Compare this to over ten years ago, not long after the birth of the ant-capitalist movement. Left parties were in crisis, now they are moribund. Social democratic parties began reinventing themselves as capitalist managerial parties, apparently bereft of ideology. Now many, in need of plan to save themselves, are adopting neo-conservatism - a risky ruthless counter-reaction to stave off capitalist collapse, that will make the ricer richer, and the poor poorer.


So what’s the good news. The global anti-capitalist movement continues to grow in size, sophistication, and effectiveness. Isn't that tritely astonishing? This still nascent movement may surprisingly employ influence or let rip next month, or next year, or in five or ten years time. Who can tell?

But it isn't going away, because its a profound cultural and political development that began, in this country, 15 years ago, at the huge anti-poll tax demo (and riot). It's not a fad or a fashion. It’s not going away. Groups, organisations, actions large and small, affinity groups, gatherings, networks, and forums are growing.

Ok, so just saying things are rosy is neither here nor there, but looking back some idea how far the anti-authoritarian left has travelled is apparent. Even so, I feel I must make a concrete suggestion, after having indulged myself in a happy pill statement, which, when it was made to me recently, I embraced it, and will try to build my own new little network.

Make 3 new political friends this year, or use current friends, and do stuff, exchange stuff, organise stuff, discuss stuff, between all four of you. At events there’s the opportunity to make friends, for example on a demo, action, or at the g8 where they‘ll be people from all over the world. You don’t have to live in the same street, or town (but you can), or country, or continent. Then there’ll be more connection, and micro-networks, that may intertwine.