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Thanks Mark, I think you're mostly right but I do think there are some specifically psychological things we could supply. For example, I've just heard Cameron on the radio talking about the significance of wellbeing as an indicator of 'prosperity'. He didn't articulate it fully, of course, but in contrasting it to GDP it was clear where he's going and its the same disconnect between material and economic circumstances and individual tick-box responses that figures so prominently in Layard's and Seligman's 'happiness' and 'positive' psychology agendas. Similarly, when Osborne announced the cuts it was noticeable that one area he said is being expanded rather than cut is IAPT: no let up, then, in the program to drive people off incapacity benefit and onto JSA even though there's still no program to create jobs for them (indeed, a program instead to create a million or so job losses). Psychologists could usefully point out the inadequacies and contradictions that IAPT relies upon for its superficial legitimacy, could expose the many failures of training and organisation attend upon the way its been rushed into being, and so on. J. On 25/10/2010 21:58, Mark Burton wrote: > In the Birmingham manifesto > http://www.compsy.org.uk/The%20Birmingham%20Manifesto.pdf we identified > the following Roles and Identities that we live. > · Citizens > · ‘Experts’ > · Workers > In each of these we can and should take action on the cuts - most > obviously in local campaigns. > As 'experts' we have a role in helping set out the alternative. I would > hope this can go beyond a purely defensive approach to the welfare > state, defending it but also setting out what does need to change. One > place to start is in deconstructing the 'Big Society' cover-for-the-cuts > but also recuperating the communitarian ideas that lurk within it - i.e. > how do we create a society that builds solidarity, interdependence, > resilience, community.... It is that work of developing the alternative > that is, in my view, the most urgent - otherwise we will be perpetually > on the back foot, or to mix metaphors, forever disputing the ground > chosen by Capital and its servants. > For me that work won't go on primarily in this forum, or with > psychologists, but that isn't to depreciate the legitimacy of doing work > here. > Another expert role will be to document the impact of cuts on people and > their communities - those of us in human services are in a good place to > do this - is there some scope for coordinating this. > Finally - is there any scope / point in trying to get the BPS to > intervene in the debate? > > Mark > > > > On 25/10/2010 18:03, John Cromby wrote: >> You're right Penny, the list can potentially do more than just >> co-ordinate. It might also help people to meet and form the nucleus of >> groups, so it is both/and, not either/or. What I had in mind was >> simply that action against the cuts clearly needs to be both >> broad-based and local - perhaps "community based", to coin a phrase. >> >> J. >> >> On 25/10/2010 16:17, Penny Priest wrote: >>> I felt an ember of inspiration in response to Wendy's post and I >>> agree with >>> you John - 'The list could be a useful way of co-ordinating information >>> about this kind of activity but people do actually need to materially >>> do it >>> for themselves. The Midlands Psychology Group formed itself to wield >>> collective influence in precisely this way and if we can do it, so can >>> others'. But I wonder if some of what happens when it works (whatever >>> I mean >>> by that...) is that there is a combination of internet and real life >>> meeting >>> of each other - that there needs to be both. I sometimes look at the >>> discussions between various list contributors and wonder if there is >>> often a >>> much better 'meeting' where people also have real life meetings. I >>> know this >>> is all rather vague and rambling, but I'm trying to ask something >>> about how >>> solidarity happens and what it can achieve...and I guess, how solidarity >>> doesn't happen, and what happens then? >>> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "John Cromby"<[log in to unmask]> >>> To:<[log in to unmask]> >>> Sent: Monday, October 25, 2010 3:20 PM >>> Subject: Re: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] Spending Cuts >>> >>> >>>> It's perhaps predictable that the list should devote more energy to >>>> discussing the etiquette of discussion than to the vital issues that >>>> Wendy >>>> raises here. >>>> >>>> Patently there's no easy answer. The difficult but achievable answers >>>> consist in building alliances with others and using collective >>>> resources >>>> to challenge what is being proposed. The list could be a useful way of >>>> co-ordinating information about this kind of activity but people do >>>> actually need to materially do it for themselves. The Midlands >>>> Psychology >>>> Group formed itself to wield collective influence in precisely this way >>>> and if we can do it, so can others. Clearly though, the present moment >>>> also demands much more broad-based alliances that involve users of >>>> services as well as their purveyors. >>>> >>>> A more comprehensive understanding of what's going on is something that >>>> might also be useful, and despite her many seductive charms in my >>>> opinion >>>> we'll not find that in Polly Toynbee. Naomi Klein's 'The Shock >>>> Doctrine' >>>> (2007) provides a highly accessible account of the political and >>>> economic >>>> strategy currently being implemented here. It pre-dates current >>>> events by >>>> a few years whilst prefiguring perfectly what is happening, showing how >>>> the ideology driving current policy has its roots in the 1960's and has >>>> informed economic policy across the globe in recent years. Its recently >>>> been made into a film by Michael Winterbottom: no idea what its like >>>> but >>>> he's a good director so if you're a fan of infotainment maybe you'd >>>> prefer >>>> it in that format. >>>> >>>> J. