> On Feb 19, 2016, at 8:40 AM, raghu <[email protected]> wrote: > > On Thu, Feb 18, 2016 at 3:50 PM, Marv Gandall <[email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > Which, incidentally, begs the question as to why Sanders, in fact, is > defending these measures as “socialism” against your better advice and > without much noticeable effect on his campaign. > > That aside, I’d welcome these reforms if they proved as easy to defend and > implement, as you seem to believe. > > > I am neutral on this question. Sanders' decision to embrace the "socialist" > label is an interesting one. Does it hurt him more than it helps? I don't > think there is clear evidence either way. > > I see this as a purely instrumental question: if it advances your politics to > use the label "socialist", I say by all means go for it. Likewise with > "Democrat" or "liberal". > > Who cares what you call yourself? What’s important is what you stand for.
Especially since words like leftist, socialist, and Marxist - even Trotskyist and Stalinist - are now subject to so many conflicting interpretations that they obfuscate more than clarify. You need look no farther than on this list. It’s also unclear to me whether Sanders’ brave self-identification as a “socialist” has helped or hurt him or not had much effect one way or the other because of how well he has identified and given voice to what many people, especially young workers and students, are against. > The problems and challenges that would be faced by a Corbyn or Sanders if > they should get elected into office would be quite similar to the problems > and challenges that would come with any attempt to build Socialism, so such > an opportunity should indeed be welcomed by all leftists. Well, whether they would be building Socialism - whatever that means :) - or whether, by inclination or the balance of forces, they would be improving the condition and self-confidence of the working class under a strengthened capitalist welfare state, we can also agree it would be a welcome advance over what exists now.
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