A gogo, perhaps you should explain the difference between a theoretical critique of socio-economic goals ... and pragmatic political realism. yourself.

The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point, however, is to change it.Marx

In practice - reality - pragmatic, expedient or reactionary politics are not taking society down a road I want to be on.

Alanabit, the Labour Party have never been a socialist party, so I would never have supported them, even when they were a 'proper labour party'. The party was formed from various organisations that represented the labour movement and whilst the 'grassroots' of the labour party has contained many of a quite deep red persuasion. Many far-leftists are coming up with all kinds of fantastic strategies for reducing labours majority with the idea that a labour party in power will mean that it will be easier to lobby for a move back to the left. There are problems in this, the weakened labour movement are contributing less to the Labour Party and rich individuals are contributing more - they cannot really help but follow the money - and   the wily new labourites have changed the structure of the labour party and the parlimentary labour party is much less tied to the actual labour party, I'm told.

There is a campaign to get rid of Blair and 'reclaim' the labour party (http://www.backingblair.co.uk (watch the videos they are v funny))

As for complicity in the latest war, I suppose as there was no referendum or election between the idea of a war being widely publicised and the act of war itself there was no opportunity for direct democratic decision making (even if you could accept that electing a representative can be about one issue) so you are limited to taking direct action (if you don't mind getting truncheoned or worse), going on marches, faxyourMPdotcomming and publically declaring your opposition to the war in an attempt to build a critical mass that would make the Downing Street elite reconsider for their own self-preservation. Looking back at the Iraq threads Ake, and other 'catters, did a stirling job, as so I think they should not feel at all complicit in the war.

During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.Orwell

PS Have you seen that film called 'Complicity' starring Johnny Lee Miller and Keeley Hawes - I liked it, but I'm not sure many folk are aware of it.