RE: [Marxism] Re: Joel Kovel on Nader candidacy

["Jose G. Perez" <jgperez@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mike Friedman writes to Louis: "Your comment begs the question that
Kovel actually raises, whether or not THIS cabal, Bush and Company,
represent something qualitatively new and dangerous."

Does Bush represent something qualitatively new? Certainly not in the
field of domestic political repression. Despite the Patriot Act and
everything else, what had come down under Bush is not really on anything
like the scale of the repression in the 60's and 70's.  As to  military
aggressiveness abroad, John F. Kennedy came within HOURS of blowing up
the entire human race during the October 1962 missile crisis.

I guess I, too, am old and jaded, but frankly, I'm tired of people
crying wolf, wolf. Been hearing it regular as clockwork every four
years, ever since the Devil was called Goldwater and he was swept away
by a flood of votes for "peace" candidate Lyndon Johnson.

But even if it were *true* what of it? Do you really think the way to
stop Hitler is to back Mussolini? Anyways, unless I  miss my guess, Bush
is toast -- there are 2.4 million fewer jobs in the economy today than
there were when he took office. Unless, of course, the Democrats throw
the race like they did last time.

Mike Friedman writes: "Nor can we promote a third party by simple
reference to the historic equation between the two parties of capital.
We need to show why at this juncture, in response to the particular
threats posed by Bush and company, we need an alternative. At least if
we want to effectively respond to much of the left and convince the
youth."

We don't have "two parties of capital." We have a capitalist two-party
*system*. To argue the tactics of voting in November 2004 without
thinking about a *strategic* framework is silly. "Much of the left" is
sold on anyone but Bush and there is nothing to be done about it. Come
November, though, half or more of the working people won't vote, we
should think about and focus on them.

José


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