How can we get any of our ideas across?

[Owen-]

I come from Northern Ireland. There is a Socialist party running for election here, but last year, it got merely 600 votes. People here vote along religious lines, and everyone is so blindly stubborn about it. Even the most liberal minded people I know find it so hard to change their blind, stupid politcal views. Many people have never even heard of Communism. However, most simply hate it - like they hate every other thing except their own point of view. Its immensely frustrating.

How is it possible for us to get across our point of view to people like this?

I know there are lots of things people are doing. There are numerous gruups like Socialist Youth etc. but it appears to just not be enough.

I may be entirely wrong. I hope I am.

[quirk]

I am from the north myself Owen, and have the same problems.Anytime I bring up communism people just dont seem to want to know. However I dont think it is quite as simple as people voting along religous lines. Part of the problem is that there has never been a real alternative. I think that it is up to this generation to build an alternative.

You seem to be wondering who you should vote for. My answer to this would be no one. I dont see elections as a way of changing anything in the north. I believe that until we break the connection with Britain, we will never have a say and can always be overruled by westminister. And even if Ireland was independent, bourgeois elections will never change anything.

You could join one of these groups and try to sway people from the inside. At least then you would be in contact with people who are more progressive in their outlook, and will not just cut you off when you bring up communism. I myself am a member of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement. Although it is not communist, the majority of our members are to the left in their thinking.

[Aurora]

I come from Northern Ireland. There is a Socialist party running for election here, but last year, it got merely 600 votes.
I heard somewhere that tommy black has a good chance of getting elected,im not sure if thats accurate or not though.

Many people have never even heard of Communism.
Its alot easier to get people to listen to you is you dont use that word,if you call yourself a socialist people dont immediatly switch off and try to use easier words like instead of 'proletarian' say 'worker' instead and never say 'dictatorship of the proletariat' :P

Also you could get in contact with Socialist Youth they have regular stalls,its much easier talking to people if you arent alone.Im a member of Socialist Youth in the south and we do good work.There are quite a few SY members on revleft too.

[The Grey Blur]

Hey Owen, this is Tiarnán from Socialist Youth, we've talked before. The Socialist Party stands in elections, not to win them, but to raise our political ideas and show people that an alternative exists.

I think there is hope in the North for a radical alternative, as much as anywhere else. The petty sectarian politics of SF and the DUP are not politicising people but are having the opposite effect, with many working-class people becoming disillusioned with these parties who simply represent the interests of the ruling class.


Generally speaking, do you think of yourself as a unionist, a nationalist or neither?

Unionist 38
Nationalist 24
Neither 38

Source: http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/2003/Political_A...s/UNINATID.html (http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/2003/Political_Attitudes/UNINATID.html)

Our tasks as Socialists is to engage with this layer of the working-class in building an effective revolutionary alternative.

Also, don't be put off by a few negative opinions, radical change is always preceded by a period of apathy and reaction in the masses. Lenin himself said "I will not live to see the revolution."

[The Grey Blur]

I come from Northern Ireland. There is a Socialist party running for election here, but last year, it got merely 600 votes.
I heard somewhere that tommy black has a good chance of getting elected,im not sure if thats accurate or not though.
I wouldn't say that's entirely accurate.

Tommy certainly is popular in East Belfast (he is a school janitor as well as community acitivist) but many of those who would sympathise with him are not registered to vote. A comrade showed me the figures for last year and only something like 22% of East Belfast is registered to vote.

This apathy is a direct result of the boring, petty and sectarian politics of the main parties which disgusts working-class people, Protestant and Catholic alike.


Its alot easier to get people to listen to you is you dont use that word,if you call yourself a socialist people dont immediatly switch off
I agree with this.


There are quite a few SY members on revleft too.
I think we're the biggest group on this, we all need to get lives! :lol:

[Coggeh]

Quiet Tiarnan , i have a life 8-) ....

[Aurora]

Tommy certainly is popular in East Belfast (he is a school janitor as well as community acitivist) but many of those who would sympathise with him are not registered to vote. A comrade showed me the figures for last year and only something like 22% of East Belfast is registered to vote.
What about jim barbour? does he have much popularity?

[The Grey Blur]

Originally posted by [email protected] 28, 2007 03:22 pm

Tommy certainly is popular in East Belfast (he is a school janitor as well as community acitivist) but many of those who would sympathise with him are not registered to vote. A comrade showed me the figures for last year and only something like 22% of East Belfast is registered to vote.
What about jim barbour? does he have much popularity?
Some, again popular with the working-class due to his union work. We aren't going to be winning an election any time soon though Anarion ;)

[Aurora]

ok i was just curious :)