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1/11: Seen people recently thinking of joining a party & various discussions around that. Thought I'd write about what I think makes PBP fundamentally different from other left parties - without taking (too many) swipes at them. It's not primarily about differences in policy -
2/11 Although these exist - e.g. policy on properly funded All Ireland NHS (vs. Sláintecare - improvement but still subsidises private health), Zero Covid, ecosocialist manifesto, public housing on public land, etc. But main difference is where we think change can come from.
3/11 Whereas centre left geared towards getting enough TDs/MLAs elected to make changes through parliament, we think we need people power to win a better world. Many examples of failure of parliamentary approach - Allende in Chile, Syriza in Greece, Labour, Greens in govt here.
4/11 Many examples also of people/workers' power winning positive things: Repeal, water charges, civil rights movement, 8 hour day, etc. Our commitment to this kind of politics drives how we operate. It's not just about talking about Debenhams workers or student nurses in Dáil.
5/11 We do that, of course. But also get members to picket lines, organise large meetings w/workers, student nurses, etc to discuss strategy & tactics - cos fundamentally our politics are about fighting alongside them in their struggle, not getting into power & doing it for them
6/11 It's not that you won't see other left parties giving some support to strikes, going on demos, etc. But as I see it, they either see these things as secondary to parliament, as something they need to be seen to be supporting, or as a means of helping them get into parliament
7/11 Green Party & environmental movement a prime example. Got seats cos of mass movement that raised general consciousness about climate breakdown. Their reps went along to protests, Ryan spoke at them. But the leadership viewed this as a means of propelling the Greens to power
8/11 I distinguish between leadership & membership cos there are plenty of great activists in these parties involved in movements, trade unions etc. But leadership tends to be to the right of them & have various ways of dampening enthusiasm or propelling energy towards parliament
9/11 Coming out of Covid, there'll be major battle for decent NHS. Health workers central to this - need strikes, protests, mass movement. To avoid climate catastrophe we need to build on school strikes & XR. We need a fighting anti-racist movement to beat back growing far right.
10/11 The challenges facing us are far too great to hope we can simply vote in centre-left politicians who will bring in changes from on high. Hasn't worked before & certainly won't work now given the depth of the crises we face. We need to build this fight ourselves from below.
11/11 And that's what PBP is trying to play its part in doing. From Dáil speeches to protests to picket lines - it's all about building and spurring on people power.
If that's something you want to get involved in, you'd be very welcome.
Inevitable link:
http://www.pbp.ie/join
If that's something you want to get involved in, you'd be very welcome.
Inevitable link:
http://www.pbp.ie/join
