A paper of Marxist polemic and Marxist unity

Limits: exploring the good, n Letters and debate n Brexit Party Ltd the bad and the ugly sides n Peterborough election of green political thinking n ‘Four futures’ review No 1255 June 13 2019 Towards a Communist Party of the European Union £1/€1.10 Peter Taaffe gets ready to split his oil-slick international weekly 2 June 13 2019 1255 worker LETTERS

was: “There may be a spectrum Letters may have been ‘nations’, respectively.) be longer. 2019, this means a minimum wage shortened because of Tony evidently falls into the quite somewhere” - which, I would suggest, 2. The accumulation of debt - for of at least £500 a week alongside space. Some names common confusion between nation is a lesser claim (Letters, May 30). example, as a result of third-party benefits of at least that amount  may have been changed and nationality. A nation is a human Richard also suggests that I, among deductions to benefits or taking out for those unable to work through group that shares certain objective others, “believe that gender should an advance payment at the start of the unemployment, sickness, disability or attributes; but it need not have a state somehow be policed” and in my case claim. caring responsibilities. Hebrew nation of its own (eg, the Kurdish nation). by means of my “magic eye that can 3. Sanctions, which are applied at a John Smithee Comrade Tony Greenstein’s article, Also, several nations can exist in one accurately ‘spot a woman or a man in higher rate under universal credit than Cambridgeshire ‘Zionism’s political crisis’ (June 6), state (eg Walloons and Flemings in the street’ (how would he know for the system it replaces. contains the following remarkable Belgium, Hebrews and Palestinian sure?)” On May 22 the committee heard Symbolic paragraph: Arabs in Israel). What’s that got to do with witnesses from charities helping What next? Now the Vatican is “According to the Pew Research Nationality, in contrast, always policing? Never mind ‘How would he women involved in prostitution promoting an alteration in the Report - Israel’s religiously divided refers to a particular state; it is a legal know?’ - what about ‘Why would he and on the same day published 17 wording of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus’s society - 46% of Israeli Jews see relationship between individuals and care?’ If we are in, for instance, a busy written submissions from these seven reported recommendation of what themselves as Jewish first and 35% a state. By international convention, town centre, we might see hundreds charities and others. The English Christians should ask for from the as Israeli first. This incidentally is the in a passport issued by a state the of people in a short time. In so far as Collective of Prostitutes explained in deity. This can be found in two of the answer to those who say that Israeli rubric Nationality/Nationalité is used we take an interest, we could identify its written submission: “Of the 72,800 gospels - Matthew vi,13 and Luke Jews form a separate nation, because, to specify the citizenship status of people as male or female, tall or short, sex workers in the UK 88% are xi,2 - which the Anglican ‘authorised according to Zionist ideology, Israel is the bearer. All citizens of a state are fat or thin, young or old, of assorted women. Prostitution has always been version’ gives as “Lead us not into a state of all Jews, not simply those its nationals (see Wikipedia under colours and so on. And that without connected to women’s poverty - that’s temptation”. who reside in Israel. It appears that ‘Nationality’). Thus there is no making any moral or other judgement why most clients are men and most Pope Francis prefers “Do not let Israeli Jews by a significant majority Kurdish nationality, because there about them whatsoever. If we are sex workers are women. Research us fall into temptation” - a change support this position. Furthermore is no Kurdish state: the Kurdish romantically interested in a person, shows that 86% of austerity cuts have approved last month by the Episcopal 22% of Israeli Jews see being Jewish nation is split between several non- then almost nobody, I suggest, would fallen on women. As poverty rises, Conference of Italy. Apparently the as a matter of religion, compared to Kurdish states. But there is a Belgian wonder if they were in transition single mothers (including those with problem with the standard version is 55% who see it as a matter of ancestry, nationality, shared by Walloon and of gender, etc. A more interesting disabilities or caring responsibilities), that it suggests that it is the Almighty with a further 23% citing both factors. Fleming citizens of Belgium: two question would be whether they are turn to sex work to survive and who tempts, rather than that being What this suggests is that the Jewish nations, but one nationality. And - available or not. feed their families. In some cities the work of the devil. The move settler population of Israel cannot contrary to Tony’s mistaken assertion In the late 60s/early 70s I, like massive increases in prostitution are has annoyed some traditionalist agree on how it defines itself.” - Israel is no exception in this respect: many of my contemporaries, had hair being directly attributed to benefit Catholics (eg, Philip Lawler, editor What Tony says here about there is an Israeli nationality, which is reaching below my shoulders. I could sanctions.” of a conservative website, Catholic Zionist ideology is quite true; and it listed as such in the passport carried walk into a bar and be confronted by Many single mothers who turn to World News) on the grounds that the is also true that most Hebrews (aka by an Israeli citizen of any ethnicity. a sea of hair and denim. Through the street prostitution, either for the first changed wording misleads people Israeli Jews) have been successfully In the Hebrew text of the passport this clouds of smoke, and often something time or after a gap of several years, and is not a correct translation of the indoctrinated in this, the official rubric is correctly rendered as ezrahut more exotic, I could spot who I was do not have a computer or a smart original Greek (What Jesus said in his ideology of the Israeli state. But one (citizenship), not as le’om (nation). going to meet or sometimes someone phone, which are needed to access original Aramaic has not survived in tenet of Zionist ideology - denial of For a more detailed refutation I would like to meet. Occasionally universal credit. Street prostitution is written form). the existence of a distinct Hebrew of Tony’s position, see my article, it might have been difficult to a last resort for women. The minimum On this last point the traditionalists nation - is supported also ... by Tony ‘Palestine and Hebrew self- distinguish between a man and a five-week wait without any money for are right, as the Greek in both gospels himself! Apparently, he denies the determination’, Weekly Worker January woman, from the back - because of new claimants of universal credit is runs: “Me eisenengkes hemas eis existence of this nation because that 12 2017. the hair. Elderly comedians used to causing many single mothers to work peirasmon” - literally “Do not bring us is what Zionist ideology alleges and Moshé Machover get a great deal of pleasure from the in brothels. One Nottingham brothel into temptation”. It may be observed, what those conditioned by this false London potential confusion, but mostly you has seen a rapid turnover of staff, as however, that all the verbs here are ideology think. He ignores the usual could just tell. That wasn’t policing: it a result of single mothers working active ones. “Let us fall” is admittedly objective criteria for nationhood Confused was just observation. there, including those waiting for UC not such a strong expression as “lead” (inhabiting a definite territory, I read Emma Silva’s reply (June 6) If your identification turned out to be paid. or “bring”, but the Heavenly Father possessing a common language and to my letter of May 23 and I am glad to be an error, then so be it; again, What can be done about UC and is by no means entirely removed culture, having a common economy, she didn’t agree with Nicola Daniels’ no need to “make a big song and ‘survival sex’? According to the from the picture. Yet, curiously, etc), according to which this nation opinions on transwomen (May 16). dance” about it. As I indicated in my English Collective of Prostitutes, the standard Irish translation of the clearly does exist. It is indeed one of I fear it is Emma and not me that is last letter, everyone “is entitled to the UC must be scrapped and tackling phrase is exactly that proposed by the several settler nations that were formed taking ‘safe spaces’ out of context. same respect and empathy as anybody poverty must be a priority - there Pope - “Na lig sinn i gcathu”: ie, ‘Do in all colonised territories where the Whilst I agree that women else” - except, of course, people like must be support for mothers and a not allow us to fall’. This must have colonisers’ political economy did not experience problems under capitalism Trump, Bolsonaro, Duterte, Salvini, living wage. Sex workers’ safety is come from somewhere - perhaps Irish depend on the labour-power of the at the hands of men, you cannot contenders for the leadership of the paramount, so prostitution must be correspondents can explain. indigenous people. separate these problems from the Conservative Party and others, who decriminalised. In any case, the change proposed By the way, Zionist ideology has context of the class-divided society probably would want to make a big Communists would go further. We is highly symbolic, like the dreaded fabricated not one, but at least two in which they occur. For socialists song and dance about it. must use the slogan of the Communist ‘backstop’ in the current Brexit drama. ‘nations’ from what in reality are to focus on the problems of one Jim Cook Party of Great Britain in the 1930s: Chris Gray religious denominations. In addition particular section of the working Reading “Work or full maintenance”. In London to the fictitious worldwide Jewish class, to the exclusion of the rest, is ‘nation’, there is the Druze community counterproductive and will do nothing Identity in Israel, whom Israel utilises to to build solidarity within the working I am a woman born to Australian divide and rule its Arab national class as a whole. Aboriginal and Inuit parents in Fighting fund minority. The Druze are in reality Surely the answer is to get men Scandinavia in the 7th century Arabs, differing from other members more, not less, involved in solving BCE, and was brought up there as of the Arab nation by religion only. In women’s problems? Sorry to say that a Theravada Buddhist. I am also a Israel alone they are designated as a ‘safe spaces’ are just a regressive step native speaker of Sumerian. I was More than distinct ‘nation’, and are granted some and by ignoring the class element are born with ginger hair, a roughly far- of the privileges bestowed on Jews. ultimately doomed to failure. I’m not eastern skin colouring, a penis and Many of them accept this false, but going to get into the further failings testes (all of which I still have), and refreshing relatively advantageous, designation; of safe spaces, such as, where do am (usually) sexually attracted to men presumably, Tony would also accept you create a safe space for women of roughly Turkic appearance who ride of place amongst our other two cheques were from CT it, because they themselves support in Syria? Or Palestine? Do wealthy have breasts, a vagina and a clitoris. P fighting fund donors this week (£30) and RD (£20). this position. women need safe spaces? Do men Anyone who questions any of this goes to GB, who made a bank There were also two PayPal Tony compounds his philosophical who suffer from male sexual violence is guilty of one or several of a range transfer of £78. An odd amount, you gifts from MM (£10) and DB (£7). idealism by the following misleading need them too? of hate crimes and should be excluded might think, but, of course, it exactly MM tells us his tenner was “to help statement: If Emma is so convinced these from the labour movement. matches last month’s deficit! clear the deficit” and adds: “Hope “This is reflected in Israeli identity are the way forward, then maybe she Sean Thurlough The comrade writes: “I really the target is exceeded” this month. cards, in which both religion and should invite women from the British email appreciate the high quality of By the way, that contribution nationality are categorised as Jewish. National Party, English Defence the journalism” in the Weekly comes on top of MM’s regular Indeed an individual can refuse to League, the Brexit Party, etc to join Sex workers Worker. While he finds the “lack of standing order - for no less than include Jewish as religion and simply with other women in shelters or Professor Philip Alston, in his UN ideological honesty” in mainstream £75 a month. opt for it as their nationality. What ‘hang-outs’ and see if she can build report on extreme poverty in the politics “hardly surprising”, it is Talking of standing order they cannot do is put down ‘Israeli’ solidarity with them there. I mean, UK, described meeting people who “more than refreshing” that in our payments, five of them were as their nationality - there is no such you wouldn’t want to miss out on the “depend on food banks and charities paper he can “read material that received this week - thanks go to NH category! In that sense Israel is unique struggles, concerns and perspectives for the next meal; who are sleeping begins its articulation from an (£30), GD and DV (£25 each), LM - a state that does not have its own that are lost in their movements on friends’ couches because they are intelligent place, and stays there”. (£15) and SM (£10). All that means nationality.” because of men taking up their spaces homeless and don’t have a safe place Your words are just as much the running total has increased This is a farrago of factual errors would you? for their children to sleep; who have appreciated as your donation, by £290 over the last seven days, and confusions. First, Israeli ID cards I wouldn’t invite them to self- sold sex for money or shelter [or comrade. taking it to £682. However, we’re never had a religion rubric. Many defence classes though. Not because I food]”. Another who responded to my still lagging a little behind the going years ago they did have the rubric plan to attack far-right women - I just On March 19 the parliamentary plea last week in the same way rate if we want to make our £2,000 nation (in Hebrew: le’om), but since don’t want them using the skills they work and pensions select committee was comrade JS, whose bank target. Any more offers? l 2002 this is no longer the case. The ID would learn there on others. launched an inquiry into the transfer was for £25, while we also Robbie Rix card does state the bearer’s citizenship: Steven Johnston possible link between the roll-out of received three cheques. PJ’s £25 Israeli. (It is, however, true that in the universal credit and ‘survival sex’. came in response to the appeal I Fill in a standing order form Israeli population registry Hebrew Song and dance The committee has identified three made in April for new (or increased) (back page), donate via our and Druze individuals are falsely Richard Farnos asserts in his June possible links: standing orders. Well, his £25 was a website, or send cheques, listed as belonging to the worldwide 6 letter that I wrote that “gender is 1. The wait for a first payment, which one-off, but you never know … The payable to Weekly Worker Jewish and the uniquely local Druze a spectrum”. What I actually wrote is a minimum of five weeks, but can BCM Box 928, London WC1N 3XX l 07903 054393 l www.weeklyworker.co.uk l [email protected] weekly worker 1255 June 13 2019 3 BREXIT

