But the US Left
> lacks even the most basic support structures, spaces and places -- a
> political commons, if you will -- where long-term conversations can happen
> between identity-movements, artists, interested laypeople, union
> activists, NGOs and political parties.
>
> Or I am wrong about this?
Yes and no. The "US Left" does lack resources, but we do have resources and more are on the way. The main problem as I see it are those leftists who insist vocally that we are marginal and few in number, which tends to disempower our comrades and leads to fatalism and a big inferiority complex.
The truth is that there are many of us out there and many more either want to hear our ideas, or would gravitate toward them if we got out there and talked to more people instead of debating arcane stuff on e-mail lists.
Just look at all of the left books that are available now in bookstores. Look at how well Michael Moore's movie did and other lefty movies. How about the growth of alternative radio like Democracy Now? Or all of the popular left websites? And people are buying left culture and donating money. I've been very surprised at the donations Infoshop.org got this summer. I would have been happy with hundreds of $5 donations, but a few people gave generously.
Creating basic support structures and common spaces are important factors in nurturing a broader dissident culture. Long-term conversations aren't going to happen during chance encounters at Barnes and Noble. They happen at union halls, conferences, and independent bookstores. I figured this out back in the mid 90s, which is why one of my main focuses as an activist for the past 8 years has been the creation of more dissident infrastructure. Here In Kansas City we have a new radical bookstore and infoshop that is doing amazingly well. We're seeing all kinds of people dropping by the space, not just the usual punk kids. Tonight I was working the counter when a family came in, looked around, and ended up buying a copy of the "Teenage Liberation Handbook" for their daughters. Earlier today I sold the last copy of AWOL, a hip hop, graffiti and politics magazine. Last night the KC Indymedia group met at the space and tomorrow night we are showing "Outfoxed."
Here in Kansas City we radical activists are damn busy and we don't even do any outreach. The situation is probably the same around the country, so I just urge folks not to be glum but to recognize that we have our work cut out for us.
Chuck0