Summing up. 1. My arguments are _not_ based on the relative merits (or demerits) of the two parties. There are undoubtedly differences.
2. Jim D wrote: "Our energy should be going to the extra-electoral arena, which will be the source of any future social-democratic movements. // In this perspective, voting for (say) Dean or General Clark isn't "supporting the DP" as much as an individual cry of helplessness in the moment. Real political change comes from collective effort to change the balance of power." 3. When I speak of leftists (in the present context) I mean _only_ those who accept that "Real political change comes from collective effort to change the balance of power." I'm simply not speaking to those who place their longterm hopes in the DP. 4. Leftists in this sense are far too few in number to make any difference in the coming election, regardless of what they do. I couldn't care less how anyone votes. 5. There are enough leftists in the u.s. to make a difference in various forms of non-electoral struggle around the nation, primarily but not only the anti-war movement. They will simply be wasting their time if they devote it to the election. They might contribute to real change if they work in the anti-war movement. It is crucial that that movement be prepared to grow and act in early 2005, regardless of which party wins the election. 6. I agree completely with Jim C and Yoshie in the following post: >Response Jim C: There is another alternative suggested above: direct >contact with those involved and who are often the objects of left >analysis. They get to read and correct what is being written about >them. They provide fresh insights and new information from those >closest to the conditions being analyzed. They get to suggest >avenues and angles of analysis that would best help their struggles. Creating spaces for getting together and thinking together like what you describe above, I think, is one of the most important means and effects of movement-building and community-organizing. -- Yoshie ---- These perspectives need to be explored at length. Carrol
