Who are we?
Starry Plough is an initiative set up in order to help educate normal people about Irish Republicanism and the importance of international socialism as a grouping of Irish Republican ideology. In a world where information is widely controlled by the right-wing and their allies, it is important to have an alternative to the current political facade.
The socialism we embrace is the kind that liberates, not enslaves. We strive towards a society that functions to meet human needs, not the need for profit. Our socialism is a means of liberating our class from all forms of oppression, whether economic, political, religious, cultural or social. It is a socialism that envisions our class controlling their own destinies and that of the nation as a whole (taken from IRSM as we are in agreement with this statement).
Injustice has been left on the doorsteps of normal working people at the hands of the political elite for many years and it is currently reaching crisis point. With our 3rd world health system, our under-funded education system, our underdeveloped infrastructure and our over-priced housing and cost of living it’s not hard to see why an estimated 21% of people in Ireland are ‘at risk of poverty’ and that on top of the people who are already living in poverty.
Free Trade has been a catastrophe for working people in Ireland. The only people who have freedom under free trade agreements are large, rich, companies who have the freedom to create 500 jobs for Irish workers one day and then close their plants 6 months later, with the loss of those jobs, to move to another country with cheaper labour in order to make more profit. Meanwhile Irish workers are left in working limbo not knowing where the next pay cheque is coming from or if their next job will be a secure one. Many problems will arise for these workers such as loss of earnings, lack of stability and lets not forget the stress involved.
The Irish economy is performing very well but what does this mean for normal people if we are working hard for it and not reaping the rewards?
It is about time the government started to make decisions which will benefit normal working people, the majority, the people who don’t have a voice and don’t have a say in the day to day running of our nations no matter how many protests we might mount. But it seems this isn't part of, never was part of and never can be part of our right-wing government's politicial strategies. An alternative must be created.
On this site you can learn about the history of Irish Leftist politics, socialist policies and the role leftist politics can play in the future of the working class public. Check out our links page for some alternative media outlets.
Unionism and Loyalism One of the main aims of this web site is to try and reach people who may disagree with Irish Republican Ideology or actions of the past and to try and re-build relations between working class Republicans, Unionists and well as others. We stand solid with people from Loyalist areas of the North of Ireland as we believe there are no 'sides' in the working class. As far as the Irish Revolution is concerned, we are all working class and as such are all part of the same cause.
We oppose corrupt and elitist unofficial political policies. We oppose the so-called ‘housing crises', our crumbling health and educational systems, racist and discriminatory laws. We have a duty to disobey unjust laws and stand with victims of ruling class injustices. We have the right to peaceful protest. We have a duty to stand together as working people and fight against the people of extreme privilege and constant power.
We oppose Imperialism and imperialist wars in all their forms. We stand with the normal people and revolutionaries of Iraq, Afghanistan, Ireland, England, France, Spain, turkey, the Basque country and the brave revolutionaries in the United States who are ‘fighting the most important battle of all’ and many others who have all endured the horrors of the imperialist agenda in recent times.
We oppose 'National Socialism' - Racism, sectarianism & so-called 'National Socialism' are all forms of elitism or supremacy which incite discrimination and are therefor counter-revolutionary. The scourge of discrimination rears its ugly head all around us everyday, in sports, in schools, in the work place and on the street. We must stand up to people who incite discrimination. So-called 'National Socialism' which is a contradiction as Nationalism and Socialism are two conflicting ideologies. To marry them in one name is an simply an oxymoron.
No one person can personify the working class struggle. Every person who has gone before us, martyred or otherwise, should be held as an inspiration to excell, not as an example as the end and means.
We are not a minority!
The working classes are international and the majority in every country. Working class organisations are all around us and we are all ultimately fighting to the same end. There are no factions or sides within the working class, we are all equal. The working class struggle is the Irish struggle.
