Challenge magazine of the young communist league issue I! £1 Say no to Mcjobs! Adult pay for young workers now

The Young Communist The Young Communist The Young Communist The Young Communist League is revolutionary. League is the youth League is part of a mass League is It aims not to mend wing of the Communist movement. internationalist. It is a member capitalism; but to end it This

Party. It never puts: its own for does not mean that the AAD of the World It.aims to. build support interests as an organisation organisation of Democratic League calls for an armed people for the above those of the Federation among young uprising in moder Britain, Communist Party's movement as a whole and it Youth, which represents millions of progressive although we defend the right Britain's Road to seeks to build the widest programme of the oppressed to take up Socialism and to increase possible coalition behind young people in around 100 countries. It arms for their liberation. It young people's involvement progressive policies. in solidarity means realising that only a in politics. The Young The Morning Star, Britain's campaigns with sister Young fundamental shift in power Communist League is only socialist daily Communist organisations from the capitalists to the organisationally autonomous newspaper, plays a vital role around the World and working people can guarantee activities in strengthening the left and stand | and decides its own social League works actively to defends existing socialist democratic rights and and priorities. progress. Socialist revolution support the paper and raise countries. It backs the its circulation. The League right to self-determination in Britain can and should be The Young Communist achieved by peaceful means, League is democratic. also recognises the and opposes any attempt states such through a combination of Policies are formulated by a importance of trade unions by imperialist the US and the elections with mass work Congress, which must be as the broadest mass as Britain, we European Union to outside parliament. The held at least once every two organisations of the working impose their will on the League publicises its activities, years, and are carried out by class and fights all anti-trade or its theory and its revolutionary an elected Executive union laws. peoples of the world to exploit or to exploit perspective on the day-to-day Committee. The League also for struggle through its magazine fights to defend and The Young Communist the world's resources It calls for Challenge, which also strengthen democratic rights. League is communist. capitalist profit. unilateral, immediate and provides a channel for debate It rejects unfair discrimination It works to abolish nuclear within the organisation and on the basis of race, sex, age, capitalism and establish a unconditional disarmament. the wider movement.

or religious or other socialist society based on * what sexuality belief. It calls for the abolition common ownership and of the monarchy and the democratic control, drawing House of Lords and regards on the ideas of Marx, Engels, the European Union as an Lenin and others as well as the young communists undemocratic and on the experience of socialist join reactionary institution, which countries since 1917. In the | would like to join the Young Communist League serves the interests of big context of this struggle it Get more information Please tick as appropriate business rather than those of seeks to defend and Europe's working people. strengthen public services, the welfare state and the name _ The Young Communist NHS. It believes that League is centralised. everyone has the right to Democratically taken free and inclusive secular address decisions are binding across education including nursery the organisation, although care, schools, universities, local branches decide how community colleges and ReeERS best to implement them in adult education centres. The post code their own areas. struggle for socialism must go hand in hand with the struggle to protect the ELAS natural environment, which is phone being wilfully damaged by

LL corporations and capitalist governments in their drive e mail AT for short-term profit.

_www.yclorg.uk EATERS | i www.communist-pa rty.org.uk www.solidnet.org

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The government’s Higher Education Bill, which will introduce variable tuition fees of up to three thousand pounds a year scraped through the Challenge House of Commons on January 27th by just five votes. Top-up fees are another step toward the privatisation of higher education Issue I 1 Spring 2004 and an elitist “Ivy League” system based on the US model where the logic of the market sets the agenda. The government argues that the introduction of top-up fees is essential to solve the funding crisis in higher Joe Kelly is skint for socialism education. The basic fact remains that this government is committed to and solidarity! military spending and to subsidising greedy, reckless privateers rather than Hijab Joanne Stevenson on directing resources into public services. The government constantly secularism and religion lectures public sector workers about the need for “modernisation” and “efficiency”, but refuses to provide adequate funding. Instead it relies on Oliver Little on the march the private sector to make up the shortfall, which is like letting a vampire against Aldermaston’s new loose in a blood bank. nuclear generation The fact that the Hutton Report into the death of Dr David Kelly let Tony Blair off the hook is no surprise given that it was stitched-up by a Say no to Mac jobs trusted servant of the British Establishment. The report was designed to Dave Du on adult pay for draw attention away from the lies the government told to Parliament and young workers now! the British public over the threat posed by Iraq’s (fictional) weapons of mass destruction. Ben Stevenson’s The Hutton Report has also provided an excuse for to industrial diary continue its attacks on democracy and the BBC as an independent public broadcasting service. Thousands of members of the National Union of Kadie Kenneh joins in Journalists have taken action in support of BBC Director-General Greg the cannabis debate Dyke, who was forced to resign by the government. The NUJ is defending our democratic rights by protesting over government attacks on press Back to basics freedom. Production (Value) This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the 1984-85 miners’ strike when the National Union of Mineworkers took on the Thatcher Ed Griffiths reviews Michael government to defend their jobs and pit communities. The miners held out Moore’s new book for a year in one of the bravest struggles ever waged by the organised Dude, Where’s My Country? working class in Britain. Although the strike ended in defeat it is still an the best of the celebrity lefties inspiration to working people today. The NUM was prepared to take on the power of the British state with all its mechanisms of repression. The strikers faced police intimidation and brutality, sabotage by the security services and daily attacks in the right-wing tabloid press. Despite all this Young Communist League they came very close to victory, which shows the power of solidarity and 94 Camden Road London NWI 9EA collective action. general enquiries: [email protected] The New Labour project is politically bankrupt. The labour movement Challenge editorial: [email protected] must keep up the pressure on Labour MPs to oppose reactionary policies, www.ycl.org.uk but the battle to defeat New Labour is not simply confined to Parliament. It also means mass democratic activity by the labour movement in communities, workplaces and campuses. This combination of parliamentary and mass struggle by democratic, anti-monopoly forces can win Labour to progressive, pro-working class policies and create the potential for a left government in Britain.

