Doug writes: >The idea of revolution in the U.S. or any of its imperial peers seems like the stuff of a drug-induced reverie right now.<
The idea of a revolution _right now_ does seem to be merely a drug-induced reverie at this point in history (as most advocates of RS, including all of those on pen-l, would admit). The question is whether it's possible _in the future_ (perhaps after we all die). I don't think we can rule out the possibility -- and I think it's worth keeping in mind, even if it turns out to be an impossible utopia. To my mind, having some notion that capitalism has internal contradictions (i.e., holds the possibility of radical/revolutionary change) and that we can have some impact on how the contradictions work out in practice is at the essence of RS. As I've said (but somehow was largely ignored[*]), RS ideals and ideas should be used to decide which tactics and strategies to engage in (when combined with concrete analysis). (BTW, what JKS says he's doing politically seems like the right thing to do, given the situation.) In this view, I think that RS ideas -- socialism from below -- is more likely to win reforms (in our lifetimes even) than is simply trying to win reforms _per se_. I think that some notion of where we want to go helps us get there. A mass movement from below is necessary not only to win the seemingly imaginary revolution but to win serious reforms or even to defend what we have, so that revolution and reform work in tandem. (Given the current situation, the question is not "reform vs. revolution" but what kinds of reforms and how to win them.) In any event, it's wrong to dwell simply on _what is_ (or, rather, what seems to be true) to avoid discussions of what _may be_. The latter helps us understand the former. (It's also wrong to focus on the world of theory alone. Empirics and theory are complements, not substitutes.) Just because some of the people who claim to advocate RS are jerks or sparts or whatever doesn't mean that we should simply lay back and enjoy the world being raped by capitalism. BTW, I agree that it doesn't do any good to advertise one's adherence to RS. But if someone accused me of it, I'm the first one to admit it. [*] maybe if I'd insulted someone, my missive on RS wouldn't have been so ignored. --------- Jim D.
