Martin William Smith wrote:
>John Korber wrote: [re: a socialist model]
>>
>> This involves convincing people that socialism is a
>> worthwhile project to attempt, building a climate of solidarity that
>> is that allows people to feel secure enough to attempt it, and then
>> working out the how on a daily basis through practical efforts on
>> practical projects. It involves building socialist/anarchist
>> culture, and extending socialist/anarchist practice into everyday
>> life, into the relationships you are involved in everyday.
>
>Although I agree with the sentiment, I don't see how it can work. You
>can't convince people that socialism is a worthwhile project to
>attempt, unless you show them exactly what it is they are committing
>to.
We're aware that this is a requirement Martin, and we are onto it. One of
the reasons I joined the IWW is that its stated objective is to do exactly
that. More than that, its aim is not only to create a blueprint but to
incrementally form "the structure of the new society within the shell of
the old."
I wish I could say we were well advanced, but as you know, we aren't.
There's been one or two set-backs. Hope we learn from them.
>But I don't want you to convince me. I want you to tell me how it's
>going to be done. I'll take care of my own convincing.
You've got the right attitude there.
[...]
>Don't say "Everybody." Somebody has to do the hard work of putting a
>plan on the table. You have to start with a plan. You have to have
>something to work with.
You start with an objective. We have that. Then you devise an overall
strategy. We have that. The strategy is not to draw up a plan, knock
everything down and re-build. The strategy is to largely build the new
*then* knock down the old.
The objective is a society that democratically governs production for use.
A government of industry, rather than people. Our strategy is thus to
create an international revolutionary industrial union that creates the
structures in the here and now that will govern production in future
society, based in industry. This seems logical to me, the aim is government
of industry so an industrial union is the place to start.
[...]
>No, I'm staying on the field to see if I can get Bartlett to organize
>an offense.
An offense against what? Anyhow, I'm not even within sight of the field,
I'm in Tasmania. We play *cricket* here, not baseball. ;-)
> I think you don't want to commit to definite opinions
>about how some of these institutions should be structured and how they
>should operate. I suppose this is a common problem, because no matter
>how many anarchist/socialist opinions you try to juggle, someone will
>come along and shoot them down.
It *that* what you're trying to do? I sympathise with you, I know from
personal experience that there's nothing quite as degrading as when the
bunny doesn't even flinch when you miss, just sits there oblivious to your
efforts. I had that happen over and over once, worst part of it was the
bunny turned out to be a rock. ;-) You see the analogy?
> The idea, though, is to see how long
>you can keep them in the air. You get better at it after awhile, and
>every once in awhile you get one to stay up for 17 years. Are you
>listening to me, Bartlett?
Every word Martin, every word. ;-) But I told you, that wasn't socialism.
Bill Bartlett
Bracknell Tas.
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