SEER Joe Kelly is skint for socialism and solidarity!

Times are hard for young people. University students face mounting tuition fees and student loans. They leave college saddled with enormous debts. In the workplace poverty pay is the norm. The national minimum wage is set at a low enough level as far as adult workers are concerned - it is | fixed at an even lower rate for young workers. Internationally, young people have borne the brunt of the neo-liberal offensive. Social provision and educational services have been relentlessly put under the auctioneer’s hammer in the interests of capital, leaving many young people with a legacy of poverty and misery. Corel ie) ai) The Young Communist League is campaigning to end government’s law to ban religious symbols in student fees and replace them with a decent maintenance schools (political symbols are already banned). grant, which would end student poverty. We are a Ce Le el Ce (ol campaigning to end discrimination against young workers secularism and an attack on religious and and to raise the level of the minimum wage for all. cultural freedom motivated by the rise in The YCL takes its solidarity commitments seriously. We Islamaphobia. Whilst there is cross-party are deep in the fight against imperialist war and the Pio) Seem Colma CM (dtr te Cel Me ule ey Cirle) murderous occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. We are Islamic communities have been up in arms. campaigning against discrimination on the basis of gender, race and sexuality, against fascism and discriminatory immigration and asylum laws. Do you believe that no religion should have an In unison with young communists in Austria, Cyprus, the overriding influence in schools because in Britain we Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Norway, Portugal, don’t have a secular school system? Turkey, and the USA, we are raising money to help rebuild seminar rooms in the University of Matanzas in blockaded RTR | fully believe in a secular school system. | believe Cuba. As part of this project, we will participate in a that religion should play no part in the education of young delegation with fraternal communist youth organisations in people and it’s something that | fight for in this country. the summer to help in the rebuilding work. Whilst religious freedom is important, it isn’t something For the third year running the YCL has organised a packed that needs to be exercised in the school system. Although Red November event to celebrate the Russian Revolution of we have RE in schools, which usually offers a variety of 1917. The YCL now runs a lively website, which has religions they aren’t taught objectively, atheism certainly recently been renovated, and publishes Challenge quarterly. isn’t taught. All this campaigning costs money. But like most young SU No I don’t because itsshould be multi-cultural. You people the YCL is skint. So we are appealing for cash. The can’t force religious beliefs onto people so | think schools YCL is asking all who welcome the work it is doing to should be religiously neutral. | contribute to its national appeal. Anti war activists, MK _ No religion should have control of any other because members of working class parties, Morning Star readers people have their own beliefs. Everyone should have the and trade unionists — all will find much to support in the right to worship whatever they want. People should be OPER work of the YCL, and we very much hope that they will do taught religious education in schools so they can make a so with good, old-fashioned, hard currency. We aim to choice. If only one religion is taught in schools then people raise £1,500 over a period of three months. may not learn to question it and they might take everything SCRAGRRAE The cash will help us maintain a national office with all the as gospel. equipment and materials required to put across information __ and propaganda for these campaigns; to expose more and This is the reason that the French Government is : more people to a Marxist Leninist analysis and guidance on using to justify its'ban on all religious symbols, the way forward. In particular it will help an organisation including the Hijab. It’s doing it to defend designed to bring young people into the struggle, to add secularism - do you think this is right? strength and depth to the revolutionary working class RTR We're talking about the headscarves right? | think movement in Britain. that perhaps a right wing government is using the So please give generously, collectively as branches, as local progressive lingo to justify an attack motivated by racism. | organisations or individually. Your money is sorely needed, Whilst | don’t believe that women should be made to wear | and will be spent wisely. clothing to deliberately suppress their sexuality, if they Please send donations to the YCL, 94 Camden Road don’t have to wear a uniform then | can’t see why they London NWI 9EA. Cheques should be made payable to can’t wear whatever they want. the ‘Young Communist League.’ SU | don’t think banning the religious symbol is right. |

