Brian
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steve colborn wrote:Anyone who argues that fracking would reduce fuel poverty, obviously doesn't quite have a handle on the ethos of Capitalism. Does anyone really believe that just bacause oil is extracted from the ground in the UK, that UK workers will be offered electricity or gas on the cheap? The people who own the extraction companies will extract the best price for any fuel produced, that they can. If they didn't, their shareholders would not be amused. That comrades, is the world we inhabit.
It appears that fracking only becomes profitable when the problem of known externalities are ignored, or at best left to litigation. If this is the case, until the science assures me that the risk of contamination to the wider environment can be contained within a socialist society I'm certainly not in favour of accepting fracking in principle.The principles applied in capitalism will be totally different to ones applied in socialism.
ALB wrote:An analysis of the 100 or so requests for more information received at Head Office (by email, phone or letter) shows that about 37 of these have come from Wales. Since only 25% of the 1.35 million leaflets were distributed in Wales this requires an explanation. All I can think of is that Wales is a more "leftwing" or "anti-Tory" area than the South East so that the word "socialist" gets a better hearing there. It could be to do with the election broadcast but I doubt it as I don't think that that many viewers will have a pen and paper handy to take down the contact details at the end of one. The response to the election video (in terms of hits on our website, now nearly 2800) will have come from Youtube rather than the broadcast itself. On the other hand, the percentage vote in Wales was lower than in the South East.So, something that needs explaining.Or it could be because the level of deprivation is far higher in Wales than in the South East. We'll soon know once Swansea Branch get in contact with the enquirers.
SocialistPunk wrote:I wonder, could the hostility between the French and British, that is often jokingly referred to, stem from this period of the second world war?Could well be because the French decided that "liberation" was not worth the cost in casualties. The resistance in Caen came from the civilian population and not the german army who had withdrawn most of their forces from the area. By all accounts Montgomery was so angry with the resistance from the civilian population he not only ordered the bombing of Caen in the knowledge that the germans had withdrawn but also ordered the French Canadians to do the mopping up!
Vin Maratty wrote:I don't see why another election video would be needed. The current one is fine and does the job.Its done the job for the euro campaign but with constant change in the political and economic climate it most certainly wont do the job in the future.
robbo203 wrote:One might understand the need to take a gentle trot if you lacked the necessary resources to commit yourself to a gallop but in this instance, this is not the case.Its pretty obvious you are failing to understand what the word sustainability means in practical terms despite the fact that I spelt it out point by point. But in your rush to use a general election as a means to get the party name mainstream you appear to forget that to run a general election campaign of 50 candidates entails a lot more than just organising a PEB, or even perhaps changing Rule 27 (which personally I'm opposed to). For instance, during the euro campaign the printing and the distribution of the manifesto is we found no easy task, even on that limited scale. Again, we would expect for a general election every constituency to have at least one public meeting, then there's the hustings, media interviews, etc. To expect the Election Committee, presently consisting of three members, to be the main conduit for all this activity is unrealistic. And even with an enlarged committee they would not have the necessary skills and experience for running and organising a general election campaign for 50 candidates. On top of this there is the actual production of the PEB which is contentious to say the least!To get back on the thread, three very important facts came out of the euro campaign. Firstly, at long last we got treated seriously by the media. Secondly, it was a learning curve and a new experience for all concerned. Last but not least we desperately need the time to get used to this new experience and to improve our activity accordingly so we continue to be treated seriously by the media.And we wont do that by contesting a general election with 50 candidates just to justify a PEB. But having said that we will get used to this new experience by: Planning to contest the euro again in five years with even more candidates contesting further areas; substaining the election strategy in London; contesting the Welsh Government elections; contesting local elections outside of London; and possibly putting forward local and regional candidates in Scotland.That in practical terms is what is meant by sustainability.
Matt wrote:A comrade tried ot post the following,.."I have unsuccessfully tried to post on worldsocialism.org about fielding 50 candidates. You don't have to field 50 individual candidates. One candidate can stand in as many constituencies as he/she/we like. The only condition is that if elected in one, s/he can't go forward to Parliament in any other (unlikely). Julian Vein"And any such possibility of this occurring is probably very unlikely! Unless of course we have a desire to be re-considered 'an unserious challenge to the political process' by the media establishment.
