anarchistmonthly

OrganisingAnarchy DAM. Clydeside The new collectivehas done all it humanly can, short of alwayssuppressing the truth, D to create good relations with Block Flog. They have been snotty and paranoid in return. Our policy is to ignoretheir crap, without forgetting what it saysabout their a 'pofitics'. lt's not iust Freedomwho find them impossible,so don't lecture us when o possibly you can't know how disgustingand uncomradelythey can be. We won't G mention them in our pagesif you don't. o ( j I DearComrades, Commonweolrailed againstFreedom's Enclosedis my subscriptionfor a yearin founders,'theKropotkin-Wilson crowd'. people who edit it, and don't want to t approval of the proposedchanges fot The llord frothed against Freedom's read his personalattacks. And we alsodo t Freedomin the new year. editor Tom Keell. ln 1945 one of Free- not need paragraphsand paragraphsof t However,I must take issuewith Sttl dom's rivals even stooped to physical self-justification from you; the paper I about the reasonsfor myselfleaving, the attack, smashingtype on the presswith shouldbe good enoughto speakfor itself. I subscriptionlist wasa matterof concerrl sledgehammers. These days there is no Black Flog hasthe sameproblem; loads I but not the main reasonfor me leaving. threat of physical attack, but the tradi- of silly personalslaggings off and gossip. I After all someof usappeared with mono. tion of written abuseis carriedon by yet We don't needit. lf anotherpaper makes I tonousregularity year after year producingi anotherenvious contemporary. allegationsagainst Freedom, pleasetry to I a fortnightly the difficultiesof whichthe Freedom's rule has been to ignore ignore it. The spaceyour repliestake up I present,editors now, no doubt, fullyt abuse from dotty comrades,as a self- could be fat better spent on more I appreciate;you either get tired or sorn€. respectingadult would ignoreabuse from constructivearticles. a thing happensthat you cannotstomach, a drunken colleagueor a dementedrela- Here'sto more Freedomslike the one I then you leave. tive. There have been lapsesfrom the for October. a I myself left for the latter reason,and rule, when the gratuitousinsults became JohnnyYen in doing so helpedto startanother maga- too much for a particular editor; re- Actually it was the October issue that zine, the GreenAnsrchlSf where we have grettablelapses. causedthe row with Albert . . . glad you ground of found a whole fertile new As anyone who has been on a demo liked it. peopleinterested in anarchistideas. will testify, yelling back at people It is interesting'tonote in regardto shouting Bollocks! from the sidelines Hopefully the new collectivecan make DavidK oven'sletter that thoseof uswho doesnot shutthem up. lt only encourages Freedom a little more outgoing and less havegiven help in supportof minersand them. the in-grouphouse journal that it hasbeen familieshave also been asked for political Donald Rooum for so long. Freedom (the 1886 version) literatureof all sorts. started out as anarchist+ommunist,and Finally,I hope that spaceis not going; variousFreedoms since then haveclaimed to be given to vacuous and irrelevant to be anarchistcommunist. argumentsabout who holdsthe holy writ 7ffii then do you devote so much Why of anarchistthought in this country. spaceto the right-wing'libertarians'and Fraternally. . . 'anarcho+apitalists'.Most of the reader- Alan Albon shipclassifies itself as anarchisttommunist, I was only pulling friendly legsover the anarcho-syndicalist or libertarian-socialist, subs saga,Alan. I know you had more October, Yes - December, No and I'm surethey don't want to readsuch than honourable re:$ons for leaving. trash. Good luck with the Greenthing. As an irregularreader of your paperover The Decemberissue had one and a third' Stu the yearsthere is one thing that annoys pagesdevoted to tlriscontroversy.Cou ldn't me,and this isall the personalslaggingoff it be more usefullyused to reporton the of other anarchiststhat goeson. When I miners'strike, other industrialmilitancy, first read Freedomfive yearsago, I found andaction in the communityand the anti-' that I had to buy it regularlyto keepup war movement? with allyour correspondentsand ed itorials, And couldn't we have a bit lessof as a letter in one issueinevitably sparked the sectarian bickering in the pagesof off a seriesof repliesand further replies Freedom? | know you have to reply to that could last for months.This often attacks,but couldn't you limit the space tends to be introspectiveand petty; And for this? anyway,we all know that the one thing I agree with Walter Westphal that we anarchistsagree on is that we disagree. libertarian publicationsshould be sold I thought at one stagethat this habit more widespreadly,and includingdemon- wasdisappearing, eipecially when I bought strations. But for such papers to be InsultingFreedom the October issue.This, I thought, was :sellable,they shouldattempt to introduce one of the best Freedoms I have read. libertarian ideas and libertarian ways of As long as there has been an anarchist The dearth of so many slaggingoff letters organisingto working classpeople, and press, there have bepn papers claiming meant better newscov€rage, more diverse ,they should drop the obscurelanguage to be anarchistpropaganda sheets, which articles and excellent book reviews. and obscuretopics that seemso popular in practiee denigrated anarchism by Great. at the moment. slagging off other anarchist papers. ln UnfortunatelyI missedthe November llor Commentary was a classstruggle this country Freedom was always the issue.When I picked up the December paper,they reportedon the latestindustrial main target of such nonsense,because issue I fsund the old recrimination action,they hadgood cartoons from John it was the first established,and tried to syndrome back worse than ever. Most Olday, etc. Can't you turn Freedom into present anarchismas intellectuallyre' people who read Freedomdo so because somethinglike that? spectable. they like the paper;they don't givea toss Nick Heath

