(en) France, Alternative Libertair #223 - Competitiveness pact: For employers, it is in the pocket (fr)

It's official, the government has decided to pursue a policy of class struggle. Simply, he 
chose to defend in this struggle, capitalist interests and not those of Workers. Indeed, 
in the announcement of a "clash of competitiveness" is a massive transfer of wealth from 
wage to capital that will be implemented by the government. ---- When a government no 
longer knows what to do to serve the interests of the powerful, what could be easier than 
asking employers to himself to write the program? In fact, the report commissioned by the 
government "socialist" Louis Gallois, head honcho "left" - as if it was not a 
contradiction in terms - and released on November 5, relies essentially on previously 
written reports by various pharmacies employers. No wonder then that this report has 
sparked enthusiasm Medef as the UMP.

But it is not much wonder that he also caused that this government, including any action 
for six months shows it intends to pursue the same policy as his predecessor.

In fact, Jean-Marc Ayrault proudly announced that most of the report would be taken up in 
a Welsh Pact for growth, competitiveness and employment, confirming the Government's 
commitment to comply with requirements smallest employers. He had already shown in 
honoring the requirements of combat without movement Pigeons, thereby affirming that the 
fruit of the work of art-employee must return to those who exploit them. The three key 
measures of this agreement evidenced in this new allegiance.

Always give the exploiters ... more
On the one hand, the government announced tax breaks 20 billion for companies under the 
pretext of restoring the "competitiveness" of France in the "international competition". 
In appearance, the proposed measures will therefore benefit everyone: With this renewed 
competitiveness, companies threatened relocation will be held on the national territory 
and saved jobs. But far from the myth of common interest to the capitalists and those who 
work, it is there that allow capitalists to restore their profits blunted by the crisis. 
To lower the price of French goods on the international market, it is sufficient to reduce 
the capitalist Dividend grant and they are clearly responsible for the loss of 
competitiveness that famous conspuent.

These are the dividends that have exploded in recent decades, which weigh in commodity 
prices, not wages! In fact, dividends are reaching 9% of the value against 2.5% in the 
early 1990s. However, this is not enough in the eyes of the owners, and as tax credits 
offered by the government are not subject to any condition, it is most likely that they 
will increase even more income shareholders. As a weapon of war against inappropriate uses 
additional margins generated by these tax cuts, the government is proposing that 
"transparency": "The councils should be regularly informed of the use of credit tax. "

No firm rule, no penalty provided: these tax credits are clearly blank checks that 
employers will do what they want. During that time, wages continue to decline, social 
plans to grow the business to relocate under the pathetic lamentations Arnaud Montebourg.

And impoverish workers ...
On the other hand, the government intends to finance these gifts to employers on the one 
hand by spending cuts, "structural reforms" that will lead to new offensive against public 
services in line with the policy conducted by Nicolas Sarkozy, and secondly by an increase 
in VAT. Both operations will be at the expense of the working classes. Indeed, the 
standard rate of VAT will increase from 19.6% to 20%, resulting in an increase in the 
price of consumer goods. Admittedly, the VAT on essential commodities will be reduced from 
5.5% to 5%, but this decline will best compensate for the increase in the normal, while 
the difficulties of the crisis require a massive reduction in the cost of life for those 
still struggling. The VAT increase is even more unfair that this tax is not progressive, 
and applies equally to smaller and more affluent.

In reality, it affects even more the poor, who consume all of their meager income, while 
the rich can save part of their income on which they pay no tax. The poor pay relatively 
more VAT than the rich.

This is why the employers and the government to follow him, consider it to be the target 
of tax increases. It is the return of VAT called "social" denounced by Holland during the 
presidential campaign to get elected, and now he decides to restore a few months after 
having deleted ...

Exit the wait
Meanwhile, the major tax reform also promised by the candidate who plans to introduce a 
tax very progressive on all income, including income from capital, by the merger of income 
tax and the CSG, mysteriously disappeared from large government projects. Probably its 
redistributive character - this time at the expense of the rich - he earned it an 
unfavorable opinion from the MEDEF.

The pattern is clear: it is in the pockets of working people to put in the capitalists. 
The entire action of the government is also in the same direction. The construction of a 
large airport unnecessary Notre-Dame-des-Landes can squander public money - including 
through the mobilization of the forces of repression - in favor of multinational Vinci, at 
the time, it seems , the coffers are empty. It is time for the workers to abandon naively 
at the presence of the left in government to recognize that the current leaders are guided 
by the employers and initiate the radical clash of class is required.

Vincent (AL Paris-Sud)