Firstly I echo everything – EVERYTHING – Louis Lingg and East Ham Dave say in their comments on the Henley post.Have another read. Our movement is nowhere and going nowhere – the BNP have gained working class suport by taking up just these issues while anarchists are going to run round Croydon on July 5th shouting ‘No Borders’ at bemused shoppers. People are voting BNP because often – in Stoke for example – the BNP candidates are ‘like them’ unlike anarchists and lefties. One of the Stoke BNP councillors runs local bingo seesions and takes pensionrs on outings – what fucking anarchist does that?
Class War is in no position – even in numbersor inclination - to develop the kind of response needed. I suggest a break with anarchist dogma and stand candidates in parliamentary elections – both by-elections and general elections. We should not be a one trick anti-BNP pony but develop the kind of politics Dave and Louis have started to talk about in opposing all the parties. We dont need a new organisaton or Socialist Alliance/Respect kind of uniform policy approach. We need a network of seriously ooomphy bold and bolshy individuals with good roots in their local areas to stand under for Class War along with their own local labels. If we get a good spread lots of people will comeout of the woodwork. Don’ think of other people – do it your fucking selves. How about East Ham Dave for Class War in Dagenham or Barking? And what about Yorksire/Lancshire etc etc.Theres lots more to nut out but lets start the fucking ball rolling…….and finally…..it needs real people to come out from behind the mask of anonymity who are not afraid to discuss their poltics with their neighbours and have some personal bottle. Tto be really honest…..I doubt there is any reader of this blog who will chuck away anonymity to take on the BNP ……..they, on the other hand, have grasped the nettle of being real people.
5 Comments
June 27, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I don’t reckon your comrades in the anarchist movement would stomach standing in elections.
People are voting BNP because often – in Stoke for example – the BNP candidates are ‘like them’ unlike anarchists and lefties.
Dunno about that. In the last local elections Stoke Socialist Party only stood one candidate, in the Burslem South ward, but she was a postal worker at the depot in Burslem.
June 27, 2008 at 6:12 pm
There’s at least two advantages to standing in elections:
1. You’re doing politics in a way that people understand
2. It’s a bloody good laugh …
June 28, 2008 at 7:36 pm
So your suggesting Class War becomes the IWCA mark 2? The IWCA are a party that have fairly sound politics and have made some impression in the areas they stand. But they haven’t made a break through and aren’t going to.
I agree that there is the possibilty of gaining some ground by standing in bi-elections etc. as a one off. But instead of focusing all our energys in what are one off spectacles (elections in general) at a time when more and more people are actively not choosing to vote because they hate politicians, we should be concentrateing in talking to and working with these people who hate politicians. Not imitateing the people they hate. But helping them to empower themselves and control their life.
This is a route Class War has started down with its campaigns against estate agents etc. IT doesn’t give immediate results but is something that will develop solid support over a number of years, as opposed to an election, maybe standing 10 candidates, none of whom are elected and all of whom are forgotten a month later.
The BNP have partyl got to there current level of strength through talking to people and campaigning on issues that concern them. They talk about cracking down on crime to people who live in fear of muggers, rather than the anarchist responce that we will abolish all laws. They talk about haveing proper transport systems, not guilt tripping people over the environment. They talk about properly funding the NHS we just go on about abolishing the state.
OK I’ve over simplified what anarchists talk about. But you get my point. The answer is not to become a born again parliamentarian. It is to engage with the people who have lost faith in politicians and support them in their own struggles.
Perhaps part of the probelm is anrchists play the number game. ‘Class War had 150 members in 1990 so we must of been doing well. Now we have 15 so were not doing well’. The class war is bigger than an organisation. one of the failings of anarchsits is to mistake the organisation they are in and how this organisation is doing, for the wider class struggle and the state of the working class. IF people won’t come on actions your calling. Why not find struggles and go on those actions. Find some people strikign in your community and offer support. Not through paper sales but maybe just donations or practical support.
BTW the way to beat the BNP is to actively confront them. Stop them from canvassing. Make their candidates scared of us. Anyone who thinks that they can be beaten through elections is a fuckwitt. The BNP won’t just go away if they lose an election otherwise they would of dissapeared up their own arseholes years ago.
June 29, 2008 at 10:18 am
We are living under occupation of The Middle Class how often do i need to say this, do the bisto kids think that all working class persons believe there lie on Climate Change, do we think walking round a city center shouting no borders at people is going to change anything.
neither is actions such as this http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/06/401445.html we need to bring the class war back home, we need to make the middle class history and begin to recycle them.
June 29, 2008 at 5:05 pm
What will standing in a council election achieve? If a load of anarchists do win a council election, what then? Will they suddenly declare an end to authoritarian hierarchy in their wards, disband the police, sponsor working class militias to keep the streets safe and establish direct democracy? Because I can’t see them doing that to be honest.
You’re usually spot on with your ideas Ian, but this sounds like a load of reformist bollocks. Anarchists should be getting more involved with working class communities and not devoting as much time to all the lifestyle nonsense, but standing in elections is a pointless waste of time, even more so for an anarchist.