Re: [Marxism] Joe Higgins, "The Best Fighter Money Can't Buy, " elected to European Parliament

[Einde O'Callaghan <eindeoc@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Steve Palmer wrote:
> He sounds just like a Sticky/CPI from the '70s ... attacks Republicans as 
> divisive. Ideologically, he comes from a long and unhealthy tradition of 
> pro-imperialist socialists in Ireland.
> His unfortunate remark about a 'better life for all' recalls the abortive 
> 'Better Life for All' campaign sponsored by British imperialism and trade 
> union bureaucrats to attempt to undermine the liberation struggle. And as for 
> referring to the occupied Six Counties as 'Northern Ireland' ...
> 
> Nothing to see here folks, move along now ...
> 
I think it's a serious error to view the situation in the 26 Counties 
through the mirror of the continuing imperialist occupation of the 6 
Counties. The Southern ruling class is a small but relatively 
independent player on the international stage - politics in teh 26 
Counties are not dominated by Partition, although it still throws a 
shadow that can't be ignored.

Whatever teh weaknesses of the Socialist Party on the national question, 
and I believe they are grave, the support for Joe Higgins reflects a 
fighting reaction to the crisis and the attempts of the Fianna 
Fail/Green government ot make the working class pay for it.

The defeat of Sinn Fein in Dublin is not a setback for teh national 
struggle - after all they are participating in running the sectarian 
Northern state - which is something that not even the Socialist Party 
has ever advocated.

Although Sinn Fein is linked up with the European Left Party on the 
European level - along with DIE LINKE in Germany - I consider them to be 
one of the weakest links in the ELP, potentially providing a Trojan 
horse for neo-liberal policies, even if because of their nationalist 
roots they are Euro-sceptics.

Einde O'Callaghan

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