Watching the impressive Steven
Spielberg film Lincoln
The original US constitution gave effect to the
American revolution that threw off British colonial rule. Lincoln ’s 13th amendment, which is the
subject of the movie, put in writing what had happened on the battlefields of
the Civil War by outlawing slavery which the original constitution ignored.
What the amendment also did was to
create the conditions for a rapid development of US capitalism by creating a new
workforce of African-Americans who were free to sell their labour in factories
and on the farms. A federal state strengthened by the outcome of the Civil War
supported and facilitated this process – then and now.
What has this got to do with us in Britain , you
may ask? As ordinary Americans have discovered, their existing constitution is predominantly
the shield for a state that reinforces the status quo of corporate and
financial power.
In Britain ,
although there is no codified constitution unlike the US , a variety of laws and
conventions give rise to the same situation. Power, real decision making power,
is held by a set of state institutions that exist to serve not the people but
the so-called corporate masters of the universe.
We don’t live under a true
democracy but, in practice, a corporatocracy. A horrible word to be sure, but
one that nicely sums up the effective coincidence of politics and big business.
Which is why a number of
organisations have launched
an appeal to win support for a project which they have called “Towards an
Agreement of the People for the 21st Century”. This connects with the historic
struggle of the Levellers who championed democratic rights during the civil war
between the Crown and Parliament.
They say: “Today increasing numbers
of people are disillusioned and alienated by a political process which is
impoverishing millions through austerity, inequality and privilege. The
struggle for democracy, begun by the Levellers in the 1647 Agreement of the
People and taken forward by the Chartists and Suffragettes, continues. But
advances in democratic rights and civil liberties are being undermined.
“The concentration of bureaucratic,
financial and corporate power has led to the transition from a welfare state to
a market-driven state which deregulates, outsources and privatises services.
Parliaments in Westminster , Cardiff
and Edinburgh
are totally inadequate as a means of popular representation, democratic control
and accountability.”
They are calling for a “new
constitutional settlement” to “advance democracy and place power firmly in the
hands of the majority” and are inviting individuals and groups to support the
project in principle.
Supporters of the project so far include
John McDonnell MP, A World to Win, Real Democracy working group of Occupy
London and the National Community Activists Network.
A draft
Agreement of the People for the 21st century is also being circulated for
comment, amendment and revision. The draft proposes that a new constitution
should set out new human and social, economic, environmental and indigenous
rights.
These include the right to co-operative
ownership in place of shareholder control and to democracy and self-management
in all areas/activities of the workplace,
the right to live in an environment shaped by ecological care and not
profits and the right to hold and use land held in common.
To help achieve these aims, the
draft adds, we should “encourage the building of a new, nation-wide
democratic tradition from the ground up through, for example, diverse Peoples’
Assemblies, as a means of transforming the state”.
That political and social change
that we need to end austerity, create a real democracy and establish effective
control over the decisions that shape our lives absolutely requires a new constitution
as a framework. Mobilising people, organisations and communities to achieve an
Agreement of the People for the 21st century is a real priority. You
can email your support for the project to agreementofpeople@btinternet.com
Paul Feldman
Communications editor
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