labor

Young Turks On The Turps

liam — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:57:51 -0700

Thank goodness for the Young Labor Left, who have kept up the traditions of youth political bohemianism in the face of the Daily Telegraph. God help us if the future political figures of Labor's progressive wing carry on only the dour puritanism of the Daily Telegraph's staff, as shown by such notorious wowsers as Joe Hildebrandt and Col Allan, who wouldn't know what to do in a party full of drunken young people but cry, leave early and arrive sober at work in the morning, and the Young Labor Right, whose strong tea and iced vo-vos have made the Labour movement a by-word for moral righteousness. I know there are stoush.net readers who'll have stories. If you're not too hung over, spill 'em below.

Get Your Mao On (III): Relations Between Officers And Men

liam — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:56:32 -0700

>Our comrades must understand that ideological remolding involves long-term, patient and painstaking work, and they must not attempt to change people's ideology, which has been shaped over decades of life, by giving a few lectures or by holding a few meetings. Persuasion, not compulsion, is the only way to convince them. Compulsion will never result in convincing them. To try to convince them by force simply won't work. I don't know why "ideological" has to be an epithet in these post-normative days of [universal middle-class entitlement mentality](http://crazybrave.net/2008/05/13/keepin-it-real/). I was brought up on my parents' knees to understand ideology as an identifiable system of beliefs or a worldview which prompted measurable behaviour in a society, nothing more and nothing less.

Get Your Mao On (II): Contradictions Amongst The People

liam — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:28:20 -0700

>Recently there has been a falling off in ideological and political work among students and intellectuals, and some unhealthy tendencies have appeared. Some people seem to think that there is no longer any need to concern oneself with politics or with the future of the motherland and the ideals of mankind. [Plus ça change](http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/works/red-book/ch12.htm) and all the rest of the French deviationist cliché. It's not the Chairman's fault that we're made to imagine politics as a leadership race of inconsequence and personality, and if our Parties compete in an arena of mediocrity, subsidised homeownership and baby production. At least we have [moments of sublime insanity](http://theworstofperth.com/2008/04/29/smell-of-female/) to keep us entertained (if also repelled). Sadly for him, and Morrissetti-ronic for me, [Gerard Henderson agrees with Zedong](http://www.smh.com.au/news/gerard-henderson/libs-will-always-languish-without-intellectual-brawn/2008/05/05/1209839545856.html). The Conservative intellectual tradition in Australia really is pretty moribund---moribund in the arse, an unkind person might say. So... intellectual dormancy. What's the big fella's solution? >To counter these tendencies, we must strengthen our ideological and political work. Both students and intellectuals should study hard. Thanks Mao. That was useful.

Get Your Mao On (I): Correcting Mistaken Ideas

liam — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:20:38 -0700

>With victory, certain moods may grow within the Party - arrogance, the airs of a self-styled hero, inertia and unwillingness to make progress, love of pleasure and distaste for continued hard living. With victory, the people will be grateful to us and the bourgeoisie will come forward to flatter us... the flattery of the bourgeoisie may conquer the weak-willed in our ranks. This is from the famous [Little Red Book](http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/works/red-book/ch24.htm) so well-used by the sincere soixante-huitards and insincerely by banally sarcastic smartarses (as here). This post will be the first in a series in which I apply selections from the Quotations to the current state of the Party of which I'm a despairing member, out of their twentieth century context, with a faux-ironic sense of sneering detachment. I'm all for moving forward in a spirit of consultation, but let's also have a bit of enlightened self-criticism too. Let's remember that the labour movement can also make *good* use of things made in China.