I was just reading the various pieces that ZNet republished from New Politics on the US elections. I would in particular recommend Steve Shalom’s piece. Steve has a way of summarizing all the arguments on all sides in a sympathetic way, and then presenting the last word on the topic, that is really impressive. Years ago when I was confused about drugs, his piece on the subject clarified things for me in a similar way.
I also enjoyed the harshness of Michael Hirsch’s piece on ‘Left Posturing’. Some quotes from it:
“Any politics has to start from an analysis of social forces. Social movements are weak, but not because their leaders failed to resist the siren call of access to the White House or the governor’s mansion. Idle chatter about “the class” or “the youth” or “the labor bureaucracy” and its misleaders only reinforces the left’s alienation from its own base because it substitutes assertions for analysis.”
…
“What is the left putting out — even that left that believes in realigning the Democratic Party? “U.S. Troops Out of Iraq,” or “Support Gay Marriages,” or “Defend Abortion Rights” are reactive programs that do not get to the heart of the American empire, harm the war makers where they live or deliver a body blow to sexual fundamentalists.”
“There is no left national agenda to guide any elected officials, though municipalities from Santa Monica and San Francisco to New York are better served and activists clearer about housing, health care, wages and other local needs.”
…
“Holding to a “socialist politics” without putting any forward means acting like émigrés in your own country, when the truth is there is no socialist politics, principled or otherwise, unless you make it so.”
I think these rebukes are well taken. Shalom’s piece is not as harsh, but the message is similar. He also thoughtfully addresses the “worse the better” claim that Bush may be the lesser evil because he is overstretching the empire. Both pieces are of value because they start from where we actually are, and deal with the actual balance of forces that we are facing in North America, without sacrificing principles.
