Asinine Remarks You’re right to say [IC25 p. 13] that I couldn’t be expected to know the long history of ‘confrontation’ (?) between you and the SPGB – I wasn’t even born until 1963. But, as an ex-party member, you must once have understood the socialist case. And this only makes your deliberate misunderstanding of… read more »
In December 1986 we attended a meeting of the Camden and North-West London Branch on the subject of “Russia and Socialism.” The speaker was well informed about Russia; to judge from incidental references he spoke the language and had been there in the early days of the Revolution. We learnt from him. Socialism was not… 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 or not at all, please say so. –… read more »
Autogestion and omnarchy have been suggested as better names for the “anarchist” movement. For too many people, anarchy requires disorder, and this presumption gets in the way of communication. Because the goal of the true anarchist is to open up a personal space, free of external governance, so that we may be free to be… read more »
Marxism sometimes loosens its grip on the intellectuals enough to permit a timid reference to conservative working people, usually in the tone reserved for rare species facing imminent extinction. In fact, of course, among workers as among capitalists, those who support the constitution (largely conservative) of existing society are more numerous than reformers or revolutionaries…. read more »
Each epoch has its mental cliches; they hinder action and frequently turn out to have been false. One from which we suffer is the assumption that knowledge has become too extensive for any single mind to grasp. This encourages the growth of special interests, tends to produce a society made up of separate groups each… read more »
IC has had a good deal to say about the (Anarcho-)Socialists of the “SPGB”; now we turn towards the (Socio-)Anarchists of the “Anarchist” movement. Within anarchism there are two strands: First, the attempt to live anarchism within authoritarian society. Second, the attempt to establish a society which shall operate wholly or mainly in an anarchist way…. read more »
The widespread belief, that credit cards may be used without cost to the user, is a miracle of modern advertising. With each purchase a charge is levied on the retailer. That charge is, and has to be, passed on to the customer; traders who tried to meet it themselves would be showing an insufficient return… read more »
Summary of a talk given at a Forum held by the South Place Ethical Society at Conway Hall on November 30th 1986. SPES is an organisation of humanists, having for its aim “the study and dissemination of ethical principles based on humanism, and the cultivation of a rational way of life.” Its members range from… read more »
Roy Hattersley, Deputy-Leader of the Labour Party, has written a book entitled: Choose Freedom; the Future for Democratic Socialism (London, Michael Joseph, 1987). The remarks which follow are based on a long extract printed in the Observer of 4 January 87. The theme appears in the first sentence: ‘Britain is no more equal a society today… read more »