robbo203
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There is a new tendency trying to indicate that Donald trump is a socialist , and that he is more socialist than the others socialists, which is totally absurd,
Could you possibly give some examples of this tendency? What or who is behind it? Anarcho-capitalists
Also what is the Economic Update you refer to? Is this Richard Wolff’s work?
Marcos whatever your dealings with WSPUS or SPC the past is the past . Lets move on and look to the future without rancour – that can only demoralise comrades. There is a new set of circumstances we are dealing with. Lets embrace the opportunity this presents
Thanks Marcos – this is all very useful information you have provided . Do you have the names and email address of the publications you refer to?
Also , are you in touch with the members in Vegas? I have just been messaging Dan (Mullin) who has indicated they will be looking around for some office space in Vegas which could serve as literature distribution hub for the western part of the US (with presumably Boston servicing the East), They are also going to introduce themselves to the members in Chicago where there have been some promising developments…
The only progressive media would be Radio Pacifica. Podcast. Democracy now and economic update
That’s useful to know Marcos, Do you think there is a possibility we could get a look-in as far as these organisations are concerned?
Also, and very importantly, can you possibly compile a list of journals and publications in the US that are likely to allow us to place an advert in them. I know one or two myself like the Jacobin magazine although it would probably not allow advertising by political parties but there must be loads of other magazines that would
I hope this is where the Party can make a positive contribution and offer supportive financial assistance to subsidize this school, not just with the accommodation and meal costs but equally important also towards the travel expenses to get there.
Yes indeed Alan, The SPGB could also offer one or two speakers to contribute to the series of talks along with local comrades or indeed even ex members (one has already offered to give a talk!) and maybe also some big names like Andrew Kliman or Paresh Chattopadhyay who are based in the US and Canada respectively.
I have suggested that Chicago could be the location of the first of these annual weekend schools (with perhaps Toronto in the following year) since this is one of the main hubs of potential socialist activity and there are active members there. The event could be widely advertised in the alternative press throughout the US and Canada and could include, along with talks, film shows, workshops, a social event (I have already located two members there who are musicians!) and a time for generally networking and developing bonds of solidarity
This could be a fantastic opportunity to really get things moving both in the US and Canada. You have really to THINK BIG if you want to make any real progress and be prepared to take risks, The alternative is to just limp along in the same old way we have tended to do for far too long, not really getting anywhere except smaller and weaker.
The good news is that I an beginning to sense a change in mood at least in the US. I hope this is the start of a cultural revolution than will take the movement, not just in the US but elsewhere too, much further than we have hitherto dared to hope was possible.
Being positive and optimistic brings its own results and we beginning to see the truth of this.
Following discussion of Motion 5 from South Wales Branch at the 2018 Conference a floor resolution was carried recommending the EC creates a ‘buddy’ system.
The minutes for the May 2018 EC meeting (item 2e viii) refers:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SPINTCOM/conversations/messages/18571
I’m not aware there has been any follow-up to this.Thanks for this information, Dave
Its now becoming quite urgent that the Buddy System be implemented without further delay particularly with the situation in the US in mind, The implementation of a Buddy System is one of key proposals I will be putting forward since it directly addresses the enormous problem of isolation that confronts comrades in the US even more than in the UK
I had hoped the system would have been up and running by now so that it could be extended to include US comrades. Would it be possible to ask the EC to look into this as a matter of urgency. Perhaps the original proposers of the Motion 5 – South Wales Branch – could assume responsibility for managing this project if they are willing….
But I think what Marcos was getting at is that any re-launched, re-branded WSPUS cannot be a clone of the SPGB. There are just too many differences in the environment where the WSPUS operates.
