Comments on: BILL FLETCHER: What We Need to Do http://www.organizingupgrade.com/2009/10/what-we-need-to-do/ left organizers respond to the changing times Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:43:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jed Brandt http://www.organizingupgrade.com/2009/10/what-we-need-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Jed Brandt Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:49:38 +0000 http://www.organizingupgrade.com/?p=541#comment-17 Why would you urge "compromise" on general principle when the system has made clear for decades now that it will not be granting any positive structural reforms? This only makes sense from a professionalized vision of "advocates" and "organizers" who themselves live from the brokering of the (various) so-called constituency interests. If the broker doesn't plug into the system, then the broker has no "power" or what some call "relevance". The ONLY power these brokers have is to "bait-and-switch" people's expectations to earn their own keep at the table of power. Power in this sense is always pointed down, and the ostensible constituents are never able to set their own agenda. They are instead told what they can beg for, and usually aren't given even that. It is the normal working of the system dressed up as "reform" to sooth the conscience (and very important image) of the broker, which after all is what gives the broker legitimacy. Why should we accept (what some call) the hegemony of the capitalist class when it is the system they run which is causing our essential problems? And if we know that to be true, who gains from pretending otherwise? The solution to capitalism isn't shepherding concerned people into reinforcing the deeply atrophied and broken system that has destroyed whole peoples in the name of "pragmatism." There is nothing pragmatic about something so absurd. Counseling the kid to lay down with the wolf is not a good plan for anyone but the wolf. Becoming a wolf doesn't solve the problem either, whatever you want to call it. The tail never wags the dog, whatever the tail likes to think. Why would you urge “compromise” on general principle when the system has made clear for decades now that it will not be granting any positive structural reforms? This only makes sense from a professionalized vision of “advocates” and “organizers” who themselves live from the brokering of the (various) so-called constituency interests. If the broker doesn’t plug into the system, then the broker has no “power” or what some call “relevance”. The ONLY power these brokers have is to “bait-and-switch” people’s expectations to earn their own keep at the table of power. Power in this sense is always pointed down, and the ostensible constituents are never able to set their own agenda. They are instead told what they can beg for, and usually aren’t given even that. It is the normal working of the system dressed up as “reform” to sooth the conscience (and very important image) of the broker, which after all is what gives the broker legitimacy. Why should we accept (what some call) the hegemony of the capitalist class when it is the system they run which is causing our essential problems? And if we know that to be true, who gains from pretending otherwise? The solution to capitalism isn’t shepherding concerned people into reinforcing the deeply atrophied and broken system that has destroyed whole peoples in the name of “pragmatism.” There is nothing pragmatic about something so absurd. Counseling the kid to lay down with the wolf is not a good plan for anyone but the wolf. Becoming a wolf doesn’t solve the problem either, whatever you want to call it. The tail never wags the dog, whatever the tail likes to think.

]]> By: joseph http://www.organizingupgrade.com/2009/10/what-we-need-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-11 joseph Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:42:12 +0000 http://www.organizingupgrade.com/?p=541#comment-11 Charles, I agree we need to celebrate the victories. I keep coming back to an essential question: what is a victory? What does it mean to win? Coming from an Irish background i look back to that small island for lessons. If you look to the North victory for the liberation struggle (for some) has meant entering a coalition Parliament with some of the most backwards sectarianists. For others this same compromise has meant selling out. More and more (an I hate to relate this to getting older) I am seeing compromise as an essential part of victory. We must deal with what exists in order to build something new. The question is when is your compromise tactical, leading to larger victory, and when does it compromise your principles. Keep bringing that good spirit. Joseph of Organizing Upgrade Charles,
I agree we need to celebrate the victories. I keep coming back to an essential question: what is a victory? What does it mean to win? Coming from an Irish background i look back to that small island for lessons. If you look to the North victory for the liberation struggle (for some) has meant entering a coalition Parliament with some of the most backwards sectarianists. For others this same compromise has meant selling out.

More and more (an I hate to relate this to getting older) I am seeing compromise as an essential part of victory. We must deal with what exists in order to build something new. The question is when is your compromise tactical, leading to larger victory, and when does it compromise your principles.

Keep bringing that good spirit.
Joseph of Organizing Upgrade

]]> By: Charles Lenchner http://www.organizingupgrade.com/2009/10/what-we-need-to-do/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Charles Lenchner Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:55:05 +0000 http://www.organizingupgrade.com/?p=541#comment-10 Great post. However - and I hope that is taken in the right spirit - there is another group which a real record of achievement that should be mentioned: The Working Families Party in New York and Connecticut. The WFP has successfully raised taxes on the wealthy to save essential social services, passed the largest green jobs program in the country through the NY Senate, and is well on the way to making sure that all workers in New York City have paid sick days. When it comes to moving forward, sometimes the left falls in love with the passion of the oppressed more than the victories. The victories are what people rally around. Our future leadership will be made up those who show the way by fighting and winning, not by fighting and losing. Too many on the left have romanticized the glory of good politics at the expense of celebrating partial victories. Great post. However – and I hope that is taken in the right spirit – there is another group which a real record of achievement that should be mentioned: The Working Families Party in New York and Connecticut. The WFP has successfully raised taxes on the wealthy to save essential social services, passed the largest green jobs program in the country through the NY Senate, and is well on the way to making sure that all workers in New York City have paid sick days.

When it comes to moving forward, sometimes the left falls in love with the passion of the oppressed more than the victories. The victories are what people rally around. Our future leadership will be made up those who show the way by fighting and winning, not by fighting and losing. Too many on the left have romanticized the glory of good politics at the expense of celebrating partial victories.

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