Re: Nader/U.S. Election

[Chris Carrick <cc136@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Perhaps my tone was harsh, Mr. Pearn, but my objection is not to you as an
individual but rather to Marxists who reject the good in favor of the
non-existent perfect.   I have the feeling that our differences regarding
Nader revolve around (increasingly stale) debates between Red vs. Green and
Popular Front/Eurocommunism vs. Vanguard Party.  You seem to believe that
only "the working class" (which you seem to define as "blue collar" only to
the exclusion of "pink collar") can take a leadership position in an
"authentic" socialist movement.  I'm not willing to hold my breath for the
working class to become an autonmous, radicalized, unified bloc.  Sorry to
say, but it just isn't going to happen any time soon.

Now, to address your points rationally:

1.  Why is Nader's program "specious" as you claim?  Simply saying it is so
is not good enough.  I have asked before on this list why consumer rights
are reactionary, but have not received a response.  Aren't workers also
consumers?  Or do we not care that they are killed for lack of seatbelts?
Can't such intiatives be a valid starting point for radicalizing workers?

2.   Nader HAS been very involved in anti-WTO protests and organizing and
he is the only candidate with significant support to work against US
imperialism.

3.   I never claimed that a new socialist movement would be spawned on
campuses.  But they won't get anywhere without students and young people.
Before coming to Cornell, I got a Master's at Berkeley, and let me tell you
the young people coming in to both places are more conservative than ever.
It's like back in the 1950s, and I think the growing orientation of
universities towards preparing students for "professions" is very damaging
to the prospects of any future socialist movement.   Most of the kids in my
classes only care about making money.  Maybe that was always so, and I'm
being naive about the 60s and 70s (I'll defer to my older comrades on the
list on this point).  But today there isn't even a pretence otherwise.

BTW, I am not a liberal and decided to come study at Cornell b/c it has the
only Planning program in the US with a signifcant Marxist orientation.  I
apologize for my tone, but calling me a liberal is really dirty!

Chris Carrick
PhD Candidate
Department of City and Regional Planning
Cornell University