On Sep 2, 2007, at 3:37 PM, Carrol Cox wrote:
> I think all statements about the "shape of the left" tend to be
> incorrect, in that they ignore that (if I remember correctly the
> terminology from a few decades back) the _primary_ pole of politics in
> the u.s. is the strength of capital. Until that strength is undermined
> considerably by factors external to "the left" leftists must focus on
> doing what they can to prepare and to remain prepared for that time
> when
> the conditions under which we make our own history will be those that
> favor us. Whining about our current weakness and/or defeats merely
> detracts thinking from analyzing clearly what we can and must do at
> the
> present.
I've been reading you for years, and I still don't really get you. You criticize those who think a big smashup would be good for the left, but then you seem to think that some other deus ex machina will weaken the power of capital to allow some force - the handful of leftists who've been toughing it out during the dark times? - to take advantage of the lucky turn of events? Where's this going to come from? Mars? (Forget Marxism - embrace Marsism?) Some random noise in the system? What could weaken the hegemony of capital if not some kind of left? You often point out that the prosperity of the 60s strengthened the left - something I agree with - but that's the opposite of some external force other than the left weakening capital. Please clarify.
Doug