Dire straits
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I don’t think that you should equate what you’re suggesting to what happened with the ‘Workers’ Party’. They were never ‘massive’, even when Galloway won his seat and they’ll now fade into oblivion, just as has happened with the other parties and causes associated with Galloway. I agree with you that we’re not gaining members at the moment (the opposite in fact) and that we should do our best to make ouselves visible in that way. But we are making efforts. For example, South Wales branch had a short online ad on Welsh media websites recently with a link to our website and the results are below (quite encouraging actually):
‘Please see below the results of your Wales campaign -your advert was seen just shy of 30,000 times and 166 people were interested enough to click and find out more – a simple campaign but it really reaches people at a local level. We can replicate this in other areas across the UK too if you ever wanted to explore this.’
27,914 viewable impressions
59,191 impressions
166 clicks
0.59% viewable ctrGood result!
Many thanksAmanda Beynon
Key Accounts Director
m. 07920 473089 | e. amanda.beynon@reachplc.com |
w. reachsolutions.co.ukHi Robbo,
The ideas of get together events are great!
In regards to the internet I once thought it would be good strategy too, but learning and seeing the control the capitalists have on it has made me sure our main point of entry is the personal touch.
Online is completely corrupted and controlled by capitalists, for every pound we spend on our promotions they can spend a thousand.
They even have “independent” news spreaders who are “just regular blokes” putting across their point of view in benign appearing ways that get “viral” suspiciously quickly.
They have bot accounts that are now near impossible to tell apart from the real thing and can instantly troll and downvote anything you post.
Like I said, I only scrolled through Facebook, Youtube and Snapchat “shorts” and in the midst of all the entertainment videos you get, you will receive videos putting across their view, (Marx was so right on the superstructure).
Literally just tested it yet again on my Snapchat spotlight and the third video was about how “men gotta be men” how it’s me against the world, on the backdrop of a guy in a cool suit video 😂
I feel like on this the party agrees with me?
On the importance of getting some videos made to explain society after a revolution so that’s sorted, we just need someone who’s good at that sort of thing, I can try but would appreciate help if possible 🙂My only point that I must stress is like I said, we need to get active.
Call for a strike for peace in Palestine.
Stand outside businesses, stations, ect with placards challenging this current system in smart ways that will get people to notice, come talk to us or visit our site.
Stuff like that.
But it seems that’s what noone wants to do and I don’t for the life of me understand why.
“Not much help to me, I know, as I live in the south of Spain but then is a socialist holiday by comrades in the UK in Sunny Spain out of the question?”
Gruppen Gegen Kapital und Nation organises summer camps in Northern Germany which attract 100-200 people each year. An English-speaking summer camp in Spain doesn’t seem that outlandish of a proposal, but would be a lot of work to organise..
Hey Moss,
They will fade because they still are applying capitalist methods to problems created by capitalism.
But the impact, the surge they had is undeniable.
Now if we got that with our party it would be hard to put down, because we’re not calling for capitalist reforms here and there, we’re saying “the whole bloody system needs to go, you can’t fix this!”
The website stats do look encouraging hence the need to fix our own site so that when people click they don’t instantly go “oh they’re crazy!”.
Thus the need to take away “abolishing money” and on the moneyless, stateless part we have a hyperlink to a short video showing how it could work practically 🙂
But yeah, I will stress again, we need to get active so that we can have that surge of interest.
Or else we are doomed to stay stagnant or worse.
Stand outside businesses, stations, ect with placards challenging this current system in smart ways that will get people to notice, come talk to us or visit our site. Stuff like that.
But it seems that’s what noone wants to do and I don’t for the life of me understand why.Nobody here has suggested we shouldn’t do that. It’s the general strike idea that has been questioned.
Personally I prefer leafletting protest marches and door to door during elections or regular street stalls. But there is no objection in principle to members doing what you suggest here. Put it to your branch and see what they think or to South wales branch. They do something every Saturday.
<It’s the general strike idea that has been questioned.>
Yes, and that is my main proposal, this is what would get us the most interest and visibility.
Also helping people get to protests by funding busses, calling for protests for peace, ect would also get us further visibility.
I have leafleted enough protests to know that it does not get results.
We should have noted that on the back of our membership not growing since the 2023 marches.
I’ve talked to enough people and some genuinely don’t like that we do that, they think we don’t care about them and are just there to exploit the protest.
I am not saying to stop leafletting btw, I’m just saying it’s not enough, it’s been done since our founding and the results are clear.
