If I can step in the middle
If I can step in the middle without getting shot…… I think we are arguing similar points from slightly different angles but I too am baffled by the apparent anger of some comrades…..In short, as Stuart has articulated very well, there are some comrades who sincerely beliveve that the current Occupations are perhaps the start of something bigger than has ever gone before and as such the Party as an organisation should perhaps be doing more, or at least preparing to do more.On the other hand, other comrades believe that the Occupy movements at present are similar in character to large protest movements that have gone before (The Miners, The Poll Tax, Paris ’68 etc), based on more reformist lines demanding immediate, even if wide ranging changes within the system rather than calling conciously for a complete change of system and that point is an important one.However, even those taking the latter view, comrades on a personal level and on a more ‘official’ level ARE engaging in the movement, are speaking, are leafletting and promoting the Standard and our ideas and principles, certainly in London.Therefore, given our size of active members, I fail to see what, as a Party, we can do that we aren’t already doing? The material online, both on the blog and here has not been, to my understanding, in any discouraging or un-supportive, even if it has been wary or critical at times. I think the SPGB has had a good history of deliberately NOT getting swept into the moment too soon and taking time to provide a clear analysis of the situations as they develop whilst still propogating the essential ideas of socialism, which even by Stuart’s position seem to be lacking within the UK Occupy at the moment.In summary we are ALL pro-Occupy even as a Party it seems, just some have more reservations than others at this present time. However, as a Party I am not sure what else we can be doing? Perhaps those comrades who are more motivated and enthusiastic about the movement can make some serious suggestions, I am sure others may take them up. We are all in the Party with the essential goal of establishing socialism. Whether the Occupy movement can provide the necessary spark to ignite the begginings of that goal, no-one really knows, but can we demonstrate a little more co-operation in bandying our ideas about for practical intervention?