"And I actually think the American Left is about to receive a huge blood transfusion in the next year or two. It has to because the existence of the Left, the existence of radical social economic critiques, the existence of imagination that goes beyond selfishness and principles of competition is necessary to have any kind of serious debate in this country."
Hmmm. Sounds nice, but how exactly will this manifest itself? Among the grassroots, I mean? Despite reaction's supposed "end" (an ongoing liberal dream), most populists in the US are pretty right wing and/or nativist. They happen to be in low water at the moment, but the sewage level can rise swiftly. I don't see a socialist alternative here, and social democracy seems remote at best. And I live in one of the most devastated economic areas of the country.
Dennis