Regarding the 99% slogan: It served a purpose, but there is also a danger in its use. There is a long history in the US of left populism shifting over to right populism, usually involving racism. The old Georgia populist of over 100 years ago - Tom Watson - was a prime example. More generally, this involves the history of "left" or even "anti-capitalist" fascism, of which as we know, Gregor Strasser of the Nazis was the prime example.
It seems to me that what really distinguishes this most dangerous form of fascism (dangerous because it has that apparent class appeal) vs. Marxism is the lack of clarity on the class question. In the US, the populists often talk about the "common man" (and it's usually a man), or something like that. The 99% slogan has a similar ring to it. I think in this period, it's important for us to be really clear. I think we have to directly talk about class with that term, as in "working class people" or a mass working class party (vs. a "left party".) As far as those individuals who smashed the windows of the Democratic Party HQ in Portland on January 20: There's no way of knowing if they were ultra left anarchists of some sort or if they were conscious provocateurs. that, in itself, says everything. John -- *“Science and socialism go hand-in-hand.” *Felicity Dowling Check out:https:http://oaklandsocialist.com also on Facebook -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#5845): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/5845 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/80095594/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/8674936/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
