You may be offended by this. But large parts of it are spot on:
The left hasn't got an argument.
It doesn't persuade anyone.
And much of what passes for action is an excuse.
This blog is my version of the required narrative. It's imperfect. But dammit, I'm trying.
And a lot more need to do so in whatever way they can. Starting from the top.
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Excellent.
Engagement is the key.
But it’s not enough. There has to be a sound grasp a) of the issues which are causing people to be angry, and b) of the solution which will improve their situation.
The left must broaden its horizon.
Agree
A new book…..working on it…….
No cursing on a Sunday please……….. means I ll have to lisren to it on a loop tomorrow to keep the Sabbath holy!
The other day I wrote something like , “outrage is not enough, we need a viable alternative.’
I agree most people are not racist or whatever but I’m not persuaded that people are cowed by political correctness. We do hear Right wing sentiments, some of them very forcibly expressed with as much, if not more, stereotyping.
But the problem is not just the social argument. It’s the economic argument. Most people are not aware of the realities and are taken in by an obsolete economic doctrine e.g. the national economy is like a household budget, which is pushed by millions of newspapers every day. That is not the fault of the Left but they have, and he has a point here, rubbish at challenging it.
Richard you do put out interesting ideas. There are other people in the field and my hope is that these can come together AND the ideas get propagated.
That is a hope
A good anger rant, but.
There are a lot of us, browned off, but by just blaming ‘the left’ is not enough. It sounds like a Telegraph sponsored podcast in some parts. No blame here for our rabid media, the City et al, just a ‘nebulous left’.
I suppose the only good thing is that Brexit and Trump have (hopefully) bought our elites to the realisation that our neo liberal parties have delivered, not for one, but for 3+ decades, declining living standards for many people, and that those people have now said NO.
They kicked off, because of the failure of Tories, New Labour, and Orange bookers collectively. (Gordon Brown’s ‘bigot’ episode is a prime example of the unlistening elite.) The UK food bankers just kicked his arse, and the 38 million American food stampers did the same to Hillary.
A new beginning: We should support Anti Neo Lib parties solidly, the Tories are divided – ask Stephen Phillips – concentrate on them.
The media is overwhelmingly pro establishment (neo liberal) and hides, dumbs down any positive outpourings from the Greens or Labour.
The only way forward is help out on the street, deliver leaflets, support local parties, good bottom up democracy…..perhaps the moaning lad who is moaning about moaning should help out instead of…. er moaning!
The polls now mean nothing, there is everything to play for.
Keep up the good blog Richard.
That last minute is bang on.
The left does have to get off its high horse and really set out to win the argument. Just thinking we’re superior, or on a higher moral plane, or that our opponents are unworthy simply wont cut it.
We also badly need some fresh thinking. Just saying the right are bad isn’t good enough: we have to offer something better, and to argue passionately, coherently and relentlessly that it is and why.
I’ve heard a lot about Trump’s election being a wake up call. What???!!! The left should have seen this coming and should be aware that the political world is turning away from us and has been for a number of years. It really is time for some honesty and some deep thinking for those in progressive politics.
Well shared Richard. I think I have recommended Mr Pie to your readers in the past. We went to see him on tour where he gives full vent to his spleen. One passage involved his pointing out that it was our fault that these people were in power because after four years of Cameron and Osborne being restrained by the Lib Dem’s we voted for unrestrained Conservatism by punishing the LD’s at the ballot box. At the second ‘It’s your fault!’ some of the audience walked out! But he’s right, isn’t he?!
He is
Yes
But you, Richard, have long been one of the key, self-righteous silencers of people, claiming the ‘Left’ label and excluding whoever you choose.
I’ve certainly been promoting this clip, but I find it ironic that you are.
The fact that you don’t get the contradiction in regard to your own positioning leads me to believe its a high hill to climb for you to actually take on the message.
I exclude people who have nothing to say
Or who just enjoy being obstructive for the sake of it
I agree with that
And that allows the space needed for honest discussion without being people being trolled
I do not block anyone else
I know that Richard can look after himself Linda but you are being very harsh here.
Sure – Richard will disagree with someone if they are factually wrong or challenge an idea if he feels that we should dig deeper. He will also disagree with opinion if he feels that he must and stick to his own beliefs (to which he is entitled). I think that he is quite fair overall given the sniping he has to put up with. He is happy to disagree with people and leave it at that.
We also cannot separate his blog presence from the man we see interviewed on TV or the radio – he’s always balanced, reasonable and well…..normal really.
He’s not that much of an ogre really is he?
It’s all a matter of perspective PSR
This interview with Bernie Saunders is also worth a watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-QmctaBMTU
Agreed: I have watched it
All too true.
I still have my Bernie T-shirt and I will continue to wear it with pride.
This chap’s delivery is spot on and sums my feelings up exactly.
Thank you.
Well, I did my little bit by working (in a small way) for Bernie’s elder brother in the Witney by-election (and in Oxford in 2015). I obviously wish Bernie had won the Democratic nomination, but the fact that he probably was never going to (because the system was rigged against him), says all we need to know about the Democratic Party, which is a sorry apology for the designation “Left”, as indeed was the Blairite Labour Party.
Bernie was never a Democratic, and should probably have stood along with Jill Stein for the Greens. He would not have won this year, but maybe one day, or someone like him (or someone like Jill Stein….such as Jill Stein).
I can’t say I’m happy that Trump had won, but I would hardly have been happy if Hillary had won, either. It would have just confirmed the modern Democrats in their nasty modern neo-liberal, pro-Wall Street ways. As it is, hopefully they have received a much needed shock, and will either reform (somehow), or the best of them will go off and help people like Bernie and Jill.
Mike
Check out the on-line documentary ‘Obama – Lifting the Veil’ which I feel sums up issues with the Democratic Party pretty well and asks some searching questions.
I think that Bill Clinton’s slavish following of ex-Goldman Sachs bankers should not be forgotten whilst he was president.