Re: Jeremy Corbyn | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Jeremy Corbyn

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Lump Of Green Slime Jul 31, 2015 07:50:01

Replying to Rhiannon

They aren't necessarily of the same vintage or prominence and I haven't read them all but Tony Judt, David Harvey, Ha Joon Chang (a South Korean economist based at Cambridge) and Terry Eagleton are all worth a look.

Chang, in particular, is wonderful at demystifying Economics in order to challenge the neoliberal consensus. And he does it the best way, with easy to understand number crunching. His books 'Economics: A Users' Guide' and '23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism' are seminal.

After you've read these titles (and his prose is immensely clear and engaging), when a Tory or Tory-lite neoliberal tells you that something is 'bad for the economy' on the telly you'll know that it's almost certain that they are talking out of their arse.

Incidentally, I tend to lurk rather than post in this forum. But I have enjoyed reading this thread and finally felt that I had something to contribute.

I'm also not necessarily a fan of Corbyn or all-that politically engaged. My views are that essential services like power, transport, health and education should be under state control while the rest can be left to the vibrancy of the markets.

What does that make me? A 'leftie'? A market socialist? I'm asking because I don't feel that I'm all that radical and fairly MOR in fact.

Rhiannon Jul 31, 2015 08:44:50

Replying to Lump Of Green Slime

Ah the press would like you to think that showing even the tiniest bit of humane sympathy makes you an unelectable communist.

This morning on radio 4 they were talking to Dave Ward of the communication workers union - he pointed out how the 'centre' of British politics isn't where it was. (He did go on a bit but you may find it worth listening to. He called the Blairites a 'virus' in the party yesterday, and stood by it).

There's a great appetite for change, look how people leapt at voting for the liberal democrats (before they started shoring up the tories) and this time the green party. People have been banging on about how a more left wing stance would make labour unelectable. But they're unelectable now because they've got nothing that distinguishes them from the tories as far as I'm concerned. At least a pretence that they defend working people and vulnerable groups would be a start. It's ages until the next election and unless labour works out what it stands for it really will make itself unelectable.

anyway I personally feel happy every time I hear more people are backing JC and that it's winding up his opposition.

rant over, it's too early (cup of tea mk2 not even finished)

IanB Jul 31, 2015 09:05:48

Replying to Lump Of Green Slime

Lump Of Green Slime wrote:

Incidentally, I tend to lurk rather than post in this forum. But I have enjoyed reading this thread and finally felt that I had something to contribute.

What does that make me? A 'leftie'? A market socialist? I'm asking because I don't feel that I'm all that radical and fairly MOR in fact.

These days that would make you, to quote Labour leadership contender Liz Kendall, a fantasist and an extremist. Welcome to the hard left ;-)