ALB
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A follower of this forum has drawn our attention to this obituary in the New York Times:https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/us/jacque-fresco-futurist-who-envisioned-a-society-without-money-dies-at-101.html?referer=https://www.google.com/
It wasn't actually an election donation but a legacy that happened to be paid into our account during the election period and so has to be recorded as having been received during this period. It is much more than our election campaign will be costing. Not that this will stop the media misinterpreting it of course.
I see the Green Party is promising to introduce a Universal Basic Income. Here's the Daily Wail's typical (and unintentionally amusing) report on this:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4530322/Green-Party-manifesto-plans-universal-basic-income.html
Quote:Green Party unveils manifesto plans to bring in a four day working week and give cash handouts to millionaires by introducing a universal basic incomeGreens want to introduce universal basic income – cash payments for all citizensLeader Caroline Lucas did not say how much the plan would costExperts warned the plan would be expensive and could be a disincentive to work Party also wants to introduce a four day working week and scrap Trident The Green Party wants to give cash hand-outs to millionaires and introduce a four day week, according to their manifesto. The party today laid out plans to to take steps towards introducing a universal basic income – although did not say how much this would cost.If rolled out the radical plan would see every British citizen get money from the state – no matter how rich they are.Some countries have eyed up the plans to introduce a universal basic income in order to deal with fears the rise of robots will lead to mass unemployment and poverty.But the policy would be massively expensive and some experts have warned that it is simply unworkable.It's not just "some experts" who say it's unworkable. So do Socialists or rather that it wouldn't work as intended but would be a subsidy to employers that would lead to wages being reduced all round.
Quite clever. Don't know if it will work, though, i.e. bring in votes for the Green Party. It could be interpreted as an appeal to vote anything but Labour or Tory or, in fact, to not bother to vote at all.
Something interesting in the Jacobin magazine for once, an article on Stephen Jay Gould, author of The Mismeasure of Man which refuted genetic determinism:https://jacobinmag.com/2017/05/stephen-jay-gould-science-race-evolution-climate-change
Yes, he was an interesting person who must be given credit for the spread of the idea of a moneyless world of abundance since the turn of the century (though this is of course an idea whose time has come) via his influence on Peter Joseph and the Zeitgeist Movement. I think the two fell out when Joseph was moving more towards political action of some sort while Fresco was more into technology (promoting "circular cities", etc) and in fact opposed to politics. I've not seen a full obituary of him but I suspect he must have been involved in the 1930s (when he would have been in his 20s — he was 101 when he died) in or around the Technocracy movement which wanted society to be run by qualified engineers not elected politicians, an idea which Zeitgeist used to promote and which still survives to a certain extent in what they argue.He expresses his views on a moneyless world of abundance clearly and succinctly here:http://thezeitgeistmovement.se/files/Books/The-Best-That-Money-Cant-Buy.pdf
Here's what Wikipedia says about him. I've only read two of his other books. One, A Short History of the Russian Revolution, based on the notes of a non-Bolshevik revolutionary is very good. Reviewed in the March 1968 Socialist Standard here. The other is The Unriddling of Christian Origins: A Secular Account which, being a secular account, is ok if I remember rightly. But I think he thought there actually was a historical figure called "Jesus", which is open to serious doubt.
Well (or wel, as they say in Welsh) if they are going to hand them out at the stall in Swansea this Saturday they better do this only to people from Swansea East not Swansea West. Otherwise some of those who want socialism might write WORLD SOCIALISM across their ballot paper instead of voting for the Socialist candidate there.The "I'm voting for World Socialism" stickers are being delivered to Head Office on Monday.
