Re: omigod! democratic capitalism under attack!!
On Sep 2, 2007, at 3:37 PM, Carrol Cox wrote:
I think all statements about the “shape of the left” tend to be incorrect, in that they ignore that (if I remember correctly the terminology from a few decades back) the primary pole of politics in the u.s. is the strength of capital. Until that strength is undermined considerably by factors external to “the left” leftists must focus on doing what they can to prepare and to remain prepared for that time
when the conditions under which we make our own history will be those that favor us. Whining about our current weakness and/or defeats merely detracts thinking from analyzing clearly what we can and must do at
the present.
I’ve been reading you for years, and I still don’t really get you.
You criticize those who think a big smashup would be good for the
left, but then you seem to think that some other deus ex machina will
weaken the power of capital to allow some force - the handful of
leftists who’ve been toughing it out during the dark times? - to take
advantage of the lucky turn of events? Where’s this going to come
from? Mars? (Forget Marxism - embrace Marsism?) Some random noise in
the system? What could weaken the hegemony of capital if not some
kind of left? You often point out that the prosperity of the 60s
strengthened the left - something I agree with - but that’s the
opposite of some external force other than the left weakening
capital. Please clarify.
Doug