--- Michael Dawson <MDawson at pdx.edu> wrote:
Working for them is fine and dandy,
> but why don't you stop
> and do a little thinking for a change? And just
> stop dumping on voting!
I essentially agree with Yoshie on this one. I doubt that any substantial changes can be made by relying on the Democratic Party. Entry into the Democratic Party in those places where it is well entrenched, from what I know, does not work too well. Leftists get used and the spit out.
Domhoff in his :"Changing the Powers That Be: How the Left Can Stop Losing and Win" makes the point that leftists should enter the Democratic Party, especially in those areas of the country where it is weak and they have the chance of taking it over. That seems like a possible strategy in such areas. However, entering the Democratic Party in places where it is strong seems like a futile exercise.
Despite my many criticisms of the above book, it does argue one point strongly: that the electoral college makes all Third Parties nothing spoilers in the Presidentail elections. That's where I differ with Yoshie.
However, Yoshie is in the main correct. Leftists should on the whole workd in social movements and in Third Parties. I would only add that in certain instances it could be productive to enter the Democratic Party.
Thomas
===== <<If God existed, Lou Proyect wouldn't >> Thomas Seay circa 2004
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