[lbo-talk] David McNally's video on socialism and popular power

Doug Henwood dhenwood at panix.com
Mon Jun 13 08:21:48 PDT 2011


On Jun 13, 2011, at 11:05 AM, lbo83235 wrote:


> A meta-level question about the list: Several of the most frequent posters clearly have a long history, and I have no wish to interfere with whatever that means in terms of the purpose and function of the list for them, but is this sort of project - collectively and concretely trying to advance both theory and practice, constructively and in a spirit of solidarity - not the sort of thing a list like this can / should be used for? The list feels like such a minefield sometimes, and I fear even that question will be taken more provocatively than I intend it to be. So, at the risk of seeming overly cautious, I extend apologies in advance for any offense.

That's distressing to hear. I've always hoped this list would be the sort of project you describe. Maybe my moderation style has become to laizzez-faire.

Re: the Deleuze quote:


> "There’s a piece you know that explains this innate spitefulness of people coming from the militant left: 'If you like big ideas, then try talking about kindness and fraternity at a leftist meeting. They specialize in all forms of carefully calculated animosity, in greeting anybody, present or absent, friend or foe, and anything they say, with aggressiveness and put downs. They don’t want to understand people, but to check them over....' Weird ambition, bit like a cop, to be someone’s guilty conscience." – Gilles Deleuze, Letter to a Harsh Critic (Negotiations: 4)

As Bob Fitch used to say, socialism should be social.

Doug



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