London Communist Forum Sunday June 16, 5pm: Weekly political report from CPGB New type of party Provisional Central Committee, followed by open discussion and reading group: study of August Nimtz’s Lenin’s electoral strategy Genuine democracy means collective decision-making and from 1907 to the October Revolution of 1917. This meeting: chapter 3 (continued): ‘Not a parliamentary republic’. accountability, argues Peter Manson Calthorpe Arms, 252 Grays Inn Road, London WC1. Organised by CPGB: www.cpgb.org.uk and t goes without saying that Nigel street-fighters like Robinson, was not Liz Bilney, who was a Ukip advisor under Labour Party Marxists: www.labourpartymarxists.org.uk. Farage’s Brexit Party had serious to the liking of Farage, who was now Farage and part of his 2016 referendum Radical Anthropology Group Ihopes of winning its first MP in looking for a different organisation in campaign team. She explains: “We’ve Tuesday June 18, 6.30pm: Series of talks on social and biological the June 6 Peterborough by-election. which to turn his dreams of a ‘new type taken learnings from business, because if anthropology, Daryll Forde seminar room, Anthropology Building, 14 Following its triumph in the May 23 of party’ into reality. The Brexit Party you look at insurance, you want people Taviton Street, off Gordon Square, London WC1. European Union elections, expectations was registered in November 2018, but to renew their policies.” In other words, This meeting: ‘Christianity in anthropological perspective’. Speaker: were high, but in the event Labour’s was not formally launched until April 12 ‘consultation’ is structured entirely in the Chris Knight. Lisa Forbes narrowly saw off the Brexit 2019 - by any standards its Peterborough interests of those at the top. Organised by Radical Anthropology Group: Party’s Mike Greene. result less than two months later was no And last month Farage himself freely http://radicalanthropologygroup.org. Greene is a millionaire businessman, mean achievement. admitted the actual reality: “We’re Stop the London arms fair who had previously described himself running a company, not a political party, Events organised by Campaign Against Arms Trade. as a “lifelong Conservative”, and Digital hence our model of registered supporters, Saturday June 15, 12.30pm: Network organising meeting, St Hilda’s had seemed the favourite to take What exactly does Farage mean by a and the fact that the chairman, Richard East Community Centre, 8 Club Row, London E2. Planning the Peterborough. But his 9,801 votes ‘new type of party’? Well, much was Tice, and I are not afraid to make mobilisation against the global arms trade in London in September. (29%) left him just 683 behind Forbes, revealed in an article published by The decisions.”2 No doubt such a mentality 1 www.facebook.com/events/432514417493720. who scored 10,484 (31%). However, Guardian on May 21. This discusses his will remain after the Brexit Party has Saturday June 22, 11am: Training session, Bridge 5 Mill, 22a while Labour’s vote dropped from 48% fascination with the Italian right-populist established a national structure. Beswick Street, Manchester M4. Skill up to stop the DSEI arms fair. in the 2017 general election, the Tories’ Five Star Movement (M5S) - Five Star is Of course, mainstream political www.facebook.com/events/591596081307911. result was far worse: its share more than the largest party in the Italian parliament parties are often far from democratic halved, slumping to 7,243 (21%) - down and governs in an alliance with the far- - the Tories themselves being a prime Bargain books from 46% in 2017. right Lega. example. Their ‘conferences’ are in Saturday June 15, 11am: Book sale, Marx Memorial Library, Peterborough was, of course, Back in 2014, Ukip - when Farage reality no more than extended rallies, 37a Clerkenwell Green, London EC1. previously a marginal seat, which was still at the helm, obviously - formed where their leaders hope to gain large- Organised by Marx Memorial Library: Labour’s Fiona Onasanya won from a new, anti-establishment bloc with M5S scale publicity. www.facebook.com/events/318713752161574. the Conservatives in 2017, but she was in the European parliament and in 2015 Justice for Grenfell removed by a recall petition after being he went to Milan to meet Gianroberto Momentum Saturday June 15, 12 noon: March. Assemble Downing Street, jailed for lying about a speeding offence. Casaleggio - described by The Guardian But is that how we in the workers’ London SW1. Solidarity with the victims of the fire two years on. Furthermore, the constituency had a as “the genius behind Five Star”. Farage, movement want to conduct our affairs? Demand justice and action now. large pro-Brexit majority in the 2016 EU like Casaleggio, was interested in so- Well, if you are Jon Lansman, the answer Organised by Justice4Grenfell: referendum, so it seemed fertile ground called “direct democracy” - ie, asking seems to be ‘yes’. www.facebook.com/events/581265065709901. for Farage. party members their views on particular Ironically, Lansman is a pretty close Miners’ strike 35th anniversary However, while victory was denied, policies before a final decision is made. equivalent of Farage - he is the registered Saturday June 15, 1pm: Rally, Orgreave Lane, Sheffield S13. Demand this is by no means the end of the There’s nothing wrong with that, owner of Momentum. And, just like truth and justice for miners brutalised by police at Orgreave in 1984. Brexit Party’s chances. In the current you might say, but the big problem lies the Brexit Party leader, he makes a big Speakers include Matt Wrack (FBU) and Steve Hedley (RMT). situation, with the Tories in crisis in the method of such ‘consultation’. show of consulting isolated, individual Organised by Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign: over their inability to deliver an EU What usually happens is that the members via the internet. Typical is www.facebook.com/events/2016964828402260. withdrawal, we should expect Farage to leadership draws up proposals and then the latest ‘consultation’ on changes that continue to benefit. Of course, should invites individual members to give their Momentum’s leading committee, the The past in the present a certain Boris Johnson win the Tory opinions online. In other words, a form national coordinating group (NCG), Three new Palestinian short films followed by discussion with directors. leadership contest and call a general of referendum, whereby the question wishes to implement. Monday June 17, 7.50pm: Safra Lecture Theatre, Kings College, The election on the basis of promising, if asked is decided in advance through According to the email circulated Strand, London WC2. necessary, a no-deal Brexit, that would “turning everything over to the internet”. by the NCG, the proposals have been Saturday June 22, 5pm: Showroom Cinema, 15 Paternoster Row, certainly pull the ground from under According to The Guardian, Farage “sent to the most engaged members” Sheffield S1. Farage’s feet. Nevertheless, there are wanted to bring “Five Star’s style of only - how do they decide that one, I Monday June 24, 5.50pm: Home Cinema, Tony Wilson Place, all sorts of possibilities, and the Brexit digital democracy to the UK”. wonder? However, it is clear that, after Manchester M15. Party is - for now - a serious player. This is the exact opposite of genuine such “engaged” members have given Organised by Cinema Palestino: www.facebook.com/CinemaPalestino. But what sort of party is it? As we democracy, which is based on collective their views, the NCG will interpret them No Tory cuts under a Labour mayor know, like the UK Independence Party, decision-making. That implies thorough as it sees fit and simply go ahead with the Thursday June 20, 10am: Protest outside City Hall, Queen’s Walk, it is based on rightwing nationalism. discussion at meetings of a particular original changes. London SE1. Defend safety on the tube. Stop the cuts. Justice for But Farage - together with much of the group of members, where the issues are The NCG intends to implement the cleaners. Bring all TfL contracts in-house. leadership and most of its 24 MEPs - debated in a structured manner, allowing following organisational measures: Organised by RMT: http://bit.ly/2Wx2RXg. quit Ukip in protest at the turn to the an informed decision to be taken. And, of  Increase the number of Momentum’s Definitions of socialism extreme right under the leadership of course, individual members and groups regions, thus modifying the existing Thursday June 20, 6pm to 8pm: Study session, Jack Jones House, Gerard Batten, who appointed Tommy of members must be empowered to draw structure and presumably appointing 2 Churchill Way, Liverpool L3. Robinson as an advisor on ‘prisons’ and up their own proposals for debate. new regional officers. Organised by Merseyside Socialist Theory Study Group: ‘child grooming’. In reality Robinson’s This paper has stated its opposition  As a result, increase the number of [email protected]. ‘expertise’ was Islamophobia - Ukip to referenda on numerous occasions: directly elected NCG members from 12 now calls for separate prisons for it is entirely up to those at the top to to 20. Arise - Labour left  Friday June 21 and Saturday June 22: Festivals, central London, Muslims and accuses the establishment decide on the question posed - and, of Hold such elections for the NCG via various venues. Over 20 sessions with prominent labour movement of covering up child abuse, alleging that course, to interpret the exact meaning the internet every two years instead of speakers. Tickets from £5 to £18. much of it is carried out by Muslims. of the answer. With the EU referendum, annually. Organised by Labour Assembly Against Austerity: This extreme Islamophobia, for example, what did ‘leave’ actually According to the NCC, annual voting www.facebook.com/events/2292650817431675. combined with a tolerance of fascist mean? A continued customs union plus means that single market, no deal on World Trade Youth Strike 4 Climate Inspired by Italy’s Organisation terms or something in … a relatively high level of Friday June 21, 11am: UK-wide (and global) student and school Five Star between? resources are diverted into student demonstrations. Take direct action on the climate crisis and But with M5S - and, Farage hopes, running elections rather than other ecological catastrophe - system change, not climate change! the Brexit Party - things are made activities. Annual elections also Organised by UK Student Climate Network: even worse by the employment of undermine the NCG members’ www.facebook.com/UKSCN/events. the internet to ‘consult’ isolated, effectiveness and ability to build Palestine: the next generation individual members. This is relationships with grassroots Saturday June 22, 9am to 5pm: Conference, Resource for London, accurately described in The activists, because it takes time for 356 Holloway Road, London N7. Organising young people to become Guardian as “a new form of new representatives to develop the involved in Palestine solidarity activism. Tickets £7.50 (members £5). populism, in which demagogues capacity to serve effectively on the Organised by Palestine Solidarity Campaign: use digital tools and corporate NCG.3 www.facebook.com/events/325615014815876. structures to direct mass movements” Derby Silk Mill Rally (my emphasis). So there you have it. Using this facade Saturday June 22, 10am to 4.30pm: March, rally and festival. And there is another similarity of ‘digital democracy’, Lansman intends Assemble Market Place, Derby DE1 and march to Cathedral Green. between the Brexit Party and M5S. to reduce even further any trace of Celebrate Derby’s historic general strike of 1833-34. The latter is a “private company owned accountability. Organised by Derby Silk Mill Rally: by Casaleggio”. The article states: I wonder if he was in Milan with www.facebook.com/events/232199550654799. “Five Star was in many ways less like Farage? l a political party than a publicly traded Marxism festival 2019 company - in which members were [email protected] Thursday July 4 to Sunday July 7: Summer school, People’s Palace, voting shareholders, but Casaleggio had Queen Mary University, Mile End Road, London E1. Over 100 the controlling stake”. What is more, sessions. Tickets from £20 (£10). Notes Organised by the Socialist Workers Party: https://marxismfestival.org.uk. “Similarly to how Five Star is structured, 1. ‘Building the Brexit Party: how Nigel Farage the Brexit Party is a registered copied Italy’s digital populists’: www.theguardian. CPGB wills company striving to look like a com/politics/2019/may/21/brexit-party-nigel- Remember the CPGB and keep the struggle going. Put our party’s name farage-italy-digital-populists-five-star-movement. and address, together with the amount you wish to leave, in your will. web-based mass movement - 2. The Daily Telegraph May 12. but it is controlled from the 3. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ey8NiD If you need further help, do not hesitate to contact us. top by Farage.” zdzwjLrWoJhuNVWaXJ7S8fnWK3NxiyjTDbR The Guardian quotes Mw/edit. weekly 4 June 13 2019 1255 worker CWI Fiasco nears conclusion Peter Taaffe’s split-mongering shows that loyalty to him is the yardstick of orthodoxy in his ‘international’, argues Paul Demarty

s the crisis in the Committee for a When we last picked up the story,1 The comrades concerned, in Izquierda things are quite a bit more eclectic at the Workers’ International draws on, the latest document to emerge seemed Revolucionaria, the Spanish section - base of SS than the leadership, so this we are reminded - of all things - to proclaim (from the IS’s point of view) The crisis in the sorry! the section in ‘the Spanish state’ may be an indication of more serious Aof the classic spy spoof, Austin Powers: the split concluded, on the basis that Committee for a - were relatively recent arrivals, having ructions among ‘the youth’. international man of mystery. the IEC majority - snidely called the Workers’ International only joined up in 2017, along with their A few days later, one more document Readers of a certain age will recall ‘non-faction faction’ in these documents co-thinkers in Venezuela and Mexico. was leaked. Very much along the lines of a particular scene, wherein Powers - dared to demand a meeting of that is reminiscent of the The sudden absence of the ‘Spanish- the Saunois draft, and written on behalf of and his companion find themselves august body in a few months time. For classic spy spoof, Austin state’ contingent from matters, and the the IS, it rejects the opposition’s demands behind the wheel of an out-of-control the IS comrades, this was an attempt at a Powers: international probable following-suit of Venezuela- for a meeting of the IEC, accuses them steamroller, which creeps towards a palace coup. Time is sometimes unkind state and Mexico-state (along with of dishonesty and hypocrisy, and further hapless henchman of Dr Evil at a glacial to weekly papers, and so we learned man of mystery. Powers the Portuguese, who are unconnected accuses them of financially preparing pace. The henchman can only stand there a couple of days later that this was, in and his companion find to the latter three, so far as I know) - for a split by withholding dues in some screaming, for minutes on end, until the fact, a leak of a leak: the IS majority’s themselves behind leaves Taaffe yet further denuded of sections. It concludes: inevitable happens, and he is squished faction, whose official name is too long office-holders he can ill do without, as into strawberry jam. and pompous to be worth typing, had the wheel of an out- he attempts, against all appearances, to An international meeting of the The CWI - the spectral emanation of apparently commissioned hapless Taaffe of-control steamroller, present himself as the voice of the ‘silent faction has been convened by the the Socialist Party in England and Wales, loyalist Tony Saunois to draft a letter which creeps towards majority’. IS majority for July 22-25 with the and its great helmsman, Peter Taaffe - along those lines, and he had managed a hapless henchman of Silent indeed is that majority, sponsorship of the English and Welsh divided sharply down the middle a little to send it to the wrong email list that according to the NFF, in its most and Scottish sections, with the support over six months ago; the final showdown included members of the other side. Dr Evil at a glacial pace. substantial factional document (surely of the German NC and others, to was scheduled for next January. Nothing In doing so, he had merely made The henchman can only even they must acknowledge, now, that debate all of these issues and decide that has happened since has suggested explicit what we all already knew and has stand there screaming, they are a faction). on the next steps to go forward and that the split will not happen more or less only become clearer since: his faction is build the CWI, on the basis of the as advertised, and - as we shall see - we determined to force through a split, and for minutes on end, until The [Taaffe] faction is losing the Trotskyist methods and principles it are unlikely to have to wait until January; is merely awaiting its moment. We are the inevitable happens, debate not only on a leadership was founded on in 1974.3 but still we must wait patiently indeed for not aware of any document that attempts and he is squished into level, but throughout the ranks of the the pay-off, primarily because the side to, as the idiom has it, style it out. The CWI. It is an established fact that, The situation we face, then, is thus: keenest to get things over and done with reality - the Taaffe faction was so eager strawberry jam. despite enjoying every democratic firstly, the steamroller is approaching. is having such a dreadful time of it. to be rid of its troublesome political opportunity, up until now, literally We are moving towards a split, more and The whole situation kicked off, majority that it prematurely declared only one member of any section of more with every cunning plan of Taaffe for latecomers, when the CWI’s Irish the split complete - is somehow brushed the CWI, at any level, outside of those and his lieutenants. Indeed, with the loss section, also called the Socialist Party, over in total silence, like a particularly [with leading faction supporters on of Izquierda Revolucionaria, he is rather came in for a tongue-lashing from the ripe elevator fart, despite the protests of the IEC], has declared their support short of allies, and particularly among the London-dominated international day- its opponents. for the faction.2 larger sections of the CWI other than his to-day leadership (the International What some more recent leaks reveal own (in the United States, for example). Secretariat, or IS) for its deviation from - here we must note that they almost all Paradoxically, this drives Taaffe and co Trotskyist norms - or else worrying signs seem to come from supporters of the Steamroller even further in that direction. If he were of independent thought, depending on non-faction faction (NFF) - is quite how Things are hardly rosy on the home front, to back down, his leadership would which side you take. This is all par for badly Taaffe’s blood quest is actually for that matter. A vote on the correctness plainly be in question. the course for oil-slick internationals going. There is, first of all, the small of the Taaffeites’ line in regard to all this The leaked Saunois letter already of this type; so ham-fisted was the matter that the CWI section initially most drama succeeded in getting only 75% at effectively identified the Taaffe faction IS offensive, however, that it lost the sympathetic to the IS majority outside a SPEW congress, with 20% opposed as the only legitimate leadership, to support of the larger body to which it is of Britain (sorry! ‘England and Wales’ and 5% abstaining. This is not nothing. the point that any attempt to replace in theory accountable, the International - and England and Wales’s handful Meanwhile, among the most recently the leadership was ipso facto an act of Executive Committee (IEC). As is also of remaining cronies in Scotland) has leaked documents is a contribution such treason that those who attempted it par for the course, everything is being flounced out of the Taaffe faction, and from two leading members of the automatically placed themselves outside done officially in secret, but leaking like then onwards to greener pastures outside student caucus, Socialist Students - from the organisation. Given the approach an old blow-up mattress. the CWI altogether. Whoops! personal experience, I am quite sure that already taken, the only possible endings weekly worker 1255 June 13 2019 5

