>But I want to suggest that your analogy applies _also_ to the people on
>this list who are pledging themselves to the "Anyone but Bush" campaign
>-- and especially those who are rambling on about "tactical voting," in
>sublime innocence that before you can engage in tactics you have to have
>_some_ kind of army.
The lack of any strategy is the real problem. The lack of an army is overcome by joining the army of the Democrats, which by implication also involves adopting their aims and strategy. Fine if their aims are your aims, self destructive if their aims are inimical.
But by ignoring the need for strategy, this problem can be swept under the carpet. Tactical thinking is a form of myopia. If you don't evaluate your tactics against some kind of strategy (which may or may not eventually necessitate an army) then you have no way to judge whether you are making progress towards the goal.
I think it is intentional myself. A symptom that the goal of socialism has been consciously or subconsciously abandoned, in favour of something a little less ambitious - capitalism. Oh look! Mission accomplished, give yourself a pat on the back and break out the champagne!
Bill Bartlett Bracknell Tas