4 I I DearFriends, ' to consider anarcho-pacifismas a valid NewLondon Group Thingsare quite excitingover here. 'alternativeto the 'Bomband Burn'school Quite a lot of directaction (ogcupation of thought(though?) We are a group of anarchists, anti- of WesternMining offices, die ins at re- ,._lt would be good to devote an entire militaristsand non-party socialistswho cruitingoffices, protests at warships and, isiueto the questionof violence;after all, are committedto direct action.Our acti- plenty of course,the womenspeace camp at there are of argumentsfor rejecting vities so far have-ranged from participa- CockburnSound). Most gratifyingafter violence as being incompatible with tion in masseveirts such as'Stop the City', previous years of dull meetingsand anarchism. Anarchists have always ReclaimChilwell and the blockadeof nothingmuch doingJ ust hope it lasts. criticisedMarxism for its belief that the LancasterHouse, to smalleractions like Inter-anarchistdisputes are incredibly end justifies the means(eg, the dictator- the recent incursionsin Upper Heyford boringif you don't know the personali- ship of the proletariatwill lead to the USAF base. We were instrumentalin ties involved(which few heredo). lt may abolition of the State). How can the initiatingthe occupationof the CEGB in be that politically I would be closerto organ of violence that is the State be supportof the minersthis July, and have the BlackFlag mob - if I werein London. abolishedby armed revolutionaries,who been making regularcollections foi the Certainlysocially I think I'd feelmore at will themselves become an organ of minerssince the strike began.We believe homewith you lot - if I wasin London. violence - a new State?All anarchisti in the masstransformation of society by But l'm not and find the wholething recognisethat authority restson violence; the activeparticipation of all people. looks a bit silly. lf I wasyou I'd be why is it they cannot(or do not want to) Pleaseadd our name to your list of totally ruthlessin suppressingthe issue seethat the reverseis alsotrue? Authority contacts: from the pagesof Freedomand put all is violence;violence is authority. [Eds: StreathamAction Group, energiesinto gettingout a really good Rubbish!l clo'121 Books, anarchistpaper - which Freedomthese The criticism levelled at anarcho- 121, RailtonRoad, days shows some signs of becoming pacifism- implicit in the label'quietist' London,SE24. again. - that its plan for action (total non- Mike participationin the Stateand non-violent LibertarianResource Centre resistanceto it, as well as the creationof Volya is an independent democratic Fremantle,W Australia alternativestructures) gets nowhere is just journal. Our aim is to providea regular as true of ?evolutionary' violence. sourceof news and analysisconcerning Violence only givesthe State an excuse the strugglesof workers, dissidentsand for even greaterrepression and awakens oppressedminorities in the so-called not revolution, but reaction in your socialistcountries of the world. lt is our average Johnny. Violence cannot be contentionthat thesecountries are not, in compatiblewith a belief in the dignity fact, socialistor at leastdo not exemplify and inviolabilityof human life, with a the kind of socialismwe areinterested in Pacifism and Violence belief in the right of everyindividual to promoting,namely free, democratic, graSs- rule over their own life. Oh, I see,you roots socialism.Instead these countries It wasirolic that half of the issuein which meant every individual you didn't gun exhibit a new form of classsociety as Colin Wardstated 'the anarchistsbitterest down in your revolution,who isn't a pig exploitativeand oppressiveas western disputes are internal' should be devoted or a capitalist or a soldier or a civil monopolycapitalism. Yet in spite of all to the fruitless feuding the anarchist s,ervant. Strikes me that that means the evidenceto support this view there movementseems to haveslipped into. lf freedom for those who agree with you are still those on the left who regardthe anarchistsspent about half as much time and no-one else. The reason,for the Sovietmodel of 'actuallyexistingsocial ism' underminingthe State (by refusingto insignificanceof the present anarchist as worthy of emulation.We believethat subsidiseit for a start - | wonder how movementisn't a lackof 'heroes'prepared there is nothing to be gainedand every- many anarchistsmeekly pay their taxes?) to shoot the pigs and bomb no 10; it's thing to be lost if the labourmovement as they spend accusingone another of far more the failure of anarchiststo live adopts this approach. lt enables the being 'anti-anarchist'or 'dupes of the up to their ideals(preaching revolution championsof reactionto smearsocialists fascists',maybe we wouldn't end up with whilst subsidisingand participatingin with the charge of wanting to destroy Colin Ward havingto admit 'the failure reaction)together with the public belief, democracy and set up East-European of anarchism,as a political movement,to encouraged by those who advocated style dictatorships.lf humanity is to win the support of more than almost 'revolutionary'violence, that anarchism's surviveinto the next century let alone invisible minorities in most of the answerto everythingis the bulletand the build a societyworthy of humanbeings populationsof the world'. All this mud- bomb. asself-active, self-emerging individuals then slinging and witch hunting between For non-violentrevolution. . . the demystification of both the theory Freedom, the Anarchist Black Crossand Anark and practice of Stalinisttotalitarianism DAM, just remindsme of Stalinistpurges PS lf Freedom prints this letter in full, it is an urgentnecessity, an itemto beplaced and the heresytrials of the lnquisition. shows you'ie less sectarian than the at the top of the political agenda.Volyois Quit the bickering;the State'sthe enemy, AnarchistBlack Cross:I'd be interested intended as a modest contribution to remember? to hear the refutationsof all these 'tired this process.We invite our readers to Two points about the new Freedom. old pacifistargu ments'. contributeas well by sendingus letters, Firstly,the new format soundsgood (but articles,reviews and criticism.Above all if the 'news'is moresquabbling, I'd rather [Eds: We are not interestedin providinga we welcomefinancial help whether in the have just'views'). Secdndly,the most great deal of spaceto a pacifist v bombist form of donationsor subscriptions.Our positive thing about the new Freedom is 'war of words'. Neitherside ever listens to subscriptionrates are as follows: A K Brown'sexcellent article, 'Bang f in anybody else, and both have retreated Ordinarysub f2 the Novemberissue. However, the graphics, into a fantasy.world where the real Overseassub f3 as David Kovan mentioned, and the consequencesof their actions are not Supportingsub f5 perjorativelabel 'quietists'on Freedom's allowed to 'intrude' upon the .truth, of Make chequesand postal orders payable booklistdampen my enthusiasmfor what their ideologies.Andy Brown is not a to T Liddle and send to: VOLYA, 83 looked like a rareexample of willingness pacifist,or anything like, by the way.] GregoryCrescent, London SE9 5RZ. DAMNESTY AN EVERYDAYSTORY OF SYNDICALISTFOLK

