This evening I got into an argument with some anarcho-syndicalists ,as you do.

[mongers]

I'm just trying to draft a 'farewell/I can't be arsed' message, but I'm not sure I can be arsed, pity really because in amongst the are some quite decent people, generally the non-idealogical ones.

[crazy canuck]

Why would you Mongers.  Some day you might like a bike ride back to see how the ven diagram worked out.  No sense in closing the door now.

They are just going to shout "Splinter!" back at you.

[Ed Anger]

Icepick their tires as a farewell message.

[mongers]

Why would you Mongers.  Some day you might like a bike ride back to see how the ven diagram worked out.  No sense in closing the door now.

They are just going to shout "Splinter!" back at you.

You might have a point, but I think my name might be mud now. 

[Warspite]

I think you're being a bit harsh on the British left. Granted, there are loonies, but remember also the mainstream left in the UK provided a radical, progressive alternative while remaining true to fundamental principles of political liberty. This wasn't something to be taken for granted in the troubled first half of the twentieth century. And although there was a slide into militancy in the 1980s, the left rebirthed itself with New Labour, something I think history will be far kinder to than political commentators today.

[mongers]

I think you're being a bit harsh on the British left. Granted, there are loonies, but remember also the mainstream left in the UK provided a radical, progressive alternative while remaining true to fundamental principles of political liberty. This wasn't something to be taken for granted in the troubled first half of the twentieth century. And although there was a slide into militancy in the 1980s, the left rebirthed itself with New Labour, something I think history will be far kinder to than political commentators today.

I thought it was clear I was talking about the far left.

I entirely agree with the bold part.  It's interesting how some of these groups and their fellow travellers in the occupy camp, so totally reject the post-war consensus, even though there are considerable sections of the UK electorate on the left, the right and in the centre who'd like to preserve and return to some of it. 

[Richard Hakluyt]

I find their lack of perspective rather disturbing. "Capitalism has failed" they say as we go through a rather sticky patch. Have they any idea of the economic situation of the masses for the overwhelming bulk of history?

This current "austerity" would be the envy of our ancestors; come to that the wealth we enjoy today makes my youth seem like a time of relative deprivation.

[Martinus]

Seems the Social Part of Great Britain is in dispute with some johnny come latelys::

The SPGB is vehemently anti-Leninist and currently fights to protect its identity against Socialist Party of England and Wales, the relatively new name of the Trotskyist former Militant tendency (in propaganda and publicity material the SPGB often styles itself simply The Socialist Party whilst SPEW uses Socialist Party (without the definite article) and contests elections as Socialist Alternative

Handy for us outside observers that we can tell them appart because one own 'The'. 

I like the fact that their acronym is SPEW.

[Warspite]

I find their lack of perspective rather disturbing. "Capitalism has failed" they say as we go through a rather sticky patch. Have they any idea of the economic situation of the masses for the overwhelming bulk of history?

This current "austerity" would be the envy of our ancestors; come to that the wealth we enjoy today makes my youth seem like a time of relative deprivation.

I believe after the government's cuts have been fully implemented, we're back to the dark days of 2004/05 in terms of public sector spending.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

I find their lack of perspective rather disturbing. "Capitalism has failed" they say as we go through a rather sticky patch. Have they any idea of the economic situation of the masses for the overwhelming bulk of history?

This current "austerity" would be the envy of our ancestors; come to that the wealth we enjoy today makes my youth seem like a time of relative deprivation.

of course not. A total lack of perspective is what plagues people like that.