Comments on: The next 30 years, for glass-half-empty people http://www.webpublishingblog.com/the-next-30-years-for-glass-half-empty-people.htm Internet publishing, a multidisciplinary approach. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:52:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Sean Spurr http://www.webpublishingblog.com/the-next-30-years-for-glass-half-empty-people.htm#comment-26876 Sean Spurr Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:19:25 +0000 http://www.webpublishingblog.com/the-next-30-years-for-glass-half-empty-people.htm#comment-26876 First paragraph yes, but this is what some non-marxist socialist utopia's support too. Marxism isn't an endpoint, Marx hardly ever mentioned socialism, Marxist is an analysis of the world, it's contradictions, and how those contradictions can play out. Second paragraph is a bit complicated. Marxists aren't great fans of either the UN or Amnesty International. Free speech, free press, etc would be supported by Marxists under the proviso that their in no more availability to free press or speech because of ones economic position. Those who are rich currently control the media, except the internet to such a great extent, but even then only those who can afford a computer with internet access and also the time to write and read here can enjoy it's privileges. First paragraph yes, but this is what some non-marxist socialist utopia’s support too. Marxism isn’t an endpoint, Marx hardly ever mentioned socialism, Marxist is an analysis of the world, it’s contradictions, and how those contradictions can play out.

Second paragraph is a bit complicated. Marxists aren’t great fans of either the UN or Amnesty International. Free speech, free press, etc would be supported by Marxists under the proviso that their in no more availability to free press or speech because of ones economic position. Those who are rich currently control the media, except the internet to such a great extent, but even then only those who can afford a computer with internet access and also the time to write and read here can enjoy it’s privileges.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.webpublishingblog.com/the-next-30-years-for-glass-half-empty-people.htm#comment-26874 Andrew Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:14:05 +0000 http://www.webpublishingblog.com/the-next-30-years-for-glass-half-empty-people.htm#comment-26874 So you are saying that true Marxism supports the idea of an economy should be run democratically in terms of planning, pricing, direction, wages, investments, pensions, retirement, etc? And would you also say that Marxism supports the ideals of free speech, press, habeas corpus, and other basic rights? (I am assuming its a yes to healthcare, education, and rights that are now recognized by the UN and Amnesty International.) So you are saying that true Marxism supports the idea of an economy should be run democratically in terms of planning, pricing, direction, wages, investments, pensions, retirement, etc?

And would you also say that Marxism supports the ideals of free speech, press, habeas corpus, and other basic rights? (I am assuming its a yes to healthcare, education, and rights that are now recognized by the UN and Amnesty International.)

]]> By: Sean Spurr http://www.webpublishingblog.com/the-next-30-years-for-glass-half-empty-people.htm#comment-26872 Sean Spurr Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:41:29 +0000 http://www.webpublishingblog.com/the-next-30-years-for-glass-half-empty-people.htm#comment-26872 Chris - you are forgetting the concept of class struggle. Also Orwell was hardly an apologist for capitalism, he went and fought with the POUM group in the Spanish Revolution - this group was an anti-Stalinist communist group. Your view of socialism is clouded by the actions of groups claiming to be socialist (reformists, Stalinists etc.). This isn't your fault, it's commonplace because that is what socialism is presented as in the media. A utopian and/or dystopian ideal. This completely ignores the scientific (in the same way SEO is scientific) method of Marx, Lenin and Trotsky. Cuba isn't Marxist. Castro started as a Bonapartist, someone who seems to transcend the class struggle, and only went towards Stalinism when forced. Cuba has post-capitalist property relations however, even if it is run by a dictatorship, and the people of Cuba defend their nationalised services which, for one thing, allow them to have better healthcare than the Americans for free despite an embargo being placed on them by the USA. Marxists would argue in Cuba for the people to overthrow the Stalinist caste that rules them and plan their economy democratically. Even the Pope recently commented on how Marx's analysis of alienation was true (although the Pope is far from a Marxist!). For an analysis of what Marxism really is I suggest reading http://www.fifthinternational.org/index.php?programme Chris - you are forgetting the concept of class struggle. Also Orwell was hardly an apologist for capitalism, he went and fought with the POUM group in the Spanish Revolution - this group was an anti-Stalinist communist group. Your view of socialism is clouded by the actions of groups claiming to be socialist (reformists, Stalinists etc.). This isn’t your fault, it’s commonplace because that is what socialism is presented as in the media. A utopian and/or dystopian ideal. This completely ignores the scientific (in the same way SEO is scientific) method of Marx, Lenin and Trotsky.

Cuba isn’t Marxist. Castro started as a Bonapartist, someone who seems to transcend the class struggle, and only went towards Stalinism when forced. Cuba has post-capitalist property relations however, even if it is run by a dictatorship, and the people of Cuba defend their nationalised services which, for one thing, allow them to have better healthcare than the Americans for free despite an embargo being placed on them by the USA. Marxists would argue in Cuba for the people to overthrow the Stalinist caste that rules them and plan their economy democratically.

Even the Pope recently commented on how Marx’s analysis of alienation was true (although the Pope is far from a Marxist!).

For an analysis of what Marxism really is I suggest reading http://www.fifthinternational.org/index.php?programme

]]> By: Chris Beasley http://www.webpublishingblog.com/the-next-30-years-for-glass-half-empty-people.htm#comment-26851 Chris Beasley Tue, 10 Apr 2007 15:41:49 +0000 http://www.webpublishingblog.com/the-next-30-years-for-glass-half-empty-people.htm#comment-26851 Socialism only works as a utopian ideal. You need a society of completely selfless individuals. That isn't going to happen. All men are equal, some are just more equal than others. Socialism only works as a utopian ideal. You need a society of completely selfless individuals. That isn’t going to happen.

All men are equal, some are just more equal than others.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.webpublishingblog.com/the-next-30-years-for-glass-half-empty-people.htm#comment-26778 Andrew Tue, 10 Apr 2007 07:59:37 +0000 http://www.webpublishingblog.com/the-next-30-years-for-glass-half-empty-people.htm#comment-26778 Ask Cuba how that whole Marxist thing is working out for them. Ask Cuba how that whole Marxist thing is working out for them.

]]> By: Sean Spurr http://www.webpublishingblog.com/the-next-30-years-for-glass-half-empty-people.htm#comment-26740 Sean Spurr Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:05:16 +0000 http://www.webpublishingblog.com/the-next-30-years-for-glass-half-empty-people.htm#comment-26740 Well the bit about Marxism sounds good (I wish it had said the working class, not just the middle class, though), being myself a member of a Bolshevik group (Workers Power), but some of the weaponry advances are scary (but for how long have we lived with nuclear weapons, can't get much worse than them...), and I completly disagree with it over the declining quality of news - the internet has allowed citizens power to bring out news that would otherwise have been subdued or lost in the pipeline. Well the bit about Marxism sounds good (I wish it had said the working class, not just the middle class, though), being myself a member of a Bolshevik group (Workers Power), but some of the weaponry advances are scary (but for how long have we lived with nuclear weapons, can’t get much worse than them…), and I completly disagree with it over the declining quality of news - the internet has allowed citizens power to bring out news that would otherwise have been subdued or lost in the pipeline.

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