Charles Brown wrote:
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> "The weapon of criticism cannot, of course, replace criticism of the weapon, material force must be overthrown by material force; but theory also becomes a material force as soon as it has gripped the masses.... "
My post was focused on Doug's argument (or implied argument), not yours. But as to your original post, my primary concern is marginal but not unimportant: Expressions of excessive optimism tend to be counter-productive. I have in fact over the years had some agitational success using the 'pessimistic' approach suggested in my post.
TINA -- Meaning there is no alternative to revolution, however hard and even unlikely that road may be. My objection to both Max and Doug (not that I'm equating their positions) is that they are naively optimistic about the potential within capitalism, not that they are pessimistic about socialism. Given the naivete of their pollyannish view of that potential, their pessimism re revolution is simply irrelevant.
Carrol