I received this email this afternoon:
Thanks to everyone who came to the People's Assembly last Saturday. Well over 4,000 people attended throughout the day.
It brought together every organisation fighting and resisting austerity, for the first time since the financial crash over five years ago.
Recognising the energy, potential and hope of millions of people affected by austerity, it called for concrete action to be undertaken across the country.
This includes:
- a mass national protest at the Tory Party conference on 29 September in Manchester;
- a day of civil disobedience on 5 November in every town and city across the country;
- local People's Assemblies to be established in every area possible;
- a national demonstration in London in the new year
We now need to create an infrastructure that can support the local organisations and take forward the national initatives that were launched at the assembly. To do this, we need your support. We are launching an urgent financial appeal so we can raise the funds to do this.
Please consider making a monthly donation, or a one off donation if you prefer. You can do this on our website here:http://thepeoplesassembly.org.
Your support is indispensable in building on the determination and commitment of 22 June and taking the movement forward.
We will be contacting you over the next weeks and months about plans and actions. Video and pictures of the day will be avaliable on the website soon.
In the meantime, we are compiling a list of local People's Assembly activist meetings and events for the website. If you have one planned, or would like to plan one in your area please send an email to:office@thepeoplesassembly.org.
If you have photos or videos of the day please send them through tooffice@thepeoplesassembly.org.
The PCS have organised a protest day for tomorrow (27 June) against the cuts announced by Osborne this afternoon. See the list of events here. They are asking for messages of support for use on social media to build up for the protest. Send messages to stopthecuts@pcs.org.uk
The People's Assembly Organising Committee
I think the time for organised and coordinated peaceful protest against the imposition of wholly unnecessary poverty on millions in the UK has arrived.
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I suggest that as well as developing an infrastructure of organisation the People’s Assembly needs to build up an intellectual infrastructure. So often the left has been characterised as sentimental and good hearted, but unable to deal with the reality of economic necessity. Of course, this ‘economic necessity’ is a delusion, a piece of misplaced common sense on a par with the perceived flatness of the Earth. But the Left needs to be able to explain why this is so. It needs to be able to seize the commanding heights of the argument and to be in a position to rebut the standard attacks. Only if this is the case will its understanding become accepted as part of the common wisdom, and thus make possible consistent democratic support for the practical reconstruction that will be necessary in Britain and elsewhere.
Fortunately events have conspired to make this possible. The infallible markets school of economics has been revealed as nothing more than a dead theology (except perhaps amongst the goggle eyed!), real Keynesianism has been vindicated, and such things as Modern Money Theory supply new insights into the real workings of the economic system.
Perhaps the People’s assembly could devote some time — set up a work stream — to develop such an argument, make sure of its intellectual consistency and empirical validity, and then — hardest part of all – try to express in language that ordinary people can grasp. This is something that the Labour Party has failed to do for many years, with the consequences that are now visible to all. Richard, I recall that a few days ago one of your commentators asked you for guidance on how he could counter the argument put forward by his local Tory MP that any expansion of spending by means of increased borrowing will inevitably lead to an increase in interest rates, and thus the cost of mortgages. You pointed him to the writings of Paul Krugman. If what I suggest is done, then your correspondent would not need to ask.
I accept that this work would be very hard and doubtless contentious. However, as our rentier opponents would say, it will bring very big dividends in the future.
I agree, entirely
There are not many who can do it
By the way – do yo mind if I make this a blog in its own right?
Re making this topic a blog in its own right – more power to you!
Thanks
Done
MMT gives you the insights of Central bank operations wrt to interest rates so not Krugman should be looking at Mosler.
Richard,
The truth often hurts…
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/06/26/asse-j26.html
I have to say that is typical far left nonsense
I treat it with the same contempt as that from the right
Richard,
Time will tell.
Knowing several in this I don’t buy any of that analysis
I don’t often disagree with you, Richard, and I have no time for the ‘I’m more left wing than you’ name calling (ie. reference to pseudo-left groups), but I have to say that I think the analysis of the nature of the relationship between the TUC and most unions and the Labour Party is pretty accurate.
