> Why can't you do both? I mean, how else do you expect to change the
> situation of socialism not being supported by wide sections of the
> working class? If even socialists won't advocate socialism, then who
> the bloody hell will?
I don't often do this, Bill, but I thoroughly agree with you on this. Yoshie's statement that socialism "is not yet supported by wide sectors of the working class" is certainly true -- an understatement, if anything -- but it does not explore the reasons for this situation. If those of us who consider ourselves socialists believe that socialism -- however we understand the meaning of the word -- is the best system for workers, then we should certainly get serious about figuring out those reasons. In my opinion, a lot of it has to do with the extremely inexpert way socialism has been presented, and the rest of it (especially in the U.S.) has to do with the way that "socialism" has been turned into a bugaboo of tremendous proportions over the years, to the point that it might be the most prudent course to drop the word altogether and start over with a different one.
In any case, I have always believed in the maxim: "Whosoever tooteth not her/his own horn, said horn shall not be tooted."
Jon Johanning // jjohanning at igc.org __________________________________ A sympathetic Scot summed it all up very neatly in the remark, 'You should make a point of trying every experience once, excepting incest and folk-dancing.' -- Sir Arnold Bax