The trouble with socialism: Understanding

I have no problem with people being scornful of socialism – it is par for the course when you look upon what those who scorn it know through propaganda to be socialism. Tyranny at its best; some would think. Though, those who do know socialism would see it as the opposite, rightly, to that tyranny. But after years and decades of socialism being dragged unmercifully through the mud – some of it sticks. So then, what do we do to change that?

Changing people’s mind isn’t that hard to do – especially once you have the right amount of money being thrown at the problem. The American Tea-Party is abject proof of that. Add to that particular vile mix Murdoch press, Koch and you have a very powerful concoction. Yet – is it simply a matter of throwing enough money at the sparkly new socialism? We could ask the local multi-billionaire to help out – I just don’t think that this would work. Billionaires haven’t become billionaires by way of a socialist mindset. Is it, then, a matter that you have a new way of thinking about socialism? To me the answer is simple, and a no, to boot.

In the UK The Labour Party is supposed to be the party of the left, quite, quite laughable really. Though its past you would have believed it but today, and throughout the Blair/Brown years – not so much. New Labour embraced liberalism and Toryisms. Policies from both centre-right ideologies – which were supposed to united all and bring about something akin to all being middle-class and worshipping the almighty dollar. All New Labour did was carry on right-wing dogma that grew as the party took power election after election. In 1997 the majority that New Labour had could have changed the nation, it didn’t.

Now we have Maurice Glasman. His vision is a “Blue Labour” vision. New – blue, at least they rhyme.

Hats off to Maurice Glasman for trying to re-acquaint the Labour party with the imperative to think via the much-misunderstood creed of Blue Labour, but he cuts a very lonely figure.

So he should. If you have people such as Hazel Blears, James Purnell in any of the mix whereby The Labour Party are thought of, you are on to a loser. If you want a party of the left then right-wingers should not be calling the shots within that party. Left-wingers, both soft and hard should be at it. Left-wing politics are not, nor ever will be, easy. But, as we see with so many politicians – an easy life will I have. This is why you do not have more Dennis Skinner’s – Tony Benn’s. They, like most, are not duped by politieratti! Nice shot of wife/mother/girlfriend shopping at the local shop struggling to get by while wearing a Gucci or some other unpronounceable expensive brand produced in a sweatshop.

Capitalism has failed for most. Certainly not for the richest in society – they can call for greater tax cuts for themselves because so many have bought into the propaganda they spew. Worse still is that you have ‘thinkers’ trying to say that moving ever further to the right will be the end to all the worlds ills – it won’t, as proof I offer you the last 40 years.

To understand, then, what socialism is. Tell people. Say it out loud and be proud of it. If they wish to argue the premise that socialism is all about tyranny and Stalin, show them that it isn’t. People will believe propaganda for as long as an alternative is not out there making it look as ridiculous as it really is. Understanding comes from education. Education comes from speaking about something that is possible. People are crying out for that alternative – stand up and give it to them and they will listen.

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