Leading With The Chin

The progressive political parties represented in the Dáil, Assembly and Council chambers around the country have been slow to understand the potential opened up by the Occupy movement.

During the recent Presidential election, with all the coverage it was bound to receive, none of the candidates representing progressive politics in Ireland – Higgins, McGuinness and I am going to includes David Norris (although, I understand that not everybody will see him in this category) referenced the Occupy movement. 

I found this strange.  Not only because it was clear, even at that stage, that there was occupation activity across the globe, but it was also strange because the occupiers were making the case that the system – a system opposed by progressive political activists – was clearly failing.

We all realise that the occupy movement has deliberately not been prescriptive in putting policy positions forward.  I may have issues with some within those structures not defining themselves as ‘left’, but I am an old fashioned leftie and acknowledge that this is as much my problem as anything else.  What cannot be denied however, is that this global protest has begun to focus minds in a way that we haven’t seen for years.

What the occupy movement has done is to create the space for political parties to move beyond mere opposition to policies framed within the existing political paradigm, holding conservative parties to account and trying to reform a system that is inherently corrupted.   It has enabled progressive politicians to talk about the ‘V’ word – Vision.

It has to be said that progressive politicians on the way up, so to speak, advancing electorally and gaining increased access to the media tend to fall into the trap of framing discourse within the existing paradigm.   The need to illustrate their ability to understand the Realpolitik stifles bravery.  The bravery required to put up with ‘experts’ in the media and in the conservative political establishment rubbishing any idea that doesn’t sit somewhere between the centre right and the centre left.  Even in the face of the abject failure of these political and economic positions to deal with the mess that they have placed us – or 99% of us – in.

Any advance made for and by ordinary people over the centuries and particularly over the last century has been made by people brave enough to shift the paradigm – to lead with the chin, to use that boxing analogy.  Ideas that have become mainstream began life as ideas ridiculed and dismissed as unworkable or naive.

Thousands of ordinary people camping out this winter in the middle of all sorts of places around the world are leading with their chins.  In some places, the authorities are itching to knock them out.  We should support these people and thank them for giving our mainstream political leaders a chance – should they choose to take it – to do something really interesting; to work together on a broad platform to work our way out of the failure of untrammelled capitalism; to challenge the consensus and cast aside Realpolitik; to lead with the chin.

The (Long) Now

There is an organisation called the Long Now Foundation that is well worth people looking into. The name comes from an observation by the music innovator, Brian Eno that the term 'now' can be interpreted in different ways. He uses the example of conversations that he has had in the USA where 'now', he believes invariably means this instant. He claims that in England and elsewhere, 'now' can also mean 'in this time, era, year. In other words, there is a 'short now and a 'long now'.

Why am I blabbering on about this now? (short) Because of my concern about what is happening now (long)    Decisions taken by governments adhering to the proscribed remedies to stabilise capitalism are reacting in the way they do because of the belief that the have to do this now (short) They will worry about the longer now when? - well, not now.

At the end of World War 2, when we were in far more volatile situation, there were politicians and economists prepared to take the long view. They knew that it would take decades to get onto a firm economic and political footing. They also realised that it was vital to invest in people - in society.

I know that there were other agendas at play. There was a geopolitical conflict shaping up (when isn't there one) The fear of radical change was forcing conservative forces to implement social welfarism, but in among all of that there were serious attempts to move us in towards a 21st century that would be an advance for humanity.

And all of that came to a shuddering halt when Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Regan rode into world domination in the late 70's.

That this Irish Government, which contains a Labour Party - a Labour Party mind - can still be in awe of this short-term and anti-democratic unchecked capitalism, given all that we have witnessed in these past couple of years, is deeply worrying.

Surely we are in a period when long term thinking is more important than ever. As mainstream politics seems incapable of such thinking, the pressure will have to come from the rest of us - organised or otherwise. If that entails presenting the established order with additional headaches, then so be it.

The Greeks are holding a referendum that is causing such a headache and maybe that will force a positive rethink. That is the way we have to behave. The failure of an Irish government to pay bondholders, for example, would be a headache for the capitalist world order, but they would just have to think again. With enough pressure, eventually we might get some thinking that was beneficial to building a 21st century political and social order that just might be acceptable to the greater number of us - the 99% if you prefer. That's the theory! But its not a bad theory.

There will have to be plenty more marching, camping and campaigning to try and change all of this. It needs to happen now (short) and be happening now (long). get it?

Time to Change Tack

With the election of Michael D Higgins to the Presidency and with another TD by virtue of the Dublin West election, the Irish Labour Party has been given a lift from their slippage in recent opinion polls.

