australia?
A people's republic would
not be able to control the
weather, but it would be
able to eliminate the harmful
effects of capitalism on
our farmers.
In a people's Australia
there would continue to be
a big place for the family-owned
farms that have been the
backbone of Australian agriculture
for decades. Small farmers
would be encouraged to form
cooperatives to help them
purchase their inputs and
market their produce on favourable
terms. These cooperatives
would be suitable for industries
such as horticulture and
dairying.
The formation of syndicates
would be encouraged, where
farmers would pool their
land, labour, machinery and
livestock. Decision-making
would be done collectively.
Syndicates could be formed
in a variety of industries
and locations. Grain growing
and livestock are especially
suited to syndicate farming.
There would also be an important
state-owned sector, arising
from the nationalisation
by the people's government
of the large agribusiness
companies. Large scale production
units such as feedlots and
intensive piggeries could
be state operated.
The state owned sector would
carry out research into new
crops and technologies. It
could play the leading role
in initiatives such as developing
agriculture in Australia's
north to grow crops suitable
for bio-fuels. This would
reduce Australia's exploitation
by the oil companies.
A people's government would
address critical problems
facing farmers such as the
efficient use of water resources.
Farmers would be given access
to finance controlled by
a people's bank rather than
by the vampires that farmers
must go to for finance today.
There would be better assistance
to farmers in times of drought,
floods and other natural
disasters.
Unified policies would be
evolved to deal with many
other issues such as the
genetic modification of foods,
the use of fertilisers, soil
erosion and salinity. The
problems facing country towns
such as poor transport infrastructure,
medical facilities, education
and communications, would
be addressed. This would
help reduce the loss of people
from the country to the big
cities.
A people's government would
ensure that Australian farmers
are not disadvantaged in
international trade.
These are just a few of
the benefits that a people's
democratic government could
bring to the people of rural
Australia. They, like all
Australians will be glad
to see the imperialists'
stranglehold over Australia
broken.
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