I’m no political scholar, but I would rather have some improvements by people trying to make incremental progress within the existing framework than no improvement by purists.
I also am skeptical of anyone claiming a policy or political approach is inherently better and will produce positive outcomes purely on theory alone. Theory is a great guide for policies but without small scale roll outs where outcomes are measured it’s all just ivory tower navel gazing.
Also, I doubt any pure philosophy, like capitalism, communism, socialism or libertarianism will end up being the optimal solution. All are approximations of the complexity of real world sociopolitical and economic systems.
The dichotomy isn’t “some progress” vs. “Purity.” The point made by revolutionary socialists is that the capitalist system is incapable of reforming into socialism, and that socialism is a necessary step forward. Reforms only take the form of minor concessions, which can be taken away at will by the capitalist class, while the establishment of socialism is a semipermanent end to this issue (barring counterrevolution).
Marxists agree that pure theory with no practice is wrong. This is referred to as dogmatism, or “book worship.” Theory and practice are mutually reinforcing and sharpening. Theory gets tested by practice, which then tells us more about the world, which reshapes our theory and thus reshaping our practice.
Finally, the idea that a “mix” is the solution. I think the problem here is that you believe systems to be defined by purity, and not their principal aspects. Socialism is not a moralistic dogma, nor a legalistic decree. It’s a material system, which necessarily is propelled forward through the resolution of contradictions.
Private property, for example, de facto exists in socialist societies largely because of the underdevelopment of productive forces. The process of building towards higher levels of socialism therefore requires intense economic development. These systems are not “mixtures,” but different sectors within an overall socialist economy.
I ask them “what do you not like about socialism” and then walk them to the capitalist equivalent. When they see the walls that late stage capitalism has put around their lives they get quiet. I like to think they are introspective but they are likely not happy with their bubble being burst.
I don’t know where you live, but here conservatives have become so fanatical that absolutely nothing would convince them that socialism isn’t the actual devil.
You’d have a better chance convincing the Pope that good doesn’t exist.
People in the deep red towns of the California Central Valley. People are scared of authoritarians and losing freedom. Hearing their rights are those freedoms is jolting because it’s easy to show what’s being lost and how the Constitution guarantees those freedoms. I’m not here to give them all the answers. I am here to make them as angry with the situation as I am.
I like to think they are introspective but they are likely not happy with their bubble being burst
They’re just waiting for that soothing moment when they can plop themselves down in front of Fox News or their favorite right-wing influencer and the world will make sense again. Whatever transformative victories you imagine yourself having, they’re incredibly short-lived.
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Bernie Sanders co-opting, then bastardizing, that word harms actual socialism. Sanders is opportunistic garbage
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He’s not a socialist, by any standard.
I mean democratic socialists are a thing and that’s basically what they look like. I’m not any happier about it than you are.
Democratic socialists are reformists, and reformism cannot actually implement socialism. In practice, demsocs are therefore socdems.
Nobody has actually implemented socialism.
So I guess the correct statement is “reformists haven’t yet implemented socialism but they might”.
They’re not socialists. I can call myself “billionaire,” bit it doesn’t make me one.
DEMSOCS are not socialist, the want to work within the confines of capitalism and preserve its exploitation
I’m no political scholar, but I would rather have some improvements by people trying to make incremental progress within the existing framework than no improvement by purists.
I also am skeptical of anyone claiming a policy or political approach is inherently better and will produce positive outcomes purely on theory alone. Theory is a great guide for policies but without small scale roll outs where outcomes are measured it’s all just ivory tower navel gazing.
Also, I doubt any pure philosophy, like capitalism, communism, socialism or libertarianism will end up being the optimal solution. All are approximations of the complexity of real world sociopolitical and economic systems.
Incrementalism only helps the oligarchy, voters assume it shifts to the left, it marches to the right.
James Baldwin, 1982
50 years of liberal incrementalism/lessor evil and all you’ve gotten is a larger evil.
The dichotomy isn’t “some progress” vs. “Purity.” The point made by revolutionary socialists is that the capitalist system is incapable of reforming into socialism, and that socialism is a necessary step forward. Reforms only take the form of minor concessions, which can be taken away at will by the capitalist class, while the establishment of socialism is a semipermanent end to this issue (barring counterrevolution).
Marxists agree that pure theory with no practice is wrong. This is referred to as dogmatism, or “book worship.” Theory and practice are mutually reinforcing and sharpening. Theory gets tested by practice, which then tells us more about the world, which reshapes our theory and thus reshaping our practice.
Finally, the idea that a “mix” is the solution. I think the problem here is that you believe systems to be defined by purity, and not their principal aspects. Socialism is not a moralistic dogma, nor a legalistic decree. It’s a material system, which necessarily is propelled forward through the resolution of contradictions.
Private property, for example, de facto exists in socialist societies largely because of the underdevelopment of productive forces. The process of building towards higher levels of socialism therefore requires intense economic development. These systems are not “mixtures,” but different sectors within an overall socialist economy.
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That’s not how that works, though. “Socialist” has a more or less clear definition, and it’s hard to argue that Bernie satisfies that definition.
He is not a socialist. He’s proven time and again he’s capitalist garbage copting words to keep people herded like cattle in the DNC.
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It’s the meme!
I ask them “what do you not like about socialism” and then walk them to the capitalist equivalent. When they see the walls that late stage capitalism has put around their lives they get quiet. I like to think they are introspective but they are likely not happy with their bubble being burst.
I don’t know where you live, but here conservatives have become so fanatical that absolutely nothing would convince them that socialism isn’t the actual devil.
You’d have a better chance convincing the Pope that good doesn’t exist.
People in the deep red towns of the California Central Valley. People are scared of authoritarians and losing freedom. Hearing their rights are those freedoms is jolting because it’s easy to show what’s being lost and how the Constitution guarantees those freedoms. I’m not here to give them all the answers. I am here to make them as angry with the situation as I am.
They’re just waiting for that soothing moment when they can plop themselves down in front of Fox News or their favorite right-wing influencer and the world will make sense again. Whatever transformative victories you imagine yourself having, they’re incredibly short-lived.