imposs1904
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ALB wrote:imposs1904 wrote:Paul Mason posted this on his Facebook page about five years ago.
That can't be right. More like five days? For example, his book on Postcapitalism only came out last year.
Oops, I meant to write five hours ago. Blame it on a (nearly) five year old who likes to inflict on me late nights asking about Yellow Yaks and Africa.
Paul Mason posted this on his Facebook page about five years ago. I think it's interesting because, for those of us who haven't read his latest book, it brings us up to speed with his political views and the here and now:Yesterday the British chancellor George Osborne accused me — from the front bench and under parliamentary privilege — of being a “revolutionary Marxist”. Various media have reported that I am “advising” the Labour Party. Neither of these claims is true. I have left Channel 4 News to become a freelance journalist, writing a weekly Guardian column, with a wide range of other projects at the planning stage, including a Medium blog called Mosquito Ridge. I have agreed to contribute a lecture to Labour’s The New Economics series, following prestigious names such as Joseph Stiglitz, Yanis Varoufakis, Marianna Mazzucato and Simon Wren-Lewis. I will be focusing on unconvetnional monetary policy and the democratisation of central banks. That’s all. It’s up to the Labour Party whether they listen to what I say. But it is very specifically not formal advice.As to Mr Osborne’s claim that I am “revolutionary Marxist” it is completely inaccurate. I am radical social democrat who favours the creation of a peer-to-peer sector (co-ops, open source etc) alongside the market and the state, as part of a long transition to a post-capitalist economy. There’s a comprehensive critique of Bolshevism in my latest book, Postcapitalism: A Guide to Our Future. In the next months I will likely be travelling to hostile environments, repressive regimes and seeking access to societies where, with one Google search, people will discover that the government of my own country considers me a “revolutionary Marxist”. I will keep you posted on the outcome of that. As for the Mao/Mickey Mouse jibe, I was tailed for hours in 2008 in Beijing by the secret police of Mr Osborne’s favourite Marxist government, after interviewing the victims of Mao’s Great Leap Forward. I am happy to state that Mao was a despot whose policies killed millions; I look forward to hearing Mr Osborne say that on his next trip to China.Mickey Mouse on the other hand is a universal 20th century icon representing the triumph of the little guy against the bully, the innocent against the corrupt, the weak against the strong. I am happy to be identified with those ideals.
Interesting series articles from the July 1973 issue of the Socialist Standard, all under the umbrella of 'Socialism Means . . . ' The front page article was reproduced in the Socialism or Your Money Back centenary book but the other six articles are on the internet for the first time:Link: Socialism Means series . . . Scroll down the page to see all seven articles.
A nice wee 6-part series from 1952, addressing 'Common Questions Answered . . . 'Link: 'Common Questions Answered . . . 'The same rules apply to any series posted on the blog; you have to scroll down to the bottom of the linked page for the first article in the series, and work your way up.
Looks like someone has to update the IUP's wiki page. There's no mention of the Socialist Republic on there.Link: Industrial Union Party
Interesting four part series from 1978 on definitions:Link: A Question of DefinitionThe link will take you to part four at the top of the page, so just scroll further down the page and it will take you to part one.
I'm bemused by the Socialist Republic reference as well, and I initially thought of a De Leonist group as well. (Was it Sam Brandon's lot, the Industrial Union Party?) With regards to a Socialist Republic paper/magazine in Britain or the UK, I'm really at a loss to remember one. Wasn't there an Irish paper called Worker's Republic? That's the only one I can of.edit: Quick edit reveals the Irish paper:Link: Workers RepublicThe journalist obviously made a mistake with regards the name of the newspaper/magazine, and it'll probably be Socialist Review, or something of that ilk.
I disagree with Joel's comments about Bowie but I hope the letter is published in next month's Standard.
Link: 200 posts on the blog for the month of JanuaryAbout 170-175 posts are new to the net. Something for everyone. Check it out and pass on the links.