But what will they do with this extra ammunition?  Higgins has a track record of support for progressive politics, even when it has cost him personally.  He lost his Dáil seat after a particularly vicious anti-choice campaign by reactionary Ireland.  He has a good record in defending the disadvantaged and he is a promoter and supporter of the arts.  He is a self-confessed independent thinker – or maverick, if you prefer – and seems unafraid to challenge his own parties leadership if need be.

And there’s the thing.  The Irish Labour Party decided to throw their lot in with Fine Gael – a reactionary and conservative party who are resolved to implement the same ideological policy platform of their predecessors in Fianna Fail.  In other words the further erosion of the state and the continued lemming like adherence to Thatcherism. 

In no way has the involvement of the Irish Labour Party in government contributed to the defence of the plain people of Ireland.  If anything, they have adopted the Thatcherite clothes that seem to have become a prerequisite of participation in government.

Labour are an unnecessary adjunct to a Fine Gael that have enough seats to govern on their own. If Labour cannot make a social democratic (whatever about a democratic socialist) footprint on the policies of this administration, then what’s the point in being there?

The presidential election, among other things, has further established a division in Irish politics between the conservative and gombeen Fine Gael, Fianna Fail/Sean Gallagher element – let’s say about 40% of those who vote) and those of us who support, or at least vote for Labour, Sinn Fein, the ULA and its constituent parts and other left leaning and progressive politicians.

I understand that it is argued that people who support the Labour Party or Sinn Féin are not regarded as truly ‘left’ by some who claim the vanguard of the Left, but I have no truck with this self-defeating sectarianism.  Tony Benn, when asked if the British Labour Party was a Socialist Party replied that it wasn’t, but it contained many socialists.  The same could be argued about Labour and Sinn Fein.  It is petty in the extreme to deny this. 

The future for the left lies in the breaking down of this sectarian nonsense, finding common ground (of which there is plenty, especially on core democratic issues) and forming a broad left and progressive stream in clear opposition to the unchecked capitalism which is causing the ordinary people – the 99% if you prefer – enormous misery.

This may take a while, but it is important to continue to reach out, persuade, embarrass or cajole that significant body of (potential) progressive political activists that make up the Irish Labour Party.  Eamon Gilmour and others in that party’s leadership could and should move closer to the Michael D/Noel Browne tradition, abandon all faith in the old Ireland of Fine Gael and its adherence to Thatcherism and see that they should have no hand, act or part in the further erosion of all that has been won for ordinary people over the past 50 years.

Occupied by the Arts

Progressive people are delighted by the blossoming of the Occupy…phenomenon.  Many of us are not quite sure where it all came from so quickly and heaven knows where it is all going on to, but one thing is for sure, it has given some energy to the Left.

And for certain, that is what the Left need.  After 30 years of Thatcherite hegemony and the rightward drift of Social Democratic and Labour parties, the Left has looked tired and defeated.  This has of course meant that the Neo-Cons and Neo-Liberals have been able to eat away at the progressive gains made for ordinary people over the past five decades. 

The most recent crisis in Capitalism, far from causing the retreat of Thatcherism, has been used to accelerate its key objective – the further erosion of the state.  With little parliamentary representation, progressive political parties have been struggling to stem the tide, whatever about being able to initiate the kind of social and economic policy that we need in the 21^st century.

I am coming to the conclusion that the role of the political party as a vanguard is in question.  I have had this debate with good comrades from several progressive parties and I understand the role that formal party structures can and do play in parliaments, assemblies and in terms of being able to organise and populate campaigns and protests.

But it is only when campaigns broaden out that we see a real impact.   Sectarianism on the Left plays a part in alienating parties from each other and with non-aligned individuals from party structures.  Whatever it may be that causes people to feel excluded or want to be excluded from this aspect of the body politic, the fact remains.

Of course, conservative and reactionary forces want us to be cynical about politics so that we don’t play a part and this has added to the sense of detachment felt by the majority.

It is only when campaigns and issues are dealt with in a wider sense do we see progress.  During the late 1950’ and throughout the 1960’s we had a revolution in music and the arts.   That this coincided with the first generation of working class people coming through the University system and an empowered Trade Union movement meant we had a potent mix calling for change.  The influence of all of this permeated society and crucially the education sector – particularly higher education.  It took reactionary forces a decade or so to counter this and the proceeding 30 years or so to row back on many of the gains made.  The failure of the left in that period warrants further analysis – but not in this article!

