robbo203
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“THESE ARE ACTUAL COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY “THOMAS COOK VACATIONS” FROM DISSATISFIED CUSTOMERS:”
Hilarious but at the same time deeply disturbing if authentic. How is it possible that a normal adult human being could even think like this? The little Englander nationalism that runs through many of these complaints is a surefire indicator of the extent to which this mental disease called nationalism has infantilised people.
Brexit-voting, xenophobic “whinging poms” as the Aussies would call them. Yuk.
In some ways, you could argue that Kautsky helped to boost the concept of “market socialism”. He seems to have sided with the advocates of a money-based system of accounting as against the advocates of labour-time accounting (and also those like Otto Neurath who repudiated the need for a single universal unit of accounting altogether and argued like us for a system purely based on calculation in kind).
In the context of the so-called “Socialist calculation debate” “market socialists” like like Oscar Lange and Fred Taylor have sometimes been presented as having won this debate against the likes of Von Mises – not by rejecting the need for a market but by incorporating it into their idea of a socialist society in which consumer goods still take the form of commodities but producer goods are directly allocated by the state. It may be a crassly incoherent idea but it a certainly one that has exerted some influence
Kautsky seems to have helped to promote this idea. I am thinking in particular of certain passages of his book, “The Labour Revolution”, written in 1924 in which he states that while “another form of Socialism without money is conceivable” but went on to argue:
“We have not yet progressed so far as this. At present, we are unable to divine whether we shall ever reach this state. But that Socialism with which we are alone concerned to-day, whose features we can discern with some precision from the indications that already exist, will unfortunately not have this enviable freedom and abundance at its disposal, and will therefore not be able to do without money” (ch 3)
Very disappointing. He unquestionably contributed to the confusion into which the term “socialism” subsequently fell
One of the appalling consequences of this stupid senseless war
“An area of Ukraine approximately the size of Florida is now riddled with land mines, which could take hundreds of years to reverse: report”
An interesting article on Ukraine´s dilemma.
It looks very much like its so-called counter-offensive has stalled. It’s not going to get anywhere with this despite NATO assistance. Nor is it going to be allowed to join NATO for the duration of the war and NATO has no desire to get directly involved. Yet the Ukrainian regime has vowed to take back Crimea and Donbass
This is a recipe for the long-term grinding down and impending implosion of the Ukrainian state. Who knows? Perhaps elements in the government will step in and remove Zelensky as a hindrance to what increasingly looks like the only viable option – the partition of Ukraine more or less along the lines that exist today.
At any rate, nothing more clearly demonstrates the stupidity of nationalism on both sides of this pointless conflict from the standpoint of working-class interests
This caught my eye – in the document ZJW referred to. Whatever differences we may have with the ICT/CWO as far as the basics are concerned we are very much on the same wavelength and that is heartening:
“The first local committee made up of CWO members and others, whether in organisations or not, was formed in Liverpool in March last year(5) on the basis of the five principles below:
Against capitalism, imperialism and all nationalisms. No support for any national capitals, “lesser evils”, or states in formation.
For a society where states, wage-labour, private property, money and production for profit are replaced by a world of freely associated producers.
Against the economic and political attacks that the current war, and the ones to come, will unleash on the working class.
For the self-organised struggle of the working class, for the formation of independent strike committees, mass assemblies and workers’ councils.
Against oppression and exploitation, for the unity of the working class and the coming together of genuine internationalists.….
We were also aware that any new initiative would face new problems and that setbacks would be inevitable. The first problem came from the fake internationalism of various opportunists of the Capitalist Left (Stalinists, Maoists, Trotskyists, etc.) who will adorn their documents with NWBCW images or slogans but emptied of any internationalist content.(7) They are flying “under a false flag” (ours!) but can only do so by hiding their real politics which is to support the “underdog imperialism” of “oppressed peoples” (in short, nationalist struggles) or any state opposed to the USA. There is no nation or national struggle which the working class can support today.”
This might be of interest. I came across it on FB (the Communism 101 FB group). Perhaps the SPGB could officially get in touch with the organisers to see if some kind of collaborative effort is possible, despite our differences with Left Coms. Whatever the differences I think we have a lot more in common with them than almost anyone else I can think of
At any rate, it wouldn’t hurt making inquiries…
“Korean Commission as a class war, not a war (NWBCW KOREA)
It’s been over a year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Like other imperialist wars in the past, this one also demands internationalist solidarity and action from the working class of the world.
Now that the imperialist war is taking place in Ukraine, internationalists in the world are firmly upholding the principle of ‘proletarian internationalism’, despite differences of opinion. This kind of internationalist flow says ‘There is no homeland for the workers! They announced a statement in advance, held a meeting and began a joint response.
