alanjjohnstone
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Mackem-dialect discussed here . Perhaps we should link our video to those interested in Mackem.http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p044fqv6
We have Marx's idea of Bonapartism when a political leader usurps the ruling class. Or have i misinterpreted him?
Quote:But under the absolute monarchy, during the first Revolution, and under Napoleon the bureaucracy was only the means of preparing the class rule of the bourgeoisie. Under the Restoration, under Louis Philippe, under the parliamentary republic, it was the instrument of the ruling class, however much it strove for power of its own. Only under the second Bonaparte does the state seem to have made itself completely independent.Quote:like a juggler, under the necessity of keeping the public gaze on himself, as Napoleon’s successor, by springing constant surprises – that is to say, under the necessity of arranging a coup d’état in miniature every day – Bonaparte throws the whole bourgeois economy into confusion,I read this and i think it is a very apt description of Trump's persona
Quote:Bonaparte, who precisely because he was a bohemian, a princely lumpen proletarian, had the advantage over a rascally bourgeois in that he could conduct the struggle meanly,One to watch for those who have elections as their focus.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/12/polls-suggests-icelands-pirate-party-form-next-government"…Even if they don’t have clear policies in many areas, people are genuinely drawn to their principles of transforming democracy and improving transparency.”“It’s gradually dawning on us, what’s happening,” Birgitta Jónsdóttir, leader of the Pirates’ parliamentary group, told the Guardian. “It’s strange and very exciting. But we are well prepared now. This is about change driven not by fear but by courage and hope. We are popular, not populist.” [The Guardian, as expected, cannot cope with a political party that rebuffs the idea of a leader. She is a main spokesperson. The Pirates have a rotating chairperson position]
To be fair to the article, Singer is calling only for rights for apes such as chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos and orangutans, in particular. And the rights are for legal protections, not full civil and human rights. If we took the definition of animals to its logical end, then we would be demanding rights for germs and bacteria, opposing the eradication of diseases, up the animal chain, would not malaria- carrying mosquitos be protected from extermination. Plenty of parasites would prosper if they received rights…So i think there will be a self-imposed common sense limitation to the extent of animal rights.
Just to keep the pot boilinghttp://www.dw.com/en/should-animals-have-human-rights/a-19427091Animals like gorillas and chimpanzees are closely related to humans. But they have no rights. Peter Singer, a professor of bioethics tells DW why great apes should be legally recognized . "Meaning rights to life, liberty and protection from torture. We would like to see them recognized in the law as people, therefore as beings who can bring a case in the courts. Obviously, through a guardian or advocate, as a small child would bring a case in the courts. But not simply (being seen) as items of property."
I came across this thought on my web travels and thought it was of some import.
Quote:…incompatible political-economic cosmologies and corresponding conceptual frameworks collide. It is as if Aristotle were to request of Newton that he clarify his conception of motion, or force, or mass. But, in order that Aristotle comprehend Newton’s response, Newton must employ the language and concepts of Aristotelian physics: prime matter, substantial form, final causality and the rest. Can’t be done. And in politics, there is not only conceptual incommensurability, but normative dissonance as well. The liberal conception of equality is quite different from the radically egalitarian notion.This is no mere matter of “difference of opinion” or opposing beliefs. What separates genuine egalitarians and democrats from the mainstream goes much deeper. Political education is an essential part of organizing and movement building. It is not sufficient to expose people to more and different facts and “information.” That’s necessary, but not sufficient. It’s about a very different way of thinking about politics and economics, including that we inhabit a very different world, a different political universe, from what the mainstream political commentariat put across in every word they utter.http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/08/08/class-dismissed-identity-politics-to-the-front-of-the-line/Importance of ideology again in understaanding, isn't it?
