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The origins of the referendum are common knowledge. Nobody on the left welcomed the referendum as far as I know or saw it as an opportunity - so this point about ‘naive wishful thinking’ and ‘imagined internationalist, anti-racist uprising’ is a complete straw-man. Obviously people on both sides of the argument attacked Farage’s rhetoric. But racism was equally forthcoming from the other side, if more subtle (one of Cameron’s ‘concessions’ was, effectively, to starve migrants who hadn’t found a job). Moreover, the racist right were unleashed by the campaign itself, at least as much as the result, and (whilst a counter-factual) its difficult to imagine the outcome would have been any different if the result had been 48 – 52 the other way. Had it been so, Farage would be gunning for a second ref and many who voted leave would have had the feeling of exclusion (and its violent consequences) further reinforced. You talk about *I and others* as if you’re *remotely* important. I have no idea who you are/ represent/ write for. Are you suggesting everything would of been ok if I’d just read your article in The Workers Armpit or whatever? Have you any notion how marginal the far left are currently in the uk? How miniscule? And yet you seem to suggest the far left can shape discourse and set the agenda and, moreover, the message of the mainstream media is completely unimportant. You further seem to say that we just needed the right arguments/ theory. The truth is the far left here comprises a dwindling pool of public sector workers, academics and students. Many of which are relatively privileged in the eyes of the old industrial working class. In other words, the far left was completely powerless to shape this outcome (whatever the line had been) and, historically, has largely itself to blame through becoming stultified/ petrified in doctrine that could no longer explain the world to the people it sought to recruit. I personally have conceded buyers remorse in regards my vote but in the end it made no difference (I am not in a leninst Ponzi scheme nor will I ever be again) so you can stick your charge of complicity up your arse. The same with your sickeningly moralising coda written from another country. From: MM _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
