"Steve Wallis" <revolutionarysocialiststeve@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:4d195ee2-1ca2-4aca-866f-32cc28a5414e@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Good Intentions Manifesto
Written by Steve Wallis, Version 3, 12 March 2008
This is the draft manifesto of the Good Intentions Network
(www.goodintentionsnetwork.org), which has a forum on which all issues
raised here can be debated.
1. The main struggle in the world is good versus bad.
Who defines good vs. bad? God's? Presidents? the Populus?
2. Our main allies are among those who have mainly good
intentions, particularly those who think collectively to some extent.
What are good intentions? Civilization of man? explotation of natural
resources?
3. Our main enemies are people who have mainly bad intentions,
particularly those who think collectively to some extent.
What are bad intentions?
The second and third principles are derived from the first, plus the
understanding that those who think collectively tend to be more
influential and exhibit less random behaviour than those who think
purely individualistically. It is obviously risky to rely on people
with opposing intentions to our own. On the other hand, there are many
people with good intentions who have widely different ideas of what a
good society is and how best to achieve it, so it is obviously unwise
to regard all well-intentioned people as allies. The phraseology I
have used above tries to encapsulate this tradeoff, but I would
welcome any suggestions for refinements.
4. We encourage people to think for themselves.
5. We encourage people to decide what to do for themselves,
rather than following orders or carrying out a collectively-agreed
decision that they disagree with.
These two principles encourage us (and others with good intentions) to
use our own minds, rather than being pushed around by conspiratorial
organisations (even those that are overwhelmingly good) or by people
with bad intentions. Obviously if we agree with other people we can
follow their lead, but we should not automatically do so.
Most Marxist organisations operate on the basis of “democratic
centralism” – or “bureaucratic centralism” as the way of operating is
sometimes known by their rivals, when referring to less democratic
organisations run in a top-down manner in which members generally
follow orders from leading bureaucrats (and think much less for
themselves). Such organisations make decisions using their democratic
structures and expect all members to carry out the decisions
irrespective of whether they agree with them. Many left-wing
organisations, including much broader ones than those just consisting
of Marxists, mandate elected representatives to vote in a particular
way. It may be unwise to disobey such a mandate, particularly if
expulsion is a likely consequence, but this way of operating should
not be encouraged since it encourages dishonesty in politics (which
there is too much of).
6. We encourage the use of ethical means.
7. We encourage honesty, particularly about people’s political
views.
These two principles encourage those with good intentions to act in a
good way at all times. The saying “The road to hell is paved with good
intentions” is based on the fact that many claim good intentions as a
justification for doing something bad, and the consequences are often
unfavourable, both in terms of the effect on society and the person’s
reputation. I want to encourage a new breed of politician, who earn a
reputation for consistently acting in a good and honest way.
Similarly, the saying “The ends justify the means” is sometimes used
to justify doing something bad on the expectation of a good outcome.
There is an alternative saying, however – “The means determine the
ends” – using unethical methods tends to result in an unethical
outcome.
8. We encourage people with good intentions to appear genuine,
by looking considerate and showing our real emotions rather than
putting on an act.
I find someone’s demeanour a useful guide as to whether he or she has
good or bad intentions. Somebody who comes across as pleasant is more
likely to actually be good than somebody who comes across as
unpleasant and unfriendly. This is self-reinforcing – if you come
across as a pleasant person, you will be more likely to attract
friends who are also pleasant and form genuine relation****ps in which
both people really care about each other, which encourages you to be
good. On the other hand, it is harder to genuinely care about people
who come across as unpleasant, and bad people tend to form false
relation****ps where they have an ulterior selfish motive.