We started international action under the principle of “NO WAR BUT THE CLASS WAR” with internationalists who recognize that the only war worth fighting is a ‘class war’ to end the imperialist war. This action aims to bring together internationalists scattered today to deliver the need for a counterattack to the wider working class and act together on the principles of internationalism.
<Main Principle>
● I don’t support either side in the war of imperialism. Capitalism and imperialist countries don’t support any “something bad evil”.
● Only the international class struggle to overthrow the capitalist system can end the imperialist war, not through a peace agreement between the ruling classes.
● The current and future wars should be dismantled to counter the economic and political attacks on the working class.
● Class wars can be expanded and developed through self-organized struggles of the working class, i.e. independent strike committees, public rallies, and labor equality councils.
● We are a society where all exploitation, oppression, and discrimination is fundamentally useless! A socialized society that has more means of production are not in the hands of capitalists or countries! We fight for a united world of free producers where production and distribution are in harmony with humanity and nature
Comrades who are interested in 「Korean Committee as a class war, not a war」 or want to participate, please contact us. ( Inquiries : nwbcwkr@gmail.com )
http://communistleft.jinbo.net/xe/index.php?mid=cl_bd_01…
· ·I know it’s the Daily Express and therefore not be trusted but does anyone know any more about this – the Ukrainian military firing off British Storm Shadow missiles at the Desnogorsk nuclear power station in Smolensk region?
This may be of interest…
“A degree of malleability is present in Marx’s and Engels’ construct of a vanguard, opening possibilities for avoiding elitist or authoritarian characteristics. Orthodox views on the vanguard, explains Shandro, appear after Marx’s death. In particular, the work of Karl Kautsky promotes the need for enlightened vanguard leadership. An economic determinist, Kautsky posed that since “capitalist production transforms particular struggles into a universal one” the party in capitalism’s most advanced territorial sector is positioned to acquire consciousness able to perceive “the universal interest of the whole working class.”29 The German Social Democratic Party (SPD) became Kautsky’s vanguard, who “as a result of their consciousness…transcend their particular circumstances.” Unsurprisingly, the SPD were “skilled, urban, Protestant, German, male” workers, and since “Socialist consciousness donned the particular lenses of the advanced workers,” the SPD’s universalism conformed to Eurocentric views on capitalist development.”
Vanguard or Avant-Garde? Revisiting questions on leadership: Part 1: The vanguard debate in history
That’s a very good article, Dave.
I wonder if the author, Vladimir Unkovski-Korica, who I see works in Glasgow could be contacted by Glasgow branch – maybe invited to give a talk?
You have not heard the economic calculation argument I take it.
What if people want the shabby and shoddy?
……………………Not quite sure what the ECA has to do with this. Sure there are opportunity costs involved in producing durable high-quality stuff (just as there are costs involved in planned obsolescence and producing crap) but that’s a different subject….
Biden says Putin is losing the “war in Iraq” in latest blunder
“President Joe Biden spoke to reporters in Washington, DC on June 28, saying that Russian president Vladimir Putin was “losing the war in Iraq” in a bizarre verbal slip-up referring to the recent mutiny of mercenary outfit Wagner”
No doubt this slip-up will be put down to Biden´s ailing cognitive faculties (in the same way the MSN media like to focus on trivia like Putin´s supposed health issues). But the wider issue of who is really losing this stupid senseless war – the workers on both sides – will be ignored.
“Putin” or the Russian capitalist state is not losing the war even though it is not likely to make much headway either. I think it is becoming pretty obvious that the much-vaunted Ukrainian counter-offensive is not going to go anywhere. I don’t imagine there will be much change in the location of the frontline one year from now though I could be wrong.
Hopefully at some point before then exhaustion will set in and peace talks can begin. I can’t see how it makes much sense for either side to continue with this slaughter indefinitely
I declined “the suggestion” because I already know all I wish to know about De Sade including his penchant for inflicting pain, suffering and humiliation non-consensually on others…
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Which confirms my point concerning your narrow and bigoted approach to the whole subject ….
You imagined the article is about ‘getting off’ in response to extreme pain, suffering or humiliation inflicted non-consensually on others” and for which reason you declined to read the article. Saying that this reason now “includes” the above is a classic case of you trying to wriggle out of the situation you have made for yourself
You pay attention! I wasn’t referring to the content of the article per se but to the individual that it was about.
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Really? Is that why you declined to read the article ZJW referred you to with this these words:
“No thanks ZJW. I have no interest whatever in anyone who ‘gets off’ in response to extreme pain, suffering or humiliation inflicted non-consensually on others.”
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No one on this forum is interested in inflicting pain and humiliation on others….
How do you know? Are you clairvoyant? 🙂
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Actually, that question would be better directed at your good self. You are making the assumption that there is someone here “who ‘gets off’ in response to extreme pain, suffering or humiliation inflicted non-consensually on others.” Otherwise, why decline the suggestion that you read the article in question?
