RCP/Spiked/IoI

[el-ahrairah]

how is he a marxist? he's never said anything other than petit=bourgeois reactionary nonsense as far as i can tell.

 

[Spanky Longhorn]

I think he's got a point though, elements of the ruling class are only giving the likes of Piketty and whoever it was in 2012 the time of day because their ideas are not linked to a mass movement that threatens their way of life

 

[nino_savatte]

I think he's got a point though, elements of the ruling class are only giving the likes of Piketty and whoever it was in 2012 the time of day because their ideas are not linked to a mass movement that threatens their way of life

The trouble with O'Neill is that he tends to bundle his points with a lot of other nasty shit.

 

[Spanky Longhorn]

The trouble with O'Neill is that he tends to bundle his points with a lot of other nasty shit.

Absolutely

 

[yield]

I think he's got a point though, elements of the ruling class are only giving the likes of Piketty and whoever it was in 2012 the time of day because their ideas are not linked to a mass movement that threatens their way of life

The Spirit Level by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett? No that was 2010. What was the one in 2012?

 

[Spanky Longhorn]

The Spirit Level by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett? No that was 2010. What was the one in 2012?

Can't remember but that was when the column was published

Eta: I mean Thomas Piketty now obviously

 

[DotCommunist]

not the affluenza stuff?

 

[yield]

not the affluenza stuff?

Oliver James? 2007

 

[nino_savatte]

This is an interesting site. This blog discusses the Moral Maze but what I found most interesting is how the blog's author comes under attack from what appears to be an LMer.

“What really burns, though, isn’t that the programme producers allow them both on the show knowing full well, as just about anyone in the meedja knows, that they’re RCP to the core.”

‘Are you or have you ever been a member…’ You should be ashamed of yourself. One the one hand, there’s dismay at the fact that former members of a Marxist political party have proven to be commentators of substance – enough to be invited to discuss current affairs at all levels of the media (although no-one’s quite matched your perspicacity, obviously). On the other, there’s a witch-hunt. Presumably your dream is to find someone – anyone – with the power to prevent ‘these people’ from ever being able to speak in public again.

You’re so radical.

P.S. Have you read any of Kenan Malik’s books or journalism? If you have, do tell me what you find so objectionable about them. Yeh, I know, that’s not gonna happen – you’re too busy building your new McCarthyism.

Comment by Pod | June 1, 2009 |
http://rcpwatch.wordpress.com/2009/05/31/moralmaze/

This one discusses the Modern Movement (another LM front) that prompts another attack from a cultist
http://rcpwatch.wordpress.com/2010/08/06/modern-movement-an-insider-view/

 

[nino_savatte]

The IoI's regular Battle of Ideas series discusses (not really) the [toxic] legacy of Ayn Rand. Like all IoI/Spiked events, this one also poses a question. They ask "Why is Ayn Rand so popular today"? "Why?" indeed. But I think we all know that Rand is only popular with some people, yet the IoI's phrasing of the question implies that her 'philosophy' is more popular than it actually is.

Through a conversation about Ayn Rand’s novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, this session will explore whether Rand really is for the young, or whether she has insights that would be useful for all of us. After all, her novels are exciting, feature strong female characters, incorporate important humanist themes, and ask hard questions about, for example, the responsibilities of the artist and scientist in society.

And

This discussion will explore whether Rand’s novels really are about selfishness per se, or whether there is something to be said for strong individuals who make up their own mind, holding steadily to ‘life’s better possibilities’.http://www.battleofideas.org.uk/2014/session_detail/8986

It's chaired by Mark Birbeck, who describes himself as an

internet software and big data consultant

Here's what Mark says on his Twitter feed.

Mark Birbeck @markbirbeck · Oct 13
Ayn Rand liked Charlies Angels: "Three attrictive girls doing impossible things." - YouTube http://bit.ly/1qiXWhl

Holy shit! I'm sold!

 

[DaveCinzano]

I'm interested in hearing from anyone familiar with their IFM work in the early/mid-90s, plus anyone with RF materials they could lend me to read.

 

[Jeff Robinson]

The far right libertarian scum of 'Spiked' have just published a report on 'free speech' in UK universities. Apparently student unions banning advertising by payday loan companies is regarded as a serious violation of free speech by these crackpots...

http://www.theguardian.com/educatio...rsities-spiked-ban-sombreros?CMP=share_btn_fb

 

[DaveCinzano]

The far right libertarian scum of 'Spiked' have just published a report on 'free speech' in UK universities. Apparently student unions banning advertising by payday loan companies is regarded as a serious violation of free speech by these crackpots...

http://www.theguardian.com/educatio...rsities-spiked-ban-sombreros?CMP=share_btn_fb

Banning an event, a speaker or a song – all cited as reasons for being graded “red” – is usually considered an act of censorship. But an equality policy stating that homophobic, sexist and racist language will not be tolerated also attracts a red rating

 

[nino_savatte]

In research by online magazine Spiked,

So they conduct "research" now? Hilarious.

