In the effort to support their claim to represent the working class, or the poor, or the people, the left find themselves driven to promote a number of other misconceptions. They claim, for example, that the contents of the newspapers, television and radio programmes are selected by, or under the influence of, the capitalist class… read more »
Pat Robertson, a television preacher now seeking the Republican nomination in the US Presidential election, recently visited a school in the remote and mountainous north of New Hampshire. He asked the pupils whether they had taken drugs or knew anybody who had done so, and everybody in the room put a hand up. [1] If… read more »
We all know the answer given by the British Museum Library attendant, asked if he remembered Karl Marx: ‘Why, yes, I remember Mr. Marx very well. Came every day for years, he did. Then he stopped coming, and nobody ever heard of him again. I often wonder what became of him.’ He may have been… read more »
IC has repeatedly pointed out that agitations are supported by agitators, and these rarely coincide with those for whose benefit they are conducted. Those who agitate against suppression of the blacks in South Africa are not the blacks but those, of whatever colour, who oppose suppression. Those who agitate against exploitation of the workers are… read more »
We recently attended a meeting at which the speaker represented what used to be the ecological or conservationist movement, now coming to be known as ‘the greens.’ For the readers of IC we need not recite what was said; it was all familiar. The interest begins when one asks why these calm, sensible propositions do… read more »
I am basing these remarks on your “Charity Perpetuates Poverty” essay on page 6 of IC32, about kindness that prolongs suffering, food shipments that prolong starvation by perpetuating an evil establishment, where you comment: There is nothing wrong in making gifts that leave us feeling happier, provided the recipient also benefits, but if there is… read more »
Thomas S. Kuhn’s book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (2nd Edition, University of Chicago Press, 1975) does a lot to destroy the image of scientists as coldly rational creatures free of prejudice. Before an experimental result can carry any meaning it has to be set against a picture of the world (or that part of… read more »
IC32 reported that with the agreement of IC Ellis Hillman had written to the Marx-Engels Institute in Moscow to urge the publication of a comprehensive edition of Karl Kautsky’s works. This is the reply: See also: Letter from Moscow from IC34. from Ideological Commentary 33, May 1988.
Revision of June 1987. Ideological Commentary is devoted to the development and exposition of systematic ideology, a theory originated and largely developed by the late Harold Walsby. We do not claim final or exhaustive understanding of it; the formulation that looked like the ultimate last month needs alteration now, and the partial account given here… read more »
IC holds out a continuing invitation: We undertake to print any statement of up to 1,000 words carrying the approval of this party, or one of its branches. Letters from individual members will appear if they are cogent, interesting and concise, and if space permits. If you want your letter to appear unedited or not… read more »