alanjjohnstone
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WSWS website has a few interesting observations on the 2011 strikes. The company paid (bribed) up to 30 union agitators to resign from the company.http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/nov2011/maru-n12.shtmlAnd a background articlehttp://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/oct2011/maru-o04.shtmlOften though the fact that unions are party affiliated means numerous in-fighting plus when those political parties become state governments it leads to union co-option and collaboration. In India the class war is not just figurative but literal.”At least 12 workers have died of starvation in an Assam tea estate in the last four months when it remained closed following a strike.” The 12 of them died during the lockout because they had nothing to eat People’s Rights Forum (PRF), a rights watchdog, claimed.http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_in-assam-12-tea-estate-workers-die-of-starvation_1654976
Hch, i thought you had given us all up as a lost cause and left. Welcome back to the discussion list
Just to continue how companies are actually cash-rich and not re-investing but hoarding – can it be described as a capitalist strike? – these links may be useful.The FT writes that in 2006, corporate treasuries placed a mere 23 per cent of their funds in banks. But 2011, the proportion of funds sitting in banks doubled – and this year it rose above 50 per cent. Companies are eschewing capital market products, since they think that the returns are too low to justify the risk.Another factor that is prompting this flight towards the bank is a perception that bank deposits are relatively safe, if they are Federal Deposit Insurance Corp insured. Thus, the favorite destination for treasurers now is a non-interest bearing account, which carries a FDIC stamp. Never mind that this is producing negative returns; it does at least promise to return the cash. And that is important in a world where 98 per cent of treasurers are now also telling the AFP that their top priority is to protect their money, not earn yield.It could take years before they really start feeling confident enough to take long term investment bets again. The velocity at which money moves around the system – and cash is used in a productive way – may have now slowed in a more permanently; doubly so since the banks themselves are very risk averse and wary of lending. A corporate freeze is a world where money has slower velocity is also a place where it will be harder to produce growth.Companies could return to the capital markets again. History suggests that greed usually triumphs fear, in the end.http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/e234e886-cc38-11e1-9c96-00144feabdc0.html#axzz20VC9pG00This story seems to be verified by this article in Business Insiderhttp://www.businessinsider.com/the-world-is-experiencing-the-opposite-of-a-sovereign-debt-crisis-2012-7Borrowing costs for government are plummeting everywhere. US 10-Year Treasury, which is once again within a few basis points of an all-time low. Australian 10-yr bonds are at new lows. What this essentially means is that there’s a lot of money out there that sees no productive investments in the real world, and thus people are willing to stick it with entities that promise them a very meager return. It’s not about governments reaching their end-game. It’s about a growth-deficient world, governments being the one place that can absorb all this money.
“For the publication of the Standard to be globalised introducing uniformity”British or American spelling?;-p
Darren, another threat isn’t just the “crank” theories but supposed alternative economics such as I have come across on frequent occasions arguing for such things as “True-cost pricing: The prices that guide economic decisions in markets and government policies must be based on a full accounting of costs and benefits. When costs such as pollution – or benefits such as care for children and the elderly – are hidden from view, the result is implicit subsidies and taxes that deflect incentives away from the goal of long-run well-being. Costs that are hidden from view can grow over time, as in the case of global warming pollution; and benefits that are hidden from view can erode over time, as in the provision of unpaid labor for care of dependents. A full accounting of costs and benefits does not mean that non-monetary aspects of well-being such as liberty, community, and life expectancy must be translated into dollars and cents. It means that non-market values should not be ignored and thereby effectively valued at zero.”http://econ4.org/newsThey call themselves the new economy movement and appear to be establishing an academic presence on American campuses. Those type of “left-capitalists” who believe a reasoned (or reasonable capitalism) can be achieved may also merit a debunk in your up-coming pamphlet.
ALB explains “In fact, from one point of view, a crisis is caused by capitalists choosing not to buy (not invest profits because they judge they won’t make any profits or not enough).” Returning to previous posts on just how much exactly we have now figures for just British companies and also for Europe rather than US or world stats.”British listed companies are sitting on a cash hoard worth a total of about £19 billion as they hold off from investing due to the shaky economic outlook. Research from corporate financial health monitor Company Watch found that 211 UK-listed non-financial companies are sitting on cash of at least £1 million. Construction giant Amec led the way with £521m, followed by fashion house Burberry, which has £338m in the bank. Argos and Homebase owner Home Retail Group has £194m stashed away and Carphone Warehouse has £103m. Companies in other Western European countries are holding even more money, although nowhere has as many hoarders as Britain. In total, European firms are sitting on £110bn net cash. A survey of chief financial officers (CFOs) from accountancy firm Deloitte, which showed worries about recession and a break-up of the euro are having a direct impact on the confidence, behaviour and business strategies”In regards, to B of E injecting all that Quantitative Easing – as the saying goes – you can lead the horse to water but you can’t make it drink. No prospect of profit – no investment and the money put under the mattress big style!!!http://www.scotsman.com/business/economics/cash-is-king-for-uk-listed-companies-seeking-security-in-face-of-global-woes-1-2400234
So a reading of that would infer that nuclear energy is safe if proper procedures are followed. It wasn’t after all the actual technical process out of control, nor an individuals human error causing it but a systematic culture of cutting corners on safety by both the company and its supposed overseers. Socialism would not have a disposition towards such lax standards would it when profit motive and running cost factors are removed from the equation.