S London DAM: A casestudy in SLDAM would obviouslylike to label DAM AmuseSheffield Anarcho-Stalinism me as 'The man who wanted to vote Labour' and no mention of the reasons I am not accustomedto writing letters I wasn'tgoing to say anythingabout my why, but do they expectyour readersto to Freedom, and I have been happy to go just possibleexpulsion from DAM while it is along with this and damn me follow the Larkin/DAM debate with still in the balance,but the letter from becauseI am associatedwith one of the detatched amusement so far. However, Peter Yeril (presumablyendorsed by 'Symbols of Satan'. I shareda house when I read Peter Yeril's referenceto SLDAM) demandsmy response.I don't with a black cat at the time, if he'd only Sheffieldin his letter in the last issue,I know what his excuseis for stoopingto knownhe couldhave thrown that in too. thought Freedom readers might be slander, but his letter is nevertheless PY points out the safeguardssurround- interestedin the truth (just for history's worth analysingas a classic case of ing DAM's procedurefor expulsions,but sake). Anarcho-Stalinsim. fails to mention that they are thereas the lf I may refresh readers' memories I really was flabbergastedto read of result of a motion I put forward at with what Peter Yeril said, 'He (Larkin) the 'comradely warnings' that had Glasgow. They have already amply olso advocated thot DAM memben should supposedlycome my way before they demonstratedtheir contemptfor natural vote Lobour when in Sheffield, which is justice tried to expel me. The facts are that I as detailedabove. tike voting for the CP in Russio! The repdrted my perspectiveon Spain to a Finally, the reactionsof SLDAM to Sheffield group dissolved itself, onother DAM conferencein Hull on December my reportsof 'Mafiastyle intimidations' in m em ber resign ed i n protest ot th e cont i n u ed 3rd 1983, and no one seemedupset. the CNT illustratesperfectly the doctrine membershipof Mr Lorkin', A motion was even passedaffirming the of divine infalibility.Obviously I didn't When in existance Sheffield DAM right to publish information about any make these claims lightly, they came consistedof three people- Mick Larkin, groups we saw fit. A full report went in after I'd receivedevidence from Spanish Heather and Heather'sboyfriend (whose the lnternol Bulletin and nobody comradesI know well and I studiedthe nameI don't know). They wereas active complained. casefrom both sidesusing the fundamental as most DAM groups,which meantthat In August,without a word to me,and conceptsof investigativejournalism, eg very few people actually knew of their giving me no opportunity to answerthe plausibility of ascribed motives, etc. existence. charges,SLDAM tried to haveme expelled SLDAM etc apparently prefer systems In the run-up to the 1983 General at a meetingcalled to discusspublications. of 'logic' normally associatedwith the Election,Mick Larkinnot only advocated lnsteadthe Secretarywas asked to write to SpanishInquisition, eg'You con't say that DAM membersshould vote Labour, me, whichhe did, but I gotthe impression that about a section of the IWA', as if but that everybody should. Heather's it was at the request of a handful of there was some law of physicswhich boyfriend also advocated that people individuals.PY characterisesmy response made my claims inherently impossible. vote Labour. And Heather (who con- as '&n't be bothered to reply'which is So they leaveit atthat, confident that all venientlyremembers this only 18 months an interpretationyou could draw if you righteouspeople will see me for the after, at the first North-East DAM only readthe first sentenceof the letter. hereticI am. conferenceas fuel for the DAM purge), Anyone who reads further (and it's I'm alwayswilling to acceptthat there far from resigning,said nothing, although printed in the September lnternol are two sidesto eachcase, but SLDAM she was the only member of Sheffield Bulletin) will seeit actuallyjusr saysthat and the Voticqn TimeslBlock Flag,despite DAM not to vote Labour. I'd prefer to reply through the lB than their claim to be 'defendersof the faith'. I cannot remember when Sheffield answerindividuals one at a time. lf you have given us precious few hard facts DAM ceasedtrading exactly (they were sling enoughmud, PY, someof it might apout the CNT-A|T's view of the split. not greatlymissed), but it wasdefinately stick, but try and choose situations That they are content to just serveup some months after the election. lt was where the real facts aren't so easy to little more than ritual denunciationsis caused more by the disappearanceof ascertain. eithera commenton theirown intelligence Heather'sboyfriend, and Mick Larkin What happenedin Sheffieldwould be or what they assumetheir readersto be. moving further north, than for any more suitablein this respect.I think one ln fact, if you want to get the CNT-AlT's politicalreason. bloke left to join the LabourParty, but perspective,such as specificreasons why What a joke these people are. Maybe I certainlydidn't encouragehim! Notthat they opposethe'works committees or the DAM couldcarry out a censusto find out I deny writing 'lAhy not vote Lobour?', details of Spain'snew anti-tradeunion how many DAM membersvoted Labour, whichbasically just suggested that'They're law, there'sone Englishlanguage paper and thosethat answeredtruthfully could all the same',might be a simplisticbasis that can giveyou them, it's calledSinews. be expeiledas well. for analysing pafty politics and that Nuff Sed,comrades? I think the rest of your readersknow electinga Labour Governmentcould be Mick Larkin exactly what is goingon with the Larkin/ the best. way to demonstrate what a DAM affair, and it is thereforenot worth shower they are, a la Mitterand.Maybe commentingon further.DAM fool nobody the whole article was rubbish,it wasn't, but themselves.Love and anarchy . . . . but even if ti was, is it a crime to be Sinews costs 25p from SlN, 49a South Barn confused?After all, it was only in the Terrace, Esh Winning, County Durham, Sheffield IB, EnglandDH7 9PS. constitutionallyproper placesto discuss attitudes must have no place in the DAM Bossism the sackingof a member - especially anarchistmovement, We are, after all, a when the member is not Present. I movementof freedom. I must take issue with Stu Stuart and understandthat the Londonersliving so Again, my comradeBob Manderhere PeterYeril on their commentsabout the near to the seat of governmentmay feel in Swanseahas also had a difficult time proposedsacking of Mick Larkin from they have specialrights over the rest ot with the SLDAM. He wrote a while ago DAM andthe DAM congtitution. the movement, but even they cannot to a section of the CNT-AIT to ask for My only concern is to defend the constitutionally 'jump the gun' and moneyfor hisMiners'Support Group. He DAM and its constitutionfrom abuse.In disassociatethemselves from any paid up duly receiveda donationfrom them.The this caseit is not only the DAM constitu- memberof DAM. lnternationalSecretary of the DAM (part tion which is at fault, asMr Stuartsuggests, Bossismis a dreadful disease- we are of the SLDAM) wrote angrily back but those who seek to flout it in their all susceptibleto it at times - and the demanding that in future all foreign efforts to get rid of people with whom Londoners,who have done many good correspondencebe handledthrough the they disagree,like Mick Larkin.Rules are things,must not now losetheir senseof lS alonel Such authoritariancentralism only signpostsappealing for recognition. judgementin their efforts to pleasethe leavesno room for localinitiative -which Now Mr Yeril and the Londonershave IWA-AIT Secretariat.lf the dignity of is a fundamentally anarchist way of ably arguedthe casefor ignoringthe rules DAM is to be retained,we must be more organising.Perhaps the lS would like the and firing Mr Larkin on accountof his than a rubber stampfor someimaginary money returned?The SLDAM clearly wicked 'iCeasand practice'.Larkin has bossesin Madridor WestGermanY. revealthemselves to behigh ly authoritarian. circulatedcriticisms of the CNT-AIT and Brian Bamford Let'sexpose them onceand for all. apparently 'advocated DAM members And why arethe SLDAM sofrightened shouldvote Labour in Sheffield'.These, of open debatewith Mick in the general though they are solemnsins in the eyes anarchist press and not solely in the of some, are not contrary to DAM's Whatare they frightenedof? DAM's lnternol Bulletin? (lncidentally, , rules. comrades,I'm still waiting for mine!). It mattersnot at all if, as Mr Yeril After a brief period of absencefrom the Many (perhapsmost) British anarchists claims,". many membersof DAM as BritishAnarchist movement I find reading look to the DAM as a sourceof encourage- well as our own confederates in the the pages of Freedom and Black Flag ment and inspirationwhilst not being Internaiional Workers Association were Bulletin brings me much distress.Once prepared to join it themselves.Many of pissedoff with his ideasand practice". againour movementis beingdisrupted by them seethe DAM as the most important Simply becausesome peopledon't take squabblesand infighting. Naturally, debate anarchistgroup in the country - and it a shine to Larkin or anyoneelse is not is only healthy- and we arein needof a is certainly doing more for anarchism good groundsfor dismissal.The rulesof great deal more of it - but the recent than any other group. Becauseof this it DAM arenot purgatives. letters.pagesof thesetwo excellentpapers is only right that such a debateshould Whtt is at issue here is not whether revealedsomething less than comradely be carriedout whereall of us can follow Mick Larkin is straying from some debate. it - it hasconsequences for usall. imaginaryparty line,but ratherif London I refer in particularto the vilification The diatribe between Albert Meltzer DAM can make up the rules as they go of our comrade Mick Larkin by the and Freedomis also very saddening.I do along,try to dragoonthe nationalmember- membersof the S London DAM branch. not wish to take sides;will you please ship, and disassociatethemselves from I begin to wonder if they havenot in fact both havethe humility to becomerecon- fellow membersin advanceof National beeninfiltrated by somefascist or trotsky- Ciled?Pleasel Conferencedecisions. Mr Yeril's letter ist group. Whaton earthare the SLDAM so Yours for an end to mud-slinging,let merely cataloguesthose blatant breaches frightened of? Are they so authoritarian therebe morelightl by the Londoners.Neitherthe Manchester that they are incapable of tolerating JohnAndrew meetingof the publicationscommission opinionswhich do not correspondto their PSThe quality of Freedomhas improved nor a Summer School in BurnieY are own rigid and dogmaticapproach? Such greatly.Keep up the good work.

