Mike Foster
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Yes, this is the kind of question which keeps coming up (along with 'who will clean the sewers in socialism?') and which we need to have replies to. To some extent, we can get away with saying that automation will make production easier in socialism, especially as by that time technology will have advanced so that we get, for example, robot sewer cleaners (if we haven't already got them). But this answer is a bit of a cop-out as it can't take into account all work and doesn't really address the issue of motivation.In capitalism, a lot of 'incentive' to produce comes through coercion, of course – i.e. needing to work to get money to pay for commodities. Our approach tends to be that there won't and can't be any coercion in socialism, as there wouldn't be institutions which could or would coerce people into labour. When we say this, and therefore that all work in socialism would be voluntary, this leads on to 'human nature' arguments in reply – i.e. "people are inherently lazy" or "who would want to do the dirty jobs?". In reply, we can point to the fact that even in capitalism there are plenty of people who do voluntary work, often involving menial or 'dirty' jobs.I don't think we can say that motivation would come just from wanting to help out the community, as motivation is always more personal (selfish?) than that.A more awkward argument against our view is the one that goes "why should someone bother training to be a brain surgeon when this wouldn't give them access to anything more than someone who does a few hours in an office?". Can our reply here be anything different to saying that being a brain surgeon is its own reward? Isn't this a bit glib?
Hopefully the Libcom forum won't be closed, as it's a useful and interesting way to find out what's being discussed out there. Nice of the poster to give this forum and its moderation a mention.
Regarding a theoretical journal, there are copies of unofficial ones available through the site shop. The last three Summer School publications on 'New Perspectives On Socialism' (if there are copies left), 'Money Talks' and 'The Environment' contain a mix of articles giving individual views, including from sympathisers. Next year's one is in the (very) early stages of being compiled.Shorter pamphlets are a good idea, and there's nothing to stop people approaching the Publications Committee already. But a co-ordinated approach from the committee would be best.
Marcos wrote:What about obataining feedbacks from the others companion parties of the WSM ?The committee's role has been set out to focus on the SPGB, rather than the other parties. Once our report has been put together, the companion parties will have access to it and would be welcome to comment on it if they wanted to.
J Surman wrote:Still waiting for my email survey, the postal one won't arrive here for at least 10 days, so some measure of impatience, as it wouldn't get back before the stated date for returns.I'll look into making sure an e-mail survey is sent to you.
I'm hopeful that the review of the party's organisation and activities will be an opportunity to make some positive changes, once It's given us a good picture of where the party is at at the moment. The consultation part of the review has all been arranged, and members should be receiving a survey/questionnaire very soon.
Donald Trump Jr wants to use Halloween to teach the world about ‘socialism’… http://www.dailyedge.ie/donald-trump-jr-3673709-Nov2017/
Brexistentialist crisis – a clumsy and ugly phrase used by a couple of journalists to describe feelings of uncertainty with how life will pan out after Britain leaves the EU.
Comrades in Cardiff pointed me towards http://www.quora.com, which I hadn't heard of before and is well worth a look. Users post questions (on any topic), and the replies then get voted up or down by anyone reading them. It's easy to search for topics, and there are plenty of threads on revolutionary politics.
