[lbo-talk] PBS special on socialist housing co-ops

[Sheldon]

On Thu, Apr 30, 2009 at 9:10 AM, Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com> wrote:
>
>>
> Yeah, but social life often doesn't provide large n's. So you have to
> supplement it with theory. And theory tells me that states can accomplish
> things that small bands of individuals, especially those lacking a broader
> social vision, can't.
>
> I used to find the whole anarchist/autonomist thing very seductive. While I
> can still understand its emotional appeal, I'm convinced that adhering to it
> after the age of 30 is like skateboarding after the age of 30.
>
> Doug

I generally agree with Doug's point here.  But the broader social
vision can work both ways and can come from below as well.  I
previously mentioned Winn's book Weavers of Revolution on Chile.
According to his telling, Chilean workers (some at least)  were
pushing for a more thorough and rapid transformation towards socialism
with factory expropriations.  And Allende was trying to put the brakes
on or at least slow down the process.  In part because he feared it
would antagonize the ruling class too much and too soon and provoke
what eventually happened anyway.

Anyway, the socialism from below of factory seizures certainly needs
to be supplemented by a larger more encompassing movement that seeks
state power in my humble opinion.

Sheldon