alanjjohnstone
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No, while supporting a paid Gen Sec i don't think it will address a problem in that we have reached a position that we cannot do everything we would want to.i would seek the job description of Gen Sec and HOO being combined into one position for a half-decent wage and "above the shop" accommodation provided if required and not as a "job on the side". If so i might just apply myself when i am obliged to return to the UK ;-pSimply look at the attendance of branch meetings…many are barely meeting quorum numbers… …and that includes the London branches which were once the core of the Party in past years. The demographics are clear on the future trend of the Party and it is not promising, Tim
We have a relevant committee…Campaigns…i am sure they have the authority to organise an outing of volunteers and possess the budget to cover the expenses…return fare, a few meals, and one night's accommodation. I'm not talking about lots of people 2 or 3 at most to hand out literature and then to report back their observations and recommendations. Ideally also to take contact e-mails of any they come across who are ready to investigate the WSM further. But the key word is "volunteers" …it has often been made clear to me that we do have a dearth of members willing to put themselves forward…and as i already mentioned, we have other activities that demand attending to, as well. But if we don't hurry, we'll find the leftists will have visited before us and alienated those potentially interest.
I've never been a fan of on-line reading groups although i think sharing recommended book lists is a good idea.For a reading group to be successful, i think, it has to be face-to-face such as in book club circle. Perhaps instead of some members addressing branch meetings in talks after the business part has been completed, sitting down to discuss a particular book or even an article (perhaps from the Standard) could be just as worthwhile in the education process of members. I feel attempts with the large tomes like Capital is not likely to be fruitful but the more "light-weight" pamphlets such as Value Price and Profit or Wage Labour and Capital is more ameniableWorth giving it a stab i think and perhaps become a focus for starting socialist discussion/education groups
The Guardian also carries a story about them…just like waiting ages for a bus and they all come at oncehttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/08/nuit-debout-protesters-occupy-french-cities-in-a-revolutionary-call-for-changeSo just a few additional info and quotes"spread to cities such as Toulouse, Lyon and Nantes and to Brussels"“There’s something here that I’ve never seen before in France – all these people converge here each night of their own accord to talk and debate ideas – from housing to the universal wages, refugees, any topic they like. No one has told them to, no unions are pushing them on – they’re coming of their own accord.”Various committees have sprung up to debate a new constitution, society, work, and how to occupy the square with more permanent wooden structures on a nightly basis. Whiteboards list the evening’s discussions and activities – from debates on economics to media training for the demonstrators. “No hatred, no arms, no violence,” was the credo described by the “action committee”.Cécile, 22, a Paris law student at Thursday night’s general assembly, said: “I don’t agree with the state society is in today. To me, politics feels broken. This movement appeals in terms of citizen action. I come here after class and I intend to keep coming back. I hope it lasts.”So some fellow workers have questions and are seeking answers. We have a receptive audience for our ideas, it seems. Here are the text of various leaflets we could distribute.http://www.worldsocialism.org/fran%C3%A7aisShould we let this opportunity slip away? Lets present our alternative and see what the response is.Of course, i can guess the reply to this …We have our current election campaign as our priority and cannot spare the effort to go off chasing will o' the wisp movements.
Economistes Atterrés Not too impressed by these folk when i visited their website and read their manifesto…not too appalling in their list of economic reforms as it happenshttp://www.atterres.org/http://www.atterres.org/sites/default/files/Manifesto%20in%20English.pdf
AHS, so does that mean you support the EU policy of Fortress Europe that excludes and deports non-EU citizens. Does it mean you approved of the EU political system's treatment of default nations such as Greece by the Troika Do you support the establishment of a EU military force to enforce EU foreign policy?Do you seek to foster a Pan-European nationalism as a stepping stone? I know you will disassociate yourself personally from condoning those EU policies but they are integral to the EU and you cannot separate them.Is there advantages to being in the EU for some workers, of course, there areEqually, is there disadvantages of being in the EU for other workers, yes, there areSo in my view i am very happy to sit on the fence, taking no sides, and observe the antics of politics in action.Isn't there a doctor's dictum…first do no harm? Giving succour to the Stay In camp may well lead to all manner of unintended consequences. Just as supporting the Leave camp will. Whatever happens we can guarantee that the capitalist class will find a suitable arrangement to protect and further their own interests such as a UK variant of CETA.
I have been a proponent of leafletting but with the caveat that we use a variety of them in different styles as evidenced by my past posts when there is a protest and i invariably suggest it. Our weakness in my view is that we produce a standard one-size-fits all leaflet.In elections as now, we have three candidates in London, three separate leaflets could have been produced and we would have an opportunity to judge the most effective from the feed-back. Just what was to lose…scarcely the number of votes. As the Prof explained, face-to-face was the most effective form of persuasion, so lets have more presence of these street lit-stalls that are being conducted (I know I'm not going to be popular saying this but a couple of hours around noon is simply not long enough on a Saturday) where we also do some leafletting. Couldn't we have some sort of rotation and also do week-days? I know, the usual answer…where are the volunteers coming from?…a financial enticement? Expenses, a pint and a bar-meal courtesy of the Party, maybe. Possibly even cinema/theatre tickets as a reward for the stalwarts. Would we be so shocked that some members are then revealed as being so mercenary…
This story appeared in the Guardian and is a useful reminder of the suppression of sciencehttp://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/apr/07/the-sugar-conspiracy-robert-lustig-john-yudkin
Quote:If, as seems increasingly likely, the nutritional advice on which we have relied for 40 years was profoundly flawed, this is not a mistake that can be laid at the door of corporate ogres. Nor can it be passed off as innocuous scientific error. What happened to John Yudkin belies that interpretation. It suggests instead that this is something the scientists did to themselves – and, consequently, to us.We should remember that the establishment of socialism is going to endeavour to be world-wide and perhaps in some parts of the world, the ruling class might well be bought off with a private jet or two, a mansion on a tropical island, if it deters a possible blood-bath. Let us not forget that in some regions where family/religious clan loyalty over-rides class solidarity that the warning from Jay Gould may well be a reality, "I can hire one half of the working class to kill the other half."But for now it is hardly worth discussing
Just an update upon the risks of being a follower of ahmadiyya islamhttp://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-35976958Sad this incident happened in Glasgow, a city infamous for the violence for being the wrong type of christian
A companion blog has put on the internet an article in the Socialist Standard from 1955. http://socialiststandardmyspace.blogspot.com/2016/04/buddha-puts-clock-back-1955.html
Some people are lucky that they get the most intriquing and interest of jobs. Even in socialism her skills will be required in making assessments of various projects and policies…
Quote:"a former government intelligence adviser ('Horizon scanner') "A job i would like…just what are the qualifications? Do they provide the crystal balls or do i bring my own for the predictions?…i'm always looking at the horizon, way off in the distance…Usually that's why i trip over something right at my own feet sometimes. Out of interest what career did she take when she left the government employment? Futurologist with some think-tank?
