Is anyone else being radicalized?

[David__77]

As things are unfolding politically, with the ascendency of actually-fascist forces in government, I have come to believe that the radical left, whatever you might choose to call it, is crucial if a vibrant opposition movement is to successfully beat back this barbaric offensive.

This does not at all mean that I have abandoned the Democratic Party. The party contains many fine figures like Cynthia McKinney and the rest of the Congressional Black Caucus, and other true progressives. In electoral terms, there is no other way but to build and utilize the Democratic Party toward progressive aims.

Think back the 1950s. The right was launching a different offensive--proto-fascist McCarthyism. Repression was coming down hard. It wasn't an enlightened liberalism in the 1960s that changed that--it was a revolutionary left-wing force, including forces like Students for a Democratic Society and the Black Panther Party. It was the FEAR that the establishment had of a revolutionary movement that led to the emergence of an establishment liberalism in the 1960s and 1970s. The social programs were meant to appease people and throw water on the prairie fire.

Just a couple thoughts here... Someone has to take the ideological counter-offensive and say things no Democratic politician could get away with saying (look what they did to Rep. McKinney). So, while I may stray left in the coming years, this is not a case of arguing against the Democratic Party, but in fact strengthening its position.

[villager]

1. exactly. Make the raging moderate positions look the compromise

...that they are. But that perspective only comes when you have a force outflanking the moderates on the yonder side....

[Bouncy Ball]

14. Yep yep yep yep

what I've been saying for about, oh, four years now.

Hello DNC? Is anyone listening?

[Sanity Claws]

2. I prefer to say that I have awaken,

not that I've been radicalized. :-)
I'm saying things I would never have said six months ago, particularly about the state of MSM.

[Sanity Claws]

3. dupe

[pmbryant]

4. I don't think your analogy to 60s and 70s is accurate

The "establishment" back then was the Democratic Party, which controlled Congress throughout that time frame and the Executive branch through much of it.

The current GOP establishment has no interest in throwing a bone to anyone on our side of the political spectrum—radical, liberal, or moderate.

I'm not arguing against your notion of an ideological counter-offensive. Just the analogy you use to back it up.

--Peter

[David__77]

8. I use the term "establishment" in a particular sense.

I use the term where some might say "ruling class." While the ruling class has a strategic orientation, it does not ultimately have a party. I had a strong sense that Bush I could not be reelected after Los Angeles erupted in May 1992. It was clear that between that, and the struggles over abortion and AIDS, that many ruling class forces--think tanks, nervous big financiers, media moguls, others--felt that change was needed for the face of U.S. capitalism. Bill Clinton fit the bill. And it can be argued that Clinton's presidency fit in very nicely with furthering the destruction of the New Deal-era social contract, eg., "the era of big government is over."

While Democrats held power, arguably, even during much of Eisenhower's presidency, it was not the same "Democratic Party" politically as today. The southern Democrats and conservatives held a great deal of influence. Meanwhile, "liberal" Republicans were not uncommon.

The "GOP establishment" is interested in GOP power. But fractions within it, like neo-conservatives, do not act in mechanical accord with the fundamentalist right. Many Jewish neo-conservatives, for instance, are quite liberal in the British sense--free trade and "libertarian" socially. And divisions within ruling forces should be utilized and fully exploited. I have no illusions that George Soros is wonderful humanist dedicated with the well-being of the people. No, first, he is a mega-speculator--a financier. But progressives should take his money and further their aims. He feels that another political orientation is called for. It's just important that people use the establishment when they can, without becoming pawns for the establishment.

[JanMichael]

5. I've been sliding Left for years.

It's just accelerated since 2000.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. Well said, and I agree whole heartedly. n/t

[Solon]

7. I turned practically communist since 2000...

well OK, maybe a dark pinko-socialist, but definately been radicalized. Nothing wrong with being a radical, especially in these times.

EDITED SUBJECT: Sounded REALLY BAD :evilgrin:

[durutti]

9. My survival depends on it.

There are three major problems that could potentially do us all in in the reasonably near future: militarism, environmental crises, and social breakdown. And it's becoming increasingly clear that these problems can only be solved by ending capitalism.