6Gs^;h Y@@ Anarchistsin Clydeside:Activities Past a

Despite the supposed 'downturn' in . i 890 when the first anarchistgroup was Commune, and with the continuity of revolutionarypolitics associated with the. formed out of the disintegrationof the agitators such as Willie McDougall and economicmanagement of the 'capitalist Socialist League.There is a tendencyfor JamesN4urray into the early1930s. They crisis',activities collectively organised by breaksin continuity betweensuccessive survived the 'Cat and Mouse' arrestsof Clydesideanarchists have increasedin . generationsof anarchistmilitant - for the First World War, the demoralisation recentyears. The 'ebb and flow'of such example,the 1890s group that continued, of the experienceof the failure of the collective activity owes much to the, despite the generaldecline nationwide revolutionarywave to spreadsuccessively encouragementof the riots of 1981, the . throughthe BoerWar and sporadicallyin beyond Russia,mass unemployment, the anti-militarist agitation of 1982, the, Glasgowand Paisleyin the early 1900s, experienceof the Labour Party in power, initiative to launch public meetings. until succeededby the George Barret the debacle of the 1926 GeneralStrike including street-speakingin 1983, and' sponsoredThe Anorchisf nationalweekly and the 'NationalBolshevist' domination supportfor the miners'strike in 1984. pro-tradeunion paper of 1912, was in of the revolutionaryLeft. Another genera- The legacyof anarchism,in its varients turn supercededby local involvementin tion of anarchistscame to prominence of anarcho-syndicalism, libertarian, Guy Aldred'santi-parliamentarian papers during World War Two, when Glasgow communismand Stirnerismdates back to The Herold of Revolt, The Spur and The Anarchists provided the principal street and industrial opposition amongstthe workingclass, an influencethat waspartly reffected in the pagesof llorCommentory and in the AFB Secretaryship.However, with few efceptions, this generation,in the wake of post-war construction and the Cold War, ceasedactivity within a few yearsof the end of the War. In the 1960sa new cycleof anarchist militancy arose. There was less reliance T$-. ,@r on the propagandist role and more attachment to direct action methods. autonomous group, for ITI 'Solidarity' example, was formed out of the direct DA]IGER! action rift with the CND, andthe needto stimulatea responsein workplaces.The lNltot turnover intensifiedduring the '60s with the onset of educateddeclasse elements replacingthe self-educatedproletarian of lffil the past, increased,and there was often Iittle continuity betweensuccessive groups. $pringburn This was evident when the Glasgow AnarchistGroup was revived in 1975,and shopping there was little continuity with the h'a Organisationof RevolutionaryAnarchists scandal group of 197"1-3,or the magazineBlock 6fl €m cNsrtTLI Skelf. Cultural rebellionand the margina- T[[ STIOPPINCCENTRE D F: ' lisationof the revolutionaryminority in I ?ifa' llii::l';,TItj,.rfffl*'i I Fl\|/ {*"'o'n'o n^urru*, squatsand alternativeprojects had taken !9.c.e.'. I qASqrwt t place.'To go to the people'through'fair *'" N9 19E[ .'{. )arl r eDehrary I fares'; claimants'union and community P isPoRT IASSPORf PA$PORT @P, I rE. c.r. b. Etd .itu, "."T:'::;Ji:.,6atra9 irc radicaf papers (Glosgow Peoplel Press, 1977-8) becamethe attitude to counter the senseof separationof therevolutionary 'ii-:':-.:-/w,J..'||ry.idcr\0l,vntl^a:.ffi#ks" rc€rr) d.orroytng #I#;;';' thi. ballot p.Der. Ihev a.; group from the class, :,r cnarrcngrng working while r.Brct f6r the Stet6 rnd ih. rt ieek to politic.l pa.r.r-s, il m6t6tain it: ire identifying as factions with Anarchist C@Eilta, i.!& U^rons, tr rne.prEoF, qadio d lclevr€j6, th. Aricd iorc6s n'enrs rhloughut tha hrld. Worker, Solidarity for Sociol Revolution, Black Flog and situationism becamethe

