Hello.Welcome to the 2nd part of the SpanThatWorld.com election series. We hear from individuals in the movement who each give us their argument for why a particular political party’s ethos, policies and history are most aligned with the complex stew of principles that definte Woodcraft Folk. Last time the Liberal Democrats had their turn- click HERE to read that article.
DISCLAIMER: The views presented in this series are of the individuals not of the organisation. Woodcraft Folk and The District Fellows Movement remain party politically neutral.
By Dan Rawnsley
“This shall be for a bond between us, That we are of one blood you and I, That we have cried peace to all And claimed kinship with every living thing, That we hate war sloth and greed And love fellowship, And that we shall go singing To the fashioning of a new world.”- Attributed to William Morris, poet, designer, socialist and revolutionary.
A general election in which the traditional left wing party, the Labour party, is riding on the back of over a decade of right wing policies is not a good moment for us. In 1997 labour movement activists raised the slogan ‘vote Labour, don’t trust Blair’ and they were right. What I call for is something similar. Vote for socialists where possible, Labour where not and be ready to fight after the election, whoever wins.
Where do we come from?
What does it mean to be a socialist and how is the Woodcraft folk socialist? Well, firstly socialism is a big part of our history. In the 1920s Leslie Paul led the Woodcraft Folk out of the Kibbo Kift Kindred. Folk historian Mary Davis describes his view in the early 30s;
‘Paul described the Folk…as [being] in ‘the van of leadership’ for the creation of ‘the new world order’ in which the worker would be ‘emancipated from his wage slavery and given economic power’.’
This is history though, is the folk the same organisation now as it was then? Well, no, not at all. However, if you hold true to our envoi I think it’s impossible to not be a socialist.
Let me talk about the underpants gnomes from South Park for a moment. They had a plan that ran thusly:
Everyone knew that stealing underpants led to profit, but not how. They stole underpants without getting anywhere. Now let us look at your average political party (Lib Dem, Tory, Labour, Green etc…). Their plan runs thusly:
The fact remains that our idea of a world where there is no sloth or greed, where there is peace for all and kinship between all living beings is not possible under Capitalism. All of the taxes, cuts and initiatives proposed by political parties will not make that world. They do not have a plausible step 2 because they don’t talk about anti-capitalism. Socialists do. If we are to ever realise our ideals we must be Socialists.
What is the Socialist step 2? The action of the organised working class. Now then, before you begin to argue let me tell you that class is not what you think it is. Class is not the size of your TV; class is not the number of cars you drive; it is not the size of your house or the clothes you wear. It’s all about economics.
There are two main classes in society, the ruling class and the working class. Other classes exist, but they are neither powerful, nor a majority (or even large minority) and although interesting and at times important I will have to ignore them for now.
Now then, the ruling or capitalist class owns what are called ‘the means of production’. The means of production are things like the tools and machines we work with. We use these tools to produce things that the capitalist sells for profit. From our work the capitalist is enriched and does not have to work themselves. They become wealthy through the labour of others (to me the pinnacle of sloth and greed.)
The working class do not have the means of production at their disposal. We have only our bodies, our hands and our heads to offer. We sell these in return for wages. Most importantly we sell them without a free choice of where to place our labour or for what length of time. This is why capitalist industry is fundamentally undemocratic and any thinking democrat can have no truck with it. The fact is that most people in the Woodcraft Folk are working class and the overwhelming majority of the world’s population are working class.
So where do we go from this position of weakness in relation to our capitalist masters? The crux of the socialist step 2 is that the only force that can overthrow Capitalism and build a better world of peace and fellowship is the organised working class. With our hands on the levers of production if we collectively refuse to work we stop the world. Our most powerful act is to fold our arms and do nothing.
What makes a better, more united society possible is that through this struggle we can only succeed if we unite across all boundaries of race, gender, sexuality and disability. A strike has to be co-operative to be effective, so you can’t be picky about who joins in. Whereas all the main political parties talk about inclusion and diversity, it is only the labour movement which by its actions points towards it. To be in the Woodcraft Folk means being part of a Socialist organisation. To be a Socialist means supporting the working class.
What Do We Do in the Election?
I’ve made the case for a socialist outlook for the Woodcraft Folk. But what should socialists do around the election? Socialists have no faith in the parliament of the ruling class to bring about our vision of the future. That’s something only we can do together.
‘If you are looking for a Moses to lead you out of the capitalist wilderness you will stay right where you are. I would not lead you into this promised land if I could, because if I could lead you in, someone else could lead you out.’
- Eugene Debs, American trade unionist.
That said; we can’t ignore the election. Even at times of massive class conflict people have looked to parliament for guidance. It is essential that socialists be elected to parliament on the basis that they are democratically accountable to the movement outside parliament. This is so that they can advocate socialist ideas and fight for reforms which can point towards socialism (a shorter working week, a just transition to ecologically sustainable production for example). We are, however, far from being in this enviable position.
The Labour party was created to fulfil this purpose. Elements of the workers movement of the early 20th century built it to act as a working class voice in politics. Today, the democratic control is gone, the number of Labour party socialists is pitifully small, but the link still exists through the trade unions which fund the Labour party. It is for this reason that Socialists should vote Labour.
After the election we will face cuts in education, wages and public sector services. We need to fight back.
We shouldn’t vote Labour with any illusions. Just like any other party going in to the next election the Labour party will make vicious cuts. We must also fight for working class control of the Labour party and for members’ control of the unions to force the Labour party in to becoming a democratically accountable, working class party.
Voting for Labour and Socialist candidates is not the most important thing you can do. If you believe in and hold true to the text I quoted at the start of this article you should become a class struggle activist. You should organise in your college, university or workplace to oppose cuts and be ready to fight whatever form of government is elected.
As politically conscious working class people we do not have any illusions with parliament. We elect it only so as to eventually destroy it. If the Ashcroft scandal, the bank bailout and MPs expenses have not proved to you that we need to get rid of Capitalism then you should be put in a museum, as you are surely a fairly unique relic by now. Politics is about more than voting. Vote Socialist, vote Labour, but become an activist. The choice is between Socialism and barbarism and the choice is yours.
Want to have your say on the election? Got a different view of Woodies that isn’t coming through here? Let us know and we’d be more than happy to get your thoughts online! You can submit anonymously if you like – just drop an e-mail to Phin. Thank you.
The District Fellows Movement is the 16-20 year old members of the co-operative educational youth charity, the woodcraft folk, whose ideology is based on the principles of equality, peace, social justice and co-operation, with an emphasis on the empowerment of young people.
DF meetings usually consist of a group of like minded individuals meeting up at a regular time and place (someone's house, or a pub for instance, or even a community hall if the group is large enough) and taking part in usual woodcraft activities. These activities range from co-operative games, orgainising events, workshops and discussions, and general socialising!
The DF movement also meets up on a national basis frequently, to hold both social, educational events and business events allowing everyone to be involved in the running of DF's...
Althing: 3rd to 5th September
Old/New: 8th to 10th October
Blank Canvas: 29th to 31st October
Midlands Thing: 3rd to 5th November
