Question

Krish55 8

Answer 1

The problem with some Democratic Socialists is that they don't educate about the inherently evil nature of capitalism and its effects abroad. A socialism that merely seeks a more comfortable life for all Westerners at the expense of the exploited countries in Latin America and Africa is shortsighted. So is a socialism that fails to point out that accumulated wealth was derived from exploitation and is inherently harmful to democracy.
A good example of a Democratic Socialist who sees the larger picture is Jeremy Corbyn of the UK. He sees and educates the people about the larger picture while working on incremental but radical steps to get there. Had Obama been willing to do this, we would be in a different situation now.

Answer 2

This article appears to be blaming a myriad of current social problems squarely on the failure of efforts by Social Democrats to transform society overnight. Criticizing democratic means and advocating for, instead, a revolution, by some kind of magical force, the author seems to ignore (or entirely miss the point) that Social Democrats exist within a larger societal context. In the case of the United States, the desires of a wide majority swath of the populace in multiple opinion polls falls into a moderately progressive middle ground on a whole host of economic issues, even though they are often confused (duped) by the rhetoric of politicians and their lackeys. On identity-based social issues, the picture gets much more polarized--religious, ethnic, morality questions, etc. There is NOT anything close to a groundswell majority opinion supportive of Marxist-style revolution. The author has been smoking too much crack if he thinks so.

It is easy to criticize Social Democrats for failing to magically transform society, but the only real alternative to democratic means for the left is revolutionary overthrow. In this society and at this time, with actual fascists flexing their muscles and nauseating the rest of us, history has actually taught us (contrary to the author's claim) that although talk of socialist revolution is a predictable reaction to neo-nazism, it is also as doomed to failure as it is to upend countless people's lives. And history also teaches us that armed Marxist revolution, even if occasionally successful at great cost of human lives in the overthrow process, is most likely to lead to a few power-hungry oligarchs ruling everything while the masses suffer near-poverty or worse.

Anyone who admires the Scandinavian societies for their Socialist successes has Democratic Socialism to thank, NOT revolution. I submit that the social reasons the U.S. and other nations are currently reeling under the grotesque excesses of unchecked Capitalism run amock have much to do with stupid religiously fueled indoctrination and the cynical right-wing undercutting of education and free press having duped many many people into believing conservative scare tactics and identity politics scapegoating. It has relatively little to do with any fundamental "wrongness" of Social Democrats.

We need a massive and sustained PR effort to shift public perception and sentiment back toward appreciation for humanist ideals of fundamental benefits of a caring social safety net and away from the Wild West, law of the jungle, sink or swim individualism that the Right has pushed on America to disastrous effect. Without that shift in public sentiment, which will be demonstrated democratically, btw, talk of revolution is just that: Talk, and nothing more.

Answer 3

Splendid.

I must read his book.

One para absolutely nailed the reality of the two main parties US political system.

"The liberal contention that Republicans are worse is true in the sense that they more straightforwardly represent the interests of rapacious capitalists. However, left to Republicans alone, this system would have run off the rails and remained there centuries ago. Bill Clinton was elected to repair and restore the carnage wreaked by twelve years of Reagan-Bush. Barack Obama was elected to repair and restore the carnage wreaked by eight years of George W. Bush. The Democrats do have a political program. It is to restore and repair American capitalism for the next round of carnage and looting."

Bingo.

The Left needs to stop apologizing for its weak platform of mild nothing reformism and grow a pair.

You should see our so-called party of the Left here in Australia, the Labor Party. Pathetic would be a compliment.

Answer 4

well, that certainly perpetuates the myth that the democratic party as a whole is all talk and mostly interested in preserving unrestrained capitalism. those who pay good attention and don't cherry-pick, and don't equate being donated to with being beholden and bought and sold, know that this is not actually the case. i am closer to being a social democrat than to being in favor of any other named kind of economic system, but i don't buy the political aspect of it that perpetuates this myth. furthermore, teaching people to hate or at least disrespect the democratic party (especially based on that myth) is an excellent way to keep the republicans in power. or is that what we want, in order to have a rallying cry? not me!

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