[lbo-talk] Future

[Michael Dawson]

As for the size of any unprecedented political gathering, it doesn't 
necessarily tell you anything about its future prospect.  How many 
people attended the first convention to discuss the social, civil, 
and religious condition and rights of women at Seneca Falls in 1848? 
About 300.  How many of them signed the Declaration of Sentiments? 
68 women and 32 men (at 
<http://www.nps.gov/wori/senecafalls1848.htm>).  I'm sure those who 
organized or attended it were told not to waste time holding such a 
tiny assembly and to wait until the idea caught on and they got more 
women and men on their side.

Yoshie

You're right, but only half.  Size alone doesn't always matter.  But size
and form together are what it's all about.  What if Susan B. and Lizzy
Stanton had dragged out 1,000 protesters to Washington, instead of holding
their conference?  It would have been a huge flop and discredited them both.
All protest marches are not good.  Generally speaking, the more tightly
they're tied to specific, realistic demands made against specific people and
institutions, the wiser they are.

It's interesting that you and Carrol share an underlying nihilism about
political strategy.  It makes sense, since you both favor squandering
people's time and resources.