Each week, when I get my copy of The Socialist I flick through to see what is inside. I always try and read the editorial straight away, and other key articles. Sometimes I skim through some articles, aiming to read them properly later, but not always managing.
This week, I had half an hour before I left for my weekly Socialist Party campaign stall (above). We decided to campaign against increases to council tax and this what was featured on the front page of the paper. I thought I would re-read that article to help me think about the points I might make on the stall. My son was happily playing, so I took the rare opportunity to read on. I read in more detail the articles on the experiences of disability claimants and the article on tax evasion which I had previously skimmed.
It was different this time. I was now reading specifically with the stall in mind. I really thought about the key points being made and the figures used to support them. Reading the paper turned out to be the best preparation I could have had for the stall. In every conversation, I referenced one of the articles.
In response to someone who was angry about council tax rises, but suggested the main problem was people on benefits, I could say that in our paper I had just read that there is £23 billion of benefits which people are entitled to and which go unclaimed each year, and that benefit fraud was very low relative to the £40 billion in unpaid taxes.
Our paper is not something just to be read for personal interest, but it is a vital tool. It politically arms us with ideas to provide a clear response to the confusion which exists in society, to be able to say what is really going on and what we can do about it. Reading it with that purpose in mind means it isn’t just another thing to do, but the best thing you can do each week to prepare for the rest of your political ‘to-do’ list each week.
Bea Gardner
