Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/486/2398
From The Socialist newspaper, 10 May 2007
Why I joined
Escaping Maggie Thatcher's glare
I joined the Socialist Party as a result of my own experiences in the last year which made me realise we have to stand together if we are ever to change the world. There is no use in shouting at the television or moaning at the man in the pub, we have to stand up and fight.
I have always considered myself as left wing. My parents voted Labour and I took an interest in the history of workers' struggles at school. In recent years I became increasingly frustrated with the three main parties as they continued to pander to the interests of big business at the expense of working people.
Following the closure of the record shop I worked at last year I began to look for a new job. Whilst job hunting I found an advert for a job as a barman at the local conservative club. I had been brought up to detest Thatcher and the Tories, but reasoned that not all of them, at least in person, could be that bad. I applied and got the position.
On my first shift having 'Maggie' glaring down at me from a picture was disturbing! Worse was to come: never had I heard such distorted views on immigration, race and economics. I didn't realise people used expressions like 'our colonial friends'.
For the few weeks I was there I had to bite my tongue. While quietly contemplating my distaste for their views something occurred to me. These people were actively organised around political ideas - why wasn't I?
Searching the internet I found the Socialist Party website, with a principled socialist programme that made sense. I applied to join immediately.
I would recommend anyone who feels strongly about the wrongs of capitalism to do the same. No longer am I the man in the pub bemoaning the state of the world; I am actively fighting for what I believe in.
Chris Farrell, Bristol
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In The Socialist 10 May 2007:
Conference for a working class alternative
Blair's departure: Curtain falls on disastrous reign
Workers need a political voice
Socialist Party election analysis
Campaign for a New Workers Party
Campaign for a New Workers' Party conference
How we can fight to build a new workers' party
Socialist Party NHS campaign
Save Maudsley emergency clinic now!
Socialist Party news and analysis
Escaping Maggie Thatcher's glare
Salford: Tenants oppose stock transfer
International socialist news and analysis
France: preparing for a "third round" on the streets
Turkey: "No to coups, no to sharia"
Musharraf hangs on in Pakistan while poverty and oppression multiplies
Socialist Party election campaign
Strong support for the Socialist Party in Coventry
Huddersfield: Support for NHS campaign cuts across Labour lies
Scottish Elections: Labour rocked as SNP wins
Socialist Party workplace news
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