Huh? What incited the bogus dig at "well-read radicals with specialized radical educations"? As irrelevant as the few Marxist-Leninists can be, it isn't very common, whereas obtuse populism can be pervasive. In fact, the latter is more problematic for American third parties, and the Left generally, than bookish Commies.
Certainly, for the vast majority of Americans politics means Democrat v. Republican. Period. But a big part of radical politics is *not* accepting the world just as you find it. You are right, however, that the means of changing this eludes us. To say this is not to ignore the Democratic party, the primaries of which I intend to vote in next year.
FWIW, Carrol wasn't exactly arguing for revolution, but against progressive electoral strategies. And as Doug has observed, American activism is animated more by the "less readin', more doin'" credo than Marxist reading circles.
-- Shane
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