 

[nino_savatte]

Only Brendan O'Neill could write something as truly barking as this. "Where's Je Suis Page 3" he demands. What a cunt. What a thick cunt.

Well, there you have it, an answer to the question: ‘How long will it take for Britain’s political and media classes to go from saying “Je suis Charlie” to being their old censorious selves, celebrating the crushing of words and images they don’t like?’ The answer is 13 days. Not even two weeks. They couldn’t keep up the pretence of being in favour of press freedom for one measly fortnight. For yesterday, just shy of the second-week anniversary of the attack on Charlie Hebdo, the right bunch of Charlies who make up Britain’s illiberal liberal set were hollering ‘Victory!’ following reports that Page 3, the Sun’s daily serving of a scantily-clad woman, has apparently been put to bed. ‘Charlie Hebdo is dead!’, shouted those French lunatics two weeks ago; ‘Page 3 is dead!’, yelp Britain’s chattering classes today.
http://www.spiked-online.com/newsite/article/wheres-the-je-suis-page-3-movement/16477#.VNIoHyusXng

 

[8ball]

Apparently student unions banning advertising by payday loan companies is regarded as a serious violation of free speech by these crackpots...

This is really weird. They could pick a million points about the weird ways of student unions but they can't see how they lose all credibility by focusing on something like this (I don't think advertisers should be in there anyway) or someone choosing to take Robin Thicke off the Union bar playlist.

 

[Jeff Robinson]

Only Brendan O'Neill could write something as truly barking as this. "Where's Je Suis Page 3" he demands. What a cunt. What a thick cunt.

It's the crux of the spiked position isn't it? Women being reduced to demeaning sex objects is 'freedom of speech', women using their freedom of speech to try to end that practice is 'the crushing of words and images they don’t like' (likened to a massacre no less). Their whole modus is just a bully's charter - nothing to do with freedom of speech whatsoever. Usually best just to ignore, but when they make inroads into the media like this, they need to be challenged.

 

[nino_savatte]

what is the story of the Red Front or whatever it was called? Involving RCP and Red Action among others I seem to remember...

Joe Reilly love detective


Edited first question as got the wrong Hayes lol

Powerbase has the lowdown.
http://powerbase.info/index.php/The_Red_Front

 

[Spanky Longhorn]

Powerbase has the lowdown.
http://powerbase.info/index.php/The_Red_Front

Thanks, I was more wondering why Red Action decided to get involved...

 

[DaveCinzano]

Thanks, I was more wondering why Red Action decided to get involved...

I suspect that some of the reasons would be best discussed offline, but I believe that up to the early 1990s at least some of the RCP's cadres and supporters, particularly in front groups like ELWAR and IFM, in some crucial respects shared politics with many AFA/RA activists in more ways than the ludicrous characters and positions symbolic of the late 90s LM über-contrarian post-Party network would suggest.

Certainly when seen against a backdrop of ‘the-state-must-act-against-the-narzees’ positions ascribed (not without good reason) to the three other main anti-racist fronts, ELWAR's on-the-streets attitude could certainly be seen as closer to AFA than not; and the Irish Freedom Movement's scepticism towards the Downing Street Declaration (amongst other positions) similarly placed it closer to some in RA than not (especially when considering the overlapping North London Irish connections). Or am I way off-beam?

 

[Spanky Longhorn]

that would certainly make sense, and I remember people in the old RA forum talking about WAR people they knew

 

[nino_savatte]

Thanks, I was more wondering why Red Action decided to get involved...

Ah, now that I can't tell you. I suspect it has something to do with Workers Against Racism and the Irish Freedom Movement.

 

[nino_savatte]

It's the crux of the spiked position isn't it? Women being reduced to demeaning sex objects is 'freedom of speech', women using their freedom of speech to try to end that practice is 'the crushing of words and images they don’t like' (likened to a massacre no less). Their whole modus is just a bully's charter - nothing to do with freedom of speech whatsoever. Usually best just to ignore, but when they make inroads into the media like this, they need to be challenged.

The only thing O'Neill didn't do in that piece was use the silly term 'feminazi'.

They confirm my hypothesis that right-wing libertarians are the product of bad parenting.

 

[nino_savatte]

One of the smaller components of Red Front. I don't know much about them but they seem rather cultist.
http://www.rdg.org.uk/

 

[butchersapron]

That's Dave. Just dave.

 

[Spanky Longhorn]

That's Dave. Just dave.

yeah used to be Steve as well, but he is now leading the international Socialist Network as belboid can tell you

 

[DaveCinzano]

One of the smaller components of Red Front. I don't know much about them but they seem rather cultist.
http://www.rdg.org.uk/

Were they the chaps who always wrote up meetings in Weekly Worker?

 

[nino_savatte]

Were they the chaps who always wrote up meetings in Weekly Worker?

They had sporadic articles in Weekly Worker.

 

[Spanky Longhorn]

yeah they used to pay for space in the weekly worker to help them reach a wider audience

 

[DaveCinzano]

yeah they used to pay for space in the weekly worker to help them reach a wider audience

And how did that work out for them?