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 25/10/2010 08:09, Wendy Franks wrote: >>>>> Hello all, >>>>> >>>>> I had a wonderful day out on Saturday at 'Feminism in London 2010' >>>>> >>>>> It was a day full of inspiration, but also, not just a little >>>>> provocation in terms of how far society has to go in relation to >>>>> equality of all sorts. >>>>> >>>>> A stream of amazing women stood up in various workshops, presentations >>>>> and discussions, and offered critical analysis of situations from >>>>> international 'development', sexualisation of children and >>>>> commodification of women in a widespread and increasing >>>>> 'pornification' >>>>> of culture, and not least, the disproportionate burden upon women that >>>>> is anticipated with the latest round of Tory spending cuts. >>>>> >>>>> In the interest of comradeship and extending our focus beyond our >>>>> internal struggles for a moment, I wondered if anyone has news of >>>>> action, or thoughts about how we might organise to resist? >>>>> >>>>> A union march went by the conference, and speakers were invited in to >>>>> share ideas and plans. At present, a meeting is being set up for women >>>>> to get together in London and develop further plans for protest, >>>>> which I >>>>> hope I will be able to attend. When I hear news, will try to >>>>> remember to >>>>> mention it here. On the way to London, a friend and I were discussing >>>>> the use of technologies such as facebook to connect more widely and >>>>> organise our response. >>>>> >>>>> I fear that many of us will sit in stunned silence and not know >>>>> what to >>>>> do about the attack on our public services and the poorest people >>>>> in our >>>>> society, while the very richest continue to legally evade making their >>>>> proportionate contribution. >>>>> >>>>> I do not want to be one of the silent ones. >>>>> >>>>> Any suggestions? >>>>> >>>>> Wendy >>>>> >>>>> ___________________________________ The Community Psychology List >>>>> has a >>>>> new website/blog at: http://www.communitypsychology.co.uk/ There is a >>>>> threaded discussion forum: >>>>> http://www.communitypsychology.co.uk/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi >>>>> There is >>>>> a twitter feed: http://twitter.com/CommPsychUK To post on the website >>>>> blog, forum or twitter feed, contact Grant or David at the email >>>>> addresses below. David Fryer ([log in to unmask] >>>>> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>) or Grant Jeffrey >>>>> ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>) To >>>>> unsubscribe or to change your details on this COMMUNITYPSYCHUK list, >>>>> visit the website: >>>>> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK >>>> >>>> -- >>>> ********************************************************* >>>> John Cromby >>>> Psychology Division, SSEHS >>>> Loughborough University >>>> Loughborough, Leics >>>> LE11 3TU England >>>> Tel: 01509 223000 >>>> Email: [log in to unmask] >>>> Personal webpage: http://www-staff.lboro.ac.uk/~hujc4/ >>>> Co-Editor, "Subjectivity": www.palgrave-journals.com/sub/ >>>> ********************************************************* >>>> >>>> ___________________________________ >>>> The Community Psychology List has a new website/blog at: >>>> http://www.communitypsychology.co.uk/ >>>> There is a threaded discussion forum: >>>> http://www.communitypsychology.co.uk/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi >>>> There is a twitter feed: >>>> http://twitter.com/CommPsychUK >>>> To post on the website blog, forum or twitter feed, contact Grant or >>>> David >>>> at the email addresses below. >>>> David Fryer ([log in to unmask]) or Grant Jeffrey >>>> ([log in to unmask]) >>>> To unsubscribe or to change your details on this COMMUNITYPSYCHUK list, >>>> visit the website: >>>> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK >>>> >>> >>> ___________________________________ >>> The Community Psychology List has a new website/blog at: >>> http://www.communitypsychology.co.uk/ >>> There is a threaded discussion forum: >>> http://www.communitypsychology.co.uk/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi >>> There is a twitter feed: >>> http://twitter.com/CommPsychUK >>> To post on the website blog, forum or twitter feed, contact Grant or >>> David at the email addresses below. >>> David Fryer ([log in to unmask]) or Grant Jeffrey >>> ([log in to unmask]) >>> To unsubscribe or to change your details on this COMMUNITYPSYCHUK >>> list, visit the website: >>> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK >> > > -- > > /*From: */*Mark Burton* <http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=4304478> > > > *37 Chandos Rd South* > > *Chorlton* > > *Manchester* > > *M21 0TH* > > *Telephone: */*h*/*0161 881 6887* > > > > /forthcoming/: Critical Community Psychology: Critical Action and Social > Change > <http://www.amazon.co.uk/Critical-Community-Psychology-Action-Textbooks/dp/1405188847/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1283018965&sr=8-1> > > > > /available/: A Green Deal for the Manchester-Mersey > Bioregion<http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=4304478>/and/The > Replacement Economy. <http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=4304478> > > > > http://greendealmanchester.wordpress.com/ > > > > ___________________________________ The Community Psychology List has a > new website/blog at: http://www.communitypsychology.co.uk/ There is a > threaded discussion forum: > http://www.communitypsychology.co.uk/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi There is > a twitter feed: http://twitter.com/CommPsychUK To post on the website > blog, forum or twitter feed, contact Grant or David at the email > addresses below. David Fryer ([log in to unmask] > <mailto:[log in to unmask]>) or Grant Jeffrey > ([log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>) To > unsubscribe or to change your details on this COMMUNITYPSYCHUK list, > visit the website: > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK -- ********************************************************* John Cromby Psychology Division, SSEHS Loughborough University Loughborough, Leics LE11 3TU England Tel: 01509 223000 Email: [log in to unmask] Personal webpage: http://www-staff.lboro.ac.uk/~hujc4/ Co-Editor, "Subjectivity": www.palgrave-journals.com/sub/ ********************************************************* ___________________________________ The Community Psychology List has a new website/blog at: http://www.communitypsychology.co.uk/ There is a threaded discussion forum: http://www.communitypsychology.co.uk/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi There is a twitter feed: http://twitter.com/CommPsychUK To post on the website blog, forum or twitter feed, contact Grant or David at the email addresses below. David Fryer ([log in to unmask]) or Grant Jeffrey ([log in to unmask]) To unsubscribe or to change your details on this COMMUNITYPSYCHUK list, visit the website: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=COMMUNITYPSYCHUK