[lbo-talk] doom

John Lacny jlacny at earthlink.net
Fri Mar 17 14:32:45 PST 2006


Doug Henwood:


> The sort of union-based realpolitik that Nathan Newman &
> John Lacny are defending is a perfect example of why
> density is going to zero.

Oh fuck off. You can't have a serious discussion about strategy here without you bringing in this motive-mongering horseshit.

Everyone knows that unions are fucked. And everyone on the left knows that broader social transformation should be a labor movement goal. But the kind of "argument" you're making is abstracted from the real world. Unions should just take a position in favor of single-payor, in your view -- to what end, I'm not sure, since unions are so fucked that it doesn't make much difference. There are no structural difficulties to be dealt with in your view; instead, everything would be just great if only you were in charge. When you're losing an argument because you don't know enough of the facts, it's best in your view to fall back on platitudes instead of conducting an investigation of concrete realities that might reveal that the world is a good deal more complex than you think it is. Suggesting concrete proposals about what to do next amounts to "realpolitik" as far as you're concerned; for all your disdain for mindless "activistism," you decide it's best for the left to be anti-intellectual, unreflective, and attached to empty platitudes when it comes to subjects about which you know little. (Though I have to wonder: If you're going to go in for that sort of thing, why not go for "Socialism or Nothing!" instead of "Single-Payor or Nothing"?) No wonder you find Chuck Munson's self-indulgent banalities to be worthy of serious consideration.

Abstraction and formalistic, irrelevant position-taking rule the roost with you, while people who want to talk about, you know, facts, are just bumming your high. I don't intend to interfere with this hobby of yours anymore. You should start writing for Workers Vanguard. In the meantime, I am leaving this list.

- - - - - - - - - - John Lacny http://www.johnlacny.com

Tell no lies, claim no easy victories



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