If the majority of the working class want 'Socialism' and are in the process of action, i.e democratic assembelies, parties, taking over work places etc will a formal vote be necessary? If the working class and 'Socialism' has nothing to do with parliament and is the antithesis to it, i.e generalised wokers control in all areas of life is this a step back towards what we already have? And in essence counter revolutionary and in action, reactionary!
It may be difficult to know just *when* we have reached the stage of having a majority unless a vote is taken. Such a vote is a useful thermometer of socialist consciousness, and this political action is also needed because the capitalist class ultimately maintains power through its control over the machinery of state (from a mandate given at election time). But the use of parliament is not being advocated in place of other kinds of action, such as you list, but would be alongside it.
On reflection I sounded a bit silly saying voting was counter-revolutionary if it came across like that. Anyway, moving onto the question of workers consciousness. Firstly is it able to develop en masse? Is or can bourgeois ideology be broken down, is it being broken down? Do we need crisis for this to happen? Or is it not a question of consciousness but rather that the transformation is believed to be beyond us? (Partly due to failings in Russia, Spain, Paris etc).
Hi. Thats the Holy Grail - mass socialist consciousness! No magic formulas or short cuts. Not necessarily thru crisis or collapse, although this can help people realise that capitalism has no positive answers. Its the hard slog of putting the case forward, clearly and simply; the more people are involved in doing that, the better. Past experiences have not only been seen to fail but have distorted the meaning of socialism. But were still in the game with the future to win.
If the majority of the working class want 'Socialism' and are in the process of action, i.e democratic assembelies, parties, taking over work places etc will a formal vote be necessary? If the working class and 'Socialism' has nothing to do with parliament and is the antithesis to it, i.e generalised wokers control in all areas of life is this a step back towards what we already have? And in essence counter revolutionary and in action, reactionary!
9407113678 2 years ago
It may be difficult to know just *when* we have reached the stage of having a majority unless a vote is taken. Such a vote is a useful thermometer of socialist consciousness, and this political action is also needed because the capitalist class ultimately maintains power through its control over the machinery of state (from a mandate given at election time). But the use of parliament is not being advocated in place of other kinds of action, such as you list, but would be alongside it.
pfbcarlisle 2 years ago
On reflection I sounded a bit silly saying voting was counter-revolutionary if it came across like that. Anyway, moving onto the question of workers consciousness. Firstly is it able to develop en masse? Is or can bourgeois ideology be broken down, is it being broken down? Do we need crisis for this to happen? Or is it not a question of consciousness but rather that the transformation is believed to be beyond us? (Partly due to failings in Russia, Spain, Paris etc).
9407113678 2 years ago
Hi. Thats the Holy Grail - mass socialist consciousness! No magic formulas or short cuts. Not necessarily thru crisis or collapse, although this can help people realise that capitalism has no positive answers. Its the hard slog of putting the case forward, clearly and simply; the more people are involved in doing that, the better. Past experiences have not only been seen to fail but have distorted the meaning of socialism. But were still in the game with the future to win.
pfbcarlisle 2 years ago