Dégringolade

  1959 English translation of Errico Malatesta's pamphlet "Vote. What For?" by the New York based Libertarian League.  Scanned for libcom.org by New York/New Jersey Workers Solidarity Alliance archives. George : This beer’s not too bad, is it? Jack : Yes, it’s alright, but what a price! George : Shocking – especially when you remember what things used to cost. Still, you can’t wonder with all these taxes. It costs you twice as much to live as it used to. They put up the price of some things, and say you can do without them. But you can’t do without bread, and food, and clothes – you have to pay the rent all the same, and then there are the taxes on this and the rates – on our wages too! What a life! And it’s our own fault! If we wanted to we could alter things. The working class has the remedy in its own hands. Jack : Why, what’s your remedy? George : Easy enough! You’ve got a vote? Jack : What’s that got to do with it? George : Have you, or haven’t you? Jack : Well, I’m