Do you think that the headscarf and the turban,

debate which have caused the greatest amount of controversy, should be considered as cultural rather than religious symbols?

RTR | don’t think they’re necessarily cultural symbols because it’s not exactly a flagrant display of a particular religious belief. In that context the headscarf and the turban should be allowed especially if enforcing this ban would mean people in France taking their children out of state For Challenge Joanne Stevense schools and attempting to educate them on a faith-based three friends, all with differing p system. religious beliefs. RTR is a communist, SU a SU | don’t think that’s true because the scarf is part’of the moderate i.e. a believer but non-practising religious practice because your hair is something that can Oem tre i | Gere Mai bat cel bre ML sal) make you look attractive and so by covering it you’re Islamic society in college. Read their views on making it less likely that you will catch someone’s eye. It’s the clash between secularism and religious not something that necessarily works but it’s part of the and political freedom in schools and colleges religion. and make up your own mind. MK People do say that but it’s not the case. | could find at least two hundred places in the Q’uran where it says that you must act and dress in a certain way and that men and think they should allow individuals to practice their religion, women should act in a certain way. RTIAE but not enforce any one religion on people, especially in schools. In my old school we had to sing hymns from the What about young girls in primary schools who are Bible in our school assembly even though most of us forced to wear scarves by their parents because weren’t Christian. | think it’s wrong for the school and they are too young to make a conscious decision authorities to enforce one particular religion. Individuals about what religion, if any, to follow? should be able to follow their own religion. RTR Well that’s the point isn’t it? Whilst it’s all right for MK It doesn’t include Judaism does it? Well some religions people to practice what they want at home or outside the

don’t have as many special symbols to signify what religion structures of the state, it’s wrong that they should be made ELLEN they come from. | don’t think political symbols really to bring this into school. | think parents should give their j RB: matter, but religious ones do because it’s a person’s right children all the facts and allow them to make an informed : to follow their own religion. Nobody is harmed by Muslims decision. | think if people did this then they’d realise all the a wearing the Hijab in school so | don’t see what the flaws in the arguments. I’m still amazed that there are some 5 problem is. A society that is exactly the same is boring, people in this country who don’t believe in the theory of that’s why we were created differently. evolution let alone the fact most people actually have the ( j incorrect analysis of the theory. i What do you feel about the people who are SU That is true but | can understand why the parents do protesting about this ban? this. It’s because while they are young the child will do ‘ RTR | think there are perhaps more important things to things the parents want and parents believe this is a good protest about especially as this is happening in France. | thing for their children. It looks like they’re forcing their hope that these same people would join us in a campaign beliefs on their children but the child may rebel and when for a fully secular state-owned comprehensive system of she grows up she has the choice to do what she wishes. schooling. However, | can see why in a state of heightened MK In Islam you are not allowed to force someone into racial tension and an unprecedented level of attacks on civil the religion because it makes them rebel. If a child doesn’t liberties in many countries, particularly on Islamic people, want to wear the hijab they don’t have to. Many people there is so much anger around this issue. say that you don’t have to tell them they'll just look and do. SU | think they are right to be protesting about it. | don’t think they should ban all religious symbols. | think that if So finally do you support the banning of religious they want to wear either religious or political symbols to symbols in schools if it excluded the hijab and the express their beliefs then they should be able to do so. turban as expressions of cultural identity? MK They have the right to protest, to protect their RTR_ Well as long as it’s in a secular school system then religion because in Islam the hijab is one of the most yes | suppose | do. important things because you can’t pray without it, you SU No can’t go outside without a hijab, you can’t do anything MK_ No | don’t agree with banning religious symbols without a hijab. Banning a hijab is banning a religion. because everyone has a right to follow their own religion.