American Psychiatric Association urged its members to stop calling Trump mentally ill. APA president Maria A Oquendo warned of the dangers of professionals diagnosing without examining someone in person.https://www.rt.com/usa/355006-diagnose-trump-mental-ill/The APA’s ‘Goldwater Rule’ prohibits psychiatrists from giving opinions on public figures’ potential mental illnesses. It was born from Republican Barry Goldwater’s presidential campaign in 1964. Goldwater’s slogan was “In your heart, you know he’s right” and his critics came up with the alternative, “In your guts, you know he’s nuts,” which led to speculation about the candidate’s mental state. Of the 2,417 psychiatrists surveyed on their opinions of Goldwater’s mental state and 1,189 said he was unfit to be president.
One more several related threads to choose from.This Der Spiegel story took my attention of how "rogue" NATO's now former military leader was in what could have been a Hot War. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/breedlove-network-sought-weapons-deliveries-for-ukraine-a-1104837.html
Just how different would this be to what we already have in the Events and Announcements for non-SPGB stuff?
Quote:I don't propose to 'name and shame'Let us be fair, the EC acted in what they thought was the best interests of the Party as they saw it. That is their prime imperative. They aren't a nest of saboteurs set on undermining the Party. I am not at all envious of the onerous task they have volunteered for and therefore to some extent will be less condemnatory of their actions.As i said in previous post, i think the problem has been one of subjectiveness and i doubt any of us are immune to its influences.Firstly, we have an EC that by its own admission in the past is not all that involved in the internet or social media, therefore, less knowledgeable about what is placed on the web. This may well influence their opinion if the only experience is of very expensively produced and professionally made videos. The to-be-expected flaws of an amateur's attempt may be overly obvious to them and the bar they have demanded is raised far too high whereas the web is full of very effective videos that fail the professional's test. As i also said any artistic projected results in peoples' personal tastes prejudices coming to the fore. Was the music soundtrack too sombre as someone suggested on this thread? Was the introductory changing of the colours of the logo unnecessary long and distracting? Was the narrator's accent too parochial? We'll all have different opinions on this. And i don't think it is the EC's job to micro-manage this aspect and decide these things. They could have fully justifiably delegated responsibility on deciding to adopt the video and whether to place it on our official websites to the membership. A branch poll. Or simply a poll based on this forum and Spopen/Spintcom. Not a difficult thing to do, albeit, not without some drawbacks, but certainly the result would be more reflective of the feelings of the party than individual EC members predispositions to media tools. Another drawn out bureaucratic process, some may observe? But not necessarily and even if it was, we are only too well-used to such decision-making inside the party which i think Gnome once described as glacially slow , so whats new. Unless instructed specifically otherwise, i will embed the video on our blogs and link to it on the many websites i visit daily where appropriate.
Quote:Vin's 'unofficial' offering has already received over 300 views in just a week.It also has had:91 visits on SOYMB blog20 on Socialist Courier20 on Socialist Banner16 on Mailstrom (personal blog)
Quote:All rather academic now considering the EC, by a slender margin today, decided not to endorse the video as an official 'party publication'Always in search of perfection, dotting the i and crossing the t.Unlike the written message, a video is much more of an artistic venture and therefore will always be subject to subjective scrutiny and a matter of personal taste. It requires that more allowances are made when it comes to approval, more flexibility. What flaws some see in one video may possess can be rectified by a different approach in the next video…I hope rather than merely negative criticism of what they thought was wrong with Vin's attempt and what was its faults, our aspiring Oscar/Bafta judges also provided helpful suggestions and perhaps even proposals for an alternative video…or am i the eternal optimist…
Something from my personal blog a few years back on the rise of the Papacy and the introduction of celibacyhttp://mailstrom.blogspot.com/2006/08/rent-priestcom.html
Chomsky defends his vote for the lesser evil stancehttp://www.alternet.org/election-2016/noam-chomskys-8-point-rationale-voting-lesser-evil-presidential-candidate
There are two old threads on Rojava. I opted for this one.Seems the libertarian Bookchin-inspired revolution has dropped out of attention so i was pleased to read this articlehttp://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2016/08/rojava-libertarian-myth-scrutiny-160804083743648.htmlHowever, it wasn't as rosy picture as some of the earlier reports depicted.
