alanjjohnstone
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Quote:“Neither capitalism nor its state apparatus can be made to work in the interests of the mass of the population. The rule of the working class requires a state to defend itself, but a state that is withering away, a semi state.” Indicatively agreed 20 –16 & 7 abstentions
I suspect this is back to the "workers state" just phrased differently…And what is all this "motivated" what was wrong with simply saying "moved"
"I don't have a therapist and I have never been in therapy. " Yet, another failure of our wonderful education, health and social services. Another potential, possible Breivik missed by the system. "I have never had the need. " You may not yourself have felt the need but it is very obvious to others that you are in need.
Has it disappeared? " If we understand that Occupy is not a brand, an organization or a self-designated group of individuals, but the continuation of a long struggle against the forceful imposition of poverty for many and wealth for a few, then the purpose it represents has only begun to manifest itself." http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/09/17-10 Worth reading as is this to compare different interpretations of the meaning of success http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/09/17-9
As i said in previous post i seek out the practical implications of this debate on truth and facts and knowledge. I came across this report that when it comes to politics, facts and truth and knowledge are of little concern. “People who said the economy was the most important issue to them, and who disapproved of Obama’s economic record, were shown a graph of nonfarm employment over the prior year – a rising line, adding about a million jobs. They were asked whether the number of people with jobs had gone up, down or stayed about the same. Many, looking straight at the graph, said down. Some people were asked to interpret a table of numbers about whether a skin cream reduced rashes, and some people were asked to interpret a different table – containing the same numbers – about whether a law banning private citizens from carrying concealed handguns reduced crime. Kahan found that when the numbers in the table conflicted with people’s positions on gun control, they couldn’t do the math right, though they could when the subject was skin cream. The bleakest finding was that the more advanced that people’s math skills were, the more likely it was that their political views, whether liberal or conservative, made them less able to solve the math problem.” Perception trumps reality!! If it indeed “truth” coalesces with your politics, the Sun does goes around the Earth – the maths will prove it! http://www.alternet.org/media/most-depressing-discovery-about-brain-ever Now the issue is how we combat such ideas “If you spend a few minutes affirming your self-worth, you’re more likely to say that the number of jobs increased.” Therefore Brian is right that our activity must be postive and less negative.We don’t need to know how bad the world is, Left or Right we know it from direct experience. What we need to do is raise consciousness by raising confidence. Which always brings me back to the Solidarity statement . “Meaningful action, for revolutionaries, is whatever increases the confidence, the autonomy, the initiative, the participation, the solidarity, the equalitarian tendencies and the self-activity of the masses and whatever assists in their demystification. Sterile and harmful action is whatever reinforces the passivity of the masses, their apathy, their cynicism, their differentiation through hierarchy, their alienation, their reliance on others to do things for them and the degree to which they can therefore be manipulated by others – even by those allegedly acting on their behalf.” Just bringing this debate back down to Earth
The real project would be to do an abridged version, Dietzgen For Dummies or better still the illustrated cartoon Introduction to Dietzgen
Qatar transporting Libyan weaponry to Syrian rebels http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/09/16/324324/libya-weapons-smuggled-into-syria-un/ "On June 21, a report by The New York Times said evidence collected in Syria together with flight control data and interviews with militia members, smugglers, militants, analysts and officials in several countries attest to the fact that a great deal of effort, spearheaded and financed by Qatar, is underway to transport arms from Libya to foreign-backed militants in Syria."
An insightful article on Canada's multi-culturalism. I have visited Toronto twice and found it refreshingly cosmopolitan and tolerant. What i fail to get my head around is the contrast with Australia. Both countries are nations of immigrants, both devastated the local indigenous population but Canada has left behind the racism (although the First Nations still appear to be discriminated against) while Australia actively promotes it in with its xenophobic attitudes and policy to Asian immigration. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/09/2013915111722311111.html
i indeed read it and sort of understood your basic definitions -object subject and knowledge- but if it was that simple we wouldn' have this lengthy discourse, would we? Don't get me wrong, I do find it an interesting exchange even when I do get lost and have no desire to criticise it taking place, despite it being very much a thread that excludes other's participation due to lack of philosophical/logic background. This sort of detailed and mainly comradely (albeit with the occasional tetchy outbursts) discussion is to be encouraged, particularly, as I see it, within the "thin red line" across organisations but with common aims. What I am trying to do is try and work out the practicability of it for our socialist case, forever returning to Marx's dictum, although the philosopers have interpreted the world, its all about changing it. How useful a tool is the information in thread in challenging non-socialists, either in academia or in the street? I seek intellectual weapons to fight the case for socialism and i need to know a few things, who to aim it at, when to us it , and how to use it. Primarily, I have to know enough about it to pull the trigger without it back-firing on me. Mundane purpose not estoric reasons. i was serious in suggesting that there is the basis of worthwhile pamphlet if the thread is re-edited. Certainly it won't be a popular best seller and fly off the lit table, but should be a part of our arsenal – to maintain the militaristic metaphors – in the battlefield of ideas.
I think this article shows that the Syrian Civil War is not so much a war over resources but a war for resources as income sources to carry on the war…if you get the difference. Its an article describing the occupation of a so-called liberated area by Al Nusra, the Jihadist Al Qaida proxy. There is also an interesting aside how the Free Syrian Army co-operates with the government on the distribution of gas. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/09/11/201816/nusra-front-militias-control-of.html#.Ujd4X9KnoQD
Turkey said it had shot down a Syrian helicopter close to its border. Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said the aircraft was engaged by fighter jets after violating Turkish air space.I would suggest that this is a serious escalation that somehow does not merit highlighting by the media but an aside http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24113553
Over 200 posts on this thread and a score or more on the earlier.Can i ask these questionsHas anybody's position changed? Has anyone conceded ground? What new has been learned by anyone? Is the materialist case on science and truth now better positioned to take on the non-socialist critics by the fruits of exchange? DJP, can you make a pamphlet out of the discussion?
Nearly half the Syrian rebel force is Jihadists. 10,000 linked with Al Qaida, 30-35000 other assorted hard-line Jihadist. "The idea that it is mostly secular groups leading the opposition is just not borne out." said Charles Lister, defence consultancy IHS Jane's.http://uk.news.yahoo.com/half-syrian-rebels-hardline-islamists-british-study-225207222.html#TeP1UhI
3-D printing and the prospect of 50 million garment workers being eventually redundant http://truth-out.org/news/item/18622-the-3d-printed-guns-wont-hurt-you
That is what i like to see, lots of volunteers and a well- stocked lit table, displaying a wide selection of party and non-party material. Lots of freebie old Standards to give away free too.Well done to all
An invitation to give a talk at HO should indeed be issued ASAP.Nothing too elaborate, a Q and A session perhapsContact details for the relevant committee. Can you provide his UK dates, DJP?e-mail: akliman@pace.edu snail-mail: Andrew KlimanDepartment of EconomicsPace UniversityPleasantville, NY 10570 USA phone: (914) 773-3968to call USA, the following dial code is required.00 1 from UK