Oliver Little on the march against Aldermast

the organisation reveals the converging on the site for a focussed on Aldermaston rally on the following day. once again amid signs that involvement of private Youth and Student CND is the Ministry of Defence finance and also clear links civil organising the youth march (MoD) may be preparing to between supposedly nuclear power industry and and many other groups will develop a new generation be involved in the week’s of nuclear weapons there. nuclear weapons production. Although the events, including CND, The Aldermaston site is Aldermaston Women’s the headquarters of AWE, MoD owns the land, Peace Camp and various the company that produces operations at the sites have been contracted out to a local peace groups. and maintains Britain’s There is a long tradition of nuclear weapons. It is also consortium called AWE Management Ltd since Ist his Easter marches to Aldermaston the centre for weapons April 2000. This consortium weekend, young dating back to the first research and design and the vn | is owned in equal parts by ovum: I march in April 1958. Some manufacture of people from all British Nuclear Fuels Ltd over Britain will two thousand people, components. Along with (BNFL), Lockheed Martin, march on the motivated by their fear of nearby AWE Burghfield, which is responsible for the and SERCO. SERCO is a headquarters of the Atomic the growing threat of actual assembly of warheads private company that has Ss Weapons Establishment nuclear weapons, walked and their servicing and benefited from working in (AWE) at Aldermaston, from Trafalgar Square in London to the home of decommissioning, AWE many recently privatised Berkshire, to show their areas, including railways, new Britain’s nuclear weapons Aldermaston is involved in opposition to alarming health services and air developments at the site. industry. Forty-six years each stage of the traffic control. Lockheed The march from Oxford later, with nuclear weapons production of Britain’s © Martin is one of the world’s | to AWE Aldermaston will posing a greater threat to nuclear ‘deterrent’. A quick glance at the largest arms dealers. take two days and will be world peace than ever management structures in BNEFL, a company wholly one of several marches before, public concern has

Since the abolition of pressures such as the need exchange control in the to find a career, to fund ‘Adult pay for 1980s, Britain's capitalist university or college class has been on an education, or to provide for investment strike, exporting their families, are young workers capital and jobs abroad to confronted with an Asia, Africa and Eastern uncertain future. They lack Europe in order to exploit long-term security and a now! their deregulated labour regular living wage. Many markets. The effects are young people find most starkly shown in the themselves working state of Britain’s industrial overtime, and in some cases manufacturing base. Ten multiple jobs in order to thousand jobs are lost in make ends meet. New this sector every month and Labour is continuing the at this rate, 2031 will see Tory legacy of the end of British "modernisation" - withering manufacturing. away the welfare state, During the same period workers’ rights, slashing anti-union laws were pensions and frankly introduced (in direct “modernising” us straight violation of International back into the nineteenth Labour Organisation century. While something protocols) which drastically like pensions seems reduced the power of trade unfamiliar and vague to the unions. These assaults on majority of the British the working class combined youth, we are certainly no with imperialist wars and strangers to the under-investment have led discriminatory National to growing unemployment Minimum Wage legislation. and a “McJob” working The National Minimum culture ready for hyper- Wage Act brought in by the exploitation. New Labour government Young workers, facing after it came to power in

on’s new nuclear generation

IS

owned by the British drive, sparking fears that successor warhead to policy, coupled with the Government, is probably the MoD may be planning Trident’. emerging new best known for its to develop a new Peace campaigners are developments, make the controversial nuclear fuel generation of British nuclear also concerned about the site a symbolic rallying point reprocessing plants at weapons. These fears were close collaboration between for those working to build a Sellafield in Cumbria. The compounded on the 6th of scientists from AWE and world free from nuclear involvement of BNFL in November when the MoD US nuclear scientists, which weapons. Y&SCND wants AWE gives an indication of submitted a planning may result in research into to build on the momentum the extent to which application to West low-yield ‘mini-nukes’. This generated by last year’s analys expertise and technology Berkshire County Council is seen as a particularly successful Aldermaston built up ostensibly for for a new laser facility. This dangerous development demonstration and urges civilian uses can easily be equipment, the first because it could increase readers of Challenge to get switched to military uses. instalment in an extensive the likelihood that nuclear involved in the youth march Concerns were raised series of proposed weapons would actually be this spring. To find out recently about the excessive upgrades, would enable used again with all the more about how you can influence of the military and AWE to model nuclear consequences, which that do this, contact us or check nuclear lobbies in education explosions, and hence to would entail. the web site. when it emerged that develop new nuclear The history of AWE Oliver Little is national Norman Askew — who was, weapons whilst sidestepping Aldermaston and the secretary of Youth and until recently, the Chief the restraints of the nuclear central role it currently Student Campaign for Nuclear Executive of BNFL - will Comprehensive Test Ban plays in British nuclear Disarmament oversee the imminent Treaty. This would be in merger of Manchester line with the stated aims of [email protected] University and UMIST. AWE, listed on its web site, Last May AWE launched a one of which is to ‘maintain Tel. 020 7607 3616 high profile recruitment a capability to design a www.youthstudentcnd.org.uk

