Total eclipse of the Tories...

In today's podcast (on the day Scotland saw an eclipse of the sun!): Allan Grogan, co-founder of Labour For Independence and now SSP, talking about how the SNP majority council through in Dundee is now letting down the majority working class yes voters; Ron Mackay on the increasing danger of nuclear war; Calum Martin on how Scottish Politics were changed by the French revolution; Beinn Irbhinn on splitting the Yes vote and Hollie Cameron on how social media and the main stream media may be putting off powerful political women from coming to the fore.

We have music from Scottish bands The Cundeez and Button Up, Joe Solo and Lead Belly.

Make PEACE a #ge2015 election issue! - opinion by Ron Mackay

Since 6th.Aug. 1945 I've opposed nuclear weapons. I've protested at Aldermaston, Dunoon and Faslane many times. I'm very worried at international developments. Russia has nuclear weapons – they're all in Russia. China has nuclear weapons they're all in China. The U.S. Has nuclear weapons but they're in Germany, Poland , and bases arround Russia and in Turkey and elsewhere

NATO is an aggressive, nuclear armed military alliance under U.S. Control.

I read Professor Tyler Cowan an economist at a U.S. University said a big war is needed to settle the economy. Amazon recently displayed a book -”Winter Kill – war with China has already begun “ There have already been 2 Wws essentially caused by economic problems. Are we to have a 3rd.

The winners in the first 2 WW s were the U.S. Bankers and arms manufactures. We are 20 mls. From a nuclear arms dump. 

The position is serious.

I'm a long standing member of CND (google Ron Mackay and his peace activism and you'll find me on U tube). I've been against nuclear weapons since the first one was dropped on the 6th.of August 1945. The planet is in its most dangerous situation ever. The present generation has the power to change life on the planet or to destroy all life on the planet. Many eminent individuals are warning that the situation is extremely serious. Naom Chomsky, John Pilger, Michel Chossudovsky and many others have voiced their concern.

We've had 2 world wars caused essentially by economic problems. The big capitalist powers have serious economic problems. Has there to be a third world war ? The signs are ominous.

The Westminster warmongers are spending £ billions, not just on trident and other nuclear weapons but on huge military projects. The US policy of perpetual war which our defence “experts” slavishly follow throws a heavy burden on the welfare state. Warfare and welfare are incompatible. The media plays a significant part in promoting war propaganda . It is a powerful opponent of the peace forces. We badly need a strong active socialist peace movement which can accommodate the socialists in the LP, in the SNP, in the Greens, in the SSP , in the CP and all the other socialists some of whom are in no political party. We have much in common not just peace but anti-trident, anti-austerity, green issues etc. This need is urgent and vital. This matter should be raised at every meeting held as we approach the elections.

East Dunbartonshire against Fracking

Last nights packed anti-fracking meeting in Bishopbriggs

"The Scottish Socialist Party welcomes the setting up of "Frack Off" anti-fracking groups across East Dunbartonshire that will work together as part of the wider, national campaign. We are happy to have been invited by local activists to be part of the formation of the local Bearsden Milngavie Frack Off group as we believe this is an issue on which people from all parties, including our partners in the Yes campaign The Scottish Greens and the Scottish National Party, can work closely together on. 

East Dunbartonshire Green Organiser, Ross Greer; Anti-fracking campaigner, Ron Mackay and Strathkelvin SSP Organiser, Willie Telfer,

Although the Westminster Tory/Liberal Democrat Coalition claims to be the greenest government in history, like all of their pledges and claims, this has to be heard by a cynical ear as funding and governmental help has benefitted the energy companies wanting to turn a quick profit, rather than those wanting to develop energy solutions that have little or no negative environmental impact on East Dunbartonshire, Scotland and indeed, the world. 

Evidence coming to light in countries such as the USA and Australia is very worrying, and these Fracking Companies and their Westminster Parliament shareholders seem to care more for their pockets rather than the safety of ordinary people. 

The local and national SSP will endeavour to support the anti-fracking campaign and support clean energy alternatives. 

Neil Scott Organiser, East Dunbartonshire SSP"

Learn from History - Socialists Unite!

by Ron Mackay

In1941 I'd just started the 2^nd. Year of a science course at Glasgow Uni. when I was called up. WW2 was totally different from WW1. Uncle Alex had been to fight the fascists in Spain. 

I had no hesitation in accepting the need to fight fascism.

I was trained to maintain radar, the new secret weapon and tho' I was in the RN for 4 yrs. I don't recall ever carrying a gun or firing a shot.

In 1946 I was demobbed and like most of the returning service personnel and the population in general were seeking a new way of running things. We'd been horrified at the colossal slaughter of human beings – not just Hiroshima and Nagasaki but also Dresden, Hamburg, London, Coventry, Clydebank etc.

The Labour party sensing the mood of the people put forward a policy of Socialism and were swept to victory all over the country in both national and local elections. It was the Socialists who repaired and rebuilt our towns and cities . In Clydebank 5 Communist councillors were elected Willie Gallagher was elected as an MP by the Fife miners. The main sources of wealth were nationalised – energy, transport, engineering, construction and manufacturing in general. With full employment and a good social atmosphere we thought we were on our way to Socialism.