We need to support the workers, show them that we are on their side, then when they talk to us or visit our site because they’ll be thinking “hmmm the SPGB has been funding busses for peace in Gaza, I believe in that, I wonder what they’re about” that’s when we can teach them!
That’s when we can put our point across!
That’s when they’ll listen.
A leaflet just gets thrown in the rubbish…
“In regards to the internet I once thought it would be good strategy too, but learning and seeing the control the capitalists have on it has made me sure our main point of entry is the personal touch.
Online is completely corrupted and controlled by capitalists, for every pound we spend on our promotions they can spend a thousand.”
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I wouldn’t say online is “completely corrupted and controlled by the capitalist”. It is very largely corrupted and controlled by them but that doesn’t prevent us from making an impression and getting some positive feedback ourselves, I know this is possible from my own experience. “From little acorns, big oak trees may grow” as the saying goes. You have to start somewhere and there are plenty of little starting places like the link I just provided
A further point is about the need for a more targeted or selective approach. It is a more productive or efficient way of using our limited time and resources by first approaching those who are most likely to be interested in what we have to say. At least, this would be the approach I would use as far as online activity is concerned. Distributing election leaflets is perhaps another matter….
Indeed but we already agree on this somewhat.
Like I said it seems people agree with my point about the videos and maybe even about helping.
What’s being discussed now is my main point, about supporting the workers causes so we can gain visibility.
In ways that we never call for reform btw, I must stress this as I believe there’s some confusion.
Reformism will get us nothing but disappointment.
I am just calling for us to take action on calling for peace, ect.
“Not much help to me, I know, as I live in the south of Spain but then is a socialist holiday by comrades in the UK in Sunny Spain out of the question?”
Gruppen Gegen Kapital und Nation organises summer camps in Northern Germany which attract 100-200 people each year. An English-speaking summer camp in Spain doesn’t seem that outlandish of a proposal, but would be a lot of work to organise..
______________________________________________________________–Hey DJP, Thanks for mentioning that!
Well, I seem to recall a few years ago I did actually make an offer to organise something but it wasn’t really taken up. I could still do that if people here are interested. There are some wonderful places around here that could put up maybe 2 dozen people. If you want something very remote and in the mountains I have just the place in mind! But something closer to the wonderful city of Granada is also doable
I think these kinds of social events are grossly undervalued tbh which is a pity. I still have fond memories of attending a weekend summer camp at Ken Smith´s place in Wales. Does anybody else remember that?
“Hey DJP, Thanks for mentioning that!”
I actually went to the UK camp organised by these people this year. It was a small, I think invite only, gathering of about 15 people in a country house near the Welsh borders. Days were spent with two or three workshops and presentations of texts. The rest of the time socialising and cooking a communal meal in the evening.
Something like this could easily be done with just a small group of around 5, if there was enough people to present work in progress.
“I actually went to the UK camp organised by these people this year. It was a small, I think invite only, gathering of about 15 people in a country house near the Welsh borders. Days were spent with two or three workshops and presentations of texts. The rest of the time socialising and cooking a communal meal in the evening.”
That sounds nice. Of course, a “socialist summer holiday” in Andalucia would take a lot more organising and probably you would be talking about at least a week if not more to make it worthwhile. I could certainly assist with arranging accommodation and so on
If you wanted something quite remote and in beautiful countryside, here is a random example. Quite a mouthwatering prospect, I think. Check out the photos
https://inspyria.com/es/espacios-retiro/retiro-en-granada
It is often used for yoga retreats and would need a bloc booking, The location may be a bit too remote for some but there are plenty of other alternatives in the pueblos around here or even the big city itself
“That sounds nice. Of course, a “socialist summer holiday” in Andalucia would take a lot more organising and probably you would be talking about at least a week if not more to make it worthwhile. I could certainly assist with arranging accommodation and so on.”
The camp I went to was for five days. Two days for arriving and leaving and three for workshops.
Perhaps put some feelers out on Spintcom or contact branches to see if there is an appetite for this kind of thing.
Lancaster have been organising a nice event in their patch, which they recently encouraged replicating at the organising event: they just hire some digs in Lancashire, people turn up, eat, drink, chat and go for walks: its very pleasant, but usually attracts the usual suspects.
As an aside to Young Master Smeet – Lancaster Branch is pleased to announce that Lancaster has possibly the best Indian restaurant in our world. Our branch has regular curry meet-ups, all are welcome. Next scheduled curry night is 28 December. Overnight accommodation at a member’s house is provided. Or book your own, it’s worth it.
Paula (not a moderator)
Lancaster Branch
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