;i ffi)uh.J f,iqdh I t I I .r cn.. hrnrii '' j order of the day. This was also the era , ..dNdh.r'k.tr.d I I Frtrd i. .it il * ,ry 'dtd rr-r!il... b..diEb rnil. when anti-sexismcame into being,and ddr.i ( t* Ar. ]) 'd*-p-Ed--d od E-rrri.i4a-Ga increasinglyradical women retreatedinto the feminist ;'' Lr - movement. The present group of Clydeside .!o rirh to dt.r .ttentioh to thi3 q@,. uG of rh. !t 489 ct, yegtern 'dshop na. $ eiaiir"o adoie"s Anarchists gradually emerged in the "Bor ),, Ed rern ploplc thst .6s..rr tt ri""i" ."ii Er. o?.a subversrv.,netu.€ d suoportraq s rldf 11 period tn thr ..teblt.h.d ord.i.., 198"112 asa resultofthe developing activity around the magazinePracticol llto (nre * rf i tl o+"nr.. Anorchy which hadstarted life asa fanzine I I andPresent

in Paisley,became a Clydesideproject the policeagainst collectors and to attempt and was transformed into a monthly to p reventdirectdispersal of fundscol lected broadsheetfrom April 1982 onwards, to local mining communities.They have with the 'Fuck the Falklands' lead not succeededin preventingthis, f3,000 article. Other projects of that year, such having been collected and directly as a youth group,did not materialise,but dispersed,and contactsare developing anarchismbecame outward looking again in the Lothians and Ayrshire mining through workplace, local and 'demo' communities.Similarly the PriceWater- distribution. There was participationin houseoccupation has attracted widespread an alternativebookshop, the publication mediaattention and directedopposition of a number of pamphlets,3ll now againstthe roleof the State'ssequestrators Argyfe$treot: out of print (The Bourgeois Role of and the trial of twelve anarchistsand Bolshevism, GPP, The End of Music, Art unemployedactivists is due in December. ond Anorchism and Educotion: The As Prqctical Anarchy has developed, 000raised ,Anorchist Approach, Autonomy Press), there has been a pronouncedshift from and the occasionalimaginative leaflet at discussionto agitationarticles. Two issues the time of the Falklands.The new core of an expandedfour-page paper version groupincluded many m il itantsd isil lusioned have beenproduced, accomodating some HERE'S WHERE YOUR MONEY HAS GONE,.. groups articlesof propagandist with Trotskyite such as the SWP a wider nature, f 1,500... Ayrahirc N.U.M. and Militant,although the practiceof the while anotherdevelopment has been the f 150 ,.... N.U.M. ( Cumock Relly) broadsheetas 'organiser'was carried over, creation of a quarterly journal, the first t250 ..... N.U.M. ( Glcgow Relly) .At a two the f,150 .,... Polmaisc WivcE Euppat Croup rough calculation, over 90,000 issuesunder banner Clydeside 1100.,.... Liranhced Srrikc C@ue such broadsheetsand leaflets have been Anorchist, and future issues will be t100 ..... Muirkirt tomonr Sqtpqt crep distributedin the past coupleof years.* autonomouslyproduced under a different f 100 ..... !'fuirkirk Stritc Ccntrc f 10 ...... Homlcrc Mincr from Bold Collicrv It is alwaysdifficult to gaugethe response, headlineto providea forum for reflection l5O ,...,., polmisc WomcnsSuFpora Gtoup althoughthe style has beendeliberately on theory, strategyand analysis of modern f50 ...... StLling Strilc Ccnrc 'popular', well-producedand geared society.The gioup's strong point,however, f,100 ..... Patns Lrdlcr Suppgrt C to a €100 .,.,. DElmllington Lsdior crcup tabloid readership in a way few other is the level of activity and, in recent flO0 ..... Drongan f,omenr Aid anarchistleaflets seem to haveattempted. months,an increasingnumber of animal f IOO Dalrrnplc llofr.n{ sr{'p,,rt Gtep 150 .,..... Patna Strike Ccntre The Left have to sit up and take notice, rights activibtsand punks have identified l5O ,...... Kirkonnell Strike Ccntrc especiallyin the wake of the Tory land- with this emphasis,and in particular f,50 ..,.,,.Sanquhar Strike Ccntrc slideof 1983 public 150 ...,...Ncw Cumock Strike Centrc and the number of d irectactionand support activity assoc[ated f, 5O ...... Ncrhorthird Strike Centre meetingsand streetpresence of the Clyde- with the minersstrike.*x f, 50 .,..... Kirkconncll Strikc Contre sideAnarchists, through the establishment Becausethe group is not concentrated f5O ,,.....Sanquhar $rike Ccntre f,5O ...,...Cumck Strik€ CGritre of a speakingpitch in Argyle Street, a around squats and is geographically f,5O ..,..,. kgan Strikc CcntrG pedestrianshopping precinct, and the dispersed,individuals are mandatedas €50 ,...... trituirkirkStrikc Contre proliferation 150 ...,... Auchinlcck Skikc Ccntre of local news-sheetssuch office-bearerswithin the group, which is €50 ...... CEtrinc S.Iikc Ccnt.e as Springburn Follies, l4/est End Crimes, composedmainly of unemployedmilitants f50 ...... Mruchlinc Sarikc Ccnce Toejom (Kilmarnock), Refuse (East and consequentlyfundraising t5 O ,...... Coyltm Strikc Ccntr€ Kil- for the t50 ..;.,..Drongan Stsike Contrc bride) and Block Boirn (faltirt), with the printing is a constant drawback. The f, 5 0 ...... Dalrynplc Strikc Centre parochialand the vitriol combined.As group,while becoming more concentrated f,50 ...... Ayr Strikc Centrc €50 ...... with successivegroups form the '60s on certain activities of late, has always Fallin Min"rs lVircs Rclief Fund r f 50 ...... Dslmlur8too Striko CcntrG onwards there has been an emphasison emphasisedthat it isa federalorgan isation, f,50 .,.,.. Ctmnock Strike Centrc direct action propaganda projects €5O ...... Logan StrilF Contrc and of the deed with autonomous encouraged, 150 ...... Archinlec[ Strike Ccnrre I as well as the role of the broadsheetin rather than a unitary group with the e50 ....., Catriae Strike Ccatre €50 ...... Mruchline Strik€ CcDtro 'destroying illusions' and spreading organisationdirecti ng activity. t50 ,..... Oohiltroc Slrik€ Ccntrc informationon anti-authoritarianactions, im McFarlane I50 ...... Rankinstm Sttikc Contrc I €50 ,..,.. Coyltdr Strike Codtre whether it was a blockade of a Housing f50 ...... Dmngm Strike Centie 'Departmentin Castlemilkin 1983 or of f{O \firirkirf Sl.i(, r . iltr, the 0 ...... ,Dalrcllingtm Strike Centre Faslaneintrusions into the military f,50 ...... Gtcnburn Strika centre complexover the pastcouple of years, ** Cou nte r In formotio n, aregularchronicle €50 ...,... MossblownStrik€ Cent.e The miners'strike hasbeen a test for of the capacity of miners to directly f50 ...... ;Daily Strike Centre €50 ...... Pcrns Strike Centro the group as a focal point of activity, and assumethe initiative in the struggle e50 ...... Tarboltm Stikc ccnrc in terms of effectiveways to demonstrate againstthe police,is beingproduced by f 50 ...,.., Kilffimck Strike Cent.e f,50 ,.....Glespin Strike ecntr€ solidarity with the rniningcommunities. libertariancommunists and anarchists 15 0 ...,... Kirkconncll St.ike Centre After a barrage of issues of Practicol in Edinburghand Glasgow. f,50 ...... Newcumck Strike Ccntre 150 ...... Sanquhar Strik€ Cenire Anorchy in May, the emphasishas been f, 50 ...... Nctherthird Strik€ Centre switchedto organisingweekly collections * FURTHER MONEY IS ON I'[S WAY'I'O THE for the strike,and establishinglinks with 12,000 copiesof anti-militaristissue 24 STRIKE CENTRES IN