Mexicola wrote:Except that so far, the great unwashed show no appetite for socialism. Two general elections, a Scottish Referendum and last weeks debacle show us this. The left find themselves on the horns of a dilemma. On the one hand, their argument is morally correct. On the other hand, Joe Public isn't listening. So what to do? Maintain socialist ideals in the hope that it'll somehow produce a different result in the end, or move nearer the centre ground now the Tories are lurching further right. Rock and a hard place isn't it?
The Scottish ref wasn't about socialism per se but about getting away from Westminister entirely, and it was close anyway. They elected the SNP which are about as social democratic as you were going to get before Corbyn, which leads me on to:
Before Corbyn, both the major parties were neoliberal. You can't extrapolate about the potential for the popularity of socialism from that. Corbyn's Labour increased their popularity despite constant attacks from centre-right MPs.
As for the centre ground, well Labour tried that in 2015 and it didn't go very well. People are angry, the political spectrum is widening again.
Brexit was a working class rebellion driven by almost 40 years of economic persecution, and unfortunately mediated by propaganda and misdirected at immigrants. Even the leaders of the campaign didn't think they'd win, even they underestimated just how far desperation will take people. It is more important than ever to expand socialist movements, to channel people's anger towards the rich, the rulers who put us in this situation after 2008 and profited immensely from it. Things won't just work themselves out, we have to make it work! And 'centrism' is most certainly no solution; Blair presided over a continuation of the sharpest rise in inequality ever and transformed Labour into the high and mighty, war-mongering, pro-business middle-class enclave it is today.
Fujee: I understand that it looks bad, but we've been expecting these MPs to strike ever since Corbyn got in. He is still massively popular with the membership (look at the latest polls), and he will be automatically on the ballot should a new leadership race begin. These MPs want to damage a Left Labour's election chances, and they have succeeded for now. If Corbyn weathers this - and I think he will - we will see a huge shakeup of the party. This is a great opportunity to build up speed unimpeded by Blairites. Join now! You don't have to be a traditional Labour supporter to join, this is about shaping the party into an effective force. Make your voice heard, after all, I don't see any revolutionary movement around the corner mate. This is our best chance, even if it is still bleak.
