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Almost universal praise has greeted Danny Boyle's Olympic extravaganza. By turns moving, funny, surprising and bonkers, at the heart of his vision of Britain was the history of the British people, their struggles and achievements.
The words projected round the Olympic stadium encapsulated this vision: "this is for everyone."
As Labour develops its policies, the party should pay particular attention to this event and take heart from this bold and ebullient celebration of the collective will.
The acclaim greeting this vision is yet another indication that the self-centred politics of the last 30 odd years is no longer resonating with the majority of people. That a few individuals can live off the fat of the land -and more importantly, the labour of others - is not longer deemed acceptable as trickle down economics are proved - yet again - not to work.
What Boyle celebrated wasn't the odd individual - be they an inventor, a writer, or a monarch. (The notable exception, perhaps, was Tim Berners-Lee, creator of the world wide web whose refusal to patent his invention enabled an amazing gift to the world to transform it.) Boyle celebrated the British people in all their marvellous diversity.
It was a celebration of the collective will, exemplified in the creation of the NHS - a sequence that led to 'NHS' being chanted in pubs.
What Boyle got at was the joy inherent in collective action and community.
Labour needs to build on this sense of joy in developing its policies. The questions we should ask revolve around how we should cultivate that sense of togetherness; how we can best foster an inclusive society. And given that the failure of Osbornomics will leave any incoming Labour govt with massive questions about how to kick-start a failing economy, we need to work on fostering the power of that joint will.
It is often said that the NHS itself was created in the face of post-war debts. True. Austerity is not inevitable. If we have the will we can create a fair Britain.
What Boyle's Greatest Show on Earth showed was the possibilities of taking seriously - and joyfully - Tim Berner-Lee's injunction that "this is for everyone." How better to describe the socialist alternative to Cameron's failed attempt at the drabness and conformity of an austerity culture.
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It would be an Olympian task. First of all we’d have to ask ourselves what sport we are all playing. Second, we’d have to decide on the rules and what happens to those who break them. Then, and only then, we could get on with that game where we are all on the same side..
The current policies of Cameron are indeed socialist.
Massive tax increases and spending preventing any growth and destroying small businesses, who hire 60% of wokring adults.
Massive state spending on corruption, wars and inside deals bankrupting not only the state but society as well. Damaging trust in the government.
Socialism is destroying Europe, there is really not much left. You have managed to win, and put kids on streets, oh and make yourselves very wealthy in the process.
But nothing whatsoever to do with today's Labour party.
When was the last time Labour were "socialist?" 1948?
If you really want to be believed, then it's about time that the Scottish and Welsh parties were "allowed" to decide policies for the said countries, instead of suffering under the corrosive influence of London.
Please excuse the grammar, but Labour are neither "socialist" nor "democratic!"
Labour are indeed very socialist.