steve colborn
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Oz, if I have contributed in some way to, re-infusing you with a sense of fight and fuck this system, how really "cool" would that be!!! Reinvigorating the fight in a "Comrade", is as important, nay, more so, than getting a "fresh" face to the battle!Battle rejoined mate and may it grow in intensity. Be well friend
You know what the really insane thing is? If we manage to "turn the tables", no one will miss out but we will "all" benefit, as a collective human race. Now how cool would that be?
Oz, I sense your frustration, a frustration which, if each and every Socialist was to be honest, we all feel. As Socialist Punk will bear out, I oft times state I wish I could get the collective working class by the throat and either give them a good shake, or bang their heads off of a wall. There are, however, some things on this thread, I also agree with. One is, if I can come to an understanding and agreement with the case for Socialism, then anyone can. Another is, if not fighting the corner for Socialism, then what? I'm not the kind of worker who gives in and I suspect you, as with the vast majority on this site, are the same! When I first joined the Party in 1981, I was infused with enough fervour, to think that we could make a significant dent in the political argument, as to make our voice, more than just a "whisper in the wind". 33 years later, probably most people would think inanely, I am still of this view. It is obvious now to me, that we will not see Socialism in my lifetime. As with SP, ill health makes this more of a possibility. But what am I to do? Leave the field of "battle" and battle it is, to the proponents of this abominable, objectionable, inhumane society called Capitalism? Not a fucking chance. I will advocate sanity, reason, humanity, till the day I draw my last breath. I'm a Socialist. I'm a rational human being. I think, I empathise, I understand. I want rid of this fucking cesspool, that some intellectually redundant cretins call "Civilised". I'm as much focussed on the aim of Socialism as I have ever been. The alternative? not an option.Fuck Capitalism. Because it has been fucking me and my class for hundreds of years. It's time to turn the tables!!!
Now I think I've seen a thousand Fairies trying to dance on the head of a pin!!! slothjjabber, if you don't know the meaning of the terms ban and banned, let me try and enlighten you. The Socialist Party have had a ban imposed upon them, which stops them participating in this Bookfair. They have, ergo, been banned, Capiche?Now you can tell the Fairies they can get off the "pin head".
So the "membership", were not consulted!!! Adding "directly" in bold therefore, serves no "useful" purpose. It does one thing however, it legitimises those of us who wish to continue to have a "debate" on this issue. Adding "end of", therefore serves no purpose whatsoever.
One does not need to be a member of the Party, to comment upon threads on this site. Non members, ie SP are not trying to "influence" anyone (what a ridiculous assertion) but merely contributing to a debate!Lastly, The Party is not some insular bunch of elitists like Militant, or the SWP, and I for one, welcome input from "fellow workers", yup thats what thyey are, "fellow workers". Your inference that "doing it" any other way, than the way "you" choose, is ridiculous!!!By the way, SP is an ex member and contributed greatly to Party activity in the North East. His condern over the route of travel of the Party, is a comradely and sincere one. Let no one be under any illusion about "that".
I agree with the post SP. I have spent time outside the Party, during that time, my output of Socialist letters, my putting the case to fellow workers never ceased. I may not have had the "title", Party member after my name but was a Socialist nonetheless. I continued to come up with ideas and ways to put the case.Yes, I am one of those members Adam refers to and no, I do not dismiss non-members ideas as irrelevant and worthless. I embrace ideas, where ever and from, whomsoever they come from!
To counter capitalism, existence of a strong welfare and socialst state is a must. A welfare state is merely a sop to the working class. Moreover, it is no counter to Capitalism. As for a "socialist state" this is an oxymoron. One is incompatible with the other.
gnome wrote:To the best of my knowledge the SPGB has never taken advice from non-members and hopefully never will.ALB wrote:But I think we'd have to bonkers to completely abandon our long-standing full name. Even though this would not be a break with our past it would be perceived of as such.Absolutely right and for what good reason? In a desperate attempt to appeal to more workers who otherwise don't understand or want socialism? It didn't work back in 1988 and it's not going to work now.Apart from the full name the party has, over its history, used the shortened name form and will continue to do so, and, of course, the acronym, by which we are probably better known, especially by workers who know anything at all about politics.This is the party's new fascia sign. Get used to it. "This is the party's new fascia sign. Get used to it."
Well it is for now, but as we all know, nothing lasts forever, or at least I hope it doesn't, cos if it does, we are fucked, if Capitalism last' forever.As for not taking "advice" from "non-members", I'm afraid you are wrong! We take advice from "tech" experts. We paid for, and accepted the "advice", of the guys who did "our" PEB. did we not?When all comes to all, we can be insular, or we can be outward looking and we can try to "engage", with our fellow "workers"! Guess which approach I favour?
"I don't understand the rationale in wanting to limit the blog to one post a day. Don't folks pick and choose which items to read?"Yup Janet, I do pick and choose. I choose to pick and read everything. Call me a glutton, but one cannot have too much ammo at ones disposal.I've said it in other places but it bears repeating. Check the blog and if a blog catches your eye, either copy it, if it's not to long, or condense it, if it is and use it as a letter to the local press! If enough members did this, think of the coverage we could get for our ideas? I must have gotten on AJJ's nerves, all the time I've thanked him for this blog or other but I'll restate, thanks Alan and as it's apposite, thanks also to Janet.Keep up the Excellent work.
But capitalism is a state of mind which we need to overcome.Anyone for mass hypnotism then?"The basic argument of SPGB/WSM is that you'll be better off without anybody telling you what to do – but that's not nor will ever be an option in a political system which is predicated on a few (generally double thinking positive cognitive dissonance deprecated) people telling you what to do."One problem, the basic argument of the SPGB/WSM is an administration of things, not people. There is no way you can tell a "class conscious majority" what to do and that is what is needed to bring about World Socialism! It is the Capitalist system where a "few" tell the "many" what to do. You can't take the power away from an elite – all people need to want to be a part of distributed (globally) power.Hey SP, ALB, Gnome, DJP, Northern Light, do you all " need to want to be a part of distributed (globally) power"? I don't, so not "all people" need this. So your premis is a lame duck before you even start, friend! To put it mildly but not meant, unkindly, your argument is contradictory and moreover, "nonsense".
It was a shame that the fall out in the 80's ended so acrimoniously. Let's ensure there is no repeat. As far as I'm concerned, members of the Party are Socialists and Comrades, more than that I could not give a flying fart about. I intend to learn from history and not let it colour my perception of either the present, or the Future.Be well all
"we feel that one daily, topical post to the Party's blog would be a good minimum, and that any extra ones could be submitted instead to the blogs of the Companion Parties in order to help bring them out of dormancy."If an "artificial stimulus" is thought to be needed to overcome "dormancy", then it is probably not going to be sustainable, even in the short to medium term.I am quite happy with the blogsite, as presently done and am able to "cope", with more than one post a day, as I suspect are mose visitors to the site.
