PRC-UTE
7th October 2008, 02:02
The British welcome the kind of politics most the economistic left push there in the six counties of occupied ireland: Powell: ''To our relief, however, there was no violence during the election campaign, which was dominated by prosaic internal issues like the water charges, rather than by different versions of the constitutional question as elections had been in the past."
I've just finished reading Jonathan Powell's book on the 'peace process' in Ireland. Although he's got an ego the size of a double-decker and his 'warring tribes of ulster' outlook is galling, it's nevertheless quite a fascinating read. Always good to see how the managers of capitalism look at things and how they operate.
One of the most interesting insights comes in two bits near the end of the book, which reinforce the importance of 'high politics' and show how unradical economism is. Powell and co breathed a huge sigh of relief when water charges become a big issue in the six counties and in the Assembly elections. He writes, 'To our relief, however, there was no violence during the election campaign, which was dominated by prosaic internal issues like the water charges, rather than by different versions of the constitutional question as elections had been in the past.'
It's funny how economistic-opportunist groups like the Irish SWP thought raising water charges was more radical than opposing the continued imperialist presence. In fact, when SF and the DUP kicked up a little bit of a fuss over water charges, the British government, Powell indicates, was delighted to agree to hold off on imposing them because they saw the raising of the issue as the arrival of 'normal' politics in the north and thought a few months lost revenue was a small price to> pay.
Writing about the opening of Stormont and the arrival of the official motorcade, Powell says, 'Outside the parliament building there was a protest on Iraq and one of the protesters threw himself in front of the cars and was dragged away by the police. I thought to myself it was nice to see ordinary politics rather than sectarianism.'
Again, it's funny that the organisers of that protest - the kind of political forces that were against British troops in Iraq but not in Ireland! - thought their protest was so radical, when people like Powell were perfectly happy by it and saw it as a sign they had succeeded!
Phil
I've just finished reading Jonathan Powell's book on the 'peace process' in Ireland. Although he's got an ego the size of a double-decker and his 'warring tribes of ulster' outlook is galling, it's nevertheless quite a fascinating read. Always good to see how the managers of capitalism look at things and how they operate.
One of the most interesting insights comes in two bits near the end of the book, which reinforce the importance of 'high politics' and show how unradical economism is. Powell and co breathed a huge sigh of relief when water charges become a big issue in the six counties and in the Assembly elections. He writes, 'To our relief, however, there was no violence during the election campaign, which was dominated by prosaic internal issues like the water charges, rather than by different versions of the constitutional question as elections had been in the past.'
It's funny how economistic-opportunist groups like the Irish SWP thought raising water charges was more radical than opposing the continued imperialist presence. In fact, when SF and the DUP kicked up a little bit of a fuss over water charges, the British government, Powell indicates, was delighted to agree to hold off on imposing them because they saw the raising of the issue as the arrival of 'normal' politics in the north and thought a few months lost revenue was a small price to> pay.
Writing about the opening of Stormont and the arrival of the official motorcade, Powell says, 'Outside the parliament building there was a protest on Iraq and one of the protesters threw himself in front of the cars and was dragged away by the police. I thought to myself it was nice to see ordinary politics rather than sectarianism.'
Again, it's funny that the organisers of that protest - the kind of political forces that were against British troops in Iraq but not in Ireland! - thought their protest was so radical, when people like Powell were perfectly happy by it and saw it as a sign they had succeeded!
Phil