AYRSHIRE. communities. Readerswill already be in August 1982 were distributed, THANK YOU FOR YOU SOLIDARITY. familiarwith the tacticsoftheCommunist but generally 3,000 is an average Party controlled Trades Council to use print-run, natibn is a traditional paternalisticfamily, then theremust be a head. MiddleClassWar They are ideally suited to the role because they are the experts in man- management.Compassion and caringcon- The followingarticle was originally attack, and they havevery little power to servatismis a reality becauseall families written as a Solidaritydiscussion resistthe attack.Office skills are becoming have their children,who needcare and bulletin whigh provoked a very redundant, ledger clerks are already a compassion.Only now, the childrenare lively debate amongst Solidarity thing of the past.The skilledworkerls job their own working+lass and colonial membersand is publishedhere in is beingdone more efficiently by indus- subjects. the hope that it stimulatesfurther trial robots. The hardwareand the soft- There is some confusionwithin this thoughtamongst our readers. ware requiredto threatenthe existenceof group now. The questionsthat the ad- the transmissionbelt strata are alreadyin ministrative bureaucracy have to face existence. Even Solidarity discussion are more and more dealing with the bulletins are produced and printed by managementof thingsrather than people. computer. Now the questionbecomes 'What sort of The MiddleClass. Some Thoughts. In my viewThatcherism is the political information processing system do we (SolidarityDiscussion) responseof this group.Threatened with require?' rather than 'What sort of chap extinction,their self-respectdisappearing, do we needto do that job?' Whilst Eastemand Westernsocieties are neverhaving had a traditionalclass soli- This is not the sort of problem that very different, they are both highly strati- darity, they lash out in an angry, but they are trained to face. Also, behind fied societieswith a smallgroup of order incoherentmanner. Appeals to return to that question lies a whole social trans- givers at the top and a large group of Victorianvalues are musicto them.After formation. The social sceneryis not one order takersat the bottom.They differ in all, that wasthe time when they werein- that allowstheir traditionalanalysis. As the dynamicsof formation of the order dispensable. large scaleindustrial capitalism is being giversand on the basisof legitimisation I believethat there is a real dangerthat automated away, as service sector in- that the order giversoffer to justify their this group could providea nucleusfor an dustriesgrow, as whole new methodsof privilegedposition. extreme right backlash. Racism, anti- production, such as biotechnology, are However,they both rely on an inter- semitismand anti-intellectualismwould emerging,each with unknown and un- mediate stratumto perform two different feed their desire for revenge and give knowable potentials, they are having to though interrelated functions. Firstly, them a system where they could earn rely more and more on a new group, this intermediate group has to act in a their self-respectat the expenseof others. the emergent scientific-technologicol purely mechanicalway. lt is simply a They aredangerous in thtir decline. strotum, transmissionbelt for the orders.Once the In the Czechpamphlet* lputforward This groupis the productof the educa- ordershave been relayed down the lineto the thesis that some of the history of tion expansionof the last thirty years; the order takers this function has been EasternEurope in the 1960's could be the bright children of predominantly discharged. interpreted as a contest between two upper working classand the old trans- The second function is much more groups claiming legitimacyas the true mission class groups. They have taken creative.This is to put flesh, in a practical inheritors of institutionalisedMarxism- over the new bastions of productive way, on the conceptsthat the order givers Leninism. These two groups were the growth. would like to seeembodied in the social Party bureaucrats and the emergent The technologicaluniversities and the fabric. Whilst performingthis function scier,rtific-technological strata. The second polytechnicsare turning out a new breed the intermediary group, the middle group could wearradical political clothes of technocrat with different perspectives classes,may even have a power of veto and claim that its interestswere those of and hopes.Many wereradicalised during overthe ordergivers. society asa whole. I believethat an anala- the 1960's. They are the information 'l'm sorry minister,it's a physicalim- gousprocess is occurringin Britaintoday. technologists,the biotechnologistsand genetic possibilityto turn plutonium into food The traditional upper-middleclass in the engineers. they seethemselves as for Ethiopia.That plan will haveto be Britain too, can lay claim to an esoteric Politically may of the class.I for one know abandoned.' knowledgeto justify its privilegedposi- allies working amongst computer This power of veto relies on the tion. lt is the product of an institution- of more Marxists than in almostany other group acceptanceby the order giverof the ex- alisedritual that is seento establishthe scientists They are self- pertiseof the middle classintermediate. required characteristicsneeded to pr actice except for sociologists! that the In this sensethe positionof expertknow- executiveauthority. confident, they see the answers old upper middleclasses just cannot see. ledgehas always been a routeto political Traditionally they are the productsof power.What I would like to do is to open a small elite of schoolsthat instilleda They will be armed with an ideology, adiscussionon the natureof the groups senseof inherentsuperiority. This sense techn ocrot ic socia I ism. that occupy this so-calledmiddle social is then tempered with practical man- At the present time I put forward position. management.First as membersof the the thesis that it is this group that will First the mere transmitters.These Army officer cadre or as colonial ad- attempt a seizure of political power, peoplehave traditionally been the upper ministrators: at the expenseof all other socialgroups, workingclass and the lower middleclass. This is then followed by an appren- but in the name of the working popu- That is, in industry the foreman or in ticeship in managementin either the lation, within a very short space of offices the lower clericalstaff. They were private enterprisesectoi or as lower ad- time. an essentialcomponent of the authority ministrativegrades in the public bureau- Petr Cerny transmissionbelt, becausea complex cracies.Their esotericknowledge is the societyrequired a vast bulk of informa- specialknowledge of man-management. tion processing'andthe executionof the Politicallythis group representstradi- * tasksthrown up by the processingof in- tional conservativevalues. The onenation Czechoslovakia 1968. [solidarity formation. hypothesisis attractivebecause it satisfies (Lqndon) Pamphlet No 55 fl J clo 123, At the presenttime this groupis under all their cultural conditioning. lf the Lathom Ritad, London E6. I