to this dispute are the resignation of the the NFF comrades argue at some length current Greatcontext, surely, is the slightly undermined by SPEW’s failure IS majority en masse or the bureaucratic that the failures of the last period must be understanding - however elemental, to recommend any electoral policy of expulsion of the international majority. taken into account: and in whatever words get through - any kind whatsoever in those elections. The virtue of humility being entirely that society is systematically organised We wondered at the time whether the foreign to Taaffe, things are going the The trade union leaderships and the to allow the world to be destroyed, and CWI crisis and the bizarre silence - not way they are going; and by July 25 a leadership of the left, both ‘old’ and thus that social and political revolution is even a call for boycott - on the English parting of the ways is all but inevitable. ‘new’, failed completely to provide necessary to prevent it. polls might be connected, and it seems The result may be something a way out for the struggling masses. It is not clear whether the NFF more likely now, given that a call for a like the 1953 split in the original As a result, a whole series of new comrades will be sucked into that dead Labour vote could result in accusations Fourth International (barring the truly movements are developing, not only end, but the political development of of rightism, while a boycott could be ectopic claimants to that name prior to outside the control of the ‘traditional most splits in the recent history of the interpreted as sectarianism. Better to do 1938), whereby the largest and most organisations’, but often in complete far left do not exactly swell the heart nothing whatsoever than to look bad prestigious section (in 1953, the US hostility to the traditional leaderships. with confidence, and nor do the attempts before your opponents. Socialist Workers Party, led by James So, for example, it is important to throughout the main NFF document to So let us get real for a moment. P Cannon at the time) realises it has note that the Yellow Vests movement massively overstate the significance of In 2001, SPEW flounced out of the lost control and manufactures a split in France developed after a more parts of the women’s movement, using Socialist Alliance - the Socialist against ‘liquidationists’, which in reality ‘classical’ trade union and youth the word ‘strike’ to describe some of Alliance, mark you - ostensibly serves to create an environment where movement challenged Macron in the its actions. This seems to me to be of a because it wanted to support rival control remains with itself, however first part of the year 2018. Despite piece with anti-Trump celebrities calling candidates of the Campaign Against emaciated its membership looks. Since a historically low level of support themselves ‘the resistance’: it is an Tube Privatisation. There’s your Taaffe retains control of the International for Macron and a huge anger and interesting phenomenon, but basically dedication to the socialist vision - far Secretariat, he remains in a good position clear will for struggle, the trade a matter of middle class protest as more important to participate in a - better than Cannon, indeed - to expel union leaderships disorganised and such, which must dip into the aesthetic single-issue protest campaign.5 In 2009, the majority, and elect another at his own abandoned the movement and the armoury of the radical left and mass SPEW did manage to participate in the leisure. immediate potential was lost … movements of the dispossessed simply European parliament elections - as part Though retrospective mythologisa- The picture is similar in relation out of its own impoverishment in this of ‘No to the EU, Yes to Democracy’ tion of the brave ‘anti-Pabloites’ who to the emergence of the women’s regard. (No2EU), which frothed a lot about split the FI back then occludes the fact, movements on a global scale and This is hardly unprecedented. national sovereignty and EU state aid it is worth stressing that it was a cynical more recently of the school students’ Among the many uses of the phrase ‘the laws, but was more or less silent on manoeuvre of exactly the moral calibre movement on climate change. something spring’ after the Arab revolts socialism. That morphed into the Trade of Taaffe’s crusade. That can be judged of 2011, there are numbered French Unionist and Socialist Coalition, which from the bare fact that the ‘Pabloite Exactly what this means for socialist mass protestors against gay marriage, ran candidates until very recently: at liquidationists’ - in spite of their severe strategy is left rather unclear. The two and a brief anaemic backlash against least the word ‘socialist’ was in its political errors - maintained an organisa- student comrades, Conor Rosoman and excessive executive remuneration by name, but its election literature gave the tion with decision-making international Tom Costello, certainly do seem to think public company shareholders. There are overwhelming and basically accurate congresses and an international press, that it means backpedalling from explicit also, in similar vein, the US-sponsored impression that this was pitched as whereas the US SWP’s international commitments to socialism. In their case, ‘colour revolutions’ in eastern Europe an anti-austerity front - cuts were the committee remained a diplomatic love- they discuss the recent youth climate- and, more distantly, the various waves issue, not sweeping expropriations and in for the leaderships of the four sections change movements, whose militants of ‘social Catholicism’ going back to revolutionary democracy. that founded it, with no formal demo- have begun to talk about anti-capitalism the late 19th century. Other phenomena So if SPEW is to be considered cratic structures and no press. (Before and ‘system change’: could be mentioned. At work here is a exemplary of “the Trotskyist methods and long, the SWP decided to reunite with confusion between the sign and the thing principles [the CWI] was founded on”, it its old enemies, having drifted closer to The call for socialist change does signified; but it is a convenient confusion must indeed be admitted that the NFF’s them politically, and the rump split into make sense in these conditions. for a left tendency trying to reach out contention that there are no life-and-death its three component parts, each led by its But exactly how we raise a socialist to elements in this milieu - why have a matters of principle at issue is abundantly own labour-dictator, over the course of programme is a bit more complicated difficult argument about the inherently correct. What is at issue is Taaffe’s the next decade and a half. The Interna- than repeating the word ‘socialism’ corrupt capitalist political system, when leadership as such. It is his way or the tional Committee brand ended up in the on our placards without any variation. people will spontaneously make the highway, even if the highway is basically his pocket of the unhinged Gerry Healy in Young school students need to hear correct judgment anyway? way - except occasionally (as in Ireland and Britain.) the case for socialism, but the vast even America) it is more successful than the Nonetheless, the Taaffe faction is majority of them (between ages Posing left ill-conceived, non-stop misadventure that is nodding towards that precedent now by 11-18) don’t necessarily have their It is this sort of formulation that Taaffe SPEW itself. using the slur of ‘Mandelite’ to describe political level raised by placards and co are banging away at, calling it a Not only is this behaviour morally its opponents - the Mandelites being that repeat this slogan. Our job is to decisive break in method and so on. Yet contemptible in itself: it is deeply the trendier successors to the perfidious introduce the word ‘socialism’ into the real scandal of this split is that it is harmful. Both sides mention the Pabloites of the 1950s. the vocabulary of movements like no such thing - it is the essence of the damage done by the weakness of the this, but that is only meaningful if we CWI method to decry as ultra-left those ‘subjective factor’ - that is, the absence Identity politics explain what is meant in practice by who dare to demand what is needed, of mass revolutionary parties - in the It is worth revisiting Taaffe’s critique the word ‘socialism’.4 rather than what a hypothetical mass disastrous course of history since the of the NFF, since we now at least have audience of backward workers will great financial crisis. That absence, to access to a semi-serious programmatic This sort of formulation is best described accept. In their document, Rosoman and be sure, is mainly to do with an earlier document on the part of the latter. as slippery. It is, of course, necessary Costello go on to note, rather brightly, historic defeat - Stalinism and its What Taaffe means by Mandelism to explain to people what socialism is. Great helmsman: Peter that “were comrades not operating in downfall - but there is no reason why is accommodation to what is now Indeed, it is quite as necessary to explain ‘faction mode’, our organisation would the remaining forces of the far left need called identity politics - the various it to self-described ‘socialists’ nowadays Taaffe and his minority have formulated our slogans slightly have been in quite such a bad state come sectional campaigns for overcoming the - what with Sanders, Corbyn and so faction look set to roll differently, given how we’re faced with a 2007. We did it to ourselves, comrades, oppression of different subaltern groups, on making leftish social democracy different audience [ie, the climate school by precisely the same mechanisms of one by one - and the concomitant charge respectable again under that name - as over the majority this strikers].” This is certainly true. cynical, barely political purges and that insufficient focus is being placed on to the total naïfs mentioned here. The July The endless demands for the splits. We taught the wider workers’ the mass organisations of the working practicalities of ‘raising the political word ‘socialism’ - and only the word, movement and progressive milieu class as such, by which is meant the trade level’, however, can slide all too easily remember, not the substantive idea of a that, whatever we say about workers’ unions. The cliché of anti-Mandelism is into lowering standards about what society ruled by the working class - to democracy and the like, we show what that the malady stemmed from middle level to get people to. Decisive in the appear on more placards and in more we are really like by the way we treat class disillusionment with the working election leaflets is a pose. It is turned our own members, especially when they class; thus we read that, in an earlier into a shibboleth of orthodoxy, because get out of line. Taaffite critique of the Irish organisation: it is convenient for factional purposes It was shown by the British SWP’s for Taaffe and co to pose left. As is response to the Martin Smith rape In our view a tendency has also rather typical of this farce of a polemical accusations; but it is equally shown by developed of some leading Irish offensive, it has gone wrong again the current CWI fiasco. The left feminists comrades seeing all struggles and again. Taaffe’s faction, as noted, or Extinction Rebellion types might through the prism of the women’s has suffered a split - of the Spanish be convinced that Marxism is a better movement, rather than seeing how it and Portuguese, and probably the fundamental basis for politics; but hardly interconnects with other struggles. Venezuelans and Mexicans - to its left; if the Marxist groups they encounter so it must, again, ‘style it out’ by now are riven with disputes - essentially Once the trade unions are on the posing as the guardian of orthodoxy about whether they remain the perpetual back-burner, socialism itself will against both right opportunism and fiefdoms of barely competent leaders surely follow, and much of the ultra-leftism. like Peter Taaffe l more tedious minutiae of the debate Meanwhile, a series of ill- between the two sides, such as it is, tempered attacks on the [email protected] concerns the matter of whether the Irish SP’s electoral word ‘socialism’ was on such and such performance in Notes a poster in America or Ireland. the recent The Taaffite critique of its European 1. ‘Taaffe demands a split’ Weekly Worker April 25. 2. https://cpgb.org.uk/assets/docs/iec_majority_ opponents is not wholly senseless, elections doc_+_signatories.pdf. and in fact a closer look at the NFF’s is only 3. https://telegra.ph/Split-in-the-CWI-is- politics reveals some justification for imminent-06-08. the idea that they are insufficiently 4. https://cpgb.org.uk/assets/docs/untitled_ attachment_00603.pdf. critical of contemporary identity 5. Jim Cannon, whom we have mentioned, used politics and overly optimistic about to say that any split had two reasons: the good the socialistic direction of travel of reason and the real reason. The real reason in this such movements. case was an unwillingness to be outvoted by the Socialist Workers Party in the SA. Nonetheless, As for the question of orientation note the political vapidity of the manufactured to the mass institutions of the class, split issue. weekly 6 June 13 2019 1255 worker GREENS

