Anniversary

[JBrown72073 at cs.com]

Jenny Brown wrote:
>>I'm not sure how the static categories of blame, responsibility, and
>>culpability further the project of changing such.
>
>Blame and culpability aren't very productive I admit, but the concept of
>responsibility has to come into it somewhere. The socialist project 
inevitably
>implies an increase in responsibility and if we aren't even willing to
>shoulder the little civic responsibility of political democracy, then its
>a waste of time talking about socialism.
>
>Bill Bartlett
>Bracknell Tas

I think it works the other way round.  When we see an opportunity to have a 
bigger say--or when the stakes are higher--we jump for it, *more* than when 
it's obviously a smaller influence such as a vote between two pretty similar 
politicians.  Hence the much more hotly contested local elections, where 
people believe their influence is greater.  And fiercly fought union 
elections (it's stunning to me that anyone wins a private sector union 
election here any more given that the boss is free to do almost anything--but 
we do win them.)  Here's another example: We in Florida would've--the 
radicals among us--taken a hell of a lot more militant action on the vote 
theft if it hadn't been for the fact that the object of all this was, well, 
Al Gore.  I mean, only the most dedicated (bless 'em) can force up much 
enthusiasm for the Democratic Party anymore.  It's dumped its constituency in 
a ditch on the way to a party with Worldcom & Co.  If it weren't for abortion 
and Social Security, it'd be all up.  So my point is, we're more ready for 
democracy than we might look from looking at our participation in elections 
in the U.S.  

Jenny Brown