Class war is raging and the capitalist class intends to win

The capitalist class in Iceland has used the coronavirus pandemic to launch an offensive and intends to achieve even greater victories. Its goal is to use the ongoing economic recession to strengthen its position in the class war; weaken the labor movement and public organizations, reduce government oversight and control, push for massive tax cuts for the wealthiest, outsource and privatize public services and the basic systems of society, and continue to funnel money from public funds to capital and business owners.

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed the cruelty of class division in Iceland, as elsewhere. The victims of the pandemic and the associated economic recession are primarily low-income individuals. The government's economic responses have since further increased inequality. At the same time that many people have lost their jobs, stock prices and other assets have soared. The wealth of the richest has therefore grown tremendously while the economic system contracts.

But the capitalist class does not find these victories sufficient. It wants more. As can be read from the statements of interest groups of capital and business owners, the capitalist class is aiming for a major offensive this summer and autumn. The goal is to use the poor economic situation for attacks.

The capitalist class and political parties on its behalf will present plans to curb wage increases for the public, cut public services, lower taxes for capital and business owners, sell public assets and companies, privatize infrastructure, outsource the operation of basic systems, weaken regulatory bodies, and otherwise transfer public assets, resources, and power to the capitalist class.

The capitalist class calls its schemes a 'recovery'. The capitalist class intends to lift itself up by stepping on the public where it lies after the shocks of the pandemic and economic recession.

This audacity should not surprise anyone. The Icelandic capitalist class has shown in one case after another that it stops at nothing in its war against the people of the country. Oppression of workers, wage theft, tax evasion, money laundering, bribes, usury, oligopoly, and monopoly. The Samherji case is illustrative, not an exception. Now the capitalist class assesses that there is a possibility that the capitalist parties will achieve a clear majority in the parliamentary elections this autumn. The goal is for the capitalist class to have its way without public interference after the elections, for the dictatorship of capital to prevail here.

The weakening of public power in recent decades and the greatly increased power of the capitalist class has transformed Iceland from a weak democracy into what is called a crony state or kleptocracy. The wealthiest families, who have enriched themselves by exploiting the nation's resources or state-protected oligopoly and monopoly, have seized public assets, power, and resources, and now dominate society as if it were their private property.

This is the situation in Iceland today. We have lost almost all power to the capitalist class. Our tools of struggle have weakened in recent decades. The reconstruction of the labor movement and the building of the people's political power has just begun. But the serious situation calls for the public to rise up, not just in self-defense but to respond to the coming major offensive of the capitalist class with a counter-offensive; use spring and summer to thwart the schemes of the capitalist class and autumn to drive the capitalist class from power.

The upcoming elections will be about who should wield state power in Iceland, the capitalist class or the public. And much is at stake, because if the capitalist class's plan succeeds, the capitalist class will conquer the country.

On International Workers' Day, it is time for everyone to ask themselves which side of the front line in the class war they stand on. Do people support the hardening dictatorship of the capitalist class, or do people want to build a beautiful society of equality based on empathy, mutual aid, and cooperation?

May 1st is the day of hope for the people. May you find the hope and the will to follow it.

Socialists' May 1st Appeal 2021