[jesusq]

10. Talk to me

http://www.revolutionleft.org

[e-mail]

[Bouncy Ball]

13. I like that website.

Bookmarked! I liked the description under "who we are" too. I am a gun-owning liberal and have been for years.

[Sugarbleus]

11. I've re radicalized............ I can hardly stay in my skin, I'm

empassioned with outrage over soooooooooooo many disasterous events brought to us by weak-kneed Dems and Neocon fascists.

I'm much more socialist by nature but I can live within a democratic republic IF it activates a conscious towards the people.

I have to admit that, since the 60's, I've been going along ho hum all these years. Watching with one eye what took place in Government.

In a strange way, Bush as prez has been a positive force in that it caused me to get active again, to read, research, march ...GET INVOLVED with all my being.

Because of the Neocons, I started "paying close attention" to politics anew. Through the Internet(s);) and finally via DU, I've come a looooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnng way. I've learned so much. So much more than I would have otherwise. I'm grateful and I'm energized to make changes; to do whatever I can to straighten out the mess this country has become. I hope others feel like I do.

Yeah, I'm radicalized. :smoke:

[Bouncy Ball]

12. That was one of the best things I've read in a long time.

Though I never knew being so far left meant I was out of the Democratic party, as your post implies. I'm staying in the party, but I am far left and going further all the time.

If there are organizations that spring up in the next few years similar in spirit to the SDS et al I will be joining them and fighting for the very reasons you gave.

It is mindless to simply give in and go along for the Fascism Ride. And no matter what happens, my grandchildren will be able to say "She didn't go along with it, she fought it."

[CarbonDate]

15. I'm getting an E2S A2 M4 Carbine

And I'm going to learn how to use it.



http://www.thegunman.com/catalog/bmfaa2m4cwycmb223.htm

Won't take too much to learn; it's the equivalent of an M-16, which I'm already trained on.

Let's see them try to enact their "Savage Solution" on my house.

Bitches.

[knight_of_the_star]

17. In close quarters

A sword can be more deadly than a gun since flak armour can't stop a sharp edge.

I'm personally more partial to dipping the arrowheads from my 50-pound recurve longbow in hemlock and nightshade, punches through armour and they WILL die from it.

[Bouncy Ball]

18. Good for you.

A fellow gun-owning liberal here.

I don't have anything that big, just a sawed off shotgun and a nice handgun, but good for you.

[knight_of_the_star]

16. Well put

We have to come out swinging and not stop until those bastards drop or take cover.

The GOP has declared war on America, I think that demands a radical response.

[Lorien]

19. The right wing is very radical. Fire with fire

my friends. They shout; we shout louder. They bitch, we drown them out. They embrace far right ideas to move everyone further right-well, we damned well better start doing the same on the left! I grew up in the '70s, and I don't recognise my party AT ALL from what it once was. The change must happen. Now.

[m berst]

20. definitions?

The op is saying that radicalized means being able to say the things that the establishment politicians can't say and identifying with the political positions of the CBA. Strategically, I think you are saying that staking out a more radical position forces the center to move to the left, yes? Can you spell out the positions you want to take and how you want to act on them?

Some are saying radicalized means moving to the left. What does moving to the left mean for you?

Others seem to be implying violent resistance. I want to publicly reject that myself, and say that I am opposed to any call for violent resistance. I also would question the wisdom of posting it in public. Not trying to censor you, but I question the wisdom of it.

[Codeblue]

21. I was

back in my junior year of high school. Bush got elected and I was already radicalized. Nobody would ever listen to what I had to say until now though.

Now everybody's saying what I was saying last year.

[Chovexani]

24. Same here, friend

If you're not radical, you haven't been paying attention.

[xchrom]

22. as radical as i ever was

which is pretty fuckin radical.
i guess the difference is that i see the increased possibilty of violent social unrest coming.
timothy mcveigh, the murder of abortion doctors, etc -- these should be regarded as the first shots -- whether the left can bring peaceful, progressive change to a right wing mentality that is in cahoots with corporate america remains to be seen.

[KG]

23. the more i learn, the more radical and leftist i become.

as it stands now, moderation and pragmatism = appeasement.

[sendero]

25. At first...

... I dismissed your idea.

But in thinking it over, I used to be pretty much a centrist and I'm definitely moving to the left in my core opinions.


I guess that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction :)