tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post8905989402210853145..comments2023-10-27T07:50:27.411+01:00Comments on Next Left: Happy birthday Oscar Wilde, the Fabian anarchistTom Hampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917325958130851128noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post-52213961451414227062010-10-16T16:19:41.782+01:002010-10-16T16:19:41.782+01:00Of course, Wilde's unfortunate fleetingness ga...Of course, Wilde's unfortunate fleetingness gave him the luxury of being able to espouse socialism prior to its actual implementation anywhere.<br /><br />Happily for us, his merry delusion did not progress to hypocrisy or denial.<br /><br />His groundless Utopian supposition that socialism <i>"will be of value simply because it will lead to individualism"</i> was hopelessly wrong.<br /><br />Certainly the succession of visits to Russia which he might have made during the 20th century would have enabled him to witness the almost absolute triumph of the state over the individual under socialism; no more so than for those who shared his own peculiar modes of expression.<br /><br />Loathe as we should be to label a great man a hypocrite, we should instead content ourselves that he was neither a true Fabian nor a socialist.<br /><br />Michael - as far as Red Ed's brand of "socialism" is concerned, we might suppose that his father's arm-chair Marxism and coincidental dissonant pursuit of individual wealth has been of some instruction...13eastiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05162940753429246157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post-44126473164572654452010-10-16T13:51:55.744+01:002010-10-16T13:51:55.744+01:00"As with HG Wells later, the individualism of..."As with HG Wells later, the individualism of the artistic vision does not always sit well with the collective pursuit of political change." <br />Am I to infer from this statement that the intention of The Fabian Society is to bring about socialism through a progressive change over many years?<br />Wasn't Ed Miliband and and his right-wing bro members of the Fabian Society? How does that sit with a progressive movement towards a socialist and ultimately Utopian ideal? <br />I am confused as to how you feel the New Labour project and its disciples can in any way be seen as progressive. The Milibands were an intrinsic part of it inception and ongoing design. David was responsible for some of the most mendacious attempts to stifle justice I have ever seen and yet you still give this man the time of day.<br />It must be so wonderful to talk of socialism while enjoying the trappings of capitalism. <br />As for those who truly see socialism as the only real political option, this fluffy ideal of inching there is nonsensical and naive. So sip your champers and talk of the plight of the poor while making sure to rub shoulders with those in the know and keep your notions of a new tomorrow while promoting and propagating the New Labour message and talking of Ed as if he understood what socialism meant. Because we know he doesn't understand what poor means. <br />Off you trot to your meetings 'in the club' and feel guilty about your affluence, but woe betide anyone who genuinely tried to lead the way to a real socialist society!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com