I I

a lack of resources. Vita'lly important iseducational activity GreenAIT? in the workplaces.lndustry is, afterall, a majorproducer of pollutionand consumer of resources.The peoplewho suffermost Anarchy v Ecology?One opinion solar powered prison plant with the are the workers,their families,and the workers condemned to hard labour communities where the industriesare Many parts of the plahet are dead, and recycling everything for the bossesto situated. (Rcia rain excepted). The the rest are alreadydying. We seem to have continueto live in luxury. ruling classcannot isolate or quarrantine gonetoo far up the militaryindustrial path In the anarchist presswe have often itself completely from disaster, but to turn back even if we want to. A read,over the years,the complaintthat money and power helps them protect dramaticchange of direction is required the anarchistmovement in Britainis small themselvesin a way which workers now. In thesecircumstances it is natural and un-coordinated.Yet the evidence cannot,with airconditioned shelters,food, that the word 'Ecology'is on everybody's today is that there are severalthousand fuel and medical care.This distinction lips,and I do not believeit is possibleto anarchists in Britain, and thousands between the 'saved' and the rest of us be an anarchistwithout being 'Green'. more of a libertarianattitude who could should be usedto recreatethe unity of However,I believethat many anarchists become anarchists if there was a well the working class.For too long we have who are concerned about the planet's co-ordinated and active movement in been divided into sectors,unemployed, survivalare active in the wrong circles which to participate.Instead of partici- part-time,unskilled, skilled, white-collar, and are wastingtheir efforts. patingin groupslinked only to one issue, professional.Present trade u n ion structures The involvementof many anarchists where they are often forced to waste aid the Statein promotingthese divisions. in the 'Green'movement and in numerous energyfighting within the group against However,in the event of a major,acute pressuregroups instead of working to authoritarianfactions, comradesshould disasterwe will seethat an injury to one build a more co-ordinated anarchist help to build the movement.The energy isan injury to all. movementseems to be a graveerror, and saved from the internal strugglescould By approaching the problems of one that most of us have committed. then be usedto producegood educational pollution and misuseof resourcesfrom Perhapsthe pressuregroups have served materialabout ecology and itsdistribution. the point of view of workerscontrol of to make us awareof the problemswhich Educational work of this type is industry, we can offer an immediately are always coveredup by the State and necessary in two main areas, the realisablesolution to the ecologicalcrisis. the multinationals.But their usualtask community as a whole and specifically, A community and its workforce awareof of persuadingthe Governmentto change the workplace.lt is importantto advocate the problems could act immediately; policy, taking up'ecologically sound' anarcho-communistsocial structures and insteadof waitingfor centralGovdrnment measures,is irreleventto anarchismand, ecologicallynon-destructive lifestyles and commands or the implementationof if successful,may actually be harmful. productionmethods as the overal Isolution. insufficient legislationwhich the multi- Using'ecological necessity' as an excuse And'people need to realisethat, despite nationals always get round. Indeed, a Governmentcan introduce legislation the gloomy forecasts,there is enoughfor workerscontrol is the only solution to for the completecontrol of the seas,the everyoneto havea goodstandard ofliving the problem, all others are partial and land and their usage;of every gram of (as long as the sun continuesto shine)if boundto fail. metal and every litre of fuel; total we show solidarity with the massesof Given the comparativesizes of the rationing; compulsory birth control; starvingby sharingequally and halting revolutionarysyndicalist movement and perhapseuthanasia. At the end of that the super exploitation. This implies a the reformist, collaborationist trade path you can seea 'Green' world govern- good deal of regionalself-sufficiency and unions, I think it is important that ment, governingan 'ecologiallystable' improveddistribution to areaswhich have continued page 15

fhe t7// / 2ti4-,',

6.o. gnr EERbttEt

ll Organising Anarchy Debate

This is in reply to D Dane'sarticle 'For nationalmedia but also via the network society is not class based and that the Anarcho-Communism'.I think the article of support groups. The small activist workers themselvescannot change a hasmany serious shortcomings. groups DD admiresusually act in isola- society, In fact, it's time the various 1. DD (works wonders?)argues that tion and are thus more vulnerable.By peacegroups, animal rights, ecologists, everybodyneeds to feelpart of a commu- making this stand the minershave given gay groups, etc, realisedthat only com- nity - part of a largerwhole. ls it not everybodythe chanceto join and thus bining with the workersdo they (andthe possiblethat a tradeunion couldprovide have helped prevent isolationof them- workers) stand any real chanceof being this feelingof communityand in doingso selves(and others perhaps).The miners triumphant - and of educatingeach struggle help combat any tendenciestowards' has educateda few peopleas to other on the way. lf DD disputesthe nationalism. what extent the state will go to prevent role a LibertarianlAnarchistTU can play serious questioning 2. The belief that the proletariatwill of its authority (l in this process, I suggesthe read the know make the revolution is based, among this through the experienceof a history of the SpanishRevolution very other things, on usually sound mathe- minerssupport group). closely.lf we do not learnfrom lristory, matics- the workers,peasant or indus- I am not arguing against Anarchist we do not learn. . . trial, makeup the majorityof the popula- Communism(called LibertarianCommu- tion and therefore, if united action is nism by the Spanishanarcho-syndicalists) undertaken, stand a greater chance of but I am arguingagainst the view that EddieMay successthan a revolution basedon a minority. 3. DD argues that the workers are guided by motives of self-interestand (inevitably?)fall into the trap of nation- alism. Firstly, if the revolutionwill not be in the interestsof the workers(the majority) then what'sthe point?ls it not possible,DD, that as the revolutionis in the participants'interest,they will be acting, possibly, in terms of self-interest. As for nationalism- for it to succeedit needs financial backing, more often providedby the upperand middleclasses (see history of German Nazi party), before it's evenable to gain masssupport. Someonehas to pay for the rallies. 4. Workerscontrol is directdemocratic controlby the participants(workers) who are part of the community. Workers control is 'the working closs toking over the workplaces and forming community organisations'.The libertarian TU could becomeone of the communityorganisa- tions DD ison about. 5. I question DD's assumptionthat some of the groups he mentionsare in fact 'challengingthe system'.The NSPCA are hardly incitingrevolution. lf the ALF arenot carefulthey couldsoon find them- selvesbecoming an isolatedgroup who think it only possibleto achievetheir aimsthrough armed struggle - something DD thinks is outdated.CND and FOE are hardly revolutionaryeither - wheredoes revolutionaryfeeling, initiative, etc, come from then DD? 6, The miners'struggle is not 'an appa- rent exception' in the fight againstthe state. Through such massconfrontation severalthings usuallyhappen. The basis of potential support is much wider and larger usually - the miners'strike con- tinues becauseof the support of its own community.andother communities. The conflict comesout into the oDen- despitethe mediabias the miners'views havecome across,not only through the