1997 explicitly discriminates between the ages of also lower for young movement has against workers on the eighteen and twenty-six are people. The maximum been traditionally weak, grounds of age. Those also exempt for the first entitlement for the JSA is although the New Unionism under eighteen are simply twelve months of any currently £32.90 for campaign from the Trade ft not entitled to it, as a result apprenticeship they someone under eighteen, Union Congress has put this many sixteen and seventeen undertake. Although it is a £43.25 for a person aged trend in reverse with clear year olds are paid as little as criminal offence for between eighteen and success. The profoundly £1 or £2 an hour. Workers employers to refuse or twenty-four and £54.54 for undemocratic assault on aged between eighteen and wilfully neglect to pay the someone twenty-five years British trade unions has twenty-one are slightly minimum wage, they can old and over. This means allowed ageist legislation to better off, but they are only falsify pay records, which that according to the pass unchallenged. This entitled to the minimum makes enforcing the law government the amount a works both ways though - a wage at the reduced rate of difficult. In any case lenient seventeen-year-old person united trade union-based £3.80 per hour. Only those sanctions face those needs to live on is three campaign on the issues of twenty-two and over are employers who are caught - fifths what a twenty-five low pay, including the key entitled to the full rate of an enforcement notice, year old needs. demand for a NMW set at £4.50 an hour. Many young which may be followed by a Trade unions are the half male median earnings people have major financial meagre fine of £7.40 a day if democratically accountable rising to two thirds for all TAN commitments and this the employer does not organisations of the working workers regardless of age poverty pay is woefully comply. class, which have the legal and gender, can provide the inadequate to support The ageist National means, the experience, the power to break New them. Minimum Wage Act points power and the political will Labour’s ageist neo-liberal The minimum wage to the widely neglected to defend the rights of young agenda. In united ranks we legislation has been tailored phenomenon-of youth workers. Unfortunately will march ever forward on to fit the Mcjob working poverty in Britain, which is youth representation in the Britain’s Road to Socialism! culture. Major loopholes also perpetuated in other

ESSE exist in the act for ways. A simple change to employers to exploit. For the Act by itself will not be The YCL has recently joined a coalition instance there is no legal enough. For example campaigning for a National Minimum Wage for 16 obligation for employers to benefit payments, such as and 17 year olds organised by the British Youth meet minimum wage the Job Seekers Allowance Council www.NMW1617.org.uk | requirements for workers and disability-based income More information on trade unions and your who are classed as support for workers sick or Co can be found at www.tuc.org.uk “trainees”, and workers injured in the workplace are previously held complete sway over. We have recently seen rank and file trade unionists taking illegal strike action in both the Fire Brigades Union and Communications Workers Union. This is a great example of the increasing confidence of the left in the trade union movement and the rise in industrial militancy that the new breed of left wing general secretaries has generated. The fight against the New Labour clique is beginning to happen on several different fronts. The next big development in the trade union movement will be a meeting of the new left majority of trade union leaders, being called by Tony Woodley of the T&G, involving the of Labour | been a busy couple of the amount of copies by fifty by less than 300,000 votes MP's as well as left-wing years: unofficial fire fighter for the next day they ended in a card vote, which is social democrats to develop and postal worker strikes, up selling out quicker than certainly the closest vote a strategy for defeating the GE a glut of trade union the previous day. In fact I've seen in a decade. New Labour clique. There’s also a chance that The coming weeks could ELISE elections, allegations of Britain’s communists sold Number 10 interference. The more copies of the Morning an anti-EU resolution will be a time for reflection with

BOE scene was clearly set for a Star at the 2003 TUC than in get through this year’s TUC the 20th anniversary of the

1984/85 Miners Strike diary as the PCS (public service LEE thrilling TUC last year in the previous twenty. The left union with 400,000 coming up. There will be LOE sunny Eastbourne, with the is in its strongest position usual political celebrities: within the trade union members) is expected to plenty of BBC Tony Benn, George movement since the Miners’ change its stance on Europe documentaries hailing the

SI Galloway, Ken Livingstone Strike. this June. We also saw this defeat of the industrial

NES and the usual cronies from There was much mirth spirit carried forward into might of the trade unions the Labour Party and the glorious ushering in LEE Downing Street (your around the conference hall conference where the big of the post-modernist age ARES humble correspondent when Amicus-MSF general almost got within punching secretary Roger Lyons, who four unions (T&GWU, that Thatcherism brought. distance of Geoff Hoon). Talk had accused the TSSA union Unison, Amicus and GMB) For a real account of this historic event there will be REALE was rife that the ascendancy of sounding like the flexed their muscles for the of the “new left majority” of “Baghdad Trades Council” first time. We have also plenty of events being run trade union leaders had the year before during the seen them permeating all over the summer by all come to an end with the: debate on Iraq, then had to the policy forums, which sorts of progressive defeat of high profile left move the TUC General the New Labour clique had organisations.