Of course, I’m well aware of the history. But I’m not the only one to believe that the closeness of that relationship is both unhealthy and unhelpful to the pursuit of the interests of union members in the 21st century. For example, the trades union leadership almost always conflate the interests of their members into those of the Labour Party (usually after making noises to the contrary). And yet, as I mentioned in a comment recently (and you indicated you agreed), the “one” in One Nation is pretty much a signal that the priority is still the 1%. In that sense its now become obvious that One Nation Labour is actually New Labour Mk2. There can be absolutely no doubt about that after the austerity pledges of recent weeks.
Ultimately the TUC and union hierarchy are part of the political class (or establishment, might be a better word) just as much as MPs, advisors, and so on. Consequently, far too often its appears that individually or collectively their interests as members of this class take precedence over the interests of their members (e.g. working their way through the union hierarchy to become a Labour MP).
There was a time when beer and sandwiches at Number 10 (or being in the tent p—–g out) was an effective strategy for the defence and advancement of union members/workers. But the effectiveness of that approach began to fade years ago. With a Labour party that has now restated its neo-liberal credentials for all to see that strategy is no strategy at all, except for the advancement through the political establishement of the few.
I think it a little more nuanced than that Ivan.
Mark Serwotka is openly critical of Labour.
Len McCluskey is not popular at Labour HQ, I’m sure.
And I don’t think all those involved in the People’s Assembly are mere stooges for Labour – some are very openly critical.
I’d like to see a more radical agenda from unions – it’s needed.
The reality is though – and you’re right – the unions could change this overnight. If they disaffiliated from Labour then Labour would not be. It’s an interesting idea to think what might happen if they did that.
If only the unions would end their affiliation to the Labour Party and use those funds to finance Left Unity. A real alternative to the no change, no sense, no hope polices of neo liberalism.
Except that you could not go because you were too busy!
Yet you expect others to go, or give money so they can finally organise a protest day……..in November……over four months from now……Wow, way to storm the barricades….
For the 5th November they also want direct action, bound to be disruptive to the police and the fire brigade. Still support them if someone burns to death because the Fire brigade is stopped from getting to a call on the busiest night of the year!
You have no idea what personal circumstances prevented me going
Respectfully, your comments today are breaching moderation rules
let’s hope this signals a beginning to a real challenge to neo liberal agenda and the the way banking has sucked the wealth out of our society. I suspect that collective somnolence will prevail. having just hear hear Jeremy Hunt ( he of the dilated pupils) talking about ‘hard working’ families’ wanting’ the benefit cuts and telling us nothing about about why hard work no longer seems to pay and who has run off with all the wealth. I felt a sinking feeling that most people will swallow this ‘guff’. As usual the poor and ill will be blamed for not trying hard enough and dragging everyone else down! Play the neo-liberal rules or you’re surplus to requirements.
I saw that interview
Such comments sicken me
“The Herald Scotland”
http://blacktrianglecampaign.org/2013/06/24/as-miliband-crosses-the-rubicon-bragging-that-labour-will-not-reverse-any-of-osbornes-cuts-snp-and-kirk-announce-strong-focus-on-jimmy-reid-foundation-paper-the-scottish-commonweal/#comment-49376
Having read the blog and the comments that arise it is really sad and disheartening to observe all the rhetoric, political waffle and name calling. One Nation Labour, union influence, cuts to whatever budget and so on. Nobody ever mentions the revenue generation. Tax. How is it to be collected efficiently? When will the collection programme begin? When will the tax rules be made simple and sensible? And most important of all, which of the worthless political parties will spring over the parapet and make the announcement? Every single one of them is ducking the issue and taking everybody’s eye off the ball with superfluous twaddle. Despairingly, it would seem that UK Plc will just plod along relentlessly until there is proper civil disobedience, unlike the recent riots, which were just a shopping trip. Perhaps that is why there has been an increse in funding for the security services? They must be hoping for a poor summer this year.
John
I think few have tried to do more to raise the issue of tax collection than me
Richard
Richard,
I totally agree with you there. I would also like to add it takes guts to do what you do…We don’t agree about a FEW things, but, you have my total respect.
4000 out of 60 million. It’s hardly the poll tax riots us it! But I suppose its a start