[Pen-l] Beck and call

[c b]

    * From: Jim Devine
raghu wrote:
> As I see it, this is a genuine dilemma for progressives. I understand
> and agree with your thesis that far-right lunacy is being actively
> exploited for the benefit of the center-right. But it is also true
> that far-right lunacy is ugly, scary and dangerous. So what to do?

BTW, we should remember that Beck and the like are also in conflict
with the GOP establishment and could actually make the DP stronger.

^^^^^
CB: Some of the Tea Partiers are sincerely against the bank bailouts
and put heat on some of the Reps who voted for it, but I kind of
wonder whether Glenn Beck and Fox News aren't really pretty much with
the Reps. Their "conflict" seems phony.

^^^^^^^

> I'd submit that the right tactical choice depends on how strong and
> numerous the progressive left is. If we are strong, we fight to win
> and not make compromises. If we are weak, then sorry to say, we don't
> have any choice other than to embrace the lesser evil and plead for
> kindness from our masters. So, just how strong are we?

We can't take degrees of strength as fixed or think about "the moment"
alone. If the "progressive left" is weak, as it is, we have to figure
out how to make it stronger in the future. That doesn't involve
backing the lesser evil (e.g., Obama) uncritically. If we back Obama's
reelection, for example, we have to be very clear to ourselves and to
others that we have very low expectations about what we'll get from
him. Lying to others and to ourselves is self-destructive.  We also
have to be clear in the case that the reason why we're backing an evil
is because the electoral game is rigged. More importantly, we have to
figure out how to make the left stronger by working outside of the
rigged electoral game. It's important to keep our political
independence, avoiding co-optation by the DP and similar
organizations.

^^^^^^^
CB:  I can't think of much that can be done outside electoral politics
or ultimately , if indirectly, aimed at elections that would impact
the state power (?)  Start riots (smile) ?  I wish there was, but
after all these years in the struggle, I just don't see much that, as
you say, strengthens the working class politically that can be
accomplished outside of elections. Am I missing something ?

If "we" helped rally masses of workers, employed and unemployed, what
would they be rallied toward ultimately that is not electing
government officials ?

^^^^^^^

The point is to stick to our principles. My main principle is that the
working class and other dominated groups in society need to be
strengthened politically, socially, and economically, so that they can
run their own lives.  (It's really not the left that needs to be
strengthened: it's merely a means to an end.) We should ask: how does
a political action -- e.g., backing Obama -- strengthen the working
class and other dominated groups?
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