SISSIES winger and former YCLer Council statement

Industrial Mick Rix as General condemning the war. Then | Secretary of the train drivers to add insult to injury for union ASLEF by ‘moderate’ the TUC right wing, TSSA Che lives! | Sean Brady (more on him delegate Andy Bain urged Young Communist League © later). The main rallying comrades to give their badge in | points for the left were the support to the “new yellow, black and red debate on the euro and the Baghdad Trades Council” | war in Iraq, pensions, PFI and and the fledgling Iraqi £1 plus 50p post & packing from Federation of Trade Unions, Youn Young Communist League the decline in manufacturing. Com _ The strength of the left is which had sent a delegate 94 Camden Road | usually best assessed by the to the conference. On the London NWI 9EA amount of Morning Stars Euro, the General Council sold. We completely sold out statement adopted a ‘wait on the first day despite and see’ approach similar to ordering more copies than Gordon Brown's way of usual. When we increased thinking. This won through

they’ve smoked it. The These are being tested laws on cannabis have at the moment and also been relaxed in David Blunkett has said the” Belgium. Since 27th he would change the law in March 2003 it has been to allow cannabis-based joins legal for over 18s to medicine on possess up to 5 grams of prescription if tests are cannabis for personal successful. use (so long as they The government is don't smoke it in front already showing signs of of children or teenagers relaxation for medical or disturb the peace) in use. Jeffrey Ditchfield Belgium, but to was released after he separate it from ‘hard’ told a jury that he had

drugs, selling it is still dealt cannabis only to argument illegal. Instead people medicinal users, but he can bring seeds over was warned that it was from Holland and grow still illegal and he would their own. be charged if caught a Cannabis isn’t limited to second time. The truth “fuckin' hippies”, as is that cannabis should Chase Whalen put it. have been reclassified 30 Eight members of the years ago when Jim 2000 shadow cabinet Callaghan’s government admitted to having first proposed it. Were Imost everyone problem in society than smoked cannabis, and it not for right wing in the UK has alcohol: it isn’t physically Scottish Labour MSP politicians engaged in seen, or more addictive, it doesn’t Kate MacLean recently their war to preserve likely smelt, someone cause liver damage, and did the same. The ‘family values’ we might smoking cannabis. They it doesn’t make you Legalise Cannabis have had real might have sat on a bus reckless, overconfident Alliance (Cyfathrach information regarding with someone behind or violent. The idea of Cyfreithloni Cannabis) is cannabis. them smoking a joint, cannabis being a a legitimate political Even with the new laws been in the toilets at a ‘doorway drug’ to other party, which stands cannabis is still an illegal club and noticed five stronger ones is candidates solely in order drug and you can be people crowded into the unfounded. No one will to raise the profile of the arrested and imprisoned smoke-filled cubicle next try a stronger drug, like legalisation campaign. It for possessing large to them, walked out speed or ecstasy, unless has quite a bit of support quantities or dealing it. into the garden ata they want to and and wins between 0.5% Being stoned even party or sat in a circle anyone who wants to and 5% in elections. Its increases the penalties waiting for the spliff to avoid the hassle of being website (www.lca-uk.org) for other crimes. This reach them. pressured into them by has links to other definitely makes it a Until this year cannabis dealers will find one who organisations with working class issue, as was a class B substance. deals solely in cannabis. information on cannabis. the majority arrested The government placed Legalisation would Cannabis is also used by for possession will be it in the same category break the connection hundreds of cancer, AIDS working class black and as speed and ice. It was between cannabis and and MS sufferers as pain Asian youths from inner reclassified on the 29th other more dangerous relief. Lester Grinspoon, cities. This is all because January to a class C drugs. an associate professor of someone several drug across the United Cannabis is the most psychiatry at Harvard centuries ago decided Kingdom. commonly used illegal Medical School claimed that creating a market Many people (as many drug in the UK.- up to in the Independent that around cannabis wasn’t as half of all British 40 per cent of people cannabis "is far safer than profitable enough. The adults according to aged between |6 and 34 most medicines reason for its continuing some reports) would be admit to having used it. prescribed by doctors illegal status is not happy to see its sale and Many people worry that daily and often works for medical (any doctor possession if it were decriminalised patients who cannot who’s worked the Friday decriminalised or even or legalised its use tolerate the side effects night shift in A&E will legalised. | might not fall would dramatically of other drugs. In many tell you that alcohol is into the category of increase, but hash was cases no other drug will the most dangerous adult until later this essentially do the job as safely or as drug) or socio-political, & year, but I definitely decriminalised in the well." The UK but economic as always. a support the legalisation Netherlands in the government itself is i of cannabis. 1970s, and only 15 per researching cannabis Campaign for i Cannabis is far less of a cent of Dutch adults say medicinal derivatives. legalisation! s that of a private jet. This is simply not the case although the demand for private jets is roughly equal to supply. For an equal relationship to exist between certain amounts of two different

