[lbo-talk] "Move the goalposts, wingnuts!"

[Chuck0]

> Stated differently, the demise of the progressive ideology and causes had
> little to do with what 'we' (i.e. lefties collectively) did or failed to do,
> but rather was caused by the oligarchy's renewed support for neo-liberalism
> thanks to technological advantage it gained in globalization, the demise of
> the USSR, and the natural responsiveness to right-leaning calls in the US
> populace.  The left did not have a chance against that lineup.

I disagree. The blame lies mostly on the Left. According to your 
argument, things like the post-Seattle movements never should have 
happened, because "we" had already been defeated.

I've been an activist for 20 years. The biggest foe we fight is our own 
fear and self-doubt. If it isn't the paranoids in our ranks ranting 
about COINTELPRO and police surveillance, it's the leftist doomsayers 
telling us why history is against us. Our biggest barrier is our own 
excuse-making for our inaction.

This is what I call Calvinist leftism: a profound faith that we suck 
because historical conditions are against us.

I stopped being a Lutheran many years ago, so I'll argue that we can 
achieve fundamental social change if we put our collective minds to it. 
Look at what the right did over the past 30 years. If they can do that, 
we can certainly do something similar and better.

Don't accept the facts and limitations. Move the goalposts, dammit!

Chuck0