title: Defining constants in python class, is self really needed?
body: <p>I want to define a set of constants in a class like:</p>
  
  <pre><code>class Foo(object):
     (NONEXISTING,VAGUE,CONFIRMED) = (0,1,2)
     def __init__(self):
         self.status = VAGUE
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>However, I get </p>
  
  <pre><code>NameError: global name 'VAGUE' is not defined
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Is there a way of defining these constants to be visiable inside the class without resorting to <code>global</code> or <code>self.NONEXISTING = 0</code> etc.?</p>