SocialistPunk wrote:Brian wrote:We have learnt from our experiences in the North East that once a particular Branch, or a combination of Branches have committed themselves to election activity it has to be sustainable in respect of Branch resources being sufficient to cover the activity in the long-term. In short, one-offs are a nono.Hi BrianIt was during my time in the North East I believe you are referring to and we contested a general election, a euro-election and several (if not more) local elections. There was a lot of activity going on then and the branch became very focused. The intention was to contest more future elections, but things have a tendency to happen.I certainly would not describe the hard work and effort put in as a one-off affair.
Neither do I for I was also in on the ground during the euro election and was fully aware that the intention was to contest further elections. But with foresight all that hard work and effort has to be tempered with some thought on the pace of election activity matching Branch resources, and developing an election strategy which also matches Branch resources. Otherwise the election activity is in danger of becoming overstreched and unsustainable, which in truth is what occured in the North East.I'm partially to blame for this occurring in the North East for I was on the Election Committee during this period and encouraged the comrades there to contest elections at every opportunity without giving any thought to the necessity for pace and election strategy.
alanjjohnstone wrote:Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I concur, Robbo…Money in the bank is idle money.But it will take lot of preparation and advance planning…First question, what 50 constituencies? Next, have we got 50 members willing to put their name forward?…i'm sure other questions will come to my mind in due courseI would hold your horses before you gallop off and give some thought on the following:1. We have learnt from our experiences in the North East that once a particular Branch, or a combination of Branches have committed themselves to election activity it has to be sustainable in respect of Branch resources being sufficient to cover the activity in the long-term. In short, one-offs are a nono.2. Contest several local elections to fully assess the above by: a) Having regular stall(s) in different localities displaying a party banner in the build up to the election. b) Holding regular public meetings with the emphasis on debates. c) A sustained letter campaign to the local media. d) Distribution of leaflets before, during and after the election campaign. e) Taking out regular adverts in the local press.3. Encourage members to take the speakers test so there are sufficient candidates in compliance with Rule 27.Although the above is not a written criteria it is a common sense approach to any future election activity. And in respect to contesting 50 constituencies in the next general election the party would really have to get it skates on especially in regards to 3. above. For presently we are no position to field 10 candidates who have passed the speakers test and also are willing to stand. Let alone 50!So instead of a gallop my advice is to take a gentle trot in line with what is going on in London. And in the meantime encourage all Branches to contest local, regional, national and european elections along the lines spelt out above.At the next Swansea Branch meeting I shall be doing my best in this respect and urge the Branch to contest the local elections next year and to contest at least 3 seats for the Welsh Government elections in 2016.
Vin Maratty wrote:Now that the Annual Conference and elections are over I have to say that Conference had the opportunity to challenge the ECs decision to reject an application for membership from a socialist, and it didn't. If I had the right to appeal to conference I have to assume that my appeal would have been rejected. I fully accept that but find it difficult to respect it: Or understand it.I see no reason why you do not re-apply through the local Branch soonest.
ALB wrote:True, the SNP have transformed themselves from Tartan Tories into Tartan Reformists but has Alex Salmon ever spoken in these terms as the current leader of Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood has:http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/mar/23/leanne-wood-wales-plaid-cymruQuote:"Socialism is an old-fashioned word and for some people an offputting word. But I describe myself as a socialist. Plaid Cymru has socialism in our aims, to create a decent socialist world."She's right. The word "socialism/sosialaeth" does occur in its constitution as one of its aims:http://www.plaidcymru.org/uploads/Cyfansoddiad_Nov_2012.pdfOf course they are not socialists but at least they are not afraid of the word.
Leanne bought a copy of 'Capitalism and other kids stuff' enroute to the Iraq anti-war demo. Time for a debate I think.
Wales results http://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=101,1580,2279&parent_directory_id=646&id=29521For me good results for Cardiff, RCT and Swansea.
ALB wrote:The results for the three wards we contested in Lambeth can be found here:Clapham Town: http://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=112&RPID=24614579Ferndale: http://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=114&RPID=24615788Larkhall: http://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=118&RPID=24616396As it happens, the results in the two wards we contested both times (Ferndale and Larkhall) are almost exactly the same as last time in 2010.More later.Pity it's very hard to identify those who have persistently voted for socialism. But if we keep at it and the persistent vote consequently increases this task will become easier.
Radio Cardiff hustings link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb6JLd8v86o&feature=youtu.be
Père Duchêne wrote:'A spectre is haunting Europe – the spectre of Communism' is sheer hyperbole for early 1848,Like I tried to point out in #11 the "sheer hyperbole" or deliberate exaggeration was on the part of the capitalists and not Marx. For him it was "a nursery tale" that all the opposition parties were 'communists'.
