The left of labour organisations (campaigns, unions, parties) have been almost universal in their failure to fight for ending the pandemic, their failure to stand up for immigration and often (though not always) a failure to take a principled stand on Gaza. This has put the far left in a bad position. A principled stance on the pandemic, racism and war would have put them in a far stronger position by now and in the longer term.
The far right on the other hand fought immediately against ending the pandemic, fights against immigration and supports the genocide in Gaza. This has strengthened their position.
The weakness of the far left and the strength of the far right means that we all suffering now.
I agree with your analysis of the problem but I don't think your proposed solution has a good chance of working. It's maybe possible that in countries with a parliamentary system a new grassroots party could amass enough power to actually make a difference, but as we're seeing in France any electoral victory becomes meaningless if those in power simply decide not to concede it. We have to remember that the power of the left is the power of the working class - specifically that almost every single thing that needs doing in society is done by people who would benefit materially from leftist ideas put into practice. If we can organize effectively that power can be wielded, and does not require the trappings of bourgeoise liberalism for legitimacy. If labor militancy fails, the only tactic proven to stand against fascism is actual militancy. I'd rather not, but if we keep pouring resources into electoralism we're going to get there regardless.
I am also disgusted over Gaza. However, unlike the UK and France, the US has a two party system. The chances of another party being successfully formed are low since the last time a new party was successfully formed in the US was just prior to our Civil War in 1860. Yes, there are third parties, but voting third party usually means that the party most against one’s personal values will win. For instance, in 2016, voting for the Green Party who claims to hold protection of the environment as their highest priority led to the election of Trump. Trump’s presidency was a disaster for the environment and a future Trump presidency would be catastrophic for climate change.
Most of us don’t have the luxury of being progressive purists. Republicans have run successfully for 40 years on gun “rights” (whatever the hell that means), abortion restriction, low taxes, and racism. The Party of Trump has endorsed a dystopian plan for the future US called Project 2025. Project 2025 will make 1930’s Germany look downright liberal. If you aren’t familiar with it, I suggest you read it and share it with all of your progressive friends who think that Harris is the bigger threat.
The Democratic Party is FAR from perfect, but they didn’t put 6 unelected far right justices on our 9 person SCOTUS who’ve stripped the federal government’s ability to enforce basic rights such as clean water, untainted food, and regulated medications. They’ve also rolled back voting rights that have been around since the 1960’s and eliminated federal protection for abortion. This summer they declared trump immune to prosecution. Do you want the US to have a king with nuclear capabilities?
Gaza is a genocide. So is/was Syria. So is Sudan. For some reason I don’t hear any progressives complaining about those. Is it because Russia is supportive of the leaders of those countries and therefore their bots don’t spread massive amounts of information about them?
The next time you try to not so subtly suggest that some of us in the US aren’t real progressives because we don’t vote with Gaza as our priority I kindly suggest you learn a bit about our history and the nuances of what this election means to the US and the world.
PS: trump doesn’t believe that Palestine should exist and his 1st presidency set Palestinian rights back years. Trump has no intention to stopping the killing in Gaza; he just plans to end it faster by doing making it into a parking lot for one of Jared’s blood soaked resorts.
The west isn't literally sending the missiles and the guns for the genocide in Sudan and you obviously missed the protests about Syria/Rojava. The Democrats had years to do something about the Supreme Court, abortion (they've been promising codification since Obama), climate change (record oil drilling under Biden-Harris) and all the other things they fundraise around. Project 2025 is just another liberal stalking horse to get good people riled up with fear to once again vote for the lesser evil. If people vote for what they believe and the US ends up with Trump that's on the people who failed to offer a better choice, not on the voters
Please learn about how we pass laws in the US. Democrats haven’t had a majority (enough to pass bills in the senate) for years and for the 2 months that they did they passed healthcare which Joe Lieberman promptly screwed up.
So you protested Russia and Assad? Didn’t see that. You know that Wagner group’s responsible for destabilizing Sudan and Assad butchered his own people.
The Dems had a super majority under Obama and then a majority under Obama and Biden. Seems like I know more than you. And what is Kamala going to do if she gets a big majority? What's she promising? What are you demanding? Assad and Putin bad but once again we are not arming them. This is not hard to grasp
Great article Nate.