SOYMB blog received criticism from a few members that it was too critical of the Occupy movement. Perhaps it can be conceded that the tone of some posts was too negative but others i maintain were written sympathetically. Alexander Cockburn of Counterpunch has a related article on Occupy. Our fundamental message appears to be echoed by Alexander Cockburn.http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/07/06/biggest-financial-scandal-in-britains-history-not-a-single-occupy-sign-what-happened/”It was very hard not to be swept away by the Occupy movement which established itself in New York’s Zuccotti Park last September and soon spread to Oakland, Chicago, London and Madrid. And indeed most people didn’t resist its allure.Leninists threw aside their Marxist primers on party organisation and drained the full anarchist cocktail…Cynicism about Occupy was not a popular commodity.But new movements always need a measure of cynicism dumped on them. Questions of organization were obliterated by the strength of the basic message – we are 99 per cent, they are one per cent. It was probably the most successful slogan since ‘peace, land, bread’.The Occupy Wall Street assembly in Zuccotti Park soon developed its own cultural mores, drumming included. Like many onlookers, I asked myself, Where the hell’s the plan? But I held my tongue. I had no particular better idea and for a CounterPuncher of mature years to start laying down the program seemed cocky. But, deep down, I felt that Occupy, with all its fancy talk, all its endless speechifying, was riding for a fall……and I definitely didn’t like the enormous arrogance which prompted the Occupiers to claim that they were indeed the most important radical surge in living memory. Where was the knowledge of, let along the respect for the past? when one raised this history with someone from Occupy, I encountered total indifference.There also seemed to be a serious level of political naivety about the shape of the society they were seeking to change. They definitely thought that it could be reshaped – the notion that the whole system was unfixable did not get much of a hearing….People have written complicated pieces trying to prove it’s not over, but if ever I saw a dead movement, it is surely Occupy…Everything leftists predicted came true, just as everything hard-eyed analysts predicted about the likely but unwelcome course of ecstatic populism in Tahrir Square also came true. ·I do think it’s incumbent on those veteran radicals who wrote hundreds of articles more or proclaiming a religious conversion to Occupyism, to give a proper account of themselves, otherwise it will happen all over again.”Has Cockburn been a bit too premature with his obituary? I am not yet decided that it is all over, and that it is game, set and match to the ruling class. Nor am I convinced that it was not of value. Nor do I accept the neo-conspiratorial interpretation repeated in the article – “Is it possible that the real purpose of Occupy Wall Street has little to do with either the 99 per cent or the one per cent, but rather everything to do with keeping the political left in America decentralised, widely dispersed, very busy, and completely impotent to deal with the collapse of the American empire…Occupiers are all occupied doing exactly what their handlers would have them be doing, namely, being fully occupied. In summary, Occupy Wall Street represents a huge distraction.” Or Cockburn’s ingenuous aside that “Was there perhaps a leader, a small leadership group, sequestered somewhere among the tents and clutter? It was impossible to say and at that point somewhat disloyal to pose the question.” Well, the WSM openly did pose the question and demanded a fully transparent structured democratic decision making structure for Occupy.What i do know is this, that SOYMB posts as were our magazine articles and discussion lists contributions were valid commentary and that the WSM should never hold its tongue. After all, much of what Cockburn said in his post-mortem shares much of our critique. Maybe we were not camped out in the tents, (too many of us suffer from the aches and pains of rheumatism!!) but we are fully legitimate participants in working class struggles and resistance, like it or not, and our voice should be heard and we should not be reluctant to make it loud and clear.
