Thursday, August 29, 2019
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Ljubljana School of Philosophy at the Faculty of Arts: August 26-30
By Neža Loštrek,
26 Aug 2019, 19:23 PM
August 26, 2019
A summer school of philosophy
titled “Fail better!” began this Monday with a week of lectures from Slovenia’s
most prominent thinkers, also known as the “Ljubljana school of
psychoanalysis”. In t week that follows, Mladen Dolar, Alenka Zupančič and
Slavoj Žižek will present their views on the foundations of their thought as
well as their current work to a maximum of 120 participants from 17 countries,
most of whom are coming from Denmark and Germany. The three will meet to give
lectures at their Alma Mater, the Faculty of Arts of the University of
Ljubljana, and the working language of all the events will be English.
Žižek will present a series of
lectures titled “Hegel with Neuralink”, which take as their entry point
“Neuralink, an American neuro-technological company, founded by Elon Musk and
eight others, dedicated to developing a mind-machine interface (MMI)”.
Alenka Zupančič’s lectures are
titled “The Real and Its Passions”, which as their “starting and focal point
take the concept of the Real that emerged in psychoanalytic theory (Freud,
Lacan)”.
Mladen Dolar will be speaking
in a series called “What, If Anything, Is the Other?”, which “will attempt to
explore the psychoanalytic notion of the big Other, given the paradox that on
the one hand it is absolutely necessary and on the other, according to Lacan,
it is lacking – how can it be both at the same time?.”
The University of Ljubljana is
currently marking it’s 100 anniversary of existence which is being celebrated
with 100 various events throughout the year. The summer school of philosophy is
perhaps one of the most significant of events due to the global prominence of
the authors who are going to present their thoughts together at the place of
the beginning of their studies.
For details click here.
Boris’ Brexit bombshell leaves Westminster in disarray as parliament is prorogued
Not since Oliver Cromwell’s
dismissal of the Rump Parliament – with the words “In the name of God, go!” –
has Britain been plunged into such a deep national and constitutional crisis.
Lacking a written
constitution, the British establishment relies on a web of convention and
precedent. Now Boris Johnson has pushed this informal system to its limits,
using ‘convention’ to request that the Queen suspend
Parliament for over a month, in an effort to prevent opposition MPs from
blocking a no-deal Brexit.
This ‘prorogation’
has set alarm bells ringing across Westminster.
Boris Johnson’s letter to MPs
conforming prorogation of Parliament
Boris vs Parliament
Johnson’s move has sent the
ruling class into a frenzied panic. “This move represents a constitutional
outrage,” asserted John Bercow, the Speaker of the House.
The leading figures of the
establishment had hoped that it would be their side that could use the
Monarchy, calling in the Queen to stop Brexit. But Boris has beaten them to it,
dragging Buckingham Palace into this all-consuming crisis of the regime.
In effect, Johnson has thrown
down the gauntlet and thwarted MPs’ plans to block Brexit.
Those opposed to the Prime
Minister’s plans are now left scrambling around. Boris’ proroguing of
Parliament has placed them in great difficulties, severely narrowing the
options available.
They want to stop Brexit by
legislation, or even form some kind of National Government. But now they are
twisting and turning, and time is quickly running out.
Nuclear option
Jeremy Corbyn had attempted to
provide a way out by offering
to lead a ‘caretaker’ government, designed to extend the Brexit deadline,
call a general election, and provide a second EU referendum.
But this proposal was met with
strong opposition from Lib Dem leaders, ‘Independents’, and Tory ‘rebels’, who
cannot stomach the idea of seeing Corbyn in Number 10, even if only for a few
weeks. These Remainer MPs say they would do anything to stop Brexit – but they
won’t go that far. They do not want to give Corbyn any kind of legitimacy.
Instead, those seeking to
block a no-deal hoped to pursue a ‘legislative route’, using an emergency
parliamentary session to force through an extension of Article 50. But this is
extremely difficult and requires time – which they don’t have.
Today’s government
announcement has thrown an enormous spanner in the works, designed to scupper
the legislation necessary for such plans.
In effect, then, the only
remaining road (no pun intended) for the Brexit blockers is to pursue what had
previously been deemed a ‘last resort’: to accept Corbyn’s offer and help bring
down Boris’ government through a vote of no confidence.
“I think we’ll move very
quickly to a vote of no confidence in the government,” affirmed Dominic Grieve,
a leading Tory Remainer.
“I think it is more likely
because if it is impossible to prevent prorogation, then I think it’s going to
be very difficult for people like myself to keep confidence in the government
and I can well see why the leader of the opposition would wish to table a
motion of no confidence.”
In short, the nuclear option
is about to be detonated.
But even such a step might not
be enough. Senior Downing Street officials are reported to have stated that, in
the case of a successful vote of no confidence, the current government will
dissolve Parliament and call an election to take place after the Halloween
Brexit deadline. Then all hell will really break loose.
"If MPs pass a no confidence vote next week then we won’t resign. We won’t recommend another government, we’ll dissolve parliament, call an election between November 1-5 and there’ll be zero chance of Grieve legislation,” says senior official.
