Re: Liberating qualities of Aussie imperialism

["Alan Bradley" <alanb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>From Louis:
> I advocate cutting Alan some slack.

Me too! : )

> After all, he is *not* a member of the DSP as I understand it. I do
> recall him voicing some criticisms of their policies here on these
> matters.

Well, actually I am (provisional, ie non-voting).  I rejoined after the
Timor thing.

> Also, unless I am all wet, I get the impression that they have backed off
> from their call for UN troops to intervene in the Mideast. At least, it
> appears that they are no longer trumpeting it.

That was a strange one, I admit.

> I wouldn't be surprised if more than a couple of DSP'ers are following
> the discussions here.

There are a few that I know of.  Others have been on and left for one
reason or another.  I think a lot find it a bit abstract/academic (like the
threads that were running before the Scottish/party threads), or just
weird/sectarian.  The regular posters here have an entirely
different political complexion than the Australian left.  Even the
Australians who regularly post on the list are oddbods.

> My impression is that many party members around the world read the
> debates here because it is something they can not get in their own party,
> where the PC or Central Committee is channeling Lenin or Trotsky in its
> perfect wisdom.

That, and a certain amount of entertainment.  Mostly the latter, in my
case.  I get very bored in Toowoomba, and reading Marxist stuff, even
strange Marxist stuff helps keep my brain in trim.  It also allows me to
quarantine my rants from my other, non-political lists.

And no, the DSP isn't as bad as some comrades seem to _want to_ make out.
A couple of mistakes is normal, not a problem.  A few arses might need to
be kicked, but it's still basically healthy.  I would have liked to have
made it to the recent Congress though, in order to take its temperature
properly, but it just wasn't possible.

Alan Bradley
alanb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx