Posted by LDF on October 23, 2008 at 09:37:35:
In Reply to: Now Is the Time posted by Sen. Bernie Sanders on October 22, 2008 at 15:22:03:
Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont in this Huffington Post article has again presented progressive values in a way that is easily grasped by any reader who sees the underlying iequities- and iniquities- of the present, dominating, global 'for-profit' system of Capitalism. His value as a member of the Senate is, however, greater than his committment to the kind of thorough-and that means REAL- democracy that we need.
Certainly "Better than nothing" as an old Socialist we knew used to say.
Bernie's well-spoken calls for good pay, good jobs and a more commonsense approach to healthcare, energy, infrastructure,environment, education, taxes etc. -while good to begin the discussion & hopefully 'push the ball further along the field' ultimately still fails to reveal the basic implausibility of simply
advocating reform. Any 'good Democrat' does that!Without using his podium to always present a larger vision of change, that is,a completely democratic system set up not only 'where we live' which is what we've sort of got now & which can't do the whole job....because it leaves out the most important decision-making power: WHERE WE WORK. Think about it, this is where we'd decide what we need to do& produce, how we'd allocate our resources; how many hours we would work, educate ourselves,etc . These issues & decisions, after all, determine ultimately how we shall LIVE. Simply calling for a 'kinder,gentler Capitalism' while nice has not gotten us those things, and cannot.Chief Justice Holmes said 'You can have either a concentration of wealth or a democracy. You cannot have both'. He could have added, thinking you can reform capitalism is like thinking you can be slightly pregnant. Not in the real world. Democracy & Capitalism are oxymorons.
So the political energy used in that century-long "reform struggle" has given us exactly what? Some good, but basically Our Current Mess!!! Not much headway in a hundred or more years after being told by the liberals & 'more progressive' Dems, Greens, etc to be 'practical', 'hopeful'& to 'wait til next year/next election' etc, etc etc. Dennis K & Ralph N anyone?
BUT this is not to say 'nothing can be done'!! No, as a movement that is just at its start, we can organize- locally & nationally using the internet, etc- to field candidates who will, once elected on a clear platform of Democratic Socialism (see our models for some ideas), will vote 'yeah' or 'nay' on bills, but CONTINUALLY present a full vision of a real democracy, which must be created by We the People. Bernie fails to do this. Our elected representatives in this '--' Party (names please?)would use the Congress podium and call weekly press conferences on the steps of the Congress, to describe the inadequacy of these so-called 'left of center' reforms and, most importantly, describe what a REAL Democracy would instead look like, would work, how WE would EASILY & EFFICIENTLY see needs and problems, seek solutions, and put them into effect with no interference by private, corporate owners & their hired/voted puppets.
Bernie does a good job in presenting a word- Socialism-
in a manner that opens dialogue. Good! Now, WE must help Bernie & future 'progressives' by encouraging him to speak more honestly about the need for complete, cooperative, democratic control and administration of all the industries, services, and programs....no capitalism, no profit, no 'middle man pulling the strings' (ie Capitalist owning class). And MOST IMPORTANTLY run our own candidates to work FOR US to establish a real system designed to benefit people, not protect & prolong profits.
Politics can work, but we must know our goals can only be won by a conscious movement, politically presented
and based on an understanding that if We the People are to have real choices in our social lives, we must have power & a REAL vote- no puppeteers or puppetmast- ers- where we live and where we work!!
THE OWNERSHIP SOCIETY? YES! And now that means WE MUST OWN IT!
LDF, Editorial Committee (EC)