Establishment hypocrisy
Amongst those condemning
Boris’ prorogation announcement are no shortage of right-wing Remainers.
“This action is an utterly
scandalous affront to our democracy,” tweeted deputy Labour leader Tom Watson.
Elsewhere, Anna Soubry, leader of Change UK, declared that, “Our democracy is
under threat from a ruthless PM”.
Outrageous that #Parliament will be
shut down at a moment of crisis as we face crashing out of the #EU with no deal & for
which there is no mandate. Our democracy is under threat from a ruthless PM
elected by less than 100K Con members. Email your MP now & demand
Parliament sits
Such statements, however, ring
hollow from the lips of these establishment politicians. They fawn over the
trappings of parliamentary democracy, behind which lies the control of the
bankers and big business, who take all the real decisions.
The hypocrite and
arch-Blairite Tom Watson worships ‘democracy’, but cares little for democracy
in his role of Machiavelli when trying to oust Corbyn – twice democratically
elected as Labour leader. Watson is nothing more than a mouthpiece for big
business inside the Labour Party, and no friend of party democracy.
Similarly for Anna Soubry, and
the rest of the so-called ‘Independents’. They shout about democracy, but are
not prepared to call by-elections in their constituencies, after resigning from
the parties whose tickets they were elected on. Another ‘defender of
democracy’, Chuka Umunna has been allowed to switch from the Labour Party to
Change UK then to the Liberal Democrats more easily than a man changes a shirt.
When such ladies and gentlemen
talk about defending ‘democracy’, what they really mean is defending the
interests of big business and the ruling class.
As Marx explained, bourgeois
democracy is where you get to choose which representative of the ruling class
is going to misrepresent you every five years. Parliament is simply a talking
shop. The real power rests with the bosses and bankers in the boardrooms of the
City of London.
But such is the crisis raging
in Britain that the ruling class has lost control over the situation. In fact,
they have lost control of the Tory Party, as well as the once ‘moderate’ Labour
Party. These once ‘reliable’ parties have been taken over by ‘radicals’ and
‘extremists’. Referenda and elections do not produce the ‘desired results’. And
the establishment’s system of checks and balances has broken down under the
pressure of an unprecedented political crisis.
Boris out! Corbyn in!
Jeremy Corbyn and John
McDonnell have also decried Boris Johnson’s latest Brexit bombshell. The Labour
leader has denounced the Prime Minister for his “smash and grab on our democracy”,
whilst the shadow chancellor described the parliamentary suspension as “a very
British coup”.
Along with Lib Dem leader Jo
Swinson and Change UK leader Anna Soubry, Corbyn has also written to the Queen,
expressing his concern and asking for a meeting in the hope of overturning the
prorogation plan.
Corbyn and McDonnell are
correct to oppose Boris Johnson in the most forceful terms. But the fight
against him and his reactionary, reckless Tory government must be done from an
independent class position, not by forging alliances with big business
politicians, nor by appealing to the establishment, such as the Queen and the
courts.
Instead of pursuing
parliamentary manoeuvres or offering up a second referendum, the Labour leaders
should be offering up socialist policies, and bringing the full force of the
Corbyn movement out onto the streets in order to boot out Boris.
NEW - understand Jeremy Corbyn
has written to the Queen, expressing concern about Boris Johnson's announcement
that he's proroguing parliament, and requesting a meeting with her.
Mass
demonstrations have already been called, with the correct call for a
‘general election now’. Only by uniting and organising workers around class
demands – to kick out the Tories and bring a socialist Labour government to
power – can Boris be stopped in his tracks.
Uncharted waters
We are truly entering
uncharted waters. Britain is facing an unprecedented situation – a
constitutional crisis; a political crisis; and a social and economic crisis. It
a perfect storm.
The ruling class is quickly
running out of options. They have completely lost control of the situation.
Despite all of their best efforts, they are hurtling towards the cliff-edge
that they have so desperately sought to avoid. Whether they can pull a rabbit
out of the hat remains to be seen.
The only way forward is for
Corbyn’s Labour to mobilise workers and youth, bring down Boris’ government,
and fight for a clear socialist alternative to this capitalist chaos.
'Stop Your Cowardice': In Kentucky, Sanders Calls Out McConnell for Ignoring Protesting Coal Miners and Blocking $15 Minimum Wage
"I say to Senator
McConnell: Stop worrying about your billionaire friends, they're doing just
fine. Start worrying about the working families of your state and around this
country."
Hours after rallying
with striking AT&T workers in Louisville, Kentucky, Sen. Bernie
Sanders on Sunday used his visit to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's
home state to blast the Republican for refusing to allow a vote on legislation
to raise the minimum wage and turning his back on laid off coal miners protesting
over lack of pay.
"I say to Senator
McConnell: Stop worrying about your billionaire friends, they're doing just
fine," said Sanders, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate. "Start
worrying about the working families of your state and around this country who
are struggling to keep their heads above water."