Yes that is quite true, Alan, and I wasn’t proposing the WSPUS adopt the same branch based model as the SPGB. There simply aren’t the numbers to make that possible anyway – more so given the huge size of the US compared to the UK
What I am saying, though, is that the SPGB must fully commit itself to supporting the WSPUS in its efforts to revive itself – financially, logistically and in other ways – otherwise this is just not going to work. They need our help at the present time. Things will change once they achieve real growth
In my conversations with comrades in the US I am not only making suggestions to them but also trying to get an idea of what they themselves want. There are a number of promising ideas being discussed and I will endeavour to bring these all together in my report which will serve as a contribution to a developing an overall strategy for growth.
I have also contacted the SPC to see if there are ways and means by which the two parties could collaborate to their mutual benefit. One possible idea which is being explored is to hold an annual residential weekend school alternating between the US and Canada, somewhat along the lines of the SPGB’s summer school
The main thrust of any approach to reviving the WSPUS has to focus on significantly increasing the level of connectivity and internal communication within the Party and steps are already being taken to do something about this I can happily report.
On the question of new applicants in the US, my own opinion is that the SPGB membership committee should continue to process these applications for the time being until an administrative apparatus capable of doing this emerges within the WSPUS. Information packs sent out to new members should include material specifically related to the WSPUS in the case of new members based in America.
The WSPUS has a big task to perform.
Yes indeed Marcos and it is absolutely critical that the SPGB gives the WSPUS every support. We cannot afford to blow this opportunity to turn around the fortunes of WSPUS. There is a very real prospect of reviving WSPUS if we do the right thing and there is a number of promising developments pointing in this direction. I will be reporting on these and making a list of recommendations when I draw up my report for the EC at the end of this exercise next month
In regards to internet isolation, I think one tool that needs to be emphasized is actually this very forum to involve and engage members and sympathisers in discussion and debate but also as a medium for drawing attention to news items to stimulate talking points that can be linked to on various US progressive websites. It features many American focused topics such as the 2020 presidential election, the US intervention in Venezuela, as well as general themes of interest universally.
Another much underrated tool is our blog, SOYMB, which carries many international items and in particular a preponderance of American articles and events. If its blog stats are to be trusted the vast majority of visitors are already from the USA. With more input from US comrades this audience can be cultivated more.Very good points Alan and I shall certainly want to mention these in my report.
Talking of isolation, I am rather concerned to have learnt just today that nothing has become of the proposal to implement a Buddy System which I thought was overwhelmingly agreed at Conference. I say this because the situation in the US desperately calls for such a measure to be adopted there given the extremely scattered distribution of the membership, I had hoped it would be up and running in the UK by now
Can anyone enlighten me on what is happening about this proposal?
I have been in conversation with several ex members of the WSPUS. Hopefully one or two might re-join in the light of current developments.
On a slightly different subject one of these has asked if anyone knows the whereabouts of an SPGB member called BARRY SINCLAIR. The name rings a bell but I cannot quite place him.
Can anyone enlighten me as to where Barry is. Is he still a member or did he pass away as I seem to think
I basically go along with what you say Dave but with two qualifications in the case of WSPUS
- That the SPGB should continue for the time being to take on the responsibility of processing new application for membership from the US because of the absence of an adequate means of doing this in the US at the moment
- That the SPGB should play a key role in assisting the US with a significant advertising campaign in the US in the near future once the necessary support infrastructure has been put in place (see my earlier post) which we are working on right now
The problems that the SPGB faces, which you rightly touched on, such as falling branch attendances etc are of course greatly magnified in the case of the US because of the large size of the country and the small numbers of socialists. But in both cases I suggest the key variable to focus on is the level of connectivity in the organisaton.
I am more and more convinced that the only way we can begin to effectively tackle this problem is to significantly diversify and expand the different ways in which members (and sympathisers) connect with each other. Frankly, we need to adopt a much more holistic approach to this whole issue.
I repeat: isolation is THE great killer of socialist activity. Find new and imaginative ways of overcoming this problem and we WILL see progress. Of that I am certain. Maybe foolishly so but certain I am….
