It’s good to read the suggestion that “Workers must build their own political and economic counter-power." Do you have any specific ‘counter-power’ projects in mind?

I’m very interested in this idea of ‘counter-power’. To get the ball rolling, what about having an area of this web-site to promote it? (Maybe it should be some type of Forum?)

For starters, I feel that this ‘counter-power’ area should post up old - and new - articles about social, economic and political ideas and issues. This could tie in well with the points I’ve raised in previous posts relating to the Reject the pay freeze News item: http://www.solidaritytrade union.net/news-mainmenu-52/170-08072009-reject-the-pay -freeze

This ‘counter-power’ area should also include articles about strategy. For instance, I think that the old National Front developed some ‘counter-power’ ideas way back in the late 80s/early 90s. (Am I right in thinking that Militant did as well?) Also, some of the Autonomous Nationalist, National Anarchist, National Bolshevik and New Right groups have some interesting ideas.

Whilst most of the articles would probably come from various nationalist publications, I personally wouldn’t rule out articles from Autonomous Nationalist, National Anarchist, National Bolshevik and New Right publications and web-sites.

I feel that the publications of some religious groups should also be looked at. In general, Traditional Catholic groups would support the idea of Distributism. I’m sure I’m right in saying that at least one European Protestant leader/group also supports Distributism. (The founder of Social Credit ideas, CH Douglas, also defined Social Credit as a philosophy with Christian roots).

Years ago I read a Pagan publication that supported ideas like Distributism – and I think that the Islamic banking system forbids usury.

So what about it? What about a Forum to discuss the ideas/ strategy relating to political and economic counter-power? Adopting these ideas and implementing such a strategy would really make Solidarity a truly unique Trade Union!

As I write there’s 63 guests online. Is that enough to build and sustain such a Forum?

I’ve been re-reading my post of 30th August and would like to expand on this idea of a Forum on the Solidarity Trade Union web-site.

Instead of limiting the Forum specifically to promoting the idea of ‘counter-power’, why not post up any article that dealt with political, social and economic ideas? It could also include articles on strategy such as ‘counter-power’ as well as activity reports.

Basically, if the information is of interest to workers in general and trade unionists in particular, it should be included!

Because Solidarity is by definition an “autonomous Nationalist Union” most of these articles would come from the main ‘national’ nationalist publications like ‘Britain First’, ‘National Front News’, ‘Nationalism Today’, ‘British Nationalist’ and ‘Voice of Freedom’. (Some of these articles might not reflect the views of Solidarity. However, I feel that they should be included to provide an educational resource. Constructive criticism of these articles should be encouraged).

However, it would also be of benefit to reproduce articles from various local nationalist publications (as well as local leaflets). I believe the following would be of interest to nationalist workers:

i) Individual NF groups produced leaflets in support of the Miners’ Strike of 1984-85.

ii) Liverpool NF successfully bridged the local Orange/Green religious divide with a radical social/economic leaflet. I think this was from the very early 80s.

iii) There was also some information produced about the Tolpuddle Martyrs (their arrest, trial and punishment lead to the foundation of modern day trade unionism).

iv) The ideas of the early patriotic British socialist, Robert Blatchford were examined.

v) In addition the National Party produced a paper for workers called 'British Worker' . There may also have been other pro-worker papers produced by other nationalist groups.

These national and local publications would all reflect a British nationalist point of view. It would also be instructive to look at Welsh and Scottish nationalist publications as well. ‘The ABC of the Welsh Revolution’ by Derrick Hearne (published by Y Lolfa) which looks at a future Welsh “independent Community Benefit State” is of great interest. I’m sure I’m also right in saying that early Scottish nationalists favoured Social Credit ideas.

I previously mentioned Autonomous Nationalist, National Anarchist, National Bolshevik and New Right ideas. I’d also be interested to read what Militant had to say when it was on the go. Unlike other leftist groups they seemed to be truly interested in the workers and had some genuine working class people in their ranks.

I’d also be interested at discovering more about Portuguese and Spanish National Syndicalists. Maybe there would be a case for reproducing articles from overseas publications where appropriate?

I’d be interested to hear the views of other nationalist workers about these ideas.