The left of labour organisations (campaigns, unions, parties) have been almost universal in their failure to fight for ending the pandemic, their failure to stand up for immigration and often (though not always) a failure to take a principled stand on Gaza. This has put the far left in a bad position. A principled stance on the pandemic, racism and war would have put them in a far stronger position by now and in the longer term.
The far right on the other hand fought immediately against ending the pandemic, fights against immigration and supports the genocide in Gaza. This has strengthened their position.
The weakness of the far left and the strength of the far right means that we all suffering now.
Thanks and yes, I agree, all true
I agree with your analysis of the problem but I don't think your proposed solution has a good chance of working. It's maybe possible that in countries with a parliamentary system a new grassroots party could amass enough power to actually make a difference, but as we're seeing in France any electoral victory becomes meaningless if those in power simply decide not to concede it. We have to remember that the power of the left is the power of the working class - specifically that almost every single thing that needs doing in society is done by people who would benefit materially from leftist ideas put into practice. If we can organize effectively that power can be wielded, and does not require the trappings of bourgeoise liberalism for legitimacy. If labor militancy fails, the only tactic proven to stand against fascism is actual militancy. I'd rather not, but if we keep pouring resources into electoralism we're going to get there regardless.
I am also disgusted over Gaza. However, unlike the UK and France, the US has a two party system. The chances of another party being successfully formed are low since the last time a new party was successfully formed in the US was just prior to our Civil War in 1860. Yes, there are third parties, but voting third party usually means that the party most against one’s personal values will win. For instance, in 2016, voting for the Green Party who claims to hold protection of the environment as their highest priority led to the election of Trump. Trump’s presidency was a disaster for the environment and a future Trump presidency would be catastrophic for climate change.
Most of us don’t have the luxury of being progressive purists. Republicans have run successfully for 40 years on gun “rights” (whatever the hell that means), abortion restriction, low taxes, and racism. The Party of Trump has endorsed a dystopian plan for the future US called Project 2025. Project 2025 will make 1930’s Germany look downright liberal. If you aren’t familiar with it, I suggest you read it and share it with all of your progressive friends who think that Harris is the bigger threat.
The Democratic Party is FAR from perfect, but they didn’t put 6 unelected far right justices on our 9 person SCOTUS who’ve stripped the federal government’s ability to enforce basic rights such as clean water, untainted food, and regulated medications. They’ve also rolled back voting rights that have been around since the 1960’s and eliminated federal protection for abortion. This summer they declared trump immune to prosecution. Do you want the US to have a king with nuclear capabilities?
Gaza is a genocide. So is/was Syria. So is Sudan. For some reason I don’t hear any progressives complaining about those. Is it because Russia is supportive of the leaders of those countries and therefore their bots don’t spread massive amounts of information about them?
The next time you try to not so subtly suggest that some of us in the US aren’t real progressives because we don’t vote with Gaza as our priority I kindly suggest you learn a bit about our history and the nuances of what this election means to the US and the world.
PS: trump doesn’t believe that Palestine should exist and his 1st presidency set Palestinian rights back years. Trump has no intention to stopping the killing in Gaza; he just plans to end it faster by doing making it into a parking lot for one of Jared’s blood soaked resorts.
The west isn't literally sending the missiles and the guns for the genocide in Sudan and you obviously missed the protests about Syria/Rojava. The Democrats had years to do something about the Supreme Court, abortion (they've been promising codification since Obama), climate change (record oil drilling under Biden-Harris) and all the other things they fundraise around. Project 2025 is just another liberal stalking horse to get good people riled up with fear to once again vote for the lesser evil. If people vote for what they believe and the US ends up with Trump that's on the people who failed to offer a better choice, not on the voters
Please learn about how we pass laws in the US. Democrats haven’t had a majority (enough to pass bills in the senate) for years and for the 2 months that they did they passed healthcare which Joe Lieberman promptly screwed up.
So you protested Russia and Assad? Didn’t see that. You know that Wagner group’s responsible for destabilizing Sudan and Assad butchered his own people.
The Dems had a super majority under Obama and then a majority under Obama and Biden. Seems like I know more than you. And what is Kamala going to do if she gets a big majority? What's she promising? What are you demanding? Assad and Putin bad but once again we are not arming them. This is not hard to grasp