We are developing the social individualist meta-context for the future. From the very serious to the extremely frivolous... lets see what is on the mind of the Samizdata people.

Samizdata, derived from Samizdat /n. - a system of clandestine publication of banned literature in the USSR [Russ.,= self-publishing house]

The spirit of Nongqawuse lives on

Nongqawuse was a fifteen year old Xhosa girl who in 1856 had a vision in which three ancestral spirits told her that if the Xhosa people showed their trust by destroying their crops and killing their cattle, then on the appointed day the spirits would raise the dead, bountifully replace all that was destroyed, and sweep the British into the sea. Thousands believed this prophecy and slaughtered their cattle. But the dead slept on and the British remained in place.

Nongqawuse explained that this lack of action was due to the amagogotya, the stingy ones, who had kept their cattle back from slaughter. She urged everyone to greater efforts. A new date was set for the prophecy to finally come true. The rate of cattle-killing rose to a climax.

Eventually the Xhosa lost patience, and, with remarkable mercy, handed Nongqawuse over to the British. By then famine had reduced the population of British Kaffraria from 105,000 to fewer than 27,000.

*

City A.M. reports that John McDonnell says Venezuela is failing because it is ‘not a socialist country’.

Oh, and our Chancellor-in-waiting says that he will overthrow capitalism.

If you want to watch the Sunday Politics interview where he said all this, this BBC link will work for another 28 days.

14 comments to The spirit of Nongqawuse lives on

  • Henning

    History repeats itself.
    Looks like Venezuela has reached the ‘not really socialism’ stage.

  • Phil B

    Trying to get a working definition of what TWUE Socialism is is a bit like trying to wallpaper fog. Any failure of THIS, this NEW, REAL and AUTHENTIC brand of (undefined) socialism means that it wasn’t TWUE Socialism.

    Easy, really …

  • Regional

    Or wallpaper a frog?

  • Regional

    McDonnell, a professional Labour politician who’s never done a day’s work in his life.

  • I suspect that trying to get out of McDonnell a factual description of what Venezuela did to cease being socialist will be like drawing teeth. After all, anything he mentions, he would implicitly be promising not to do himself.

  • Paul Marks

    It is of course “racist” to point out folly in another culture – and “imperialist” and “colonialist” as well. The Frankfurt School of Marxism says so as does French “Post Modernism” – and Western “liberals” follow modern Marxism slavishly. Especially Big Business and Very Rich “liberals” (the Economist magazine types) – who follow every fashion of “anti racism”, “anti sexism”, “anti homophobia” ism as “liberalism” even though these movements are actually about destroying “capitalist exploitation and oppression” – i.e. robbing and murdering the Economist magazine types (with their dreams of “inclusive capitalism” and their touching, or TOUCHED, belief that bankers can be popular with university educated Revolutionary thugs) who back them.

    As for Venezuela – the regime there imposes price controls and other regulations designed to bankrupt business enterprises and then the government confiscates the business enterprises. I.E. the government confiscates the “means of production, distribution and exchange”.

    So the confiscation of the “means of production, distribution and exchange” is “not socialism” John McDonnell? You are a LIAR Mr McDonnell. And may you meet the surviving families of the tens of millions of human beings murdered by your hero Mao in China. God damn you Mr McDonnell, God damn you to Hell.

  • John K

    A true socialist has to believe that every time socialism has been tried before, it has never been done right. Every single time. Every socialist experiment has always failed, and led to the destruction of the economy and political liberty of every country which has tried it.

    A more sceptical mind might wonder if, given that every single experiment in socialism has led to poverty and tyranny, there might be a problem with the basic premise of socialism. Also, given that another system called free market capitalism seems to lead to economic prosperity and political freedom, maybe it is time to stop trying to perfect the experiment of socialism?

    But if you had a sceptical mind, you wouldn’t believe in the perfectability of socialism. Maybe they will get it right the next time. Maybe Corbyn and McDonnell will be able to have a go on Britain. Sadly, the May government is so pathetic that anything is possible. Anything apart from socialism delivering freedom and prosperity that is. I think I know the way to bet on that one.

  • Rob

    This man is one political crisis away from 11 Downing Street. House prices are currently dropping. Would 10-20% be enough to lose May a General Election? Labour would promise anything, say anything. Who needs to keep promises when you are dedicated to destroying the system you are elected to govern?

  • Eric

    I suspect that trying to get out of McDonnell a factual description of what Venezuela did to cease being socialist will be like drawing teeth. After all, anything he mentions, he would implicitly be promising not to do himself.

    He’s way ahead of you. The problem, apparently, is Chavez died and the reins of power got handed to that capitalist roader, Maduro.

  • Regional

    Maduro has never had the benefit of a University degree in Politics i.e. Socialism.

  • The problem, apparently, is Chavez died and the reins of power got handed to that capitalist roader, Maduro. (Eric, May 22, 2018 at 10:46 pm)

    Yes, I saw that: it’s been the traditional excuse ever since the Trotskyists launched “Communism is wonderful – it’s just Stalin messed it up”. But if anyone even tries to ask, “Yes, Mr McDonnell, but just what exactly did Maduro do that you think Chavez would not have?” then I predict the snake will slither.

    There is also the idea that if Maduro should have recused himself from power in the interests of socialism, should not Jeremy 2Es Corbyn and John No-Answers McDonnell make the same noble sacrifice in the interests of the collective?

  • champ

    that capitalist roader, former bus driver Maduro.

    FTFY

  • Runcie Balspune

    Mr Corbyn and company have committed to abolishing the House of Lords

    But speaking after Prime Minister’s Questions today, Mr Corbyn’s spokesman said: “Jeremy has made clear we want to see the abolition of the House of Lords and its replacement with an elected second chamber and that is well past overdue. It’s a basic democratic reform, it must take place.

    “It’s absurd that we still have this undemocratic anachronism in the 21st century and when Labour is elected we will carry through that pledge.

    Speaking of “undemocratic anachronisms” in the 21st century, wouldn’t socialism fall into that category by now?