The Blurring of Economic Divisions
Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 06:14:33 AM PDT
I'm coming out of the closet. Yes, I am fundamentally, a socialist. And I'm still defining what that means for myself politically. It does mean that I wasn't afraid to defend the public housing in New Orleans, as our "leaders" have proposed, and are currently, demolishing viable housing in our city at a time when there is a crisis lack of affordable housing in our city.
I was drawn to the Edwards campaign precisely because he at least acknowledged class differences, whereas Obama seems to have based his campaign on blurring those distinctions.
Edwards, as was noted often on this site, could not gain any traction with the corporate media. Therefore, he was at a distinct disadvantage in relation to Clinton and Obama. He had less money, so opted for federal financing of his campaign.
Edwards I'm sure, knew that his populist message would not be favored by the wealthy, ruling elite of this country, and consequently, the corporate media, but I think he was hoping, and banking on gaining traction with the American public.
The reason that he did not, reflects a number of issues. I know that with my far left friends, his proposals simply weren't radical enough, and would not bring true change in this country. For my left of center friends, Edwards wasn't trusted, the $400 haircut, yada, yada. I think also for those who tend towards denial of the true state of class divisions in this country, Obama's message of hope and unity is very appealing.
It is "positive" in its approach, but I think inherently there are some problems here that will surface, if Obama is elected, in the years to come. I think the Socialist Equality Party has hit on something here in their analysis:
The typical Obama speech is a mass of nebulous phrases about uniting America, without the slightest acknowledgement that social and economic interests of working people, the vast majority of Americans, are diametrically opposed to those of the corporate and financial elite. In perhaps his most noteworthy comment, after the South Carolina primary, he explicitly rejected the notion that the wealthy don’t care about the condition of ordinary people.
Obama’s mantra of bringing everyone together may appeal to the naïve illusions of youth who are making their first political experiences, but Obama and the Wall Street bankers and media moguls who are promoting him know exactly what they are doing. Theirs is a conscious policy of blurring social and political differences and denying class divisions in a society more deeply divided along economic lines than ever before in its history.
I've always felt there was a great deal of political power on this site that has yet to be fully realized. The political power here rests with the pressure that could be placed on both parties in regards to the issues.
After our last presidential election, I came to the conclusion that true change does not originate from electoral politics. Rather, change comes from struggle, and grass roots organizing.
That is not an earth shattering revelation, but rather, one that is born out by history. Our greatest gains in this country have come from struggle in the street, in the workplace. That remains true today, and why I'm not feeling much hope with this "hope" filled campaign.
A greater confrontation with candidates on the issues on this site, in the workplace, in the streets, would be hopeful to me.
This article illustrates yet another failure of both major candidates to address struggle below:
The failure of both the questioners and the debaters to mention the film and television writers strike even once is no mystery. All those involved in the event were beholden to the corporate oligarchy, as either its political or media representatives. A discussion of the writers strike would have reminded the viewing audience of the reality of social struggle in America and might have touched on issues—social inequality, the relentless corporate drive to lower costs at the expense of the working population—that everyone involved preferred not to have discussed.
It is our job as citizens to adovate for ourselves and each other. While that does happen here, electoral politics is currently drowning out the issues.
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