Alas, the Labour Party was not a Socialist party and betrayed the hopes of the people. The same old bosses were left to run industry. One of the serious mistakes was the failure to tackle the media Lords Beaverbrooke, Kemsley, Astor etc. the press barons, bitter opponents of the welfare state were left to run the media.

At the Nurenburg trials Joseph Goebles, Nazi propaganda minister stated “No matter what type of government – democracy or dictatorship – whoever controls the media controls the state”. Propaganda is now-a-days called public relations. The Windsors have a very powerful PR dept. ensuring they appear on TV and the media in general 2 or 3 times a week.

Leveson totally failed to democratise the media – it ignored the question of ownership. The media is controlled by anti-socialists. I sometimes wonder if it's going to take a world -wide catastrophe with large populations annihilated before enough people realise the absolute necessity of a socialist solution to our problems.

The media is a very powerful enemy We need a single Socialist party to provide guidance and leadership if we're ever going to get Socialism. I do appeal to all socialists – get your act together . We must speak with one voice when it comes to elections.

I know that there are many sincere socialists in the Labour party, in the SNP , in the Communist party, in the Green party, the Co-operative party, the Scottish Socialist Party, the Socialists for Independence party and non-party Socialists. If you believe that “ Unity is strength “ is not just an empty aphorism then speak with one voice at elections both local and national.

The independence referendum is an issue that divides some Socialists. Socialists should not hesitate to oppose the warmongers who dominate the Westminster Establishment.

Nuclear weapons, Trident and military research is costing billions and represent a threat to peace on Earth. Capitalism may be in terminal decline but could go out with a bang not a whimper, and so I repeat my dreaded fear that it may take another colossal calamity before enough people realise the absolute necessity of a Socialist solution to our problems.

Can an Socialists get together to prevent a huge human tragedy? It looked like it in the late 1940's.

Today ?

Burns Lunch

Yesterday, Campsie Branch had their Burns lunch in Kirkintilloch.  We invited SSP West of Scotland Organiser, Richie Venton to share in our celebration.


Branch Organiser, Neil Scott, introduced Ron Mackay by reminding everyone there was more than one anniversary on our minds. This year, Cameron and the Tories were wanting us to "celebrate" World War 1. He reminded comrades that Friday was the 95th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday events in George Square where Red Clydesiders like Willie Gallacher were baton charged by the police, and because of the Westminster fear of Revolution on the Clyde, tanks were sent up to patrol Glasgow's streets.

Ron delivering the toast to the Haggis

Neil quoted the words of Burns and Gallacher, that resonate across the years on the attraction of working class young men to war.

I'll Go and Be a Sodger, by Robert Burns

O why the deuce should I repine, 

And be an ill foreboder? 

I'm twenty-three, and five feet nine, 

I'll go and be a sodger! 

I gat some gear wi' mickle care, 

I held it weel thegither; 

But now it's gane, and something mair- 

I'll go and be a sodger! 

And from Gallacher:

"What a terrible attraction a war can have! The wild excitement, the illusion of wonderful adventure and the actual break in the deadly monotony of working class life! 

Thousands went flocking to the colours in the first days, not because of any "love of country," not because of any high feeling of "patrotism," but because of the new, strange and thrilling life that lay before them. 

Later the reality of the fearsome slaughterhouse, with all its long agony if filth and horror, turned them from buoyant youth to despair or madness." 

- Revolt on the Clyde, William Gallacher

And the graffitti that appeared on Kitchener posters all over Glasgow:

"Your king and county need you, Ye hardy sons of toil.
But will your king and country need you when they're sharing out the spoils?"

Ron then told us of a Burns Supper he had attended at which "T-Total" Willie Gallacher had toasted the Haggis with water. Richie thanked Ron and expressed his honour at sharing a party with Ron, who is a true inspiration to us all. 

Richie,and the rest of the comrades, read poetry and sang along with Ron's saxophone rendition of A Mans a Man - the entire, packed restaurant applauding that one!


Richie wrote afterwards:



Hello all, 

A hasty but heartfelt and huge thanks to you all for inviting me to such a good Burns gathering today. 

As always, I found the Campsie SSP members not only good comrades but good friends, and today was a lovely amalgam of chat, poetry, music, fun and politics. I warmly appreciate the invitation. And as I said to several of you at the end, I am eager to help - within the time constraints on me - to build up an even stronger local SSP branch, including with SSP public meetings putting our own unique arguments and vision for independence, during this relatively short period of 8 months where people are far more open, far more engaged with political debate, wide open to the quality socialist aims we have. 

SSP Campsie Capitalist of the year prize to...

I'm sure I will see you all again very soon in our joint efforts. 

Meantime, thanks for being such a good, friendly crowd of socialists. 

 Yours in socialism - not silence!! 

Richie

And well done Mark for winning our Capitalist competition (earning chocolate coins when anyone dared say the words, socialism, silence or SSP!)!

A Man's a man!

It was an enjoyable start to a year of very hard political work that will see SSP Campsie organising events and delivering the Socialist message to the doorsteps of thousands of homes across the constituency in the lead up to the referendum for Scottish self determination.

Edna reading "A Man's a Man..."

Tam O'Shanter!

An Ode to a Mouse...

Yesterday's Independence Rally...

Photographer, Neil Scott, writes about the Independence Rally on his blog - "A Crowd of Hearts."