Re: Forwarded from Anthony (elections)

["Martin Zehr" <m_zehr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

   As the shenanigans in Florida continue once again reality is being shaped
into soap opera by the media directed, market driven drivel that seeks to
define the reality of the day. Let's face it when people are powerless, then
everything becomes a psycho-drama to allay their fears or heighten their
sensitivities, even while there is nothing that anyone else can do about it.
Bush assumes the lofty position above the fray like a member of the royal
family (which he is), while Gore asserts his perogatives within the turmoil
like a Bonaparte seeking to rise on the crest of rebellion.
   But reality indicates that there is no upsurge of popular resistance that
seeks to storm the Bastille, and there are no icons that can not be
obliterated through the market. So what are we to think?

   Number one is that the election results do indeed forecast gloomy weather
on the horizon. If we are to confront the storms ahead we must develop a
cohesive strategy that will begin to succeed where all else has failed. Both
in electoral work and mass struggles the popular resistance movement needs
to begin to act in a unified manner. The Nader campaign has provided the
Green movement and the popular forces with an independence of action that no
longer needs to be justified to others. At the same time it has reaffirmed
the definition of Greens as Anglo based, something that can no longer be
accepted.
   Number two, is that the debate focused on the Nader candidacy failed to
significantly impact on the voter expression of discontent for Nader. It was
always Nader's intent to attempt to get 5% of the vote as a means of making
a political statement in this election and his final vote tally was around
that range. With the closeness of the election and the impact of the Nader
vote, and the verosity of the Democratic response, we can be assured that
the message was received loud and clear. The character of the Democratic
Party will become more and more obvious in the years to come as a result of
their petulance and arrogance.

   Finally, in addressing each other in the days ahead let us have no
illusions about the likelihood of success or the consequences of this
continued political trend in America. Unless we roll up our sleeves and
build fighting organizations that represent larger sections of the people,
and engage the enemy, the people will suffer for our failures.



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