Two questions: View on EU; leave or stay? :: Is the SPGB anarchist?
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Hello comrades,
First question: What is your view on the EU? Leave or stay? Does it actually matter?
Second question: The SPGB lines up very well with anarchist view? Would it call itself anarchist?
Good day all.
P.S. does it cost money to join the SPGB and how old do you have to be?
Hi AnarchoBlondeFirst question The EU was set up to favour the sectional interests of the a part of the capitalist class who thought that such an arrangement would be in their economic interest, in the same way the campaign to leave the EU is being largely financed by a section of the capitalist class who think that leaving the EU will have an economic benefit to them. The SPGB isn't concerned with the sectional interests of the capitalist class, it is interested in the working class and achieving socialism. The SPGB has since its formation in 1904, held the view that capitalism cannot be reformed in the interests of workers, therefore the only logical position for a socialist party is to opposes reformism, that is to say reforms of the system distract energy and attention away from the work necessary to create a socialist society, i.e.. spreading the ideas of socialism.Second Question No we would not describe ourselves as an anarchist party. We are a party that has no leaders, we are completely democratic, however where we differ from anarchists is that our view is that where democratic means to take control of the state exist in the form of a parliamentary system, then workers should use this system to take control of the state and then abolish it, rather than the classical anarchist approach of smashing the state from without. Our view is that the route we propose is likely to be the one that leads to least bloodshed and the highest possibility of success. There is no age limit to joining the SPGB and members pay what they can.I hope that starts to answer some of your questions, I'm sure there will be other members contributing along similar lines.
AnarchoBlonde wrote:P.S. does it cost money to join the SPGB and how old do you have to be?It doesn't cost money to join the SPGB but we require applicants to agree with our object and declaration of principles and to have a basic understanding about socialism. See link below:http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/membership-application
The SPGB doesn't call itself anarchist, I would say the main reason being we operate democratically and take a vote on decisions i.e. not as anarchists might inaccurately have it 'the SPGB envisages socialism through parliament'The only serious argument that the SPGB was remotely anarchist was George Walford who wrote about the SPGB as 'anarcho-socialist', a label the SPGB would reject.It does not cost any money to join the SPGB.
So, you believe in getting power through parliment?
AnarchoBlonde wrote:So, you believe in getting power through parliment?Our position on the revolutionary use of parliament can be found in this pamphlet. If you want to know how we are different from the Anarchists this would be a good place to look as well.http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/pamphlets/whats-wrong-using-parliament
No, not 'getting power through parliament'But instead through the party contesting elections (or however the vote is measured e.g. opinion polls) as long as the elections are held or parliament exists (for example in Britain but not in North Korea) or are not suspended (as happened in Britain in World War 2)so the working class can take power however they see fit whilst minimising the chance of parliament commanding the armed forces to crush the working class.
Also anarchists call upon other anarchists to muster under their banner, the Socialist party does not call upon other socialists but it calls upon the much larger working-class to muster under its banner.
Regarding the EU.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqH21LEmfbQ
One thing we do share with anarchists — or rather they share with us — is aiming for a society without a coercive government machine ruling over people (the State). We say this is only possible in a classless society based on the common ownership of productive resources. We envisage the State being replaced by an unarmed, democratically elected and controlled central, regional and local administration.Some anarchists want to get rid of the State directly by taking it on in a head-on collision or by an armed uprising. Here's the same group as Socialist Punk recommends on where this would lead them:https://uk.search.yahoo.com/search?p=%22I+fought+the+law+and+the+law+won%22&ei=UTF-8&fr=moz35
SocialistPunk wrote:Regarding the EU.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqH21LEmfbQAnd this:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8StG4fFWHqgGood for ordinary elections too.
As regards costing money, I think it fair to point out that until recently, although it didn't cost anything to join, it did cost an annual fee (dues) to stay a member, subject to applying for exemption if you were unwaged or for certain other reasons. At the moment there are no dues and contributions are voluntary but there is a move within the party to re-introduce dues in some form.
Actually contributions are not voluntary. What is voluntary is the amount of the contribution that a member chooses to pay. They are still expected to make a contribution, i.e pay something but not a minimum fixed amount.
ALB wrote:Actually contributions are not voluntary. What is voluntary is the amount of the contribution that a member chooses to pay. They are still expected to make a contribution, i.e pay something but not a minimum fixed amount.Unfortunately, Rule 2 is worded in such a way that it has given some members, including a few in K&S, the impression that whether to pay or not is a matter of personal choice.
Rule 2 wrote:Each member shall pay a voluntary amount annually to Party funds. A member may be lapsed by a Branch following loss of contact, subject to EC ratification.I very much regret there is nothing on the forthcoming Conference agenda to satisfactorily address this anomaly.
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