He then proceeds to outline a version of socialism in one country with "...' the commanding heights' of the economy being taken out of private hands and run by a system of councils of workers' and consumers' delegates, accountable and recallable, co-ordinated into a national system."
Leaving aside the unusual idea that consumers (i.e. excluding non-consumers?) will be the chief ally of the proletariat in a future revolution, this statement reveals that Neil is simply repeating formulas rather than analysing the world.
The demise of the workers' states has belatedly proven that Trotsky was right in opposing the Stalinist notion that socialism could be built in isolation in economically backward commies.
Socialism has to be a mode of production with a higher productivity of labour than that of capitalism.
All Blairite prattle about "socialist values' pales into insignificance in the light of this profound historical-materialist criterion.
Socialism cannot be estabLetters over 300 words may be edited for reasons of space. advanced capitalist country and embarks on wholesale expropriation of the bourgeoisie at a national level.
In addition, a particular problem in Britain is that the bulk of British capital cannot be expropriated by the proletariat or brilain because this capital is not in the form of means of production located in Britain but in the form of South African coal mines, New York real-estate, etc,etc.
Put briefly, our task is not to formulate a national economic programme but a programme for the seizure of state power at a national and continental level.
Roy Rudditt, NW London
THE NORMALLY sedate sea-front of the Sussex town of Hove has been transformed in the last two months.
It is here that protestors against the cruelties of the export trade in live animals congregate day in day out in a bitter struggle recalling the picket lines of the miners' strike or Wapping.
Every day seven to nine lorries carrying sheep and calves - destined for veal production - bust the picket lines after zig-zagging across town escorted by police outriders and even helicopters.
Hastily erected spiketopped fences line the sea front enterences to the harbour. When demonstrators appear in force, police string rolls of razor wire along the fence tops and bring in the riot squad, complete with full face visors, riot shield and extendable batons.
The cost of this policing -borne by East Sussex council tax payers - is £200,000 a night. The police bill is f8 million so far. Yet East Sussex County Council has a deficit of £12 million pounds, and Brighton Council owes £20 million, bringing threats of vital service cuts and disastrous land sales.
In no way do the pickets conform to some stereotype of well heeled fluffies oblivious to human suffering and only caring for animals.
Here is a cross section of ordinary humanity. Many women, many children, wage earners, pensioners and students, many new to political actvity of any kind.
The energy and commitment of the activists is exemplary. The course is set to stop the animal export racket.
Dave Barnham, Hove
SOME rather strange assessments seem to have found their way into the centre pages of your last issue (Tories have never had it so bad! SO 80).
Apparently author Toby Brewster believes that Jim Callaghan's Labour government was "eventually brought down by industrial militancy".
Although this fits the mythology of those public sector union leaders who are most terrified of any new strike action today, it is not the case.
The Labour government fell after, not during the 1978-79 Winter of Discontent. The strikes were a symptom of growing working class hostility to the gov
ernment, not the direct cause of its defeat.
Callaghan's government had only been propped up by a squalid deal with the Liberals and then the Ulster Unionists. After inflicting three years of wage cuts on the working class it was defeated in a general election.
Perhaps even more curious is Brewster's assertion that the divided Tories are in such a state that "they are too weak to get out of their sick bed to smash the welfare state."
In fact the smashing of welfare rights is one issue that unites the Tories, and they have been having serious success in this mission. If only the labour movement could be as united in fighting back.
Tim Smith, Oxford -7