Reliance on Parliament and parliamentary parties is deeply ingrained During the coming months, contending parties will compete for votes by making promises that they cannot keep.

When elected to office, the successful party. or parties, will claim that the economic situation is much worse than they thought and that it will take some years to clean up the mess.

There is an element of truth about the 'mess" caused by the policies of the National Government. The problem is that the "mess' will continue until such time as the corporate power of local and foreign corporations have their wings clipped. As both National and Labour have no plans to reduce corporate power by re-possessing former publicly- owned assets, the 'mess' will continue to exist.

Because the dominant class of multi-millionaires and their supporters are a small minority, they must use a combination of deception and force to control the majority.

Parliament's task is to create the illusion that politicians have the power to control the economy. The reality is the opposite. Politicians only hold office while the real political power is exercised by the class that owns the major enterprises and banks.

A study of legislation shows that Big Business is the main beneficiary of parliament. Since 1984, the decline in the social well being of the majority has never been more rapid. Yet, the wealth of the top five per cent has taken off.

The illusion that parliament is democratic is carefully fostered so as to conceal what is in reality a class dictatorship.

Keeping in Mind the Class Basis of Parties

All parliamentary parties represent a particular class or section of a class. ACT and the National Party represent the multi-millionaires who collaborate with US interests.

The Parliamentary Labour Party represents the same class interests as the former, but favour a softly, softly approach.

The NZ First, Greens and the Alliance represent middle class sectors.

All of the parties endeavour to gather votes from working people. But the distinguishing feature of parliament is that there is no party there whose main job is to represent the interests of working people.

How can the Interests of Working People be best Served?

From the standpoint of advancing to socialism, the first step is not to get isolated from working people who still rely upon parliament or a parliamentary party.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. If workers favour Labour, Alliance or NZ First - no problem. But ask them to consider the past. Only when the people take control of their campaigns, in a self reliant, independent movement, do the politicians listen and respond.

Tailing behind a parliamentary party, being told to be patience or wait another three years has got us into this 'mess'.

The main thing is to unite industrial workers and community organisations in campaigns around common issues - campaigns that stand on their own feet.

Workers and communities will learn from their own experience that they have organised strength. This is why politicians feel threatened when confronted by people's campaigns.

Without the support of agents within the working class, the rule of the multi-millionaires would be history. These agents can be identified.

BUILD THE PEOPLE MOVEMENTS