Rupert's Read

One of the reasons that I left the LibDems a decade ago now was the decline of genuine community politics in favour of pure electoral opportunism, across most of that Party. Any Party that wants to go places - be it the LibDems, the Greens, or whoever - must not make the historic mistake that is now terminal for Labour: selling out, and playing 'safe'. This is why Cameron's makeover of the Tories will not profit them for long: because all it involves is New Labour squared. (My experience in the Norwich North byelection was that the Tories / Chloe Smith were so obsessed with playing safe that they never ever said anything at all of interest, which could not be said of any other candidate. The only chance they took, interestingly, was signing my 'Clean Campaign Pledge'. And they mostly used that to try to stop anyone drawing attention to the appalling record of the last Tory government, claiming that to do so was 'dirty politics', as Cameron of course had noth...

Britain 's Quakers are hosting a major conference this week to explore radical approaches to economics in the light of both the recession and the dangers posed by climate change. Taking place on Saturday 26th September, the event will focus on the idea of a "zero-growth economy". The Quakers say that they want to look at "the connections between the global economy, people and the environment". They point out that while the global economy is almost five times the size it was fifty years ago, this growth has taken place at a time of unprecedented environmental destruction. "This conference comes at a crucial time," said Helen Drewery of Quaker Peace and Social Witness, "as world leaders prepare for Copenhagen and we all question whether 'business as usual' is a realistic option in the aftermath of the recent economic turmoil". The conference will hear from the economist Richard Douthwaite, author of The Growth Illusion ....

Endorsement for the forthcoming Blackwell, 'Companion to the Philosophy of Literature': "In its richness, variety, learning, and consistent balance, this anthology, which assembles some of the great names in the field, along with brilliant younger critics like Joshua Landy and Rupert Read, will serve as textbook for anyone interested in the inextricability of philosophy and literature. Indeed, the various branches of philosophy, especially ethics and epistemology, emerge as indispensable for an understanding of major literary texts from Shakespeare to Stevens." —Marjorie Perloff, author of _Wittgenstein’s Ladder_.

I've been writing political philosophy for the last week... Now that I am on Study Leave, I am really enjoying philosophy (rather than 'real' politics) once again!! Here is what I have been thinking: The problem with liberal political philosophy is that there is no clarity in John Rawls as to what the upper limit is for permissible inequalities. And no clarity (for how could there be?) as to how much 'incentive' the potentially-better-off can require for doing the work that makes the poor better-off. In other words: My argument is going to be that Rawls's difference principle is actually not substantively action-guiding. It is compatible with a vast range of policies, including New Labour/Tory/Republicrat awfulness. INSTEAD we need a genuinely egalitarian alternative. As recommended by G. Cohen, R. Wilkinson... - BUT NOT Rawls.

Hove Green Party conference In Terre a Terre veggie restaurant. Dessert. YUM!

I recommend Matt Sellwood's latest post, http://anglobuddhistcombine.blogspot.com/2009/09/equality-is-must.html Also do read Wilkinson's previous book, 'The impact of inequality'. I am at present writing, using Wilkinson's work to challenge liberal political philosophy, especially John Rawls's disastrous 'difference principle', which provides a 'justification' for inequality. My main focus this academic year is going to be this work. I am arguing that inequality in itself, not alleged 'deprivation' considered in absolute terms, is the fundamental social problem of modern society.

"I would not wish it on anybody. We have a system where the most salient facts of it are that you get huge waiting lists, you have bad survival rates and you would much rather fall ill in the United States" - Tory MEP Daniel Hannan criticising the NHS on Fox News in the United States.

Unfortunately the Green Party's postal ballot of all members for the position of External Communications Co-ordinator was cancelled. The decision was taken to hold a new Ext-Comms ballot at conference in Hove, where I am writing from. This disenfranchises the vast majority of party members who cannot or chose not to attend conference because of the time, distance, cost or work/family commitments. By voting to re-open nominations a new postal ballot to ALL members will be forced. Given the key role External Communications plays, the critical year ahead and the democratic values of the Green Party, I believe that the right thing to do is to ask for all membersʼ involvement. Voting will be at conference starting on Saturday 5th September. Only registered conference attendees can vote. So: I am asking you, if you are going to be here at Conference, to ʻbe bigʼ, and do the right thing: Please speak for the majority not present by reopening nominations for the External Communications Co-...

I am blogging from the Green Party Conference main hall. The Party has just decided not to go ahead with a ballot of all members for the post of External Comms Co-ordinator, a post for which I had wished to stand. I am not willing to participate in a sham of democracy. So I am not now going to stand. I wanted to campaign before all members, not the the small fraction who can come to Conference. I am deeply saddened that my effort to become involved more in the national party through subjecting myself for democratic internal election has been stymied, because this Party has not as yet been willing to come out clearly FOR internal democracy. There is one chance left for the Party to prove that we still care deeply about the democratic culture of our Party. One way left for us to give ALL members a chance to vote. One remaining way in which Party members at Conference - for others now do not have a voice - can resolve this situation. It is this: Jason Kitcat and I are urging any Party ...