[SocialistPunk]

Yep. The "Protestant (or Puritan) work ethic", has become known simply as the "work ethic".  

[SocialistPunk]

Thanks for clearing that up Gnome.I knew I was correct about SPEW being commonly known as Socialist Party. I agree there is potential for further confusion.

[SocialistPunk]

Couple of examples of The Socialist Party of Great Britain going by the name of a rival err…socialist organisation. What's with that? I always thought the abbreviated version of the Party name was The Socialist Party? 

Quote:

Yours sincerelyRobert CoxSocialist Party Parliamentary Candidate – Canterbury and Whitstable

and

Quote:

Jacqueline Shodeke,Socialist Party candidate for Brighton Kemptown 

[SocialistPunk]

Something else to think about.Is it reformist to attempt to communicate the socialist message via means of communication  other than the official Party internet sites, pamphlets, and publications such as The Socialist Standard?

[SocialistPunk]

Is the Party Twitter account actually being used?

[SocialistPunk]

Definately a good idea to get a decent film job done. Regarding video production values, many of the talks and debates found on YouTube are seriously lacking.

[SocialistPunk]

I'm waiting for a member of the SPGB to use the link provided by Alan, and again by me below, to refute the stuff said about the Party on MediaLens. To set the record straight, so to speak. There could be hundreds of people on that site that may now have a misconception of the Party, and it wouldn't take much to put it right, surely. http://members5.boardhost.com/medialens/msg/1429271902.html

[SocialistPunk]

Totally agree Alan, I've just watched the Brand video and it's very good, probably his best I've seen so far. Nothing us socialists could disagree with there.I was wondering if the SPG…I mean Socialist Party…..no The National Socialist Party….err.Seriously, I was wondering if the SPGB have ever considered doing a YouTube video blog along those lines. Just need someone with a bit of charisma to cover some topical stories every month or so from a socialist perspective?

[SocialistPunk]

This comes from a pdf document from Win/Gallup about the survey.Methodology: The question "Irrespective of whether you attend a place of worship or not would you say you are: a. a religious Person, b. not a religious person, c. a convinced atheist, d. do not know/no response." Was asked as part of the WIN/Gallup International End of Year Survey. http://www.wingia.com/web/files/news/290/file/290.pdfI was wondering about the content of the survey, especially the bit about younger people being more religious, and it turns out that just a small amount  of questions were asked. Notice the caveat of "Irrespective of whether you attend a place of worship or not…".The problem I see here, is that to be a religious person you would need to practice a religion. You could be a believer in things spiritual, but it wouldn't make you religious.My guess is if the religious aspect were framed correctly such as "Are you an active member of a religion", then there would probably be a lot less religious people in the world. However, if the question "Do you consider yourself to be spiritual" or "Do you believe in a god or gods", then the results may again be different.My point is in regards to younger people being more religious. I suspect a lot of younger people would identify themselves more with spirituality than religiousness..   

[SocialistPunk]

ALB wrote:

Now Andrew Neill jokes that SPGB stands for Special Patrol Group … You can't win on this name question !

It's the biggest general election campaign the Party has ever run and name confusion is cropping up. After the election would be a good time to nail down the festering issue of the Party identity once and for all.

[SocialistPunk]

gnome wrote:

alanjjohnstone wrote:

Quote:

Whatever the nostalgics here for using the full name all the time might think, the arguments for calling ourselves (except in legal, historial and ceremonial contexts) the Socialist Party are just as valid today as they were when the party voted for this at the end of the 1980s. "Great Britain" does have natiinalistic connotations, whatever people say.

Equally, it is a strong argument for ourselves to be re-named The World Socialist Party (and add what geographical title you wish to in these brackets)…That clearly identifies us distinctly and uniquely

There might be an even stronger argument made for dropping 'socialist' considering the huge confusion surrounding the word, not only due to the countless other organisations which have misappropriated its use but also because of the legacy inherited from the bastardised system which pertained in Russia and elsewhere.What we have to continue to do, as AJJ correcty observes, is to continue to clearly define in our literature and elsewhere what we mean by socialism; already that lost territory is slowly but surely being reclaimed.BTW, an email has been sent to the organisers of the Botley hustings advising of them of their error in describing us as the SWPGB.

There's definately a potential case for dropping the word socialist, due to the relatively recent history of it's association. However the concept of socialism has a far longer history in its evolution, before the USSR came into existence. Nationalism however, is a dead weight the Party should be extremely keen on distancing itself from.So far the Party has been written up or introduced as The Great British Socialist Party, The National Socialist Party, The Socialist Workers Party of Great Britain, Socialist Party (ex-Militant).What can anyone expect when one identity can't be nailed down after 110 yearsNot the right place for it here but I think the Party name is in need of serious discussion. World Socialist Party of "……" is for my mind the logical way forward.

[SocialistPunk]

Young Master Smeet wrote:

SP,I should clarify, we were the only party at that meeting who would abolish the NHS, as a state bureaucracy that organised health affairs in a market system.  Also, since we'd be abolishing Britain, it would no longer be a national health Service, but a World Health Service.

Thanks YMSI had a feeling that's what you meant.

[SocialistPunk]

Young Master Smeet wrote:

Islington Keep our NHS Public Hustings Islington (Link)As a topic focussed meeting, in front of people who want to defend the NHS, it was a tough gig.  I started by saying we wer the only party that wants to abolish the NHS, but ended the night asking why if everyone there supports health care free at the point of use, they don't support clothes, foods, housing, etc. free at the point of use? (One member of the audience told me afterwards that was a good point, and he would use it later).

YMSI was wondering if you could expand on your statement about the SPGB being the only party wanting to abolish the NHS?

[SocialistPunk]

Thanks ALB,Had a feeling it wouldn't be simple issue, but I was aware the figures used in the article were for "display purposes only".The example you give about the LibDem tax cut claim is a good one and you help to explain much about such claims. Under the rules of the current political game the LibDems need to "sex up" tax cut claims as much as they can.

[SocialistPunk]

Come on people!I'm asking for some proof here. What's the point in roping in taxation from a Marxist viewpoint, if there is no evidence?Simple question. Does the reduction in taxation in the pay packet of the average worker, result in a pay reduction from the capitalist class in a rebalancing of their profits? No theory, evidence please.If my thinking is confused here, tell me. Please, put me in the picture. This is a place of learning isn't it? 

[Author]

Posts