Battle Over Austerity Measures Has Moved from the Suites to the Streets

William Shakespeare put a key
question this way; "To Be Or Not To Be?" Today's economists and
policy makers pose a different choice: to spend or not to spend.

Governments throughout the
west are in a panic as debt mounts and economies contract.

Their solution is cut, cut,
cut, in the name of a doctrine called austerity. They are slashing budgets,
trimming public payrolls and arguing fatalistically in the spirit of
Margaret Thatcher's philosophy, "There Is No alternative." (TINA.)

Austerity is the other name
for it, Confronting massive deficits fearful of losing investor confidence.
European governments are pulverizing budgets and shutting down public
services. The plan by England's new Tory government is considered
among the most painful, if not draconian. It is justified as absolutely
necessary.

This view is being challenged
in the realm of the ideas and with a growing spasm of street protests
rocking European cities.

You have probably seen the
pictures: A bloodied former Minister in Athens as rioters denounce the
IMF which is demanding concessions from their government. Strikes in
France, Spain, Portugal, The Czech Republic and Italy had the SWAT teams
out in force. A meeting this week in Germany by Eurozone Ministers is
unlikely to please anyone.

At time when most people are
saying the path out of the financial crisis and European debt problem
is for individuals and governments around the world to cut back, the
American economist Paul Krugman wants us to spend,
spend, spend.

What's behind the fervor
for austerity, he asks?

"The answer is" he writes,
is "to reassure the markets - because the markets supposedly won't
believe in the willingness of governments to engage in long-run fiscal
reform unless they inflict pointless pain right now. To repeat: the
whole argument rests on the presumption that markets will turn on us
unless we demonstrate a willingness to suffer, even though that suffering
serves no purpose."

This argument has moved off
the op-ed pages and into the streets. These protests conjuring up a
revival of the class war confrontations of the 1930's are erupting
in many countries.

The marches are becoming more
militant and bitter, as clashes between the police and angry protesters
grow in intensity marked by scattered violence.

Symbolically, the one incident
that received massive coverage was a student attack on British Royalty
when Prince Charles car was attacked with some protesters chanting,
"off with their heads."

Reported the Telegraph,

"Demonstrators
kicked the Rolls-Royce as it traveled to the Royal Variety Performance
in central London. White paint and bottles were thrown over the car
and a window shattered.

The Prince
and Duchess (Camilla Parker-Bowles) were "unharmed" and continued
with their engagement at the London Palladium, a Clarence House spokesman
said.

The attack,
caught on amateur video showed a how startled the Royal couple was even
though afterwards "the Duchess, later laughed off the attack, When
asked how she was as she left the London Palladium, the Duchess said:
''I'm fine thanks - first time for everything.''

It may have
been the first time but as more austerity measures are expected, it
is unlikely to be the last.

These protests
reflect more that dissatisfaction with a single issue but seem to be
a reflection of growing public disenchantment with unresponsive government,
an untrustworthy media and a failing economy.

So far, conservative governments
are ignoring the criticisms and moving forward with their slashing of
worker and unemployment benefits and the social safety net. In England,
the Parliament voted to raise tuitions -- cap is set to rise to $14,500
by 2012, higher than the current average of $7,605 at U.S. state universities--
but the student protests are surprising officials by their tenacity.

Just watch the passion of this
15 year old speaking at a rally the University of London:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U_gHUiL4P8&

Student activists like this
are becoming radicalized and can become contagious, argues Gary Younge
in Guardian:

"As these protests intensify
- as they are bound to - we can expect them to be routinely disparaged
on the right as either privileged kids acting out or innocents led astray
by revolutionaries

...That students and youth
in Europe have erupted at this moment, however, should come as no surprise.
More than one in five people under the age of 25 in the EU is unemployed.
In Spain the figure is 43%; in Greece 30%; in Italy 26%. Meanwhile the
principle that education is a public good, to which all are entitled,
all contribute, and all benefit through a more competitive economy,
is in its death throes."

In the United States, A Republican-dominated
Congress, swept into power on the backs of right wing Tea Party activism
spurred by Fox News and other fear-driven conservative media, promises
to roll back government programs even as it "compromises" with Dems
to keep tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires.

So far, there has been little
street activism in the United States. Perhaps it's because of the
Christmas shopping season, the inundation of entertainment shows and
sporting events or just so little oppositional leadership, especially
among Democrats unwilling to challenge a Democratic President who has
just negotiated a compromise deal with Republican tax cutters.

Only one Senator, Bernie Sanders,
the independent from Vermont had the guts to take on Barack Obama
in an 8 hour and 37 minute near filibuster speech that drove up the
ratings of CSPAN, the congressional TV channel. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/10/bernie-sanders-filibuster_n_795087.html

Commented blogger David Seth
Michaels: "it
was the most important political speech-- by far-- of the past two years.
Seldom, if ever, has anyone seized the spotlight to discuss and examine
so thoroughly the plundering of the nation by its wealthiest citizens.
And to demand so clearly that the government provide genuine relief
for the millions of Americans who are now suffering the consequences
of the plunder."

But his supporters
did not pour into the streets, at least not yet. Sanders has been challenging
what he calls his: "progressive friends" on these very issues, "I have long been concerned that some
progressive activists do not stand up and fight effectively or pay enough
attention to the needs of ordinary Americans."

When they do speak out, many
prefer sending emails or organizing Facebook pages. Where is the outrage
and sense of solidarity or militancy? The unions are quiescent, most
pols seem incapable of inspiring anyone. Has this generation been seduced
by their IPads and smartphones?

Has everyone forgotten that
call to get involved? Remember the dicta, "It's not the ship that
makes the waves, it's the motion on the ocean." It may take time,
but it is likely in the not too distant future that American activists
will emulate the movements now emerging in Europe.

Governments have the power
to impose their austerity measures, but not without a fight. As things
get worse, Bob Dylan's pithy blast from the past may be back to characterize
the times ahead: "A Hard Rain Is Going To Fall?"