12 Organising Anarchy LreDater\1.

Recreating The Real Left Both religiousand political groups serve many ordinary working classpeople are Contrary to the popular myth that the same needsand exploit the same alarmedby thosewho talk aboutsocialist anarchistsare uninterestedin the ques- fears. They feed on and re-inforce the revolution. tion of organisation,it is in fact precisely psychologicalweaknesses which come The task for those of us on the real our responseto the difficult questionof from a lonelyand competitivesociety. left must therefore be to promote a how to organisethat distinguishesus lf such an imageof the workings of vqriont of socialism which serves not to from other varietiesof socialism.The the Marxist parties outside of power put people in their place and to organise socialistshave always placed their faith seems unfair it is only necessaryto them but to give them the confidence to in centialisedleadership and in discipline. consider their record in office to see organise themselves. This disciplinemay be more or lessstrict that it is an accuratereflection of realitv. The model for sucha style of organisa- dependingon the natureof the organisa- ln power Marxist organisationswhich tion can, I believe,be drawn from the tion which applies it but the general haveset out with the best of intentions actualmethods used in the highestpoint model unr,ierwhich it operatesis fairly (All tower to the Soviets)have been of militant struggle.Organisations like clear. steadily drawn into acting in the most workers' councils and neighbourhood Out of power the Marxist partieshave authoritarian m,!nner by the logic of self-help groups have regularly been usually adopted a model whereby the their organisational structures and createdin the past.In Russiain'1917,in ' electedor appointedCentral Committee politicalbeliefs. Spainin 1936,in Hungaryin 1956and in tries to work out precisedetails about the Poland recently, elementsof the same attitudesof the party to every issuegoing. styleof organisationemerged. The assumptionis that the party is trying Each area threw up its own organisa- to speak for the proletariat, to guide it, tions which made attempts to link to- and eventuallyto lead it to revolution. gether both directly and centrally but Faction' rights may be granted to those which were independentof centralcon- who disagreewith the party line but the trol. Solidarity, f or instance,was not aim is that in public the party will speak guidedby the wisdomof Lech Walesa.lt d:,r with one mind and that individualswill was different in everyarea of the country appear to be speakingas representatives and was simply the direct expressionof of the collectivemind. the thoughtsof ordinarypeople - messy, On paperthis may soundlike a reason- confused,Catholic and revolutionary at able arrangementsince it reducesconfu- the sametime but the irs. sion and makesthe party into an efficient Obviously it is impossibleto simply and smoothlyrunning enterprise in which createa workers'council out of thin air members clearly know what is expected and so it might appearthat the relevance of them and act accordingly.However in of such methods of organisationto the practiceit doesn'twork out so well. Britishleft is relativelylimited. However, What happensin practiceis the Central it is quite possibleto apply the principles Committeeslowly begins to runthe party, of non-hierarchicalorganisation in a non- firm linesare takenon tacticalquestions revolutionary situation. lndeed, whot is so that members who have minute Many modern Marxists, well aware interesting obout the current stote of the theoreticaldifficulties with the committee of the horrors of Russian psychiatric miners' dispute is that is precisely whot is are forced into a split, and the party be- prisons, claim that difficult circum- storting to emerge in a big woy. comesan entity which dominatespeople stancesled to an unfortunate degenera_ Sincethe official union movementhas in much the sameway as a religioussect tion and argue that it will be different beenvirtually uselessat the vital task of dominatesthe faithful. lnsteadof being next time. They forget that revolution is gettingmoney to the peoplewho needit, an organisationwhich helps people to by definition a difficult circumstance. minersand the women who fight along- developand use their talents the party They also ignore the sheernumber of side them, have set about the task of turns into a recruitingand paperselling occasionson which socialistrevolutions getting it for themselveswith admirable machinewhich feeds on people'sneed for havefailed to createwhat they promised. speed.The interestingthing is that by a senseof belonging and then starts to Russia; Cambodia; Albania; Ethiopia; making direct contact with ordinary bossthem around. Poland- how many times is it necessary peoplethey haveproved far more success- The result is that people who have to be 'unfortunate' before it is realised ful at gettingtheir handson moneyand alwaysresented the oppressivediscipline that the centralisedhierarchical method food than the official union movement,s of their bossor the headof their family of organisation is bound to degenerate 'well organised'levy. Such methodsof accept and embrace that discipline in into the instrument via which a new organisationas Miner's Wives Support their sparetime wjthout a murmur.Those cfass exercises its power. tt is in the Groupshave far more to teachus about who argue are branded classtraitors or natare of the beost. what a socialistsociety might be like than termedpetit bourgeois(if they arericher Consider for instance the Cuban any party rally. than the membersof the Central Com- regimewhich is still held up by manyon I thereforebelieve that what is needed mittee) and lumpen proletariat(if tney the left as an exampleof a reasonably at the moment is not a revolutionary arepoorer). successfulsocialist regime. political pri- party to add consciousnessto people's Those who agreearc rewarded with sonersof both left and right are in jail, actions but a re-educationof the left so promotion to branchsecretary, or region- electionsare a joke, and freedomof the that it puts its trust in ordinarypeople. al organiser.The parallelwlth organisa- pressis about as real as the freedom of We ought to realisethat there is no one tions like the scientologistsor the follow- ordinary people to write for the Daily revolutionaryparty with the correctline ers of the Bagwan is a very close one. Telegrophover here. Small wonder that continued poge | 5

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