Bijou Drains
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gnome wrote:The second link shows my very good friend and fellow-member of the Premises Committee at the time, Harry Walters, at Speakers Corner in London.
Did Harry have the loudest voice the Party has ever produced?
Young Master Smeet wrote:alanjjohnstone wrote:Is Resolution 6 in conflict with Resolution 7? Perhaps the Party's pet barrack-room lawyers can say whether a committee such as the internet or blog committee can ignore seeking EC approval as stated in Resolution 7.No, resloution 6 says that the EC can delegate it's authority to act per resolution 7.Strictly, what should be happening is a treatment for a proposed video should be circulated, followed by a script, followed by a rough cut: the division between content and layout (per the SSPC) should be observed.More generally, repeated conference resolution that we should put the positive case for socialism (so no starving babies pictures of the Shave the Children kind).
Surely the positive case for Socialism is that there would be no starving babies! I don't think the conference motions suggested that there should be a complete moratorium on any mention of the negative aspects of capitalism, in any case the dispute about the video then goes down to one about style rather than content. I don't think the purpose of the EC is to act as art critic to the party!Interesting though that the EC should rule that effectively no videos, that could be construed as being from the Party, should be published without EC approval, yet they have never raised the slightest concern that "Capitalism and Other Kids' Stuff" has a direct link form the party's official website, even though it has never been officially approved by the EC. I have no problems with Capitalism and Other Kids Stuff" (despite Paddy's strong regional accent), however it seems to me that the decision made by the EC are inconsistent, ill informed and erratic.
Not all meat is intensively farmed, or could it's production be easily swapped for vegetarian options. For instance a great deal of sheep live in the Cheviot Hills, but I can't see anyone getting a bloody big combine harvester up Hedgehope Hill. I do agree that there is waste in industries such as this, lambs are produced for the market, but Mutton is hardly seen in the shops, for instance. Nothing wrong with a nice shoulder of mutton, when you can get it.As another example, although it is clear the fishing industry can be destructive in it's present form, would the Vegan enforcers in a Socialist Society stop me from going down to Tynemouth to catch a couple of fresh mackerel for my tea?
That motion could reasonably be construed as covering a great deal of the posts on this site. For exaple, if I publish the minutes of our branch meeting on this site, how could that not be construed as being published by the SPGB. This site is publicly accessible, so according to that interpretation I have breached Rule 17.When Rule 17 was created, those creating it did not have the internet, desk top publishing, websites, blogs, etc. This rule, or the interpretation of it, needs to be changed and changed quickly as such an interpretation would put the kiss of death on about 90% of the current activity taking place in the party.
Interesting link between the SPGB and the fall of Militant in Liverpool, the District Auditor who brought the whole fiasco of Militant Liverpool down, was the Brother of a current member of the SPGB and the Uncle of another.He is often reported to have been called Tim or Timothy McMahon, in fact he was Thomas Irving McMahon and was given the nickname Tim from his initials, I know that because he was my Uncle Tommy. Strangely the press never picked up on the fact that his sister, my mother, who was at that time still in the Labour Party, was a councillor in on North Tyneside Council at the time, which was similarly refusing to set a rate.Thankfully she took her son's advice, turned her back on reformism and became a Socialist!
jondwhite wrote:Well there is this forum World Socialist Movement section, the meetuphttp://www.meetup.com/The-Socialist-Party-of-Great-Britain/Where you can even discuss SPGB activity herehttp://www.meetup.com/The-Socialist-Party-of-Great-Britain/messages/boards/There is also the yahoo mailing lists, facebook, twitter? etc. ….I don't think there is a shortage of places to discuss arranging activity between local members and supporters.All of those places are there and that's fine, however by common acknowledgement the forum is by far the most easily accessible site we have, it is has by far the most traffic, To be honest the post I made about this has created more response than the meet up page has had in months!The forum is the only area for discussion linked to the party's main website and it is by far the most visible discussion area we have. If you did a cost benefit analysis, what would be the cost of having another section on the forum, practically negligible, what would be the benefit? A more visible presence for party activity for members and visitors, with the possible benefit that it might stimulate more party activity. What is the possible risk? A little area of the forum that no one goes to, there are three of them at the bottom of the forum already and it doesn't seem to cause much difficulty.As to the suggestion that has been made previously that the calendar area carries out this function, have you ever tried having a discussion with a calendar?I struggle to understand the current in the party that continually objects to new ideas, especially when those new ideas don't impinge upon the way that others in the party carry out their activity.
Just shows, Christianity's long peaceful history of bigotry, suppression and ignorance. I must admit, I'm a bit disappointed that the party hasn't pursued the free love angle as much as it could, they say sex can be a wonderful thing between two people, problem is how often do you find yourself inbetween two people who are having sex.
