Comments
n_n OP wrote (edited )
Running politicians for office would be a huge waste of time
I think that his position is not against electoralism, but more about be against electoralism in coalition with liberals and do what Debs did with the Socialist Party of America in their time.
celebratedrecluse wrote
yeah, exactly. My point, in turn, is that this is a self-contradictory argument. All of the legitimate criticisms that you can make about DSA supporting Sanders in 2020, in terms of the drain on the movement to investing energy in them, you could also make tenfold about supporting socialist fringe candidates in small jurisdictions.
conseil wrote
My case has always been that Democratic Socialism fails; its either incorporated into the status quo either as a total failure or a Social Democracy for the sake of complacency, purged, or it neuters itself before even getting elected so it can get elected.
Where I'm from, there were self-avowed Marxists in power (including Prime Minister) at varying points in the 20th century, and in the past couple decades as well in some more minor roles.
The result? Absolutely nothing. We have healthcare, and a minimum wage. Unions are broken, and the average person now views socialism as part of the default corrupt system. If anything, its hurt progress by making 'socialism' look like another part of the standard bullshit we already have.
this_one wrote
The right have gained power by positioning the left against itself. Don't help them. The goal for 2020 is to get Trump out, not to get the perfect candidate in.
This tumblr post puts it well.
ziq wrote
This is how neoliberalism functions. Convince people to choose neoliberalism out of fear.
this_one wrote
And this is how fascists come to power: Convince people to do nothing out of 'praxis'.
I know that's not your intention - you intend 'not voting' to make people do other stuff - but when you encourage people not to vote without also immediately following it up with, "Here are examples of other things you can do to stop fascists", all you're doing is encouraging apathy.
conseil wrote
So, what do we do? Every four years we accept neoliberalism out of fear of fascism for eternity?
celebratedrecluse wrote
DO NOT ALLOW yourself to think negatively about ANY of the possible nominees.
This tumblr post puts it well.
You can't be serious
celebratedrecluse wrote
A very thoughtful article, thank you for posting. Some of what I found to be the most salient points:
However, I think that points like this are patently absurd:
They spend the entire article talking about how running politicians for office would be a huge waste of time, making cogent arguments against electoralism as a praxis, and then wave in this contradictory assertion with utter banality. Lol
Tankies