Brighton Green

[ALB]

Let's face it. The Green Party's policy for reforming capitalism is pie-in-sky and deserves to be mocked and torn to pieces just as we do with the Trots and their reforms. What they envisage is not going to happen. In fact it can't happen because capitalism can't be made to work in the ways they want.

[alanjjohnstone]

As you say, the downside of a higher profile, is more attention paid to policies.Even those who are sympathetic with the Basic Income offer criticism of the Green versionhttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jan/27/green-party-citizens-income-policy-hits-poorCIT alternative is 

Quote:

The amounts of means-tested benefits received would be reduced through citizen’s income being taken into account when calculating benefits.In addition, for many households the reduction would offer the option of adding additional hours of employment and so escaping from means-testing.

I'm wondering if business trend is to reduce full time to part time and zero hour contracts…just who is going to get the option to work longer …public sector?

[ALB]

Here's George Monbiot's case for voting Green:http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/28/convictions-politics-fear-syriza-podemos-snp-greenHe does make one valid point though, echoing Debs' "I rather vote for something I want and not get it than vote for something I don't want and get":

Quote:

Here is the first rule of politics: if you never vote for what you want, you never get it

[ALB]

I see the Oxford Greens have taken up the idea of their colleagues in Brighton of proposing a referendum to increase the council tax beyond the government's 2 percent maximum so as to avoid such savage cuts in services:http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/11755960.Greens_wants_tax_hike_to_stop_disabled_facing_cuts/It would be interesting to see what the result of such a referendum somewhere would be. And which way the Trotskyists, with their loud protests against austerity, would jump. Against a referendum? a No vote? as their colleagues in Brighton have suggested, which shows that their real aim is not so much to fight the cuts as to exploit popular discontent over them.

[ALB]

Here's Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett giving sound advice on what to do if no candidate stands for what you want:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omVQfnJiciQprovided, that is, that "Socialism" is considered a rude word. Who knows, it might be in Australia. Anyway, it's what we'll be doing even if there is a Green Party candidate standing.

[ALB]

Is this story about the SWP "entering" the Green Party true?http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/green-party-turn-red-make-5129083  It seems more like dirty tricks by this Labour-supporting paper desperate that some of those who used to say "Vote Labour till doomsday" are now supporting the Green Party, which could cost Labour seats.

[alanjjohnstone]

I see it also made a point of saying she was "Aussie-born" just to add a bit of xenophobia to the article, as well. 

[ALB]

It's rather obvious that she's Aussie-born as soon as she opens her mouth I wouldn't have thought many will think that to mention this is to be xenophobic.Anyway, it seems that the Green Party is winning hands down in the competition with Left Unity to win the left-of-Labour vote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31491221as well as RMT President Peter Pinkney standing for them.In fact, Left Unity doesn't even seem to be trying.

[Anonymous]

ALB wrote:

It's rather obvious that she's Aussie-born as soon as she opens her mouth I wouldn't have thought many will think that to mention this is to be xenophobic.

Well if it is that obvious then why mention it?

[ALB]

I imagine the reporter was just innocently conveying a fact. After all, to be said to be Australian is not disparaging in most people's eyes. Quite the opposite, I would have thought.

[DJP]

Here’s the Norwich Greens on Democracy

[alanjjohnstone]

For attention of campaigns, election, audio-visual committees…A very easy to make and very cheap video to make…and it does make its points clearly and concisely…no elaborate sets, just some excellent editing and good sound equipment and lighting, i suppose …which i believe we possess. We could …we should…have a series of those…on specific parts of the socialist case…A party member at the entrance of a police station or gates of a prison, explaining crime…An immigration detention centre as a back-drop as he or she talks about immigration…a shopping mall about consumerism…the stockmarket about capitalism…the list is endless with some imagination…No need to learn a script…the lines held up behind camera on big prompt boards…I'm sure we can get over the party position within 2 or 3 minutes on particular social problems. Two full months to do it for the general election…each of our candidates could be used…on local issues, perhaps…Oxford on education in capitalism V. socialism, for example…If not for the election then simply to advance our arguments generally….

[alanjjohnstone]

The radio and political commentators having a field-day with the Green Party leaderhttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2015/feb/24/malcolm-rifkind-under-pressure-to-resign-as-isc-chair-politics-live-blogClick the audio  of the radio 4 clip to see how she was embarrassed .A longer video clip.http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02kpx6j

[ALB]

Here's another car crash interview:http://www.lbc.co.uk/incredibly-awkward-interview-with-natalie-bennett-105384#KBiswSjQ6LtMIy9D.97That's what happens when you claim to be able to reform capitalism so as to benefit people. It's just not credible. Even "Revolution, the only solution" is more credible or at least less incredible.Pity they don't go for TUSC in the same way (their reform promises are even more extravagant than the Greens'). Maybe they will. If not, we can do it.

[jondwhite]

Natalie Bennett issues apologyhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31600324

[Author]

Posts