Tony Abdo wrote:
> Aaron, I got to tell you, Man, this idea liberals have of being
> pragmatists, while more revolution oriented activists are seen as
> sitting around with their thumbs up their asses, is unbridled poppycock.
>
I realized about 30 years ago that the chief weakness of reformism is its
utter failure
to achieve reforms. (One can learn this from Lenin -- but not by just or
even mostly
by reading his "big" works of theory. It emerges from reading page by page
in order
the first 10 to 15 volumes of his CW -- seeing him engaged in the daily
practice of
making sense of the struggle as it unfolded.) I mention here just three
points among
many that have to be taken into consideration in constructing tactics and
strategy.
First, we (however "we" is defined) are never going to have a majority --
and to win
our victories (small or large) must depend on the determination of the
masses who do
rally to the struggle. Secondly, voluntarism (the idea that by our
correctness we can
as it were force people into action) is utterly hopeless. In fact the
conditions that
generate popular resistance are almost never predictable. Rather we must be
ready to
respond to such upsurges when they occur (as they will) behind our backs as
it were.
And third -- it is always worthwhile, when possible, to strive to make life
a bit better for
those who suffer now. But those who aim only at that (as.apparently Aaron
does) will
achieve nothing, not even a few extra rations or vials of anti-biotic for
the dying.
Tony is certainly correct on the utter utopianism of "pragmatic" liberals.
Carrol
_______________________________________________
Crashlist resources: http://website.lineone.net/~resource_base
To change your options or unsubscribe go to:
http://lists.wwpublish.com/mailman/listinfo/crashlist
