Rosa Redux

A hundred years ago today Rosa Luxemburg was killed in Germany. The Spartacists had finally met the incipient German militarists in the beginning of the Revolution of 1918-1919.

It is interesting to review their demands (see Waldman, The Spartacist Uprising, Marquette, 1958):

Immediate release of all persons who because of their fight for the interests of the proletariat are suffering in prisons and jails, in protective custody or serving a sentence
Immediate abrogation of the state of siege.
Immediate cancellation of the compulsory labor law.
 
Beyond these, the proletariat must request:

Annulment of all war loans without compensation.
Expropriation of the entire bank capital, mines and foundries; substantial reduction of working hours, establishment of minimum wages.
Expropriation of all large estates and middle-sized estates. Transfer of the direction of production to the delegates of agricultural workers and small farmers.

Decisive changes in military affairs, such as:

a. Granting to soldiers the right of free association and assembly for matters pertaining to official and non-official business.
b. Abrogation of the right of military superiors to discipline subordinates; discipline will be maintained by soldier delegates.
c. Abrogation of courts-martial.
d. Transfer of military superiors by majority decision of the subordinates.
 
Transfer of the distribution of food to representatives of the
workers.
 
Abolition of individual states and dynasties.

Just some thoughts if one can read this in the context of today's political fights.