Colours, shades, limits In the second of four articles Jack Conrad explores the good, the bad and the ugly sides of green political thought ike every socially significant terms of green thought it is far from While capitalism found an early the “fight for equality”. Unfazed, the Annual income amounts to some ideological current, greenism alone - the party remains trapped life in the nooks and crannies of Green Party solemnly promises “an £300 million globally. Lucrative jobs L contains many schools of within the narrow confines of existing classical and feudal society, it is, in economy that works for everyone”.6 as professional activists are much thought, competing viewpoints, society. Basically, what it envisages is its mature form, fundamentally a Greenism as manifest self-deception. sought after. Scientists are employed rival campaigns, odd groupings and a downsized, a tamed, a domesticated global system. Having captured the In practice, the GPEW’s too. Executives vie for dominance. strange offshoots. A quick name capitalism. state - tentatively in late medieval programme amounts to tougher Meanwhile, full membership is check: Green Alliance, Population The underlying ethos is localism, Venice and Genoa, more surely in the legislating against polluting strictly limited and most local groups Matters, Bright Blue, Resurgence & not globalism. Small businesses, Dutch Republic and then decisively industries, enacting measures to concentrate on money-raising. Street Ecologist, Green Futures, Green Party mutuals, home and self-employment in Williamite England - capital used reduce plastics, championing wind begging, on a wage of about £10- of England and Wales, Greenpeace, are held up as an ideal. Meanwhile, a this salient to aggressively expand farms and solar panels, setting dates £11 an hour, has been turned into a 8 Friends of the Earth, Women’s remoulded banking system, with the outwards. Protectionism, wartime when net zero CO2 emissions will be successful commercial model. Environmental Network, Earth Royal Bank of Scotland at its core, autarchy and currency controls are, achieved, etc. So, the Green Party’s FoE is somewhat different. First, Friday for Future, Extinction provides “cheap basic” services and for capital, merely different means “big, bold ideas to create a confident For example, while in the United Rebellion, Campaign Against Climate lends “locally”.4 So banking capital is towards the same end. Capital and caring Britain”, are, in fact, Kingdom its CEO, Craig Bennett, is Change, Earth Liberation Front, reigned in, but continues. Essentially develops by overcoming closed exceedingly timid. Like their German, on a £80-90,000 salary and presides Green Anarchist, Alliance for Green the same happens with industrial markets, old habits and customs, Swedish, French, etc, colleagues, the over 500 staff members, he allows Socialism. Evidently, greenism comes capital. Hypothetically, the Green tariff barriers, competition, legal underwhelming GPEW leadership - local campaigning and initiative.9 in many shades and with not a few New Deal ends austerity, ensures that restrictions on hours, and strives for Caroline Lucas, Jonathan Bartley, Jean However, finance not only comes additional colour permutations. the economy is based on renewable universal domination. The global Lambert, Keith Taylor, Siân Berry, from membership subscriptions. Classic, foundational green energy and reskills and retrains the market becomes the global economy Jenny Jones - overwhelmingly When it comes to elitist organisations, thinkers - Rachel Carson, Ernst workforce. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the means of production are consist of realos, not fundies. They such as Greenpeace and FoE, Schumacher, Ezra Mishan, Donella champions a similar Keynesian revolutionised again and again. What would, given the chance, responsibly capitalist philanthropists - eg, Richard Meadows, Dennis Meadows, Jørgan package in the United States. once took a day to make now takes an administer, not replace, capitalism. Branson, Bill Gates and Michael Randers and Ivan Illich - had the But the programmatic limits hour. That explains why their lefter green Bloomberg - provide considerable great merit of being in the forefront are plain to see: though a “green Attempting to reverse that dynamic opponents condescendingly dub them sums and arguably set the agenda. of those who brought the question economy” would supposedly replace is both reactionary and bound to pale greens. Note, capitalism is taken as a given - of ecological degradation back to the “exploitation of people and trigger a whole series of unintended albeit once again, in the imagination, public attention, after many years resources with decent, meaningful consequences. What happens when Elites downsized and made eco-friendly. of almost total neglect.1 We are work”, in actual fact wage-slavery the Green Party’s “innovative, Moving on from the electorally Almost by definition the same goes talking about the 1960s and early remains the norm for the vast majority collaborative, forward-facing” significant GPEW, we shall have a for Zac Goldsmith and the “liberal 70s. The environmental damage of the population. Eg, despite claiming economy meets the unforgiving look at the elitist pressure groups: Conservative” Bright Blue outfit.10 caused by modern industrial society to have “big, bold ideas”, the Green real world? Leave aside sinister Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth - both western capitalism and eastern Party commits itself to a “living wage moves by the deep state and push are typical. For the price of an annual Right bureaucratic socialism - was exposed. of £10 an hour” by 2020!5 In other back by foreign powers. Chopping subscription their millions of largely Tory greenism is nothing new. In Growth for the sake of growth was words, not just wage-slavery, but up transnational companies into passive members get a vicarious thrill October 1988 Margaret Thatcher condemned. The concluding message impoverished wage slavery … and national segments, breaking apart from TV, internet and newspaper- made her famous ‘green’ conference was as urgent as it was blunt: a that as a goal. Clearly, the interests global supply chains and relying friendly stunts. Yet, despite the eco- speech: “No generation has a freehold sustainable balance between humanity of small capital trump the interests of on small-scale capitalist enterprises warrior image, such organisations on this earth. All we have is a life and nature has to be re-established labour. must see overall productivity tumble are, in fact, top-heavy with managers, tenancy - with full repairing lease. This before it is too late. Paradoxically, the Green Party downwards. Costs must rise and administrators, communicators and government intends to meet the terms Nowadays, the greens are a real supports the United Nations and profits will be squeezed. fundraisers. “Interminable meetings, of that lease in full.”11 Indeed ever political presence with a Westminster opposes Brexit, while simultaneously There would certainly be a flight not action, are the order of most days,” since the dawn of industrial capitalism MP, seven MEPs and well over a denouncing globalisation and the of capital and the devaluation of the writes Charles Secrett, FoE executive there has been a strand of aristocratic hundred councillors. Wikipedia international division of labour. national currency. Hyperinflation director between 1993 and 2003.7 conservatism which has protested classifies the Green Party as Not that a green government would surely follows. Shortages spread. Radicalism has certainly been blunted against the despoliation of nature. “leftwing.”2 In point of fact, there are abolish international trade. No, People turn to black and grey markets. by a desire to cultivate and maintain The Young England movement of the many good demands in its programme: international trade will “respect Corrupt fortunes are amassed. Social links with the political establishment. early 1840s comes to mind. Born on abolition of the standing army, human rights, labour standards, tensions become acute. Those with the Because Greenpeace relies on the playing fields of Eton, Oxford and navy and airforce; withdrawal from environmental standards and climate most marketable skills flee abroad. A propaganda of the deed, it is inevitably Cambridge it loosely grouped together Nato; replacing the monarchy with a commitments”, etc, etc. Nevertheless, Green Party government would be run on a ‘command and obey’ basis. an aristocratic membership - George republic; proportional representation the intention is clear: haul capital back faced with an unenviable choice: Greenpeace has numerous offices, its Smythe, Lord John Manners, Henry for local and parliamentary elections.3 into the cramped space provided by either screw up rates of exploitation own fleet of ships and a helicopter, Hope, Alexander Baillie-Cochrane, Etc, etc. However, overall - and in the nation-state. and administer poverty or abandon and employs well over 2,000 people. but most notably, its figurehead and weekly worker 1255 June 13 2019 7

leader, Benjamin Disraeli (who was Enclosure Acts, beginning in the green capitalist panaceas legitimise course it can. Capitalism as a total no aristocrat, nor did he attend Eton).12 13th century and completed in the pollution, favour the most powerful system has never moved according To gain a wider audience these 19th century. The mass of Britain’s concentrations of capital, threaten to the exclusive interests of capital. gentlemen were obliged to appear peasant farmers were expropriated: a Many green thinkers to pass on additional costs to the There exists another power within indifferent to their own class interests. “plain enough case of class robbery”, are in revolt against consumer or simply lead to offloading it. There is the political economy of Nostalgically they put the case declares EP Thompson.16 Not only dirty industries onto less developed need, which constantly pushes in the for a rural idyll of snug hamlets, was the best land put over to grain capitalism. But, if parts of the world: India, China, opposite direction. In short, the class independent artisans and upright and cattle: huge tracts of moorland put into practice, Vietnam, Philippines, etc. struggle conducted by workers and an yeomen farmers. Everyone has their were turned over to killing ‘wildlife’ Old technologies can be abandoned immanent socialism. place and everyone knows their place: - grouse, partridge and fatted deer. their reinvention of or superseded, but individual Life is stacking up more and “The rich man in his castle, the poor An aristocratic playground. A pre-Marxist utopian capitalists personify - are in thrall to more examples, not only of capitalist man by his gate.” small army of gamekeepers were socialism would end in - a mode of production which relies decay, but the becoming of socialism: Even in our times protests against employed to keep out the hoi polloi. on constant growth. Hence they legal restrictions on working hours, the damage wrought by capitalism Wolf, polecat, eagle, hawk and disaster spare no effort, go to any lengths, to universal suffrage, compulsory can go hand in hand with barely otter were all categorised as vermin discover or invent novel ways to pass primary and secondary education, concealed plans for a return to the and systematically exterminated. through the eye of awkward laws. free health provision, unemployment feudal past. Roger Scruton coined the Foxhunting was invented only in the Money is certainly used to purchase and housing benefit, clean air acts, term oikophobia (oiko is the Greek 19th century. Horses and dogs had by state guardians, to open up loopholes limits on emissions, health and safety, for home) to castigate those who then been bred to the point where they and, failing that, to bulldoze down countryside access, minimum pay belittle or repudiate family values, had the needed speed and stamina. legislation ... essentially allowing the levels, etc. All negative anticipations, established tradition and patriotic Today an estimated 0.28% of fundamental laws of capital to reassert because socialism is emerging, but love of country (How to seriously families own 64% of the land.17 The themselves. remains unseparated from capitalism. think about saving the planet 2012). - totally ineffective - Hunting Act Capital aims to expand capital Unsurprisingly, all such state- He singles out in particular Howard (2004), chasing down and ripping - not cherish the environment enforced measures cause their own Zinn and Noam Chomsky. Scruton apart exhausted foxes, served to or promote human wellbeing. problems: a hybrid system is a envisages “environmentalists and symbolise that landed wealth, class Neoliberalism exacerbates what is malfunctioning system. The law of conservatives” making “common domination and inherited privilege. In a general characteristic. Capital and value and state organisation interfere cause” around “territory” - in its own illegal way, it still does. No state interweave as never before. with the workings of each other, they particular its “strongest political surprise - many Tory MPs continue Corruption becomes institutionalised, conflict, they produce completely expression”, the “nation state”.13 to hanker after a repeal of the fox- normalised, and except in its most irrational results. Endless regulation, Before him, Edward Goldsmith hunting ban.18 overt forms nowadays goes hardly endless deregulation, privatisation, (1928-2009), uncle of Zac, argued noticed. deprivatisation, marketisation, for cutting the population by 50%, Pro-capitalism Environmental regulations are not ballooning bureaucracy, chronic repatriating immigrants … and There are pale greens who only subject to outrageous abuse and waste, meaningless tick-box targets. establishing a green social order unapologetically promote monopoly constant string-pulling: governments Despite capital’s inherent drive based on the patriarchal family, small- capitalism. A small clique; but willingly slough them off given to maximise exploitation - not least, scale communities and something well connected and therefore sufficient bribes or pressure - the given our present line of discussion, resembling the Indian caste system.14 disproportionately influential. Jonathon US being obviously by far the most the exploitation of nature - it is held Inspired by this overtly reactionary Porritt’s book Capitalism, as if the important example: after all, it is the back, curbed, modified. But attempts vision of the future, Michael Benfield, world matters (2005) serves as a kind “biggest carbon polluter in history”.22 to organise what is decay compound Freda Sanders, Tony Whittaker and of manifesto. He has been rewarded Despite this, Donald Trump existing contradictions and add new Lesley Whittaker founded the People with all manner of posts, honorariums promises to pull out of the Paris ones besides. The system becomes Party. Edward (Teddy) Goldsmith and prestigious invites. The obnoxious international climate agreement, uncontrollable even for its controllers stood for them in the 1974 general Charles Windsor counts as a friend and cuts back on the US environmental - hence the greater likelihood of election (he lost badly). But in 1975 confidant. Porritt rejects capitalism, protection agency, dismisses climate nature exacting its revenge. the People Party became the Ecology not “per se” - well, of course not - warming as a hoax and, all in all, has Party and 10 years later in another but in terms of this or that “particular rolled back or reversed a whole raft Critiques name change it became the Green model”. Unsurprisingly, he concludes of existing regulations.23 Here Trump Prostituted apologetics of the type Party.15 So in terms of its political that sustainability is fully compatible walks in the footsteps of previous coming from the Forum for the Future origins the Green Party is not left but with a revised, retuned, recalibrated Republican administrations: George notwithstanding, there are anti- far-right. capitalism. If that is not possible, he Bush repeatedly invoked ‘national capitalist greens. Overproduction, Young England had not the least grudgingly admits, then one would There are many good security’ to justify abandoning waste, insatiable greed and the wanton interest in, nor wish for, democracy. be morally obliged to “devote one’s environmental protection measures, misuse of nature are all subjected Dreamy poems lauded absolute political activities” to the “overthrow of demands in the Green including granting permission for to savage criticism and on occasion monarchy, the medieval church, along capitalism”.19 Party’s programme: drilling oil in wildlife refuges; Richard profound analysis. Many radical with benevolent alms-giving to the Needless to say, ecological Nixon did the same. green thinkers fondly cite Gerald poor - patronising sentiments, which responsibility cannot replace abolition of the Few CEOs dare speak out in Winstanley, William Morris and Peter were the subject of much wicked accumulation for its own sake as the standing army, navy and favour of deregulation and yet the Kropotkin as their fiery inspirations. mockery at the time. Young England mainspring of capital’s laws of motion effects of deregulation are “often cited Others prefer the milder flavours of accused industrialists of subordinating within capitalism. To claim otherwise airforce; withdrawal as a factor that has buoyed the stock St Francis of Assisi, Leo Tolstoy and all moral scruples to the balance is to desert reality. Undaunted, in from Nato; replacing market”.24 Undaunted by the reality of Mahatma Gandhi. sheet. Utilitarianism excused greed. 