robbo203 wrote:I am currently reading Paul's Mason's book, "Post Capitalism: A Guide to our Future". In it, he makes a number of startling claims such as that "banks have always lent out more cash than there was in the safe" (p.11) and since 1971 no longer have to contend with legal limits in the form of a fractional reserve. What are the facts and figures to substantiate or repudiate this claim?That statement of his is ambiguous. It could mean that banks can lend out more cash than has been deposited with them or that they have borrowed. In which case it would be wrong. Or it could mean that the amount of money banks lend is more (much more) than what they choose to keep as cash. Which would be true but trite. Figures can be produced to show the latter but that's what banks do — re-lend money lent to them; they are not just safe deposits,It is true that in Britain there are no longer any legal or regulatory limits on the amount of money banks must hold as cash. Banks naturally want to re-lend as much of what they have as they safely can because lending brings in money as interest while cash in vaults doesn't. It is up to those running a bank to make a judgement, based on experience, as to what is safe.
The leaflets that were delivered to Head Office yesterday are those for distribution outside the three constituencies we are contesting and advising those who want socialism to write "WORLD SOCIALISM" across their ballot paper. They will be despatched to branches and individuals who requested some today. Cardiff and Folkestone were sent theirs direct from the printers in time for their street stall tomorrow. They will also be handed out tomorrow at the Levellers Day event in Burford, Oxfordshire, and at the stall outside Head Office.There are still plenty left for those who haven't yet asked for some. Send a letter or email to Head Office: spgb[at]worldsocialism.org
Yes, it surprised me that an offshoot of Zeitgeist should think in terms of a moneyfree "resource based economy" being established in just one country and a relatively small one dependent on international trade like Britain.This reminds me that in the 2005 general election, a sort of sympathiser, well, someone acquainted with us, called Ernie Reynolds stood as an Independent candidate in North Swindon on an "Abolish Money Now" platform. He too envisaged this in one country. Here's his programme:http://www.abolishmoneynow.co.uk/Quite a few people like him come to this idea on their own.And here's our comment on it.He got 195 votes. This compared with Trotskyist Andy Newman, with a whole wish list of reforms, who got 205 in Swindon South. After that, Newman gave up and is now a Labour councillor and their candidate in Chippenham this time.
Actually, Alan, I do think your post is worth discussing. I remember the days when the Labour Party used to denounce the SNP as "Tartan Tories". As it happened, the SNP turned out to be "Tartan reformists" and now it's Labour that are "Tartan Unionists". But not here.As to what was "opined" at the EC, it was that the Party had contested Vauxhall many times without the local (or any) branch asking to contest there under Rule 28, but on the basis of the EC deciding this in the knowledge that there would be activity in the constituency, as there always was of course. But discussion of what the EC decided this time is best left till after the campaign is over.
Here's their candidate in Bristol's manifesto. They are advocating a "moneyfree economy in one country":
Quote:UK General Election June 8th 2017 Jodian Rodgers – Standing for a RESOURCE BASED ECONOMYIn June we will be voting in a general election. Are you concerned with the structure of our system of governance? Do you feel that there is no real choice? Or do you abstain from voting? If you answer yes to any of these questions and would like your vote to finally mean real change, please read on.Money Free Party would like to introduce you to a new social structure, a Resource Based Economy. It is a straightforward redesign of our culture in which the age-old inadequacies of war, poverty, hunger, debt and human suffering are viewed not only as avoidable, but as totally unacceptable. Anything less will result in a continuation of the same catalogue of problems inherent in today's world.Modern society has access to highly advanced technologies and CAN make available food, clothing, housing, medical care and a relevant educational system. We CAN develop a limitless supply of renewable, non-contaminating energy such as solar, wind and tidal. It is now possible to have everyone in the UK enjoy a very high standard of living with all of the amenities that a prosperous civilisation CAN provide. This CAN be accomplished through the intelligent anc humane application of science and technology.In a Resource Based Economy all goods and services are available to all people without the need for means of exchange such as money, credits, barter or any other means. For this to be achieved, all resources must be declared as the common heritage of all UK's inhabitants.I need your vote to make this change. We in Bristol can show the UK there is an alternative system to today's governance. Thank you and I would appreciate your vote on June 8, 2017.Jodian Rodgers Money Free Party
