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SoCoder -> Link Home -> Misc

 
Afr0
Created : 07 June 2011
 

SoPolitical: Marxism 2011

Be there!

https://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/index.html
Five days.
Central London.
Tony Benn.

Be there!

 

Comments
Tuesday, 07 June 2011, 21:10
HoboBen
 		Are you going? I was thinking about it, even though it's hosted by the SWP who are the UK Left's biggest problem.
Wednesday, 08 June 2011, 00:07
Afr0
 		I'm thinking about it.
Sunday, 12 June 2011, 12:43
HoboBen
 		Just announced, the dates for the "Socialism" weekend in London this year are 5th & 6th November, hosted by the Socialist Party.

Too soon for more information, but it's been a great event the last two times I've gone.
Monday, 13 June 2011, 05:10
Afr0
 		Oh, nice

I'll PM you in advance if I'm going to Marxism 2011.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011, 05:02
Retro
 		Socialism was a noble experiment but let's face it comrades, it has failed in practice. Name one successful Marxist government - each inevitably became a police state before regressing to.. in all but name, Capitalism: e.g. the Soviet Union, China, etc.

Why, oh why? Is Marxist theory inherently flawed?
I know not, but I suspect it's because humans are essentially motivated by greed and self interest. Communal ideals.. such as social development and "the greater good" just don't motivate to the same degree as making a quick buck for oneself.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011, 05:15
JL235
 		I'm very pro capitalist, but Socialism does help to advocate lots of benefits (free health care, free/cheap education and protecting employees at work). It's when it goes too far that it's a problem, and you could advocate the same with capitalism.

Also China is still far from having a free market. All (most?) of their big companies are state owned, and in other communist countries (such as Vietnam and Cuba) you still need licenses and other government backing for starting/running a business.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011, 09:19
HoboBen
 		I don't feel like debating whether Socialism can exist right now, but in reply to Retro I don't agree at all that humans are essentially motivated by greed or self interest.

There are plenty of examples of selfless altruism. I won't contest that a minority of people are greedy, but this is why it's even more important to fight for a total, bottom-up system of direct democracy so that
these people are unable to buy their way into power.

Also I would contend that we have never had genuine socialism in any country, because socialism can only be international. For communism to "work" in one country like it did in Russia it has to become a gross deformed caricature.

Britain also was very close to becoming Socialist. The Trotskyist group Militant Tendency were a huge force in he British Labour Party until 1991, whose constitution until 1993 said:

"To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange, and the best obtainable system of popular administration and control of each industry or service."

If you're not convinced, come to Socialism 2011 and hear about national and international struggles where Trade Unionists and community campaigners have fought - and won!