Whether political parties are welcome or not at the occupied venues needs to be worked out.  Personally, I believe that the parties need to be involved as they bring experience and stamina. They also have access to the media, especially during elections and could do much to highlight the occupations and add gravitas.   But I do agree that any hijacking – or perceived high jacking – would be counter-productive.  Therefore any involvement would have to be unobtrusive on the ground and without the usual jockeying for position with banners and posters that can turn a decent event into a farce.   In fact party posters should continue to be banned.

This should be an education for the party activists and hierarchies as well.  What use is there in having a self-serving party?  Loose the party ego, so to speak.  The broad objectives are the same.  Broad Left or Broad Progressive is probably the best way forward if we want to avoid division and alienation anyway.

And what is needed, in my opinion, is inclusivity.  When artists, film-makers, musicians and other performers feel that they can join in – on the same non-takeover basis of course – then we could see something truly interesting developing.  The creative arts have a far wider reaching and encompassing appeal than party politics.  I may bemoan that as someone who has spent half of life involved in party activism of one sort or another, but my experience has informed my view here.

These Occupations do have a wide appeal and the creative community can feel able to participate without fear of being branded.  I hope that the occupiers can see that and encourage musicians, film-makers and all artists into the fold.

If this is truly a concerted effort to defeat the barbarity of untrammelled capitalism, then it has to be as revolutionary as the 60’s.  The arts have a lead role to play.

Otherwise Occupied

It appears that progressive political parties are holding back from overt support for the Occupy protests around the world in general and Ireland in particular.

 Perhaps it is because they see the occupiers lacking in political sophistication or any clear program for change. If so, this misses the point. The chips have been thrown in the air, who knows where they will land. Issues are being aired and progressives should run with them.

We all came into to politics to make real change, didn't we? Surely, this is the most interesting political phenomenon of recent years. Where are the statements from the Trades Unions? Whatever else the Occupiers are saying, it is a rejection of the failed capitalist system and on that general principal, we should be shouting very loud support. Come on SF, SP, ULA, Labour Left et al. Loose the ego and give the oxygen of publicity that may help tip the balance

New Thinking

With public opinion being informed by the presidential contest in seems that there is some movement in support for progressive politics.

With Fine Gael able to go it alone in government, there remains an opportunity for the Labour Party to be part of a process of contributing to a movement away from the failures of deregulated capitalism. 

The decision to enter coalition (again) with Fine Gael - a conservative party still wedded to Thatcherism - does nothing to move the ordinary people of Ireland - Labour's constituency in other words - towards a society that Connolly or Dr Noel Browne could be proud of.

Members of the Labour party have much more to offer than this.  They should abandon any sectarian hostility they may hold towards other progressive parties, including Sinn Fein and start talking about serious alternatives to the current paradigm.

There are people rejecting Thatcherism and its international variations and coming out onto the streets.  The chips have been thrown in the air and the outcome of all of this is unpredictable, but it would be a major failing of this generation of political activists if they forget what brought them into politics in the first place.

No Time Wasters Please!

Anybody presenting themselves for election as President of Ireland need to be prepared to break protocol and be radical.

At least, anybody not from the Fine Gael/Fianna Fail camp.  We expect them to wallow in the pomp of it all and keep out of the grubby business of what really matters to people at this time.  And this is a dangerous time, folks.

The contest for the Irish Presidency has to be used as an opportunity by progressive activists to do two things.

1. To clearly define what a citizen is.  To understand that it is about society - the collection of people.  The responsibility that we all have to each other.  Of course, that puts plenty outside of all of that.  Most politicians have disavowed the concept of society - a la Thatcher.  The actions of many private companies towards their workers, the environment or to pay their way in the collective raising of public finance - ie Taxation.  These people are failing the citizenship test and any presidential candidate worth a damn has to use the attention generated by such a high profile campaign to play a part in stopping the erosion of gains made by ordinary people.

2. Obviously. To promote a 21st century progressive agenda not only to defend the best of what has been secured for ordinary people during the past few decades, but to play a vociferous part in showing that we want to disavow the barbarism of neo-liberalism.

There is  no room for the luxury of keeping out of politics here.  It is far too dangerous a situation for that.  The current crisis in capital has been turned around to attack the gains made.  This is much more serious than even the Thatcher period.  Political parties of the progressive left cannot afford the luxury of presenting themselves as 'responsible', working within the paradigm laid out by the same reactionary forces that are supposed to be our enemies.

It's time to get thrown ut the Dail chamber once in a while.  Put up with media jibes and ridicule about unworkable policies. 

We don't need safe presidential candidates who look nice for the camera's.  We need a rebel.