DJP wrote:Tim Kilgallon wrote:I think it is very sad that we do not have a section on the forum specifically outlining what we are doing in terms of activities, offering the chance for others to get involved.I think you're missing this:http://www.worldsocialism.org/spgb/calendar
No I'm not missing that at all. I might not have explained properly, basically I was talking about an area on the forum where those of us who were interested in what might be called traditional SPGB activity, i.e.. attending opponents meetings, organising literature sales, perhaps a bit of outdoor speaking, going to organised events, going to Student Union debates, attending hustings, etc. could come together pool idea, information and coordinate their activity. For instance I'm often in different locations in the UK midweek and if any local members fancied doing a literature sale at n SWP event in that locality, then information could possibly be shared and a party presence organised.I know certain members have the view that all we need to do is maintain a presence physically and on the internet and that capitalism will do the rest, and I'm happy of them, however some think that activity of the type described above is he way forward and I think an area as described would be of great assistance in this.i can't really see why any member would object, if it doesn't work, what harm has been done, if it does terrific. It seems to me a bit like the video issue, some members seem to always look for a reason not to do something, rather than a reason to do it.
In view of the comments on "strong regional accents, is it safe to assume that recordings of Dick Donnelly, Vic Vanni, Harry Young and Steve Coleman will no longer be available on the internet?
My idea was that it would be that it would be about possible activities, not announcements about other parties stuff. So more focussed on."here's some stuff going on, would anyone like to get involved"With the announcements section, it tends to be about what others are doing not us. I think it is very sad that we do not have a section on the forum specifically outlining what we are doing in terms of activities, offering the chance for others to get involved. Just think it would be helpful to highlight the positive stuff!!from a personal point of view, I travel all over the country with work (I'm sure other comrades have a similar work pattersn) it would be good to know that if I'm in Liverpool for instance there is a Corbyn rally I could go to and see if anyone else wants to go.
Would it not be a good idea to set up a forum section on activity!A different topic for each area of activity, for example "SWP meeting in Mugsborough 15th Julember, anyone interesting in attending"In that way active members could communicate about opportunities for activity, keep each other informed about opportunities that are spotted in different parts of the country and arrange for things like the availability of literature, etc. at short notice.We seem to do well in theoretical discussions, especially ones about the existence of reality. Perhaps if this forum was seen as a hub of Socialist Activity, rather than the director's cut of The Matrix, we might achieve some better results. (Just a suggestion)
gnome wrote:alanjjohnstone wrote:I hope rather than merely negative criticism of what they thought was wrong with Vin's attempt and what was its faults, our aspiring Oscar/Bafta judges also provided helpful suggestions and perhaps even proposals for an alternative video…or am i the eternal optimist…I'm sorry to say that four EC members condemned the video out of hand, did not offer a single shred of advice or encouragement and only differed from each other by the level of their scathing observations. I was ashamed to witness such a travesty.
so that all members know, for future reference, can you let us know which four members you are referring to.cheersTim
Wez wrote:I doubt if the likes of Theodore Adorno, Herbert Marcuse or Erich Fromme would have anything other than contempt for the DSM. The medicalisation of the psychological conditions caused by life within capitalism is almost entirely driven by the profits of big pharma and so anathema to true research into why people behave as they do.Whilst I have no doubt that many"psychological Illnesses" have their roots in the hideous social relations that are thrust on us by capitalism, I think to catagorise all psychological problems as being caused by life under capitalism is naive and actually does the case for Socialism no great service. In a Socialist society trauma will continue, parents will continue to be bereaved as their children die earlier than expected due to illness, accident, etc. relationships will break down causing distress, families will be dysfunctional and loveless, and most crucially attachment difficulties will persist for various reasons.To quote the late great Wally Preston "make no bones about it" Psychological difficulties will continue to exist in a Socialist society. I also think that to say that the medicalisation of psychological conditions is entirely driven by big Pharma, does a disservice to those workers, who have devoted their lives to research into the physiological issues involved in some mental health conditions. I don't doubt for one moment that the profit motive has been behind the work undertaken, in the same way that the profit motive has been behind the development of the jet plane, the internet or malt whisky (which have all proved their social usefulness, especially the whisky) however the outcomes of the intense work carried out by wage slaves, for which they usually have received no credit or share of the profit, has been useful in the symptomatic relief of many sufferers of mental health difficulties. For instance the modern treatment of schizophrenia (crude though it is) is to my mind much preferable to incarceration in Bedlam or enduring the fear and paranoia of the untreated condition.