1996, sniffing the dividends, Porritt the monarchy with a ‘actually existing’ capitalism, Forum Obviously, anti-capitalism is a The rich and powerful had abdicated and Sara Parkin founded the Forum for the Future promises companies many-headed beast. Before examining their responsibilities to the weak and for the Future. After a simmering civil republic; proportional that they can be “turbo-charged by the deep greens, let us discuss Ernst vulnerable. Capitalism threatened to war they had both resigned from the representation for sustainability”.25 Schumacher, George Monbiot and destroy everything tried and tested, Green Party’s executive just a few Legally trained proponents of Murray Bookchin. Between the three everything venerated, everything that weeks prior to its annual conference. local and parliamentary green capitalism seriously - at least of them they cover the spectrum of rooted people in the sacrosanct soil of Forum for the Future is a well- elections according to their own warped ecological thought that stretches from past generations. heeled charity - 66 staff members precepts - want to extend the ideology green Christianity by way of neo- Unless halted, such vandalism, and an annual income of £5.2 of rights to include rivers, lakes, trees, Proudhonism to social anarchism. it was darkly prophesised, would million. It courts big business ... and mountains, the very air we breathe. Besides a burning desire for global inexorably lead to a revolutionary its chequebooks. No one-way They become legal personalities change, the thread that joins them is explosion and plunge the country street. Forum for the Future and can thereby gain protection in that ‘Small is beautiful’. into unimaginable chaos. Memories magnanimously bestows green the courts.26 Natural objects should The future must be non-capitalist, of 1789 were seared onto ruling credentials on transnational be given the same legal status as but also decentralised, self-reliant class brains. Swift action had to be corporations and translates corporations, argues Christopher and non-hierarchical. However, the taken to rescue what little remained sustainable development into Stone.27 But rights, like politics, art social agent capable of bringing about of the national heritage - historical the language of share price, cash and morality, is obviously a human such an outcome remains totally monuments, ancient woodlands and flow, cost-cutting, efficiency construct. Nor has nature as nature unconvincing in each account. For time-honoured rural ways. and profit. Its 50-plus corporate interests. Human beings have an Schumacher it is enlightened aid We heard a similar tune from the sponsors and partners have, interest in nature, its preservation, its workers and third-world bureaucrats. Countryside Alliance in the 1990s we are reassuringly told, a variety, its health, because nature Monbiot talks of collective action and 2000s. A melange of aristocratic “proven commitment” to the supports human life and enhances by “poor countries”, while Bookchin landowners, plebeian retainers and environment.20 Amongst them humanity materially, culturally and looks to “libertarian municipalism”. the right wing of the middle classes, are American Express, the spiritually. Nonetheless, the green All shrink from the necessary task of it symbolically dressed foxhunting up British Aerosol Manufacturers legalists believe that by giving organising the working class into a in the garb of timeless tradition. And Association, Jaguar Land nature rights this will stop revolutionary party. in 2002 it mobilised 400,000 to march Rover, Tata, Nestle, Sky, exploitation. History, to put it Ernst Schumacher (1911- through central London not only in M&S and Aviva.21 Obviously mildly, fails to support such 77) considered unrestrained support of foxhunting but British food being green is considered a contention. Capital treats industrialisation to be the cause of and British farms. In reality things good public relations and what is bought and sold, “unlimited sorrows”, especially are, of course, very different. Those therefore good business. Saving what is property, in a purely in the former colonial countries. who still run the Countryside Alliance on inputs such as energy and instrumental (slave-like) Schumacher advocated ‘appropriate - disgracefully, ermined Labour Party other raw materials can certainly fashion. Necessarily that technology’ and rejected the ‘bigger members included - are the very be presented in a way that buffs green entails mistreatment as a is better’ ethos characteristic of the types responsible for degrading rural credentials; as motivated not by the means to an end. Labour is 1950s-60s long boom. He located Britain. They ripped up hedgerows. intrinsic capitalist drive to minimise exploited. So too is nature. this ethos not in the organised They are addicted to state handouts costs, rather newly discovered Do the innate laws concentration of capital, overseen by and subsidies. They preside over concerns for the environment. of capital mean that the the social democratic state: rather in and profit from monoculture and the Green eco-taxes and subsidies, system cannot be forced six leading ideas inherited from the wanton use of chemicals. emissions trading and CO2 capture and to partially curb its 19th century. The origins of our denatured storage all chime with manufactured exploitative appetites and That is, Darwinism and “natural system of agriculture lie in the public opinion. However, these patterns of behaviour? Of selection”; the “idea of competition” weekly 8 June 13 2019 1255 worker GREENS and “the survival of the fittest”; EU and Japanese transnationals still as meaning that humans alone have society should cease fetishistically contemplate and debate. However, Marx’s observation that all “higher constitute the dominant economic intrinsic value - dates back, he argues, worshipping production, that we their dialectics were quietist - a manifestations” of human life - power on the planet, is lightly skated to the Neolithic revolution, around should start looking after nature by means of interpreting, not radically religion, philosophy, art, etc - are over. Does anyone really expect 10,000 years ago. The adoption of reordering ourselves, then no serious engaging with the world. That was nothing but “necessary supplements the US administration to facilitate anthropocentric modes of thought is communist would disagree. On the the great advance brought about by of the material life process”; the its citizenry voting in Monbiot’s collectively remembered in the story other hand, if biocentrism means the Marx-Engels team. “Freudian interpretation which elections? Would Washington of Yehovah’s expulsion of Adam and placing nature above the interests Marxism is the world outlook reduces human life to “the dark shoulder the costs involved? And Eve from the garden of Eden and of humanity, diminishing the human of the revolutionary working class. stirrings of the human subconscious”; what about China, Russia, Iran and other such myths. and depicting it as a disease, then we Taking the best from previous relativism and “denying all North Korea? Though Monbiot gives The long and the short of it is must disagree. philosophies, Marxism continues, absolutes”; positivism and the claim a passing nod in the direction of that, once human beings stopped Deep greenism comes but transcends, philosophy. Marxism that “no knowledge is valid unless existing campaigning organisations, venerating nature and started to ‘unencumbered’ by a fully debated and is quintessentially about practice: it is based on generally observable his elaborate schema is built on treat it as a thing to be subdued, an democratically agreed programme. investigation is for the purposes facts” and therefore denies the nothing more substantial than the object fit only for exploitation, then It is a loose conglomeration and of overthrowing all existing social possibility of objective knowledge of clouds of fantasy. they fell from grace and condemned ideologically very pick and mix. conditions through pursuing the class purpose and meaning.28 These ideas, Bookchin (1921-2006) offers a themselves to the endless drudgery of Deep greenism often blurs over struggle. which “claimed to do away with slightly less utopian perspective. labour. Civilisation thereby becomes into New Ageism, with its self- The political economy of the metaphysics”, were in fact, intoned Describing himself as a libertarian a terrible mistake, a dangerous detour. realisation and lifestyle obsessions. working class points far beyond Schumacher, “bad metaphysics and communist - a former ‘official’ Suffice to say, deep greenism lacks Consequently deep greens are prone the narrow confines of mere trade bad ethics”.29 communist and then Trotskyite - he anything resembling an adequate to navel-gazing individualism and to unionism. A few hours off the Joining natural selection and took theory seriously. An impressive account of history. falling under the spell of charismatic working week, a bit more pay at historical materialism together body of work contains much Deep greenism amounts to a charlatans. Exponents frequently the end of the month - that cannot with positivism and scientism is of value. Bookchin particularly retrogressive plea for humanity to hold completely juxtaposed positions remotely satisfy the needs of the not as absurd as might first appear. targeted domination and hierarchy adapt to nature, to give up on all and easily lurch from elation to working class. The working class Ideologically the post-World War in class society. This has produced hope of progressive social change despair and vice versa. needs to become fully human. That II period was under the tyrannical humanity’s imbalance with nature. and return to a lost innocence of Ecofeminist deep greens blame necessitates establishing genuinely sway of positivism - the official He has no time for pro-capitalist childhood. But no adult can perform “capitalist patriarchy” and male human relationships within society ‘Marxism’ of the Stalinites, on the greenism, overpopulation panics such a feat. Nor can the human values for the degradation of and through that a human relationship one side, and social democracy and or technophobia - all have inbuilt species. The door to the past is the environment.34 Women are with nature. mainstream liberalism, on the other. reactionary implications. A complete permanently closed. It is impossible considered innately attuned to nature. So the only consistent defender Though undoubtedly failing to social revolution is needed. to sustain a 7.2 billion global Menstruation and motherhood of nature is the working class. Every locate the real causes, Schumacher Bookchin’s unwillingness population with Paleolithic hunter- separate them from men and go other social agent is illusory. Nothing exposed the negative ecological to embrace the means - the gathering. The only door open to us towards what is essentially a form else can conceivably organise itself results of both capitalist and Stalinite revolutionary party - is perfectly is the future. of biological determinism. Not a few into an alternative material force development. As an alternative, he understandable, especially given According to Naess, there is no have taken to witchcraft. capable of positively transcending famously opted for what he called the US radical milieu during his moral hierarchy of life. He rejected One celebrated exponent of deep- capital. ‘Buddhist economics’ (though he lifetime. The leftwing sects which all paradigms, whereby species are green irrationalism is the physicist To be ecological therefore requires himself converted to Catholicism). passed themselves off as parties - ranked according to whether they Fritjof Capra, founding director more than being anti-capitalist. It His model was post-independence even those which more modestly say have a soul or possess consciousness. of the Center for Ecoliteracy in is necessary to be a partisan of the Burma! they aspire to that aim - pathetically Naess says: “the right of all forms [of Berkeley, USA. According to his working class, an undiluted red, a A regular columnist in The reproduce the structures and much of life] to live is a universal right which official website, he “frequently Marxist l Guardian, George Monbiot has the attending egotism of capitalism cannot be quantified. No single gives management seminars for written a string of excellent books: itself. Central committees behave species of living being has more of top executives”.35 After touring Notes Amazon watershed, Heat, Captive as boards of directors, the rank and this particular right to live and unfold Germany in the early 1980s, 31 1. For a useful bibliography of classic, early, state, Feral, etc. His case for a file are treated as mere speaking than any other species.” Capra co-authored Green politics foundational green thinking, and first, second and “democratic revolution” is fully tools. Then there are the proprietorial This is not the self-denying (1984) with ecofeminist Charlene third waves see John Barry’s summary (pure.qub. elaborated in The age of consent general secretaries. ordinance it might first appear to Spretnak. In The Tao of physics ac.uk/ws/files/5420698/Green_Political_Theory_ (2003), which dissects the “global Fleeing from this madness, be. Despite the insistence on non- (1975) and later books such as The John_Barry.pdf). 2. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Party_of_ dictatorship of vested interests”. Bookchin found refuge in the idea hierarchy, elementary biological web of life (1996) and The hidden England_and_Wales. Clearly a revolt against 21st century of little communes - municipalities necessities have to be recognised. connections (2002), he details why 3. www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/gp2017/ capitalism, but just as clearly a which consist, to begin with, of “Except to satisfy vital human needs” he believes physics and metaphysics greenguaranteepdf.pdf. reinvention of pre-Marxist utopian hard-core cadre. Somehow these there is no sanction to kill. But there are both inexorably leading to the 4. Ibid. 5. Ibid. socialism. bacilli survive within the decaying is a “vital human need” for food that same stunning conclusion: “there 6. www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/gp2017/ Monbiot wants to “harness” body of capitalist society and must be constantly satisfied. People are hidden connections between greenguaranteepdf.pdf. globalisation in order to eventually steadily grow into organs of dual have to consume fellow life forms … everything”.36 7. The Guardian June 13 2011. extinguish capitalism. True, long power. Momentarily suspending and thankfully they can do so with the As is standard deep-green fare, 8. www.glassdoor.co.uk/Salary/Greenpeace- Salaries-E9123.htm. down the road of his democratic our disbelief at the chances of this sanction of the deep greens. In point Capra dismisses as outdated the 9. www.linkedin.com/company/friends-of-the- revolution, reaching some pre- happening, we are still left with a of fact there is a deep-green macho mechanical ‘Cartesian-Newtonian earth. set programmatic milepost, the fundamental problem. minority, which actually revels in paradigm’: in justification he cites 10. See R Scuton How to seriously think about transnationals will finally be If for some reason these bodies hunting, shooting and fishing as a 20th century developments in sub- saving the planet Oxford 2012; Z Goldsmith The constant economy London 2009; and brightblue. broken up and production radically managed to avoid succumbing to the means of rediscovering their human atomic physics and systems theory. org.uk/about. decentralised. Once a confirmed antibodies of coercion, the pressures essence. Nature being red in tooth Instead, he calls for a delving back 11. R Harris (ed) The collected speeches of localist, he now espouses globalism and the lures of capitalist society, no and claw. to the truths that can be discovered Margaret Thatcher London 1997, p341. - at least in terms of strategy. His matter how powerful they became, In the spirit of Naess, we find in the ancient eastern outlook - ie, 12. See J Morrow (ed) Young England Leicester 1999. democratic revolution begins at the they would still come to grief on the green thinkers like James Lovelock Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism - 13. R Scruton How to seriously think about saving global level. reefs of localism. By their very nature expressing a scornful disregard for which maintain a mystical holism. the planet Oxford 2012 p19. Anarchism and green capitalism they would articulate sectional, not fellow human beings: Of course, the truths Capra finds 14. See E Goldsmith and R Allen A blueprint for are rightly rejected. But Monbiot universal, interests and therefore in these religions/philosophies are survival Harmondsworth 1972. 15. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Green_ suffers from what can only be quickly fall into bickering rivalry Our humanist solicitude primitive forms of dialectics. Party_of_England_and_Wales. described as a Pavlovian aversion - the fate of trade unions as trade towards the poor living in the Take Lao Tzu, the 7th century 16. EP Thompson The making of the English when it comes to Marxism. The unions, co-ops as co-ops and soviets impoverished suburbs of the big BC Chinese teacher and thinker. working class New York NY 1963, p218. merest mention of Marxism sends as soviets. Without the coordination, cities of the third world, and our Brilliantly, he grasped the fact that 17. D Mead The new law of peaceful protest Oxford 2010, p121n. his brain into a spin. Monbiot discipline and theory provided by almost obscene obsession with all things are changing, and changing 18. The Independent May 9 2017. ridiculously blames Marx for the highest form of working class death, suffering and pain - as if into their opposites; they do so by 19. J Porritt Capitalism, as if the world matters Stalin’s gulags, Maoism and Pol Pot. organisation, sectionalism is bound these were harmful in themselves following their own natural way London 2011, p87. Bureaucratic socialism is put down to take hold. - all these thoughts deflect our (Tao). Lao Tzu eschewed the gods 20. www.forumforthefuture.org.uk. to the Communist manifesto. His attention from the problem of our and instead emphasised the “dialectic 21. www.forumforthefuture.org/who-we-work- 37 with. “pathological” Stowe public school Deep greens harsh and excessive domination of nature”. Humanity must learn to 22. New York Times June 1 2007. education clearly conditioned him all As personalities Schumacher, of the natural world.32 quietly accept its laws. Other deep 23. New York Times June 7 2019. too well. Monbiot and Bookchin are clearly greens find similar truths in classical 24. www.westernsouthern.com/fortwashington/ insights/assessing-the-economic-impact-of- Monbiot has gone to the trouble motivated by a heartfelt desire A line of thought which has led Greece. Heraclitus (circa 544-483 deregulation. of drawing up a detailed blueprint to improve the lot of the world’s some deep greens to view the HIV/ BC) also said that there is nothing 25. www.forumforthefuture.org/blog/seven-shifts- for tomorrow’s world. There will be population. That cannot be so readily Aids virus either neutrally or as certain in the world except change. that-must-happen-in-2019. a 600-seat global parliament - one said of deep greens. Yes, they too yet another addition to life’s rich He too concluded that things turn 26. EL O’Donnell and J Talbot-Jones ‘Creating MP for every 10 million people. savage consumerism, industrial tapestry. Some actually welcomed into their opposites. Properties of the legal rights for rivers: lessons from Australia, New 33 Zealand, and India’ Ecology and Society Vol 23, Parliamentary voting will be weighed effluent, monocrop agriculture, the it. Celebrating authenticity, fragility real word were captured in the minds No1 March 2018. according to a sliding democratic whole cult of economic growth. and destiny, these ecobrutalists decry of these outstanding philosophers 27. See CD Stone Should trees have standing? Los scale - once again courtesy of our However, for them, the adverse anti-Aids drugs and the entire health and turned into various modes of Angeles 1974. 28. EF Schumacher Small is beautiful London clever friend. However, the authority effects this has on humanity is infrastructure. Nature knows best. dialectical thought. 1993, pp68-69. of his august body would be purely secondary. Nature comes first. Via Aids humanity is being culled. Deep greens believe they have 29. Ibid p72. moral. National states continue to Arne Naess (1912-2009), the When that task is finally completed, discovered the highway to social 30. A Drengson (ed) The selected works of Arne exist. It is just that they would now Norwegian mountaineer and it is the deep-green survivalists who transformation through mentally Naess Vol 1, Dordrecht (Netherlands) 2005, p18. 31. Arne Naess Ecology, community and lifestyle: be under moral pressure to do the sage, began laying the theoretical will inherit the earth. shunning western scientism and outline of an ecosophy Cambridge 2001, p166. right thing. The world ‘government’ foundations as far back as the early To say the least, all such viewpoints embracing what they consider to 32. Quoted in D Nichols Environment, capitalism would have no law courts, no army. 1950s - at least to the degree that deep smack of anthropomorphism. Nature be the esoteric secrets of ancient and socialism Newtown 1999, p103. Nonetheless, a fair trade organisation greenism can be considered a theory. is given human attributes. Hence we wisdom. Others - not least society at 33. See rationalwiki.org/wiki/Hard_green#cite_ note-deepcrit-4. ensures that transnationals retract He attacked the short-termism, find the American naturalist, Aldo large - are urged to follow their path 34. See M Mies and N Shiva Ecofeminism London their exploitative claws and respond the irrationality of neo-classical Leonard, telling us to “think like a to enlightenment. 1993. to popular environmental concerns economics and sought to displace mountain.” Biocentrism, to state an Primitive dialectics is one-sided, 35. www.fritjofcapra.net. and worries. anthropocentric modes of thinking obvious truth, is a human-created having been developed by members 36. F Capra Hidden connections London 2003, How such a ‘one person, one with what he and his followers call ideology. If it means recognising of the exploiting classes - specifically pvii. 30 37. L Kohn and M Lafarge (eds) Lao-tzu and the vote’ global institution is supposed to “biocentrism or egocentrism”. that humans are part of nature - the those intellectuals who possessed Tao-te-ching: studies in ethics, law and the human arise, while national states and US, Anthropocentrism - which I take uniquely conscious part - that human the abundant leisure time needed to ideal Albany NY 1998, p196. weekly worker 1255 June 13 2019 9 LABOUR From Peterborough to Pompeo With every new victim of the witch-hunt, the requirements to qualify as an ‘anti-Semite’ are substantially lowered, says Carla Roberts of Labour Party Marxists

t is fair to say that Lisa Forbes has Instead, he and his advisors saved Jeremy Corbyn’s bacon. accepted the charge, thereby fuelling I Until the very last moment, it the fire and encouraging all those set looked like we might have to witness on getting rid of him. In the foolish the election of the first ever Brexit belief that he could appease his critics Party MP, which, considering the and the PLP right, he allowed them massively unfavourable conditions of to pick off his most ardent supporters the June 6 by-election in Peterborough, one by one - be it over anti-Semitism, would have been entirely feasible. bringing the party into disrepute or And, considering how negatively for having supported this or that small Labour’s victory has been presented, leftwing group. we can only guess how bad the media In the process, he has allowed the coverage would have been if Labour right to become hugely emboldened had lost the seat. and strengthened, while Labour Firstly, there was the fact that members - still overwhelmingly the constituency saw the first ever supportive of Corbyn - have been application of the Recall of MPs Act denied the opportunity to remake the of 2015, which stipulates that any MP Jeremy Corbyn and Lisa Forbes: he defends her .... but what about all the others? party. Overdue plans to democratise who receives a prison sentence of a the Labour Party during the so-called year or less is subject to a recall petition of the binary debate will do nothing of how it shows that anti-Semitism is - are those charged with anti-Semitic Corbyn Review were first watered (MPs who are sentenced to more than to increase Labour’s chances at the becoming normal in the party.” Not behaviour being properly disciplined down and then reduced to nothing at a year are automatically forced to step ballot box. The ‘remain’ side is well to be outdone, Margaret Hodge MP by the party’s leadership or not?”10 last year’s conference. The popular down). Fiona Onasanya lost her appeal covered by the Liberal Democrats, has “formally raised concerns with the That sounds reasonable enough. But proposal to reintroduce the mandatory on March 5 and on March 19 the the Greens and the Scottish National party’s leadership.”6 dig a little deeper and this intervention reselection of all MPs was scrapped in petition was opened, quickly garnering Party, while the Brexit Party is It is a sad testament to the current can, predictably enough, be safely favour of a reform of the trigger ballot the support of a whopping 27.6% of successfully scooping up the hard-core state of play in the party that these filed under ‘anti-Corbyn propaganda’. - and even this is now deemed too the local eligible electorate, thereby Brexit vote. From a Marxist point of rightwingers can make such utterly Hain’s collaborator in the 3,000-word radical and too much of a declaration vastly exceeding the 10% required. view, however, Labour’s outlook is baseless accusations without any document is Daniel Levy, a former of war on the majority of rightwing True, Jeremy Corbyn had called on seriously limited. Where is the plan repercussions. Forbes did not say or advisor to the Israeli prime ministers, MPs, who quite rightly fear that the Onasanya to step down voluntarily, for a radically democratised Europe write anything anti-Semitic - even the Ehud Barak and Yitzhak Rabin, and local membership might give them but her desperate clinging on to her and its institutions? Where is the vision posts she briefly engaged with can a trustee of the Rockefeller Brothers their marching orders. very lucrative job will have no doubt of the working class across Europe hardly be described as such. Fund. We are, of course, still waiting for seriously impacted on the Labour (and globally) taking matters into For the Jewish Labour Movement As a former minister with the overdue implementation of the Party’s electoral appeal. their own hands? Where is the plan (which disgracefully is allowed to responsibility for the Middle East, Peter trigger ballot reform, which was first Secondly, following on so quickly to take on international capitalism? remain affiliated to the Labour Party), Hain faithfully voted for Tony Blair’s announced in January this year. It from the EU elections, Brexit Party Unfortunately, while Corbyn quite the worst of Lisa’s offences, however, war on Iraq. He is about as qualified seems to us that exaggerated reports candidate Mike Green was riding rightly refuses to pick a side, he has was her support for one of the many to make this intervention as Blair of this week’s PLP rebellion have a quite a wave - especially when one also not attempted to break out of this open letters and petitions that called on was when he was appointed ‘Middle lot to do with this issue - ie, Corbyn considers that 60.9% in Peterborough false ‘in or out’ dichotomy. the Labour Party’s NEC “to resist calls Eastern peace envoy’ after having been and Labour HQ are once again being voted ‘leave’ in the 2016 referendum. to adopt all 11 examples accompanying responsible for the deaths of hundreds warned not to implement the reform, Forbes’ victory is an answer to all those JLM the International Holocaust of thousands of people. While Hain is a which is currently the only method who are convinced that Jeremy Corbyn Back to Peterborough, where Lisa Remembrance Alliance definition of tad more critical about Israel’s actions, by which Constituency Labour “must” come out strongly in favour of Forbes won despite having been anti-Semitism into the party’s code of they are actually singing from the same Parties can get rid of a sitting MP. Brexit and even “campaign” for it, declared an anti-Semite by large conduct on anti-Semitism”.7 anti-Corbyn hymn sheet. Unfortunately, however, it is only as the Communist Party of Britain’s sections of the bourgeois press, as According to the JLM, it is this that “The curse of anti-Semitism is groups such as Labour Against the Morning Star recently demanded. But, well as plenty of voices within the warrants Forbes’ suspension: “The paralysing the Labour Party,” Hain Witchhunt and Labour Party Marxists of course, it will not stop them. Labour Party. It seems that, with [Parliamentary Labour Party] called for and Levy write and now the “serious which are campaigning on trigger Just like it will not shut up those up every new victim of the witch-hunt, the party to adopt the IHRA definition. problem has become a crisis”, in ballots. who are certain that only coming out the requirements to qualify as an anti- Given her previous rejection of IHRA, which “somehow the party has That this civil war is not just for a second referendum will improve Semite are substantially lowered. Ms Forbes should have the whip managed to alienate the vast majority confined to the Labour Party and is Labour’s electoral chances: witness We learned that Forbes had suspended immediately.”8 The open of Jewish members and the Jewish indeed an international issue was the elevation of the Labour MP Marie ‘liked’ a video on Facebook that letter quite rightly stated that some of community, while doing nothing to once again underlined this week: US Rimmer, who used this week’s meeting expressed solidarity with the victims the examples might “be used to silence advance the debate on Israel/Palestine, secretary of state Mike Pompeo has of the Parliamentary Labour Party to of the Christchurch terror attack. The discussion” - this ridiculous reaction by let alone justice for Palestinians”. kindly reminded us what a blow to the slap down Corbyn over the “lack of problem was that Forbes seemed not to the JLM underlines exactly how right And, while they’re at it, those two international ruling class the election of leadership over Europe”, stating “it have read the slightly rambling intro of Forbes and the other 2,000 people were brave campaigners are doing their Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader was - was not easy for me to vote Labour” the person sharing the video, in which to sign it. While Forbes has apologised best to also label anti-capitalism as and, most importantly, how far it will go in the EU elections (needless to say, he wrote about Theresa May having a for not reading the two Facebook posts anti-Semitic: “Classic leftwing anti- to stop him becoming prime minister. she wants a second referendum). “Zionist slavemaster agenda”. properly, we understand that she has Semitism and anti-Semitic tropes of In a secretly recorded meeting Apparently, this made it Corbyn’s She also commented: “I have not backtracked on her support for the global conspiratorial capitalist cabals Pompeo said: “worst meeting as leader”, because enjoyed reading this thread so much. IHRA letter. Good. and class enemies has further poisoned this “ally of Jeremy Corbyn”1 had So much that tries to divide us, but We also welcome the fact that the debate.” It could be that Mr Corbyn manages apparently “never spoken out” against there is far much more that unites us Jeremy Corbyn has rejected the claim Describing the phrase “class to run the gauntlet and get elected. him before.2 Er, not quite. In 2016, she all” - underneath a rather long post by that she is an anti-Semite. It is difficult enemies” as an “anti-Semitic trope” It’s possible. You should know, participated in the coup against Corbyn the same person. His first language though not to think of the fate of all the does sum up rather neatly the whole we won’t wait for him to do those and publicly backed Owen Smith.3 clearly is not English and her comment other Corbyn supporters who have been ‘anti-Semitism’ debate in the Labour things to begin to push back. We True, since then she kept her mouth was no doubt aimed at his worry about left high and dry by the leader’s office, Party. It is an entirely manufactured will do our level best. It’s too risky shut when it comes to Corbyn (and the perception of “Islam being a threat despite the charges against them being and fabricated scandal to keep Corbyn and too important and too hard, much else), confirming perhaps that to the UK”, when it really is a “peace- as ridiculous as those against Forbes. out of 10 Downing Street. After all, the once it’s already happened.11 her chief loyalty is to her job. loving religion”.5 He also wrote - and Where is Corbyn’s public support for man and his supporters believe that Despite renewed reports that Jeremy this is the bone of contention - that Chris Williamson, Pete Willsman, there are diametrically opposed classes As Jonathan Cook tweeted, “Hard … Corbyn was about to come out publicly “now with evidence in hand of the Jackie Walker, Marc Wadsworth, Tony in society! Burn the witch! not to suspect that the US is already for a second referendum (no doubt funding and the creation of such Greenstein and all the others who have Sadly, the incredible success of helping to ensure Corbyn doesn’t written in order to push him in that extremists [Islamic State, etc] by the been smeared as anti-Semites? the campaign to falsely equate anti- become PM l” direction), it seems he is still sticking CIA and Mossad supported by British Of course, Corbyn himself is now Zionism (and anti-capitalism) with to his position of ‘studied ambiguity’. imperialism we don’t get these same firmly in that category. Witness the anti-Semitism has much to do with Notes How else should we interpret his public people making condemnations to your current health secretary and Tory Jeremy Corbyn himself. Needless 1. The Times June 12. put down of Emily Thornberry, who leaders”. It is certainly a historic, if leadership contender, Matt Hancock, to say, there are some members of a 2. The Guardian June 11. 3. https://twitter.com/MarieRimmer/ has been, we are told, “demoted” after inconvenient, fact that organisations who outrageously warned at a party with over half a million members status/761247872696197121. calling for a second referendum and was like al Qa’eda were armed and Westminster hustings event that “we who hold racist views (as there will 4. http://labourpartymarxists.org.uk/rhea-wolfson- not allowed to deputise for him at prime financially supported by the US and could end up with the first anti-Semitic probably be some who hold the view and-emily-thornberry-pro-zionist-sisters-in-arms. minister’s question time last week. Saudi Arabia when they were fighting leader of a western nation since the that the earth is flat). But the claim 5. https://twitter.com/magnitsky/ 9 status/1134738319571673088. There are rumours she will be demoted Soviet troops in Afghanistan. Second World War”. that that there is an “institutional”, 6. www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/labour-s- to the back benches soon - indicating For Labour MP Wes Streeting, “widespread” or “massive” problem new-peterborough-mp-insists-she-believes- that perhaps behind the scenes there has these two very limited Facebook Conciliation with anti-Semitism in the Labour Party antisemitism-is-abhorrent-after-jew-hate- been quite a falling out (after all, Keir engagements by Lisa Forbes constitute The latest intervention on the issue of is an outright lie. Had Corbyn called scandal-1.485182. 7. https://lettertolabournec.wordpress.com. Starmer is not being demoted). In any “anti-Semitic media activity”. The anti-Semitism has come from Peter this out from the start, it would not 8. https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/jlm-calls- case, we certainly will not be shedding equally revolting Jess Phillips MP Hain. In a 3,000-word document he have become such a huge crisis. Had for-labour-to-suspend-whip-of-newly-elected-mp- any tears for this member of the Labour complained that “Lisa ignored and is calling for “a debate on the issue” he shrugged or laughed it off like all over-antisemitic-posts. Friends of Israel.4 endorsed anti-Semitic things”, which of Israel and Palestine (including “the the other accusations (terrorist-lover, 9. Daily Mirror June 6 2019. 10. www.opendemocracy.net/en/ From a limited electoral perspective, means that, sadly, Jess could not be abhorrent treatment of Palestinians IRA sympathiser, Czech spy), the opendemocracyuk/labour-left-antisemitism-israel- Corbyn’s position still makes a lot of “as gleeful or proud as I’d want to be by successive Israeli governments”), Labour left would today be in a much and-palestine-way-forward. sense. Coming out firmly on either side [at the Peterborough result], because rather than focussing “upon process stronger position. 11. The Guardian June 11. weekly 10 June 13 2019 1255 worker REVIEW From rentism to communism Peter Frase Four futures: life after capitalism Verso, 2016, pp160, £8.99

