A Republican call for "Left Unity".

by Irishman in St. Petersburg Tue Apr 18, 2006 20:20

This is interesting stuff, but I'm not sure if it could really fly. The various parties and independents are lumped together as part of a vague 'left' which is never defined.

Is Labour still a left party? Were SF and the Greens ever left parties? As for the Socialist Party, they're the Trotskyites it's OK to like, and therein lies both their strength and their weakness. Joe Higgins does some very good work and the SP members I've met over my years as an armchair socialist have been pretty decent people. But like all followers of Lev Davidovich, they remain trapped in a ghetto of their own making. Could they break out of it to join a broad coalition of progessive forces?

One thing's for sure - such coalition is needed. Every single successful political movement on the island of Ireland since Dan O'Connell's time has been a coalition of some sort or another, even when it was united under one single party banner ('Big house' Unionism was a good example of this, bringing social classes whose common interests were questionable at best together via an appeal to ethnoreligious identity). I don't see any real change in Ireland until such a coalition can be built on the left - but do the raw materials for such a coalition really exist?

by Marxist Wed Apr 19, 2006 12:46

This guy obviously donesn't know his stuff. He calls Joe Higgins Jim and says he's an independent. Not only that he thinks that Labour, Sinn Féin and the Greens are progresive. They are far from it and would not be part of a left alliance.

Here are some home truths:
Labour support- immigration controls, deportations, partnership deals, anti-union laws, FG coalition, the EU, the UN, ...

SF support- the Euro, the EU, Bin Tax (outside Dublin), water tax (in North), DUP and FF coalition, religious sectarianism, ...

Greens supprt- bin tax, more tax on feuls, anti-working class policies dressed in 'environmental' language ....

Labour, Greens and Sinn Fein are rotten parties that are right-wing on many matters. Anyone wanting a deal with these people are not left-wing. Disgusting Horrible anti-working class politics. F**king animals.

by eh c'mon Wed Apr 19, 2006 12:55

"Disgusting Horrible anti-working class politics. F**king animals"

i really think thats a bit harsh!! also obviously the jim higgins rather than joe higgins is a typo and that does not ruin the rets of his argument.

What is supposed to happen then? Are we in Ireland going to be almost the only people in Europe who will NEVER have a left of centre government in power. EVER. thats what the logic of your argument.

also the left in power, even a watered down social democratic left government is better than the right, can we agree on that?

and it is also better for the far left because it shows what these guys actually do in power.

Everyone who cares about progressive politcs in Ireland unless they are a rapid sectarian have to support a SF/;Lab/Green and whoever alliance.

by Irishman in St. Petersburg Wed Apr 19, 2006 16:25

'If I was going to Dublin, I wouldn't start from here'.

A realism that starts from an unrealistic assessment of the progressive nature of parties like Labour, SF etc., can only end in tears. Look at what's happened to the left in the US, after decades of whoring after the so-called Democratic party.

Sometimes I'm afraid it's only some kind of world economic crisis (coming out of the oil peak thing?) that will unblock progressive politics in Ireland. But such a crisis might just as easily lead to the rise of some kind of far-right national-chauvinist party instead.

by ImSickOfLeftyInfighting Tue Apr 25, 2006 00:21

to marxist:

You're michael mcdowell stirring up trouble arent you?

A watered down left HAS to be better than what we have.

C'mon folks , lets have a left / indie / green coalition. Everyone I talk to is in favour of it. The alternative is another 4 years of fianna fail / PD hell. Nobody really wants that. Except perhaps Marxist!!

by cropbeye - Veteran of G8 Wed Apr 26, 2006 21:15 cropbeye at yahoo dot com Cork

The problem with your idea is not so much the smaller groups as the leadership of the
Irish Labour Party. I don't think much will get off the ground while Pat Rabitte is leader &
along with some of his key aides who strangle debate in that party. I agree that ther are a
number of Labour candidates in a few areas around the country that are worth voting for &
as for a selection of the best from availabe of Sinn Fein Green and smaller groups sure theres
no reason why one can't defy the official pacts and vote in what ever pattern you choose.I could go
on at more length if you had the time and interest about a list of the least bad candidates likely to
stand in different parts of the country next year in the election

by fact Thu Apr 27, 2006 18:39

I know for a fact there are many Labour members unhappy with Rabbitte leadership. I think most Lab member sin favour of some sort of SF/Green/Leftist Indp alliance. How could anyone on the left currently not be considering the option on offer. ie the flippin Mullingar Accord!!!

by GPJ Fri Apr 28, 2006 01:02

The call for a left coalition in the 26 counties should be put into action. The principles of agreement and the support of candidates for a push for the next election can only benefit those people who the Celtic tiger has mauled and scare those who have been milking workers for generations.

It would also give us in the six counties the hope that the politics of re unification will be met by new and fresh political thinking in the twenty six..lets get this coalition for change on the road.

by Michael Gallagher Fri Apr 28, 2006 04:27 libertypix at yahoo dot co dot uk

Has anybody considered the possibility that what Sinn Fein may be about is a definite coalition with the largest 'Republican', 'Nationalist', 'Socialist' and 'Capitalist' party...yes the be all, to all, trick of all trickster parties..Fianna Fail. And this grand coalition created for one thing and one thing only, to get into the room, pull the carpet from under their feet and hang up new curtains!
It would take a long time, but I think what Sinn Fein are about is to do to Fianna Fail what they did to the SDLP, put them on the slow roaster. Themselves alone?