Happy Labor Day (U.S.)*

[gordonzola]

So in my Weather Underground post, a good conversation got going about trashing vs. criticizing of the Left by the Left. Since it’s Labor Day weekend in this country, what do you folks think?. What’s the Left’s biggest problem right now?

Too much infighting? Too many wingnuts with "responsibility"? Failure to support the correct tenets of scientific socialism? Nader? The fact that no one is following the sectarian party you belong to? Lack of any coherence or relevance whatsoever?

This isn’t a poll, so write about whatever you want. Hell, it doesn't even have to be the biggest problem, it can just be your biggest peeve. Don’t post your unpublished manifestos though, please. No right-wing trolls either.

(I include anarchists on the Left, btw, so answer accordingly)

*I tend to recognize May 1st as Labor Day myself, but this is a convenient excuse.

Comments

Re: am I out of touch?

[walktheplank.livejournal.com]

The idea that the Democratic Party is an any way "left" is truly laughable. However, in the minds of most Americans, "the Left" *IS* the Democratic Party, and anything outside of that isn't even a blip on their radar screens. And so you have the rather curious situation in which Hillary Clinton was being accused of "Marxist social engineering" at the same time that her husband was signing the NAFTA agreement into law.

Since the Democrats have historically acted as an impediment to social change, it is important to address their role within "the Left".

Whether-or-not you personally believe in electoral politics, the Democrats are going to have a major impact on any left-leaning political movement... And they will probably set you back at least several years.

Re: am I out of touch?

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

all of which, of course, points out the glaring weaknes of a real left in this country.