imposs1904
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700 plus meeting in Dundee.300 plus at a lunchtime meeting in Aberdeen.It looks like Corbymania has reached north of the border.
Found the review of Steel's book from the Standard:http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/socialist-standard/2000s/2001/no-1163-june-2001/book-reviews#b
Steel was a member of the SWP for 20 plus years. I'd recommed his Reasons To Be Cheerful. A genuinely laugh out loud book about being a political activist – for the SWP – through the 80s and 90s. It's even quite touching in places, and any political activist – whatever your brand – will recognise themselves in some of the anecdotes in the book.It may have even been reviewed in the Standard. I know at least one of his books was.
Wasn't there a suggetion a few months back that Socialist Appeal – alongside Socialist Action one of the last vanguardist actively committed to entryism inside the Labour Party – were seriously thinking of leaving the Labour Party because it was seen as a dead end for political work? I think this was especially true of their experience inside the Scottish Labour Party. And, now, fast forward a few months and Corbyn is the new messiah. (I'm being a bit cheeky because of his initials.) It even puts the Bernie Sanders – who's intials are b.s. – campaign over here into the shade.
Vin,I know it wasn't meant but your post gives the impression that I wrote that about Corbyn views on state control. That was in fact from the 1989 article itself.I had to clarify that becaue i'm a sensitive flower.
Interesting vox pop video from Speakers' Corner Heiko Khoo's where he asks people queuing up for a Jeremy Corbyn meeting for three reasons why they are voting for Corbyn.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC76yIQ4uXI&feature=youtu.be
Just a wee update about the WSPUS website. It is up and running again, but it is in the process of being rebuilt and it will be a long process.As part of the rebuilding process we are building up the archive section, which can be bookmarked at the following link:http://www.wspus.org/?cat=15I'm sure a number of Forum members will have seen the majority of articles elsewhere but we will be adding 'new' old stuff to the website in the fullness of time. Just keep us bookmarked and check in every week or so.
Surprised that no one else dug out this old Socialist Standard article from 1989:http://socialiststandardmyspace.blogspot.com/2015/08/labour-mps-in-confusion-1989.htmlIt's a bit of daft article, but of all the politicians written to, it was Corbyn who received the most begrudging praise – sort of – in the piece.From the article:"Jeremy Corbyn wrote of an absence of exploitation, respect for the natural environment, and production for need and not profit. In this last phrase, he came dangerously close to a genuine definition of socialism. But the capitalist class need not fear; production for need cannot be introduced on the basis of minority control of the means of production, whether through private enterprise or through the state control which Corbyn stands for."
The English football league season starts this weekend – apologies to Brighton/Notts Forest fans on the list – so I'll just leave this Robert Barltrop article from 1955 here:http://socialiststandardmyspace.blogspot.com/2015/08/looking-at-football-1955.html?m=0You can tell it's an article from back in the day, because Barltrop refers to Newcastle as a "big club". (Just thought I'd get that dig in. ) Quick football and politics related question. What will come first – Socialism or Hibs finally winning the Scottish Cup again? I think the odds are weighted in favour of the former, but what do I know? I think Man Utd will win the EPL this year.
Formatting gone to shot once again.Does it just happen to me, or does other people experience formatting difficulties on the forum when they've cut and pasted something?
In light of reviews and comments about his book, Mason posted this on his Facebook timeline about an hour ago:The reviews for Postcapitalism so far:1. Neoliberalism does not exist2. This does not fit my existing way of thinking and is therefore wrong3. There are too many soviet era thinkers mentioned4. It's too anticapitalist in its language5. Paul has no right both to write things with ideas in and also be a journalist6. Lottie is OK Who's Lottie? I know he's kind of bantering with this post but there is a whiff of tetchiness about it, also. I guess he'd throw number 3 at us – and everyone else who is in any way sniffy about the book, for that matter.
Heartfield was a leading member of the old Revolutionary Communist Party. He appears to be one of the few of that now defunct organisation who still see themselves as part of a longstanding left political tradition.
An interesting comment from a Facebook thread about Corbyn's strong showing:" Having been out canvassing this evening for the Lib Dems in the rural New Forest for a low key Council seat, won by a UKIP candidate last time around who then failed to sign by the correct time, Jeremy's name came up a number of times. 'A real politician', 'not fake like the others', 'a man with principles – even though I disagree' were some of those comments from people who just wanted to chat on the doorstep in the warm evening about politics in general.."
I read the first volume years ago.A far more interesting autobiography by a Trotskyist was Harry Ratner's 'The Reluctact Revolutionary'. Very human.