or once, it is not too late to millions of people. This, in turn, has relations, alienated labour (even if that through commodity production” write a review of a book which spawned the rise of new, barbaric, In the absence of a comes to an end for many, alienation (p71). Exterminism means getting F was published three years ago. genocidal political movements (eg, conscious revolutionary will continue to exist, since it is a rid of human beings who are surplus The author is talking about the end the Janjaweed in Sudan - now in social phenomenon: eg, religious to capitalism’s requirements. This of capitalism and possible outcomes, alliance with a corrupt government, movement capitalism alienation), along with commodity is already happening (see below). which will not happen tomorrow! whose ill-gotten gains are invested in is sliding towards fetishism (since the market is likely Thus I agree with what Frase says in But, if the two ‘neo-nasties’, Johnson the international financial markets). to continue) - not forgetting the his conclusion: “all four futures are and Trump, are to share power in the Abundance refers to money and ecological catastrophe ongoing bourgeois hierarchical already here” - except that they are coming period, then Anglo-American power, as well as technology, in and species extinction. division of labour, which separates “unevenly distributed” (p150). neoliberalism will be seriously the form of computerisation and intellectual from practical labour; it destabilised, and who knows what automation in the hands of the Despite the abundance also reinforces the other impediments Two spectres will happen? - except that the few. Whilst this is making workers of wealth that exists we to consciousness. I shall focus mainly on his introduction, rational idea of a Green New Deal to obsolete, the rich few are getting will be lucky to get to Frase does not make any because it takes up almost a quarter counteract climate change will take even richer, because they also own predictions directly. But the of the book (ie, it is a summary of a back seat to military spending, and and control the technology. This is socialism, let alone the worrying thing is that he does not what follows). Frase begins with further tax cuts for the rich! (Military linked to ‘rentism’ - capitalism in a communism envisaged give sufficient weight to the need for a pastiche of the opening words of spending is also a major contributor new form (a difficult concept, which “communist mass consciousness” the Communist manifesto: “Two to fossil fuel emissions.) Meanwhile I will explain later). by Marx (as Marx puts it), without which spectres are haunting the earth in the the ongoing technological revolution Frase is right to argue that capitalism we will not have the revival of 21st century: ecological catastrophe - ie, automation - will continue to will end, but we do not know how or the “social revolution”; therefore and automation” (p1). The former be antithetical to the interests of the when, and at what cost. Obviously, the telos of humanity cannot be (wherein capitalism and its market majority of human beings. when considering the future, we have fulfilled (since it is not predestined!). are exacerbating what might also In essence Peter Frase’s argument to begin with what is happening now, Socialism requires social ownership be a natural phenomenon) is clearly is this: As a result of the capitalocene except we need to add the observation of the productive forces, as well harmful to the future of all life on the epoch (a mere second or two in terms that during the period of neoliberal as planning for humanity’s needs planet. The second is harmful to the of geological time), along with the capitalism (about 40 years) this has as a whole, which will restore a mass of humanity, because it is under defeat of the social revolution in the widened the gap between rich and harmonious relationship between the control of the capitalist class, 20th century, we are now faced with poor to unprecedented, obscene humanity and the rest of nature. But whose primary interest is to make a an existential threat to the human levels (eclipsing that of all previous under capitalism and its market, profit, not to satisfy human needs. species and the ecosystem upon civilisations). On this basis, he puts this necessary interaction is ruled, On the one hand, we have which we depend. The present is also forward the notion that there are four “as by some blind power”. If things “acidification of the oceans, the characterised by the coexistence of possible futures for humanity: continue the way they are, rentism increasing frequency of droughts two contradictory factors: scarcity  Communism (based on equality and exterminism are the most likely and extreme storm events … loss and abundance. Scarcity is the and abundance). outcomes. of agricultural land and habitable consequence of global warming (man-  Rentism (hierarchy and abundance). For Frase, rentism means that those environments [which points] made or otherwise) and capitalist-  Socialism (equality and scarcity). who own and control “the copyrights ultimately to the demise of an earth led destruction of the environment,  Exterminism (hierarchy and scarcity). and patents [of new technologies] that can support life” (pp1-2). On including animal habitats, upon Although Frase does not spell this become the new ruling class”. It is a the other, “nearly half the jobs in the which we rely (eg, insects), which out, by ‘hierarchy’ I think he means system based on the “extraction of rents United States today are vulnerable to threatens the future existence of the continuation of private property rather than the accumulation of capital computerisation … [There is also] weekly worker 1255 June 13 2019 11 What we fight for The fear … that a fully robotised recession’. On the other hand, the to point out that we are faced with  Exterminism: As has already been n Without organisation the economy that produces so much, with masses understand the effects of this said, this is easily understood. But, working class is nothing; with so little human labour, [will lead to a crisis: whilst they do not necessarily the massive inequality of wealth, however grim, we need to realise that the highest form of organisation situation when] there is no longer any see the need to overthrow the system, income and political power in this is already happening to our fellow it is everything. need for workers.” Therefore we are “Occupy Wall Street struck a chord, the world today ... To the extent humans. Therefore it requires the n There exists no real Communist facing “a crisis of scarcity and a crisis with the slogan, ‘We are the 99%’, that the rich are still able to least amount of explanation: it is “the Party today. There are many of abundance at the same time” (p2, drawing attention to the fact that maintain their power, we will live story of the militarisation of the world so-called ‘parties’ on the left. In my emphasis). On the one side, we almost all the gains from economic in a world where they enjoy the - a phenomenon that encompasses reality they are confessional sects. have scarcity, related to the emerging growth in recent decades have accrued benefits of automated production, everything from endless war in the Members who disagree with the ecological catastrophe: eg, lack of to 1% or less of the population” (pp22- while the rest of us pay the costs Middle East to black teenagers being prescribed ‘line’ are expected to land for food; on the other, we have an 23). He ends his introduction with: of ecological destruction, if we shot down by police on the streets of gag themselves in public. Either abundance of money/wealth, as well survive at all (p29). American cities” (p33). that or face expulsion. as technology itself - except it is in The two crises are fundamentally  Socialism: This is the “story about the hands of a few rich and powerful about inequality as well. They are It goes without saying that, if - and the climate crisis and our need to n Communists operate according people. (Cf the idea that communism about the distribution of scarcity when - the masses do rebel, “capitalism adapt to it”. Frase then adds that this to the principles of democratic already exists, but only for the 1%!) and abundance, about who will as a system of class power with a requires us to ditch what he calls centralism. Through ongoing debate Apropos automation, Frase asks, pay the costs of ecological damage ruling elite will try to preserve itself “old leftist shibboleths about nature we seek to achieve unity in action what has been the outcome of this so and who will enjoy the benefits into any possible future” (p30). That and the market”, which “impede us” and a common world outlook. As far? Labour’s demise has been greatly of a highly productive, automated is to put it mildly! To make matters (p32). He means Green-leftists, who long as they support agreed actions, exaggerated, despite an increase in economy. There are ways to worse, today the masses are moving put the preservation of nature above members should have the right to productivity (output per worker). reckon with the human impact on towards the right - ie, populism and that of human beings. speak openly and form temporary Instead we have a decline in traditional the earth’s climate, and there are nationalism - rather than to the left: ie, He asks to what extent we are or permanent factions. manufacturing, which leads to ways to ensure that automation socialism (as Marx and Engels et al required to reduce our carbon n Communists oppose all impe- unemployment, combined with a huge brings material prosperity for all define it). footprints. This rialist wars and occupations but increase in unskilled, low-wage jobs. rather than impoverishment and Therefore Frase appears to err constantly strive to bring to the fore This “doesn’t add anything to human desperation for most. But those on the side of rational pessimism: implies that nature exists in some the fundamental question–ending war flourishing”; it only “exists to enrich possible futures require a very he quotes the German sociologist, pristine state and that the task is bound up with ending capitalism. someone else’s bottom line” (p16). different kind of economic system Wolfgang Streeck: “the end of of humans is to withdraw from n Communists are internationalists. But then mass consumption is also than the one that became globally capitalism … is already under way ...” nature in order to save it. This way Everywhere we strive for the closest falling, because people do not earn dominant by the late 20th century According to Streeck, of thinking is ultimately a denial unity and agreement of working class enough to buy what is on offer. This (p23). of humans as natural biological and progressive parties of all countries. leads to capitalist underinvestment We cannot know when or how beings, inseparably a part of We oppose every manifestation and a decline in profits. exactly capitalism will disappear nature - just as [the technophile of national sectionalism. It is an The only rational solution for Solution and what will succeed it; what advocates] of transhumanism internationalist duty to uphold the capitalism would be to go back to The rest of his introduction is matters is that no force is on hand [my emphasis] yearn to upload principle, ‘One state, one party’. state interventionism: ie, a Keynesian devoted to Rosa Luxemburg’s thesis, that can be expected to reverse consciousness into computers n economic stimulus to train workers ‘either socialism or barbarism’ (my the three downward trends in in order to be free of the organic The working class must be for new, well-paid jobs that could be emphasis), which has its genesis in economic growth, social equality world altogether (p102). organised globally. Without a global created to replace the old ones - eg, a Marx. As Frase says, this is “truer and financial stability and end their Communist Party, a Communist Green New Deal to replace jobs based today than it has ever been” (p27). mutual reinforcement.2 Well said! But we need a revival of International, the struggle against on burning fossil fuels, which would At the same time, he reminds us the social revolution in order to re- capital is weakened and lacks help to solve the climate-change crisis. that technology and machines per establish the necessary harmony coordination. So far the managerial bureaucracy se are not the problem. Machines Futures between the human species and the n Communists have no interest which runs the system on behalf of should be made to “serve us rather Apropos Frase’s four possible futures, rest of nature. As for the market, it apart from the working class the capitalist class has refused to than controlling us as in the movie, this presents another problem, since will continue under socialism, until as a whole. They differ only in do that, fearing that it might lead to The matrix” (p28). In this regard, he puts them in an abstract way, which such a time when society is able to recognising the importance of a more militant working class and a he touches upon what he sees as a is also the wrong order: communism provide human needs in abundance Marxism as a guide to practice. revolutionary situation (cf 1968). For challenge to post-capitalist society versus rentism, socialism versus for all. But will we get there? That theory is no dogma, but the same reason, there is little appetite as well: even though production and exterminism. Maybe he decided that  Communism: For Frase, must be constantly added to and for the idea of a guaranteed minimum planning will be in the hands of the it is just too depressing to begin with communism is “when life is not enriched. income, in order to boost consumer majority, there will still be a problem a more realistic dialectic? It also centred around wage labour and n Capitalism in its ceaseless spending and stimulate growth. of automation, since the latter reduces contradicts his earlier pronouncement what kind of hierarchies and search for profit puts the future Yet the “spectre of climate crisis” the need for human labour, although, that, if things continue in the same conflicts arise, in a world no longer of humanity at risk. Capitalism is looms closer. Frase points out that “We will still have to do at least a way, then the most likely outcome structured by the master narrative synonymous with war, pollution, “those who deny the existence little work to manage and maintain the will be rentism and exterminism of capitalism” (p32). He could exploitation and crisis. As a global of human-caused climate change machine” (p28). (backed up by Streeck’s pessimistic have added Marx’s own ideas: ie, system capitalism can only be entirely … are backed by the very On the other hand, as Scott Meikle view of how capitalism might end). it means emancipated humanity, superseded globally. deep-pocketed corporate interests points out, eventually we will no But I shall proceed with what I because communist society n The capitalist class will never and [they] have prominent advocates longer have a society wherein “the consider to be the correct order! abolishes the contradiction