Hi Alan
Yes exploring the possibility of closer collaboration with the SPC is definitely on my checklist of things to do in relation to this project. At the moment I am still at the stage of ascertaining the whereabouts of the members and their potential contribution to a revitalised WSPUS. I am also engaging in discussion with some ex members to see if they might be interesting in re-joining given the new circumstances.
We have to remember that there has been very little in the way of internal communication within WSPUS because of the breakdown of the central administration. The degree of connectivity has been very low and comrades dont know what is happening elsewhere in the country. They feel isolated and this leads to demoralisation and apathy. Key to a potentially resurgent WSPUS is restructuring the Party organisation to facilitate much closer collaboration and communication over vast distances. Video conferencing, resurrection of the internal party forum (I believe there is a little used google based forum which may need to be changed) and, most particularly, implementation of a buddy system (what has happened to the SPGB’s decision to adopt this) will be amongst the various measures that will need to be adopted, in my view.
It cannot be emphasised enough that isolation is the great killer of socialist activity. This applies to the WSPUS as much as it does to any of the other parties of the WSM. Everything we do has to be designed to overcome the isolation that goes with having small memberships. Only then do you stand a chance of breaking the vicious circle that keeps us small as a movement.
It is absolutely clear that for the WSPUS to start growing again it is going to need significant support from the SPGB. In particular, its is going to need significant financing of a comprehensive advertising campaign in various selected journals in the US. But for that to happen what we first need to put in place is a network of local contacts and distribution centres. In other words, the basic infrastructure to convert responses to an advertising campaign into real contacts and potential members.
Its early days yet but I have identified several possible hubs of activity – in Vegas, Chicago and one or two other places. One of the new members in Vegas has talked about the possibility of acquiring office space. If this is possible this could turn out to be very useful indeed. Other distribution centres could be set up elsewhere.
At any rate, the picture that is emerging is by no means as bleak as I thought it might be when I began this project. There is hope and there is enthusiasm. Given current political developments in the US and the huge surge of interest in “socialism” – albeit Bernie Sanders’ type of milk-and-water welfare capitalism – the potential for growth in the US is obvious . We would be foolish not to seize the opportunity with both hands now
Hi Marcos
Whatever may have been the case in the past, the WSPUS does not seem now to be the same kind of entity you are talking about. There are new people around now and a discernible enthusiasm for reviving the WSPUS. It is very important that we support this development. Clearly, there will have to be new ways of organising activity in the future given the scattered nature of the membership in a big country like the US. These will emerge over time and your contribution would be welcomed
I am more positive about the future of the WSPUS than I was when I started this project at the request of the EC a few weeks ago
Hi Neil
OK, yes, I see now where you are linking up with previous conversation on this thread. Still , even so, it might be useful to apply something of what you said to the situation in the US. Do you have any thoughts on this? I am hoping to write up a report next month on my investigation into the WSPUS and would welcome any advice or suggestions from anyone on the question of how to get the organisation up and running again
Hi Neil
I go along with a great deal of what you say. There s an enormous amount of structural waste built into capitalism – like what I called the “extending ladder” phenomenon whereby each little separate household unit owns it own extending ladder which it might use once or twice a year. That’s just daft and a plain misuse of resources. Far better to pool these kinds of things on a community basis
However, I am a little puzzled – how does all this relate to the status of the World Socialist Party in the US? Unless you are referring to the idea of using technology to more effectively reach people and maybe hiring a PR firm to give advice….
I think in the case of the WSPUS there is almost certainly going to have to be a radical change in the structure and procedures of the Party to make it more aligned with the age of the internet. Given the huge size of the country and the small and scattered nature of the membership, communication is going to have to play an absolutely central role to keep everyone in touch with each other and fully committed. Concepts like the Buddy System which the SPGB has agreed to implement (what has become of that?) will become particularly important in the US along with a resuscitated and updated website, a business forum like SPINTCOM, and the widespread adoption of technologies like Skype and video conferencing
It can’t happen too soon!