As Common Dreams reported last
month, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed legislation that
would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025, but McConnell
signaled he would not even allow the bill to reach the Senate floor for a vote.
Noting that 10 out of the 25
poorest counties in the United States are located in Kentucky, Sanders said
McConnell doesn't "have the right to prevent debate and votes on the most
important issues facing the working people of this country."
"Workers in Kentucky and
America cannot get by on $9 or $10 an hour," said the Vermont senator. "They
need a living wage. If you would like to explain to over half a million workers
in Kentucky who are making less than $15 an hour why they do not deserve a
living wage, that is your prerogative."
"Stop your
cowardice," added Sanders, "have the guts to debate the issues."
Sanders' rally comes as laid
off coal
miners have been blocking train tracks in Cumberland, Kentucky for
over three weeks to protest Blackjewel's refusal to pay them after the company
went bankrupt last month.
Additionally, a group of
retired Kentucky coal miners suffering from black lung traveled to Washington,
D.C. last month to meet with McConnell and demand action on legislation to fund
their medical care. As Common Dreams reported,
the coal miners said McConnell was "rude" during their meeting and
brushed off their concerns.
"Coal miners are not my
enemy," Sanders said Sunday, detailing the comprehensive
Green New Deal proposal his campaign released last week. "Workers
in the fossil fuel industry are not my enemy. Climate change is our
enemy."
With Open Internet Under Assault, 2020 Democrats Urged to Sign Pledge to Reject Telecom Cash and Restore Net Neutrality
"If net neutrality is not
restored, the public will lose the ability to access sites, run small
businesses, and tell the stories too often ignored by the mainstream
media."
A diverse coalition of nearly
20 progressive advocacy groups launched
a new campaignMonday urging 2020 Democratic presidential candidates to
reject campaign cash from the telecommunications industry and commit to
restoring net neutrality.
"It's not enough for
candidates to simply say they support net neutrality."
—Mark Stanley, Demand Progress
—Mark Stanley, Demand Progress
The organizations are calling
on all Democratic primary contenders to sign a pledge vowing
to "publicly call for the restoration of strong open internet
protections" and turn down "contributions from phone and cable
company executives, lobbyists, and PACs."
The groups are also demanding
that the Democratic presidential hopefuls vow to appoint Federal Communications
Committee (FCC) commissioners who will:
Restore all of the Title
II-based net neutrality rules, enforcement authority, broadband competition and
consumer protections the FCC eliminated in 2017;
Enforce a ban on circumventing
net neutrality at the point where data enters ISPs' networks; and
Ban harmful forms of
'zero-rating' that advantage some apps over others or require apps to pay fees.
Mark Stanley, communications
director of advocacy group Demand Progress, said in a statement that
paying lip service to net neutrality is not sufficient in the face of the Trump
FCC's far-reaching assault on the open internet, which resulted in the
total repeal
of net neutrality protections in 2017.
"It's not enough for
candidates to simply say they support net neutrality," said Stanley.
"We're looking for specific commitments from candidates to appoint
commissioners who will restore the Title II-based net neutrality protections
repealed by the FCC, and who will close dangerous loopholes that allow ISPs to
create fast lanes and unfairly privilege some apps over others."
"For too long, phone and
cable companies have exerted an undue influence in Washington, by pushing
unpopular policies that harm the American people's ability to communicate and
access crucial services online," Stanley said. "It's time candidates
fight this corrosive influence by refusing contributions from the telecom
industry."
The campaign comes as a bill
that would restore net neutrality protections, the Save the Internet Act, is
stalled in the Senate. As Common Dreams reported in
April, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) signaled he would refuse
to allow a vote on the Save the Internet Act after the legislation passed the
Democrat-controlled House by a 232-190 margin.
"With Mitch McConnell
stonewalling in the Senate, it's imperative all presidential candidates make
restoring net neutrality a top priority," said the coalition of
progressive advocacy groups, which includes Fight for the Future, Color of
Change, Friends of the Earth Action, RootsAction.org, and more than a dozen
others.
"Since the repeal of net
neutrality, we've already seen internet providers begin to throttle online
services," the groups said. "If net neutrality is not restored, the
public will lose the ability to access sites, run small businesses, and tell
the stories too often ignored by the mainstream media. Our ability to freely
connect and communicate is at stake."
Several 2020 Democratic
presidential candidates, including
Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), have vowed to
push for the restoration of net neutrality if elected, but the issue has been
neglected in the early stages of the primary process.
As AJ Dellinger wrote for Forbes last
month, net neutrality did not come up once during any of the four Democratic
presidential debates hosted by Comcast-owned MSNBC and
AT&T-owned CNN.
Evan Greer, deputy director of
Fight for the Future, said in a statement ahead
of the second round of presidential debates last month that "Americans
deserve to know whether these candidates will make it a top priority to restore
net neutrality."
"The fact that AT&T
owns CNN, and could easily pressure them to silence debate on net
neutrality, is a perfect example of why we need a free and open Internet,"
said Greer. "It's essential for free speech and a democratic
society."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)