Are physical meetings the best form of democratic control in 2015?
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Are physical meetings, in particular Conference and ADM, the best form of Democratic control in 2015?
I notice discussions held on this forum will be discussed at ADM. Most contributers cannot attend.
Only a minority of party members can attend London and yet that is where decisions are made.
I assume Strategy too will be decided by only those able to attend
There is no longer justification for this in todays digital world.
One branch asks 'How can we get members who joined via the internet to get involved in physical activity'? The question should be 'How can we get branch members involved in the internet?
Vin wrote:Only a minority of party members can attend London and yet that is where decisions are made.No they're are not. Decisions are made after ADM when all members get to do a postal vote. Subbed travel is available for delegates to ADM and conference to.But I have nothing against online meetings in principle, though the demand has been low and I think most branches that have tried them do not do so at present..
DJP wrote:Decisions are made after ADM when all members get to do a postal vote.When did we start doing that? How does that work? With regard to subbed travel, members have to stay in London all weekend and all the cost and hassel involved in that.Besides, as I have said elsewhere, the pressure is on people to travel to London, when the pressure could be put on people to get on-line.I can hear gnome saying 'get off your arse and attend meetings' Well I say its easier to get on your arse and get online .I know the pressure would then be put on people like yourself to organise the technology and I have to admit I am not sure of the work and technology needed but I do know it can be done.
Vin wrote:DJP wrote:Decisions are made after ADM when all members get to do a postal vote.When did we start doing that? How does that work?
Sorry got that the wrong way around, after conference everyone gets voting papers through the post. It's been like this for, I don't know, a decade now.. You must know that!?
DJP wrote:Sorry got that the wrong way around, after conference everyone gets voting papers through the post. It's been like this for, I don't know, a decade now.. You must know that!?So how come you thought it was after ADM? You must know we have never done that!
A good example to illustrate my point is the Item 3 by Kent and Sussex Branch. re North East Branch's expulsion of a member. This will be discussed without any NE members present. Not very even handedAs this subject has been raised then I think NE members should explain the situation here on line rather than be misrepresented again.
I'd send a written statement to be read at ADM, if only because most of those likely to be delegates or attend ADM won't be on here.
ALB wrote:I'd send a written statement to be read at ADM, if only because most of those likely to be delegates or attend ADM won't be on here.Why not?We are expected to travel/live in London but some members cant be bothered to go on lineOnly takes 5 minutes in their own time to comment! I have to live in London for a few days to comment!Come on Cdes!
Up to you, but if you don't send in a written cobtribution (whatever else you do) there'll be nothing in the Proceedings of ADM that will be sent to members.
Would it be fair to say that most new member find us via the Internet I wonder?
ALB wrote:There are two items about that too on the agenda. They seem to be but that's where they stay….Speaks volumes then? More efficient than Book Fairs and public meetings, it seems to suggest. Also indicating a need to redirect resources to more fruitful ventures? So members are not wasting their time sitting on their arse on the internet. I think Corbyn Mania was also the result of the Internet yet we persist with the old pre digital methods
If you re-read the supporting statements for the two items you'll see that the problem for 2 branches is that new members allocated to them who join this way don't participate in any organised socialist activity, eg come to meetings, help out at stalls, distribute or sell literature at demonstrations. They seem to be just keyboard socialists.
ALB wrote:If you re-read the supporting statements for the two items you'll see that the problem for 2 branches is that new members allocated to them who join this way don't participate in any organised socialist activity, eg come to meetings, help out at stalls, distribute or sell literature at demonstrations. They seem to be just keyboard socialists.I see you support the old methods that fail. Referring to people bringing socialists into the movement via the internet as 'keyboard socialist' Are we really going to be so blinkered and unscientific in our approach?
Vin wrote:So members are not wasting their time sitting on their arse on the internet.I didn't say they were. What you think I'm doing now?
Vin wrote:I think Corbyn Mania was also the result of the Internet yet we persist with the old pre digital methodsReally, just an internet phenomenon? Do you really think that his campaign would have taken off without the well-attended public meetings he held up and down the country (even if they were advertised via the internet). The internet is a tool, which we do and should use, but is not a substitute for collective political activity of one kind or another.
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