Wicked, good luck!
Sydney Anarchist Communist Meeting, 13th April 1pm @ Jura Books
Five questions for anarchist communists
Question 1. : Who will create an anarchist communist society? A tiny bunch of uni students and middle class elements with wild pretenstions with potentially very swollen heads on high horses which roam uni campus land /lower rungs of union bureaucracies and desperate to ape the various left sects with all their "correct positions" on every issue under the sun or militant workers particularly in sectors of strategic importance?
Question:2: Will the sharing of beliefs in various left subcultural folkways and superstitions, guilt complexes and general in experience be of any value to the creation of an anarchist communist society?
Question:3: Is the birth and "lascivious" massaging of "organs" of micro bureaucracies and the finding of "excuses for social occasions" in the shape of meetings and the churning out of pointless abstract propaganda on every issue under the sun relevant to the creation of an anarchist communist society?
Question 4: Will the serious study of history in particular the history of syndicalist movements, the leninist/stalinist tradition, marxist political economy, various episodes of the class struggle be of value in throwing light on the importance of long range precision work in assisting militant workers self organisation and direct action in strategic sectors - which can lead into workers control of industry and assist the achievement of an anarchist communist society in the real world rather than in the hallucinations of small groups of uni students hanging out at various left subcultural hot houses or university cafes?
Question 5: Is it necessary to re-invent the wheel in the case of activity? When grass roots publications exist which are assisting this self organisation and direct action in NSW today - and assistance with their distribution and interviewing workers for them would be of value particularly in the context of the Iemma Govt's current privatisation rampage in the public sector.
mark
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Question 1. : Who will create an anarchist communist society? A tiny bunch of uni students and middle class elements with wild pretenstions with potentially very swollen heads on high horses which roam uni campus land /lower rungs of union bureaucracies and desperate to ape the various left sects with all their "correct positions" on every issue under the sun or militant workers particularly in sectors of strategic importance?
The latter of course.
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Question:2: Will the sharing of beliefs in various left subcultural folkways and superstitions, guilt complexes and general in experience be of any value to the creation of an anarchist communist society?
No, but that is not the purpose of this group.
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Question:3: Is the birth and "lascivious" massaging of "organs" of micro bureaucracies and the finding of "excuses for social occasions" in the shape of meetings and the churning out of pointless abstract propaganda on every issue under the sun relevant to the creation of an anarchist communist society?
No.
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Question 4: Will the serious study of history in particular the history of syndicalist movements, the leninist/stalinist tradition, marxist political economy, various episodes of the class struggle be of value in throwing light on the importance of long range precision work in assisting militant workers self organisation and direct action in strategic sectors - which can lead into workers control of industry and assist the achievement of an anarchist communist society in the real world rather than in the hallucinations of small groups of uni students hanging out at various left subcultural hot houses or university cafes?
Wow Mark, that is probably the longest sentence i've ever read (it's a whole paragraph!!!)
But, yes (if i'm understanding this 'question' correctly) - i do think there is value in studying history - but studying history in and of itself will not lead to workers control or anarchy.
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Question 5: Is it necessary to re-invent the wheel in the case of activity? When grass roots publications exist which are assisting this self organisation and direct action in NSW today - and assistance with their distribution and interviewing workers for them would be of value particularly in the context of the Iemma Govt's current privatisation rampage in the public sector.
By 'grass roots publications' you're referring to Rebel Worker, yes? I wouldn't have a problem with assisting in its distribution or interviewing workers for the same.
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Perhaps you can answer some questions of mine?
Why was your response to this announcement so hostile? If you have problems with what is written in the topic post why not address these issues specifically, rather than making generalised or personal attacks on a group of people you know nothing about? I am interested in working with you and RW (indeed we have the same interest - to see a social revolution lead by the working class for the creation of an anarchist society); but your first response seems always to attack ALL other anarchists, and not in a constructive way. Indeed i'm not sure i've ever read a constructive criticism or positive comment directed towards another anarchist or anarchist group in australia (i'm sure you have at some point, it just seems to something of a rarity these days).
Do you want to see class struggle anarchism as a popular tendency within the working class? Or indeed within the anarchist movement generally? If so, i do not see the utility in attacking potential comrades in such a un-constructive manner.
Or is it that you think no anarchists in australia today (besides you of course) have escaped the influence of the stalinist microbureaucracy - student unionism - middle class culture and rituals of activism etc.?
If so, then i fear for the future - because as good a publication Rebel Worker is, and as committed as you are to anarchist ideas, i do not see how anarchism could ever have a serious presence amongst the working class based on your activity alone? What we need to do is have a constructive discussion - to find common ground (of which i'm sure there is much) - and go from there - and that is something i look forward to.