basic commodities there must be some common property of the two, something Production common to both by which they can be measured. This

to Value) property is labour. All commodities are products alana amr tat. of human labour and it is this, which binds them all . capitalism as.anunjust.and historically outmodéd:system. together in the process of _In-order to replace capitalism, exchange. ac must are eae UT) ca italist Labour comes in many Bee ting ne icntlesilta bun - different forms. For

back Oy Assam production. example, the labour of a ~ Marx made-a huge contribution farmer is different from the eat understanding of capitalist labour of a banker. lett arena ee etg Mr tee UT the However, for the purpose labour theory of value in his of calculating value, all major work Capital labour must be reduced to its simplest form, that of unskilled human labour of average quality. It is this abstract social labour in FURTHER commodity is an minutiae. It does in fact deal historical conditions) will be which the value of READING article, which is with minutiae, but they are exchanged for a certain commodities is measured. Value, Price produced for the of the same order as those amount (y) of commodity B. Every form of complex, and Profit, purpose of exchange. dealt with in microscopic x commodity A = y skilled labour must be Karl Marx Previous economic systems, anatomy. (K. Marx, Capital |) commodity B reduced to a greater Capital e.g. Feudalism, were In order for a commodity At first these proportions amount of abstract social by Karl Marx dominated by production to be exchanged, there must appear to be fixed simply by labour depending on the Frederick for use. Whilst some be a buyer willing to receive tradition. As their levels of skill and training Engels articles were produced for it in exchange for something relationships are studied involved. exchange, this was not the else. Contained within the more closely, it is seen that But what happens if two Wage-Labour main purpose of physical object there must they fluctuate according to identical commodities are and Capital, production. Capitalism is be some useful property, the relationship of supply produced under different Karl Marx unique in that most articles which is needed or wanted and demand - when demand conditions by workers of are produced for the by the buyer. This is outstrips supply, a equal skill and experience, A Short purpose of exchange. referred to as the “use- commodity becomes worth one using traditional Course of Commodity production is value” of the commodity, more and when supply rises methods and the other with Political the dominant form of €.g., a coat has a use-value above demand, a commodity the aid of modern Economy, production under as it can be worn to keep becomes worth less. It is technology, expending half as L. Leontyev capitalism. out the cold. A use-value is argued that the worth of a much labour in the (Chapter 3) As with any other science, a distinct property of the commodity in terms of production of his/her in order to study object, which is linked to other commodities — its commodity? Initially both Political commodity production the physical nature of the exchange-value — is to be commodities will have Economy, dialectically, we must begin object itself. found here. Although this different prices, but these will John Eaton by studying its smallest self- To be exchanged, any theory explains short-term be quickly equalised as (Chapter 2) contained unit - the commodity must have a fluctuations in exchange buyers go for the cheaper Capital, Karl commodity. use-value. Yet use-value is value, it cannot explain the commodity and the seller of Marx (Volume The commodity-form of not the only value-property underlying value, which the more expensive I, Chapter 1) the product of labour - or of the commodity. Any causes these fluctuations. If commodity is forced to the value-form of the study of capitalism will show these could be explained reduce the price by the laws commodity — is the that commodities are not purely in terms of supply of supply and demand. Here economic cell-form. To the exchanged in accidental and demand then during a is the socially necessary superficial observer, the proportions. A certain mild food shortage for labour needed to produce a analysis of these forms amount (x) of commodity A example, the price of a loaf commodity and it is upon seems to turn upon (under certain social and of bread would rise above this that its value is based. occasionally his jokes serve is not going to be a player in to tone down the message; 2004). to let the non-committed And this is getting towards reader chuckle his/her way the root problem of past the stark facts rather celebrity lefties. Moore, who than ramming the point seems willing and able to home like the best political serve the left not just as a humour. This book slips voice, but also as an slightly further down that organizer, remains an path than Moore’s earlier individual whose political work. The satire and the clout comes from the fact reviews