The Left, social movements, and unions cannot rely on the Democrats, who are responsible for Trump’s victory, Ashley Smith argues. Instead, we must unite against all the looming attacks, defend migrants and trans people in particular, and build an independent resistance committed to fighting for our own demands.
Part One: Resisting authoritarian populism | | | | | | | | | | | Part One: Resisting authoritarian populism Ashley Smith Ashley Smith analyzes the Democratic Party's failure to defeat Donald Trump and what it means for the Left. | | | Part Two: Resisting authoritarian populism | | | | | | | | | | | Part Two: Resisting authoritarian populism Ashley Smith Ashley Smith analyzes the Democratic Party’s failure to defeat Donald Trump and what it means for the Left. | | | For the last four years, Joe Biden and his anointed but defeated successor, Kamala Harris, attempted to refurbish U.S. capitalism and reassert U.S. hegemony over the world system, particularly against China, but also Russia and a host of regional powers. Their program of liberal reform at home failed to address the economic grievances of the country’s exploited and oppressed majority. Their militarism abroad, especially their collaboration with Israel in carrying out genocide in Gaza, further undermined their popularity, provoking protest and opposition from Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims, as well as their supporters. With social movements, unions, the Left, and reformist politicians like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rallying people to support Harris, Trump was able to pose as the sole opposition to the Democrats and the wretched status quo. His authoritarian populism tapped into discontent with inequality and militarism and offered reactionary, bigoted solutions to people’s genuine problems. The illusion that the Democratic Party could be transformed into a workers party has kept the Left, social movements, and unions trapped as at best its loyal opposition and blocked us from forming a party of our own. As a result, we were bound to a party that failed yet again to stop the far right. Now we face a clear and present danger. In January, Trump and his party will complete a hostile takeover of all branches of government, from the White House to Congress and the Supreme Court. They will act quickly to implement Trump’s authoritarian populist project of turning the United States into a managed democracy like that of Viktor Orban in Hungary. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#33978): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/33978 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/110014492/21656 -=-=- 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. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/13617172/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
