[Marxism] The Greens commit suicide ?

["Jurriaan Bendien" <andromeda246@xxxxxxxxx>]

Well it's not really my prerogative to criticise the US Green Party beyond a
bit of humor in a personal response, but I think the substantive point being
made is, that if you're going to belong to a party or lead it, then you have
as a minimum to believe in that party, you aspire to get the best result for
that party, you cannot very well be a "support act" for another party.
Otherwise you'd be joining them. Personally I belong to none at present, I
am having a rethink, but I have never liked this idea of belonging to a
political party without believing what it stands for.

Most probably though, there will be plenty "strategic voting" anyhow in the
US elections - but there's only two ways to transcend a monopoly of
political power by two parties with wealthy backers - organising with a new
independent party, or wait until the two parties which have a monopoly of
power to fracture, fragment and split.

The latter doesn't seem an immediate prospect, that requires big
realignments in power relations or events of big significance for society as
a whole. But standing up for a political alternative is your political
birthright, in a society which claims to be democratic, and if that is
reneged on, then you really have to wonder about whether any real democracy
exists at all - then it's more a case of selling your birthright for a mess
of pottage.

Beyond a bit of humor, I don't actually think Cobb is committing political
suicide with his line, but it is more a question of where your political
soul is, and about a sense of purpose. That aside, what evidence is there
that the Greens or Nader are significantly hurting Kerry's campaign ?

In some states they may do, but even so, that then forces the Kerry team to
take their arguments seriously. And if that doesn't happen, then what kind
of democracy are we talking about ? A very simple, basic issue of politics
is at stake here, no sophisticated analysis of democracy is required to
understand it, surely...

Democracy- rule of the people, by (not buy) the people, for the people - is
supposed to be about presenting political alternatives to voters who make a
decision about who to support, on the basis of their assessment of those
alternative options.
The minority must yield to the majority, but after the votes are cast, not
before !

If that doesn't even happen, because the polity is only interested in the
distribution of votes cast on election day, then where is the democracy ?
Whatever democracy is, it is not a market, and you cannot buy it. If it is
treated as a market and as a service you can buy, then something has gone
terribly wrong surely...

Jurriaan


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