The Bread and Roses Caucus, NSW Soc (AEC registered name for Socialists) and why socialists will have to rescue this project from itself.
The Bread & Roses caucus of the recently formed NSW Socialists, properly constituted under the party’s rules, is an aggregation of independent minded, non-aligned, non-doctrinaire socialists from diverse tendencies within the broader movement for socialism. Its composition reflects the depth and breadth of the movement as well as a general belief that being a member of one political party at a time is sufficient to meet requirements. I joined the NSW Socialists for the same sorts of factors that motivated another 1,000+ people to join the initiative in the first six months – enough to enable registration with the NSW electoral commission. The yawning political gulf to the left of Labor, the undeniable rise of fascism, an ongoing live cast genocide, the ongoing vulnerability of Australian workers to still dominant neoliberalism, the attack on our democratic institutions by agents of a Zionist state, a rise in racist brutality, the convergence of multiple ecological polycrises – all combined to create a common sense of political urgency. The list goes on; the time seemed right.
I assumed that the gravity of these conditions had dispensed with the sectarianism and fractioning of the Australian left that has characterised the last few decades. The initiative of Socialist Alternative to form the Victorian Socialists, with others, was a positive and most welcome development. I think it highly likely that those who joined in NSW took a similar view. Sadly, ingrained habits die hard, as we know.
My denunciation as a Stalinist at the NSW Socialist pre-selection meeting, described starkly by Clarrie Lewis, is risible and barely worth attention except for the light it throws on the mind set of those lodging the allegation. Accusations of Stalinoid-thinking against non-conformist socialists is an exhausted bogeyman, evidence of magical thinking and an open declaration that building a broad, mass-based party for socialism is beyond the political acumen of the NSW Socialist Alternative members charged with the task.
That means that actually existing socialists, from every tendency, must take up the project if it is to have any real chance of success. Socialists outside the ALP within the NSW community, non-aligned socialists within the NSW Socialists and those thinking it is time to try a new approach are urged to get in touch with the Bread & Roses caucus to participate as democratic equals in an inclusive and safe project to build socialism with Australian characteristics.
A launch party for the caucus is scheduled for Friday 12 June. Details at this link. Come and meet us.
https://labortribune.net.au/letters-to-the-editor/