between willingly allow their wealth and  within major political parties”. supply of social labour itself has the Rentism: This “is largely a “work and pleasure; between the power to be taken away by a Further, value form thrust upon it”. Compare reflection on intellectual property play of bodily and mental powers”. parliamentary vote. Marx’s “treatment of the value form, and what happens when the private The abolition of classes leads to the key question … is not whether which is at the heart of Capital ...” property form is applied to more and the gradual disappearance of the n We will use the most militant climate change is occurring, The latter begins with the idea of “an more immaterial patterns and concepts contradiction between intellectual methods objective circumstances but rather who will survive the essence in embryo, ‘the elementary that guide our culture and economy” and practical labour: ie, the all-sided allow to achieve a federal republic change ... It may be possible for or accidental form of value’ [which (p32). This is rather vague, but he development of the individual as of England, Scotland and Wales, a small elite to continue to pollute must then proceed] through a series spells this out more in a later chapter. homo aestheticus. In a communist a united, federal Ireland and a the planet, protecting their own of necessary metamorphoses of the It means that the internet is in private society “the associated producers United States of Europe. comfort while condemning most of form”, until we reach a society of corporate hands, which is rented regulate their interchange with n Communists favour industrial the world’s population to misery. abundance, whereupon the value form out for human needs: eg, finding a nature rationally, bring it under their unions. Bureaucracy and class But we cannot trust the free market comes to an end.1 place to live, getting information common control, instead of some compromise must be fought and to deliver solutions. Capitalism is coming to an end, but about philosophy, science, the arts, blind power”, and establishes the the trade unions transformed into under the conditions of scarcity and politics, etc - as well as unnecessary material basis for “the development schools for communism. For “the enlightened eco-capitalists abundance. Automation (which is in wants, which are manufactured by of human power, which is its own n Communists are champions of turn out to not really be so different abundance) is a constant, but for the the advertising industry. The latter end, the true realm of freedom ... The the oppressed. Women’s oppression, from the troglodyte denialists”. So majority this is nullified by ecological is a reflection of private property shortening of the working day is its combating racism and chauvinism, 4 far, the “high-tech solutions [are crisis and class power (p28). It then relations (which, as Marx says, have fundamental premise.” and the struggle for peace and only] accessible to the rich” (p20): eg, becomes a question of just how bad made us “so stupid and one-sided How will capitalism end? All the ecological sustainability are just electric cars. the ecological crisis will become, that an object is only ours when we evidence suggests that a transitional as much working class questions Frase rightly criticises the since it is doubtful that capitalism have it ...”), along with the “inverting capitalism is already under way. as pay, trade union rights and technophiles: eg, Martin Ford’s Rise will make the necessary shift in time power” of money, which “transforms But in the absence of a conscious demands for high-quality health, of the robots or Derek Thompson’s to renewable energy, combined with nonsense into reason and reason into revolutionary movement, it is moving housing and education. A world without work: “Each insists developing new methods - including nonsense”.3 towards rentism, combined with n Socialism represents victory that technology is rapidly making the useful application of automation, Again this is reinforced by the exterminism: hierarchy (of class rule) in the battle for democracy. It is work obsolete, but they flail vainly at artificial intelligence, even robots - bourgeois hierarchal division of and scarcity (climate change and the the rule of the working class. an answer to the problem of making to reverse climate change, as well labour: “Rentiers create nothing, slide towards ecological catastrophe Socialism is either democratic or, sure that technology leads to shared as the pollution and degradation make nothing, do nothing; they and species extinction, much of as with Stalin’s Soviet Union, it prosperity rather than increasing of the environment. As for class just passively accept the rewards of which we actually need for our own turns into its opposite. inequality.” More importantly, “The power, somehow the mass of direct ownership” (p73). This is a misuse existence) within an abundance of one thing missing from all these producers of surplus value have to of technology. Add to this the way in wealth, power and technology, which n Socialism is the first stage accounts … is politics and specifically develop adequate consciousness on a which the internet is being used for is in the hands of the 1%. of the worldwide transition to class struggle” (pp21-22). collective basis, in order to overthrow consumer surveillance: ie, the use of Thus, as things stand, we will be communism–a system which Finally Frase turns to the elephant the capitalist class. algorithms as a means to direct our lucky to get to socialism, let alone the knows neither wars, exploitation, in the room: “the crisis of the But in order for that to be achieved, attention towards the products which communism envisaged by Marx l money, classes, states nor nations. capitalist economy itself”. He points as I said earlier, both the masses the market thinks we are interested Rex Dunn Communism is general freedom out that “neither climate change - and the left - have to deal with in; not forgetting the way in which and the real beginning of human nor automation can be understood the impediment of the bourgeois the state uses internet technology to Notes history. as problems (or solutions) in and hierarchical division of labour and spy on the populace in defence of its 1. S Meikle Essentialism in the thought of Karl The Weekly Worker is licensed by of themselves”. Whilst he does not its effects: ie, the separation of interests. Thus rentism becomes the Marx London 1985, p10. November Publications under a Creative provide an extended analysis of the intellectual from practical labour, latest means for perpetuating scarcity 2. W Streeck, ‘How will capitalism end?’ New Left Commons Attribution-NonCommercial Review 2:87, 2014, p47. See Frase, p32. 4.0 International Licence: http:// causes of the crisis, at least he says which is imbedded within the in abundance, whilst we head towards 3. K Marx Economic and philosophical creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ that capitalism is coming to an end, structure of capitalist society. Frase an ecological catastrophe or even a manuscripts London 1992, p351, 378-79. legalcode. ISSN 1351-0150. so the crisis is terminal - not a ‘long does not consider this. But he is right nuclear war. 4. K Marx Capital Vol 3, Moscow 1966, p820. No 1255 June 13 2019 Legalise, regulate, enjoy Corbyn misses a trick While Labour prioritises blocking a no-deal Brexit, writes Eddie Ford, it has failed to respond in a principled way to Tory confessions of drug use ith the first round of voting in But Johnson finally broke his cannabis lassi whilst backpacking in the Tory leadership contest purdah on June 12, when he officially India and Rory Stewart had smoked W due to take place on June 13, launched his leadership campaign, opium at a wedding in Iran. While and 10 eager candidates in the race, taking questions from journalists. Sajid Javid has never taken anything events are already taking a dramatic He tried to come across as serious illegal, Dominic Raab, Andrea turn - always expect the unexpected, and businesslike, but he was unable Leadsom and Matt Hancock had all when it comes to Brexit. to give a straight answer when asked tried cannabis when students - but that Last week, leadership hopeful whether he would resign if Britain still is all, of course. Esther McVey too took Dominic Raab caused quite a stir remained in the EU after October 31. “some pot” when she was younger. when he refused to rule out proroguing Significantly, he refused to confirm Boris Johnson claimed has was offered (suspending) parliament in order to whether he had taken cocaine as a a “white substance” at university, but force through Brexit, in the belief that student even though in 2007 he had none went up his nose, because he that this would somehow strengthen the told GQ magazine that he had. He unfortunately sneezed - he had no idea UK’s negotiating position in Brussels. merely replied that he did “not want to whether it was cocaine or icing sugar.3 According to another candidate, Esther be blown off track”, as he is “focusing When questioned about this matter, McVey, proroguing was part of a on his vision for the future”. the non-drinking, non-smoking, “toolkit” that could be used to ensure Johnson’s tetchy response to this committed vegetarian and allotment Brexit is delivered by the October 31 question takes place in the context holder, Jeremy Corbyn, said he was not deadline set by the European Union. of Michael Gove’s recent cocaine concerned about Michael Gove’s past. Of course, Raab is perfectly right confession - which for a brief while Frankly, Corbyn missed a trick, as he on one level. The parliamentary overshadowed the leadership debate. does so often - here is a stick to give the arithmetic just does not add up for a Gove, needless to say, really really Tories a good beating (not to mention no-deal Brexit, or possibly any sort “regrets” taking cocaine on “several the social reactionaries within his own of Brexit at all, no matter who the occasions” when he was a journalist party). Yes, drugs were illegal 20 years Tories elect as leader. Whatever way 20 years ago. You can guarantee that ago when Gove was a hardworking you voted in the 2016 referendum, the Most of them seem to have done it he particularly regrets the claims in the journalist, and unfortunately still are. general election result of the following Mail on Sunday that he hosted a ‘drugs As a consequence, young people - year meant that Brexit was not going to Tory MP. Outlining the reasoning to be returning home in droves - party party’ at his Mayfair flat just hours after especially the poor and black - are happen - parliamentary gridlock. You and echoing comments by Bercow, membership seems to have increased writing an article condemning “middle- being given a criminal record and had Theresa May and her contradictory Labour’s Brexit spokesman Sir Keir in recent months from about 120,000 class professionals”, who “may be not a few find themselves banged up: ‘red lines’, saying you can have an Starmer declared that MPs “cannot to 160,000, even if some parts of the able to live with, manage and control in 2016 102,000 were sentenced for open border on the island of Ireland be bystanders” while the next prime media and remainer Tory MPs stupidly drug use, much as they have grown drugs offences and over 9,000 jailed. and be outside the EU’s customs union minister “tries to crash the UK out of call the newcomers ‘infiltrators’. On used to managing adultery”. Nothing What Jeremy Corbyn should be and single market - something else that the European Union without a deal the other hand, the Tories probably hypocritical about that, is there? demanding is the legalisation of all does not stack up. Hence we ended up and without the consent of the British cannot win a general election with this Nor is there anything hypocritical drugs currently criminalised - not with May’s attempt at Brino (‘Brexit people”. However, the motion was group alone - they need a leader able about endorsing a government policy just cannabis - so they can be quality- in name only’) - a pointless exercise narrowly defeated. to attract swing voters, who are neither of banning teachers for life from the controlled and regulated just like if ever there was one. Inevitably, this Of course, this only makes it committed ‘leavers’ nor ‘remainers’. profession if they take class A drugs alcohol. You should know exactly what proved totally unsatisfactory for both even more likely that prime minister Meanwhile, over the next two like cocaine - banish the very thought. you are taking: its strength, ingredients, Brexit hardliners and many remainers Boris Johnson (or whoever) will weeks, all 313 Tory MPs will take part And there is definitely nothing a impurities, etc. In that way people can or soft Brexiteers - leading to the call a snap general election in the in a series of ballots to whittle down bit shifty about taking legal advice relax and have fun with the drugs of biggest defeat in parliamentary history hope of hoovering up Nigel Farage’s the contenders one by one until only from a QC regarding the visa waiver their choice - it should not be a matter (230 votes) for the prime minister’s voter base, beat the ‘fence-sitting’ two are left - assuming we do not have form for entry into the United States, of criminal law. But drearily the advice dog’s dinner withdrawal agreement. Jeremy Corbyn, and secure a Brexit another coronation, that is. The party which asks, “Have you ever violated from Seamus Milne and the others Naturally, the remarks from mandate from the British people in a rank and file will then pick a winner any law related to possessing, using wrapped around Corbyn is to play it Raab and McVey about proroguing reconfigured parliament: something in a postal ballot, with the result being or distributing illegal drugs?” Our safe and ignore controversial issues - parliament elicited a furious response. that the departing prime minister announced in the penultimate week honourable QC, unlike everybody else, just stick to the NHS and austerity. John Bercow, the redoubtable speaker spectacularly failed to do two years of July - it goes without saying that is “satisfied that Michael completed his Now, it might be true that in and of the House of Commons, bluntly ago. To this end, a Daily Telegraph Johnson will win by a landslide if his forms correctly”. After all, it would be of itself the public does not care two retorted that it is “simply not going commissioned poll from ComRes name gets onto the final ballot paper. a little humiliating for a British prime hoots whether some MP took cocaine, to happen”. Equally outraged (and asked how people would vote with Since announcing he was running minister to be forbidden entry to the US LSD or cannabis 20 years ago. But it is reflecting widespread opinion among alternative candidates as leader. You for leader four weeks ago Johnson has because of past drugs misdemeanours. a real problem when they vote to keep Tory MPs), Rory Stewart, another will not be too shocked to discover that only given one newspaper interview. Gove’s confession was, of course, it criminal l leadership contender, denounced any Boris Johnson came out on top, the His ‘submarine strategy’ has clearly not the result of a sudden desire such move as “unconstitutional”, polling suggesting he could produce been devised by his team with the idea to come clean - it was about news [email protected] “undemocratic” and “illegal”. Whether a Commons majority of 140 for the of keeping him out of trouble - just one management, as is normally the case that is strictly true or not is a matter Tories, whilst under all his rivals there ill-chosen remark or attempted joke in such situations. Next month a Notes of debate. Sir Geoffrey Cox, the would be a hung parliament. could sink his campaign. But that is the biography of him will be published by 1. www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political- attorney general, told the cabinet that Obviously this finding needs to be nature of leadership contests, which Owen Bennett - Michael Gove: man parties/conservative-party/news/104499/andrea- suspending parliament to allow a taken with a mountain-sized pinch of is exactly why Tories instinctively in a hurry (so pre-order now to avoid leadsom-insists-it-not-possible. 2 2. www.amazon.co.uk/Michael-Gove-Hurry- no-deal Brexit is not illegal - merely salt, but there is very little doubt that prefer a coronation - wanting to avoid disappointment) . Owen-Bennett/dp/178590440X/ “unconstitutional” and “improper”. Johnson has most appeal to former damaging TV debates where all the There were similar revelations 3. www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/09/ Andrea ‘Loathsome’ Leadsom Tories who are currently supporting candidates risk making themselves about other leadership contenders. high-tories-how-the-leadership-candidates-drug- rushed in to say that proroguing Farage’s Brexit Party. Many appear look like complete idiots. For example, Jeremy Hunt had drunk pasts-compare. parliament was neither workable nor necessary, as parliament had now Subscribe Name:______Standing order run out of ways of blocking a no- 6m 1yr Inst. 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