political urgency, which in that his books sell and TV Nation often worked people watch his films. brilliantly together, here sit Dude, Where’s My slightly uneasily and can feel Country? is published and a bit forced. The danger is distributed in the US not by that the jokey form (full of the mass movement but by CAPITAL LETTERS and Warner Books, exclamation marks!) will let Incorporated. In Britain, the some readers think, “Ah, hardback sells for the but it’s not really that ludicrous price of £17.99. desperate, it’s just Mike Moore's celebrity may be Moore cranking things up to dedicated to building a mass get a laugh”. Dude, Where’s left movement, but it is My Country? only achieves generated and maintained in in patches the genuine “Oh- the capitalist media my-god-how-does-anyone- marketplace. let-this-go-on-happening” Dude, Where’s My outrage triggered by his film Country? is much more than Bowling for Columbine. a bunch of Bush gags topped Ed Griffiths reviews The aim of the book is to off with some guidelines on rally what Moore correctly tactical voting and engaging Michael Moore’s new book identifies as a potential left the electorate. It is a Dude, Where’s My Country? majority in the US ahead of scrupulously researched the 2004 presidential exposé of the corporate the best of the election. He focuses on clique, which is running the what could be called the US. And it’s thoroughly celebrity lefties left’s ‘minimum programme’ worth reading — if only for — to build up a strong the genuinely brilliant enough mass movement at account of ‘Dead Peasants he celebrity leftie is a (TV Nation was first the grass roots to defeat Insurance’ - what companies strange breed. Mark screened in Britain, because ‘president’ Bush. Moore is actually call it when they Steel, George no US network would carry casual about who the left’s take out life insurance for Monbiot, Mark Thomas - it) before reaching the candidate is to be, touting their workers and name they're everywhere - some major success he now the Democrats’ Howard themselves as the beneficiary of them talk more sense, enjoys. He takes on Dean and Dennis Kucinich, (so the company cashes in some of them talk less. questions of war and peace, the butcher of Yugoslavia when the worker dies and Michael Moore’s new book gun control and healthcare General Wesley Clark, his the relatives don’t get a Dude, Where’s My with a common sense, fellow celebs Oprah penny). There are plenty Country? is about the best regular-working-guy Winfrey and Tom Hanks, more facts like that in this of them. His work in approach in the tradition of and a host of others. This book, set out with a punchy television (TV Nation and stand-up comedy. He is probably stems from an conviction that working other series), books probably the most unspoken confidence that people have the power to (Downsize This! and Stupid combative public voice the the kind of mass movement get together and change White Men) and film US left has, and he goes he is calling for would be things. “Well, the revolution (including the Oscar-winning some way towards able to keep any nominally is at hand and let’s hope all documentary Bowling for countering the ranting ‘left’ president honest. He those uninsured commies Columbine) has combined bigotry of the far-right talk could be right (this give the rich such a brilliant humour with searing radio hosts. incidentally represents a headache that a whole attacks on the capitalist But even the best of the dramatic tactical swerve by bottle of Advil won’t be system and its celebrity lefties inherits Moore: he frankly admits enough to take away the consequences. Born in some of the weaknesses of that the US Green Party, to pain.” Michigan, Moore risked the tribe. Moore can be which he has previously Michael Moore really is the censorship and vilification very funny, but just offered his time and money, best of the celebrity lefties.

@¥communist review »@ Theory and Discussion Journal of the Communist Party

The new Spring 2004 issue of communist review is out. Roger McKenzie looks at the inspiration for black caucuses in Britain’s labour movement. The editorial by Mary Davis examines New Labour, trade unions and extra parliamentary struggle while Mike Squires reviews Communist Party electoral tactics since the party’s foundation to today. John Foster debates surplus value and suplus labour while Nick Wright analyses the anti-war movement and Cuban communist Jose Ramon Balaguer Cabera discusses left alliance strategies. Reviews cover a history of the Woodcraft Folk ‘fashioning a New world’ by Mary Davis and Andrew Murray’s ‘A New Labour Nightmare- the return of the awkward squad’. The issue includes Ken Sprague’s brilliant illustrations. COMMUNIST REVIEW is now available at * Bookmarks | Bloomsbury Street, London WCIB 3QE * Politicos Bookstore 8 Artillery Row SWI * Housemans Bookshop 6 Caledonian Road Kings Cross NWI * Unity Books 72 Waterloo Road Glasgow G2 %* Rebecca Books 82 Habershon Street, Splott Cardiff,

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