People sometimes comment that there are two types of men: “rough-and-
ready” and “sensitive”. Rough-and-ready men tend to look tough and
actually be bad whereas sensitive men tend to look considerate and be
good. Your choice of hairstyle can massively influence which of these
two types you come across as – men with shaven heads or short cropped
hair tend to look tougher than those with longer hair (unless they
appear to be gay). A man with particularly long hair may look like a
hippie and appear to be good. The impression you give off is
influenced by the society in which you live – shaven heads are
particularly common among black men, and in some countries (including
Russia and the UK still to some extent), having one is associated with
fascism. Certain kinds of moustaches may make you appear like a
dictator (Stalin, Hitler or Saddam Hussein) and I found when I had a
big beard that I gave off a different impression to different people
(I was compared with Jesus, Karl Marx and Osama bin Laden!)
Some women can come across as tough too, particularly those with short
hair, but in Western society nowadays, women most frequently affect
their appearance by dying their hair, putting on make-up or wearing
particular kinds of clothes. All these factors can give off a certain
impression that may make them appear genuine or false, depending on
the person who sees them and the context. Wearing fancy clothes and
make-up may be appropriate on a night out, but may have a negative
effect at a political meeting. There is quite a big correlation
between women who dye their hair and them thinking individualistically
– being more concerned about others finding them attractive than
whether they come across as false (if they are false as far as their
hair colour is concerned, people may suspect that they are false in
other ways too). Some women have very bad dyed hair that looks
terrible; this may be a tem****ary situation while letting the hair
return to its natural colour, but not taking care of your appearance
in this or other ways may indicate bad intentions.
As mentioned in the final principle, showing your real emotions can
make you appear genuine. In many situations, smiling can give off a
good impression, and somebody who never smiles (or appears to be
faking a smile when he or she attempts it) is very likely to be bad.
However, in some contexts such as at funerals, or when being forced to
testify at court against somebody who is supposed to be an ally,
smiling can be a very bad idea. Also, smiling at someone tends to give
off the impression that you get on with him or her, to that person and
others, so it may be better to refrain from smiling if you think he or
she is bad. In general, it is better to show your real emotions,
rather than making a conscious effort to act in a particular way,
which people may see through and may be difficult to keep up.
Note that I have based my views about appearing genuine and on other
aspects of the struggle between good and bad forces in society on my
experiences in the modern era living in the West. If there are
different norms in the society in which you live, it may be better to
vary your strategy from the one I have outlined. One thing I have
realised is that it tended to be aristocrats and other wealthy people
who looked attractive if you go back far enough in history, so looking
unattractive may have made it easier to appeal to the masses. In the
brilliant and very funny book Vive la Revolution, Mark Steel pointed
out that the main agitators for the French Revolution in the 18th
century were frequently described as very ugly by their enemies.
It is im****tant to point out that people’s attitudes are more
im****tant than how naturally good looking they are. Think for yourself
and use common sense!
Over all if Governments and Religion stopped using people for thier own
wealth and power, the world would be a better place.
You may now like to go to the website of the Good Intentions Network:
http//www.goodintentionsnetwork.org
--
Steve Wallis (Glasgow, Scotland)
For im****tant/urgent communications, please email:
warcrysteve@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/steve-wallis-socialist-blog,
http://blog.myspace.com/galaxiasteve
My socialist website: http://www.socialiststeve.me.uk
My socialist musical poetry: http://www.socialiststeve.me.uk/poetry.htm
(and at my MySpace and Multiply pages)
My pages at MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/galaxiasteve,
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=731729407
and Multiply:
http://socialiststeve.multiply.com
Founder, Good Intentions Network: http//www.goodintentionsnetwork.org
Funder, Ethical Capitalism Network: http://www.ethicalcapitalism.org
Founder, Foundation for PR-based Socialism: http://www.PRsocialism.org
Founder, Revolutionary Platform Network:
http://www.revolutionaryplatform.net
My socialist band, Galaxia/Red Day/Red Friday:
http://www.galaxiamusic.org,
http://www.myspace.com/galaxiamusic
Author, "Revolution Destroyed? Have I ensured that a world socialist
revolution will never happen?": http://www.revolutiondestroyed.net
For discussion of the credit crunch, go to
http://www.revolutionaryplatform.net/forum/index.php?board=156
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