Post A Follow Up Discussion Page
Posted by Niall on 25th November 2000
Country: England
Mark, let me make a number of points. Firstly, the belief system of socilaism can mean many things to different people.
Secondly, to lable your self socialist raises the question if you can have a belief system called Marxist, Lennist and so on? These are theorist who along with many others adcovated differeing alternatives to the capitalist system. The main point I'm making is unlike the entrench approaches from differing sections of the 'left' which have for far to long been based around lables of idendity rather than the needs and asperations of the working-class.
Any electoral representations (assuming we all now realise to engage in elections is not a sign of revoluntionary surender)must be based on representation and policies which benefit us a a class, hence my belief that to use the term socialist whether on election material or to descibe your political philosophy in my experiance matters little to the many working-class people up and down the country, who want representation and policies which improve their lives. I to would be interested in in the view's of SWP SP, espiecaly given that the recent election victory in Lewisham for the SP,seemed to advocate voting for a cadidiate called the socialist alternative, but also used the name of the present SP councillor the area. I'm not knocking the SP for this, just I think it emphasis my point that when the people have representation and someone who argues for policies that effect them, they will vote for an individual regardless of the attachment of a lable or belief system.
To close, this is my philosophy not red actions, but I think red action have move a debate onto the issues around which we are talking.