That's not 'assessing the terrain,' Paul. It's only profiling the players. Assessing the terrain involves how many (or what percent) are advanced, progressive, middle, and various trends of the backward among the electorate altogether, and then within the working class whether they vote or not, and then among the key nationalities, women, and youth. That's step one. of those living in the USA. Do the world world too, if you think you can, but start here. Then see if you can determine if a progressive majority is out there in the USA overall, or an anti-fascist majority. What is it thinking? Find it as 'in itself'; and then how it might become 'for itself.'
The only reason one could with any conscience vote to return the current president to office is to avoid Trump. This truly is the pretty much total abandonment of conscience in the US. The thing is given the collapse not simply of an empire, at least a military empire, but of any sense of genuine democracy--at best we only had an oligarchic-controlled republic from its inception based on military occupation, annihilation of the indigenous people of the land, and an economy largely based on the enslavement of people from Africa brought here in chains. Beginning at the end of the 19th century we expanded our military conquest outside what had become the continental conquest of North America, and has continued ever since with continuous war-making. We speak of the horrors of Germany nazism, the failed communist revolution of Russia, and on and on of other autocratic, racist, militaristic regimes throughout the world and modern history. Empires have come from many places--Spanish, Portuguese, English, French, and on and on, but we are generally insensitive and blind to the most powerful and violent empire of all, that which is headed up by Washington. Whatever better idealism that popped up from time to time in the US seemed to only have served to salve out consciousnesses and justify our imperial power and conquest. In an age of advanced communications like never before, we know and submerge ourselves in a denialism and nationalism that outguns any period and nation in history. It was only with the invasion of Vietnam when I was young that I began to emerge out of the quagmire and propaganda that base "the American way."
It Sucks! If there is any history, which looks impossible now, we will be judged according to our actions. Unless many millions (billions probably necessary), wake up and smell the filth and revolt we are finished. Where is our courage and resolve that we so admire in the fallen heroes, but only after they're dead? If the people of the USA were to stand up and shout and do what is required for revolution, the majority of people all over the world would join us. Or are we already the Walking Dead? If so, why not sacrifice your Life for something worthy?
Paul, you are good at describing the horrors but lousy at assessing the terrain and thus how to change it. But it's not just you. The RCP generally shares this as well.
The magnitude of these problems leaves me with no words that would not sound like puerile pap. 🙏
That's not 'assessing the terrain,' Paul. It's only profiling the players. Assessing the terrain involves how many (or what percent) are advanced, progressive, middle, and various trends of the backward among the electorate altogether, and then within the working class whether they vote or not, and then among the key nationalities, women, and youth. That's step one. of those living in the USA. Do the world world too, if you think you can, but start here. Then see if you can determine if a progressive majority is out there in the USA overall, or an anti-fascist majority. What is it thinking? Find it as 'in itself'; and then how it might become 'for itself.'
The only reason one could with any conscience vote to return the current president to office is to avoid Trump. This truly is the pretty much total abandonment of conscience in the US. The thing is given the collapse not simply of an empire, at least a military empire, but of any sense of genuine democracy--at best we only had an oligarchic-controlled republic from its inception based on military occupation, annihilation of the indigenous people of the land, and an economy largely based on the enslavement of people from Africa brought here in chains. Beginning at the end of the 19th century we expanded our military conquest outside what had become the continental conquest of North America, and has continued ever since with continuous war-making. We speak of the horrors of Germany nazism, the failed communist revolution of Russia, and on and on of other autocratic, racist, militaristic regimes throughout the world and modern history. Empires have come from many places--Spanish, Portuguese, English, French, and on and on, but we are generally insensitive and blind to the most powerful and violent empire of all, that which is headed up by Washington. Whatever better idealism that popped up from time to time in the US seemed to only have served to salve out consciousnesses and justify our imperial power and conquest. In an age of advanced communications like never before, we know and submerge ourselves in a denialism and nationalism that outguns any period and nation in history. It was only with the invasion of Vietnam when I was young that I began to emerge out of the quagmire and propaganda that base "the American way."
For sure in spirit and maybe in body. I miss my time spent in Wisconsin and surround. Cat fishing the rivers of upper Illinois. Brats brats brats.
It Sucks! If there is any history, which looks impossible now, we will be judged according to our actions. Unless many millions (billions probably necessary), wake up and smell the filth and revolt we are finished. Where is our courage and resolve that we so admire in the fallen heroes, but only after they're dead? If the people of the USA were to stand up and shout and do what is required for revolution, the majority of people all over the world would join us. Or are we already the Walking Dead? If so, why not sacrifice your Life for something worthy?
Paul, you are good at describing the horrors but lousy at assessing the terrain and thus how to change it. But it's not just you. The RCP generally shares this as well.