On my daily travels around the web i encounter several commentators who are frequently cited and quoted by liberals/progressives. One such figure is Joseph E. Stiglitz . But to offer ammunition to those who claim to be anti-capitalist and approving refer to Stiglitz here he is:”I’m not arguing that there should be no inequality,” Stiglitz said “There is a need for incentives, and any system of incentives will lead to some differences — perhaps large differences — in incomes…Talented American workers worked longer hours, took more risk and earned more income than their counterparts in Europe who diminished their work effort. Success produced new companies, like Google and Facebook, that provided valuable on-the-job training, which increased their workforces’ chances of success. Success put equity into the hands of investors more willing to bear the risks needed to produce innovation… We should also grow concerned when a backlash to inequality threatens to dampen the incentives for the risk-taking needed to produce innovation and employment growth.”It’s just “excessive” levels of those who don’t contribute to making the pie larger, only their slice of it, he is against.http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/books/review/inside-the-list.html?pagewanted=all
My fault for not paying any attention to the numerous e-mails messages on the triennial report on the references for committees to actually not know who has the remit. Damn my anti-bureaucrat dna But if it is to be done well, i think it is important it should be a dedicated task since it means daily survey of the media and blogs and requires sole attention to those involved. These things can be delegated, spread around and shared and made easier by google alerts. Robert Stafford has shown how it is possible to accumulate relevant data and can offer advice on following up with e-mails to those reviewed in the Socialist Standard, for instance. We do possess a yahoo list which could provide the basis for, SPGBMEDIA, which is sadly under-used and neglected by many of us and i plead guilty of it, too.http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spgbmedia/ As i have often said for the blog, the volunteers for a press officer or committee need not require to be UK-based or members of local branches since much can be done by internet and email. I would like to see a monthly report to the EC to be part of the process, for press statements issued on specific events or in response to newspaper stories or articles in other magazines are monitored and given rubber-stamp of approval so no wayward declarations are made – an issue i am only so aware of by doing the blog – fighting the urge to express personal opinions rather than present the party-case. As the blog is public i expect members to oversee content (as has happened when i erroneously posted a draft which included the original source reformist conclusions and swiftly received a WTF!! from a member) but if a press officer fires off a unpublished or personal email to a particular person, we have no idea what is being said in the name of the party. Since most of it be a matter of email easy enough to CC each email and provide the EC member with the folder for their perusal. A matter of just a few clicks, nothing labour-intensive. I suppose there maybe an occasion that snail-mail will be used but i doubt it will be often. No – i am not submitting an application for the job. As been often commented upon, i am too wordy in responses. There are a number of well-qualified members who could undertake the task, i think recently retired members with time on their hands would be ideal. Thats the trouble with the Guardian, Adam. The journalists pet authors get all the mentions and the more obscure, the more kudos i guess the reporter gets for being “knowledgable”. Hopefully, a Press officer will co-ordinate on the theoretical stuff with other members who are perhaps better read on special subjects and use that background info in responding.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/04/the-return-of-marxism The Guardian giving the SWP and its Marxism Week some free publicity. But at least it does not say that Marxist ideas is in its death throes but actually having a resurgence of sorts. Who Ranciere is and why he deserves special mention by the author, i have no idea. I may investigate him later. Plenty in the article for those with access to the Guardian comments facility. Once more it demonstrates that the party should have a press officer who can respond immediately in the name of the party with the hope (forlorn, i accept) of a reply letter printed or even a comment is free article.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyCmRKNzWnsAn interview featuring Harry Young talking about seeing LeninUnfortunately, despite the claims made by party members, Harry told a meeting in Glasgow that he didn’t get close enough to Lenin to shake his hand.http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spopen/message/8531
Lancaster branch weekend video workshop will hopefully come up with inspiration and be a spring-board, providing examples of what we can do ourselves. But we should not be opposed to contracting others to do what we cannot do or if they can do it better. For a lot of internet propaganda the means are not all that difficult technically but can be very effective. Flash animation can be quite basic – text – images/video clips – music soundtrack. I believe DIY programmes exist that can be purchased. Probably the only limitation is an artistic one of imagination. (and that counts me out since i lack both an artistic mind and an imagination). One caveat i have is the time involved. If i recall correctly Kids Stuff took hours to make but years to appear…okay i exaggerate, of course, but if each and every member insists upon his democratic right to cross the t and dot the i we will get bogged down in procedure. I know some comrades will say lets do one thing and do it right, rather than several projects, and maybe not all perfect . I say very few artists have only one colour on their palates, despite Picasso’s blue period.
Yet another recent Guardian article was a very insightful and encouraging read, quoting Paul Lafargue and Oscar Wilde on work and question where did the hopes of the leisure future from automation disappear to http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jul/01/why-are-we-working-so-hard The party may still being ignored but certainly many of the ideas that we advocate are constantly reaching the media But unfortunately lacking the political proposals to achieve them thus keeping them in the sphere of utopia instead of practical policies and achievable aims. That should become a priority in our propaganda, outlining the possibility of the realisability of what some consider utopia by political and social actions. To use the hackneyed phrase, enough interpretating and talking , we have to demonstrate the ways and means to change the world and encourage confidence in its success. Not devising recipes for the cook-shops of the future but at least listing a menu to whet our appetites.
It is a very effective well made and very cheaply produced video and our attempts in comparison are very feeble. Articles, adding comments where possible, but they don’t have much impact since they don’t attract an audience and don’t get linked and passed around the web. Nor is it a matter of correcting just these misconceptions but a host of others which offer the appeal of simplistic solutions rather than the fundamental changes we demand. A themed series of a variety of topics should be planned and implemented but i agree the bankers myths is one of the most prevalent and most diversionary. I have said many times that we should outsource the technical details of making propaganda videoes for the internet , presenting a script and rough drawing-board but retaining editorial control of the content, leaving the production to the better qualified. Who pays the piper calls the tune. It needn’t be the big advertising agencies we resort to but many computer studies students have the capability so why not sponsor a few for their course projects. Lets invest some of our financial legacies into talent that benefits us directly. The next time we are in receipt of some substantial cash i suggest spending several thousands on web-based propaganda tools and individual members given the task of disseminating and spreading the links, hoping it then independently and organically grows, or go viral as it is described. Our present ad-hoc drip-drop response will ultimately have little success faced with what we have to concede are the very imaginative campaigns of several different, often informal and freuently contradictory groups. So, in reply, splash out the cash