In solidarity
-D
I'm not hostile to the meeting - I'm just pointing out some potential serious problems and dangers which may be difficult to avoid - my post points to the importance of such a gathering taking steps to encourage lines of research and self education to better understand steps to facilitate the workers control project and becoming involved in associated practical work in relevant projects - which currently exist eg sparks
-being "patted on the back" is not going to help you much - but it is very important to find out what is going wrong or could go wrong re one's activity re the workers' control project otherwise what you do can be either pointless or even counterproductive - most leftist activity in australia is like this and as a result the employer offensive is making quite a bit of headway - so I mainly focus on what's going wrong - you may not want to hear it - but you need it !
- it defintely seems to me that the "anti-capitalist milieu" and particularly the so called "anarchist corner" in Australia and elsewhere is very much entrapped in the "iron triangle of the left subculture" which I have discussed in a previous post - an insight I and others have developed over many decades of activity and historical reseach - engaging in the research I mentioned above - would help you develop a better understanding of my point particularly regarding the stalinist legacy - with out this research of course It may just look like I'm just resorting to slandering, these groups - but that is certainly not the case.
- the asn is very active in facilitating grass roots organisation and initiatives within
various industries under very harsh conditions and had helped fight off of an important prong of privatisation in the railways - see anarchosyndicalism catalyst for workers self organisation" on the archive section of www.rebelworker.org - in the context of workers self organisation, raised morale, waves of direct action, reduced pace of work and hours of work, , etc we could see more workers becoming more informed on aspects of anarchism but the problem at the moment is to get sustained
workers self organisation going and fighting off various spearheads of the employer offensive - eg Iemma Govt privatisaton rampage or we could see quite a landslide with the employer offensive greatly accelerating
mark
If you don't cut the anti-capitalist millieu nonsense I am going to scream, Mark.
Did we mention any of the bollocks you brought up?
No?
Then why add shit that is not relevant, and blatant arrogance?
The group was explained briefly because it's not 'set in stone' yet, but is being organized.
But I'm afraid, Mark, that the old workerist bullshit from the 30's has, indeed, lost its usefulness and is out of date.
Class struggle, and especially class struggle anarchism, has not, however, gone out of date, and the process of globalisation is only intensifying class antagonisms and the polarization of wealth - or global capital.
Thus, Mark, if you are interested in forming an anarchist communist organization, and bringing anarchism to the front line of the class struggle in Australia, then there's no reason why you should not attend to help build a stronger movement.
If however, you find it more appropriate to stir up petty silly criticisms from 'bad experience' then you need not waste yours, or our time.
I'm a 'new mum' and I would like to metaphorically grab you all by the scruff of the neck and put you at separate ends of the room.
"You! Over there!! YOU sit over there". "...and if you can't share, I'm going to have to take it away!!"
What a shame. I don't really know any of you but Mark, you seem like the older boy - why don't you join this new little group and teach them how it all works?
Put it this way, Asher, next meeting is on the Next meeting set for Sunday 20 April - 1pm, same place. To discuss (amongst other things!) the groups aims and principals, as well as the participation of the group in the regional Afed discussion meeting to be held the following week, on Sunday 27th april.
Look forward to seeing what you lot come out with.Just to let anyone who cares know, (is anyone still following this ?), there is a meeting this Sunday May 11 at Jura books.
So far we have had a few meetings which have been constructive and are in the process of drawing up aims and principles and discussing possible actions.
E
Sydney Anarchist Communist Group
Background:
The idea of this meeting arose during discussion amongst several anarchists from Sydney – all of whom desire to develop class struggle theory, tools and practice as a tendency within the anarchist movement and the working class as a whole.
It is hoped that the meeting will serve as an opportunity for Sydney anarchist communists (and other class struggle anarchists) to come together to discuss and clarify our ideas, with the overall intention of forming a group, whose aim at this point is to develop and spread the ideas of class struggle anarchism (within the anarchist movement and the working class a whole) and most importantly, to contribute in a meaningful way to the end of class society.
What is anarchist communism?
As anarchist communists we support a social revolution, made by the working class, to abolish the system of wage labour, capitalism, the state and all other forms of hierarchy and domination. In their place we envision the creation of a society based upon the principals of liberty, equality and solidarity – realised in practice through a horizontal network of free and voluntary associations.
When & Where? On 13th of April at 1pm there will be a meeting held at Jura Books (440 Parramatta Road, Petersham – 5 minutes walk from Petersham station) to discuss the formation of a Sydney anarchist communist group.