[lbo-talk] so much for the new coalition...

Charles Brown charlesb at cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us
Sat May 10 13:00:24 PDT 2008



>>> Marvin Gandall
==================================== This is crisis of leadership theory, which rests on the assumption that the impatient masses are being held back by their

leaders, who always disappoint and betray their hopes. But is this just inherited dogma on the left or does it have a factual basis?

^^^ CB: Yes, and when is the last time that some leader was elected to President or other office and disappointed masses of naive supporters and casting them into depressed disillusion ? I can't remember one myself. For one, the idea of naive idealistic masses is a myth. As Hegel says, "the actual is rational"

Secondly, anybody who runs on a radical idealistic program in the US doesn't get elected, might end up in jail or shot.

Idealistic leaders like King haven't been allowed to the get elected before being shot. Even liberal ones who hint at turning mildly progressive, like RF Kennedy get shot.

On the other hand, a radical program and changes cannot be instituted without electing a whole Party of officers to the whole range of state offices from President through Congress, courts, through all levels of state government and local governments , and in offices for at least five to ten years. Whole statute books full of laws , federal, state and local have to be changed, and executed, and derivative policies carried out for a long period of time in order to make socialism or even social democracy.

Continuous demonstrations, protests strikes and other forms of extra governmental

struggle cannot change the world.

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