[Marxism] THE USA LEFT HAS A BIG PROBLEM !!

["Juan Carlos" <juancarloscruz@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

THE USA LEFT HAS A BIG PROBLEM !!

http://www.rwor.org/a/026/what-we-accomplished-world-cant-wait.htm

We're up against a way things work politically in this society that people
have come to accept. We're up against a framework of "how things work" which
is killing us. It's called accommodation. Some people who should know
better, like the President of the National Organization for Women, are
declaring that "the tide has turned" because a Democrat won election in
Virginia over a Republican Bush campaigned for. This guy Kaine is
anti-abortion and pro-death penalty and ran on the basis that he's more
openly religious than the other guy! This wasn't a victory against the moves
to turn this country into a theocracy. This was not a blow against the trend
to force intolerant and absolutist religious dogma into every realm of
public and private life -- including into the law. No, this was a maneuver
-- yet again -- on the part of the Democrats to see if they could become
more like the Republicans we all hate and should hate so much. And, they are
saying openly, this is a model for them, something to emulate.

I want to quote from an essay that is on our website.

"Of course, there are still people who hate everything the Bush regime
represents, and its whole agenda, but who are holding out the hope that the
difficulties it is facing will make things more favorable for electing a
Democratic Congress in 2006 (and a Democratic president in 2008) and who
therefore think that, rather than mobilizing to drive out the Bush regime,
we should pin our hopes on, and wait for, those elections. But the questions
must be honestly, and urgently, posed:

"Can we afford to wait that long before doing something decisive to defeat
this regime and its whole agenda? And by voting for Democrats would people
really be doing anything to change the whole course on which this regime has
set the country, and indeed the world? The answers are NO and NO.

"If, instead of bringing forth, from here forward, the kind of massive
resistance, of millions, that is both urgently needed and is possible, we
focus our attention on elections and on electing Democrats, this will only
mean that things will be in an even far worse place by a year from now, in
terms of what is happening in the world and what it is possible to do to
oppose it. And, anyway, what exactly is it we would be "waiting for" in
terms of these elections? Can anyone honestly say that in 2006 (or 2008) it
will be possible to vote for a Democratic Party that would:

"Bring an end to U.S. occupation in Iraq and other wars to enforce and
extend American imperial domination in the world?
"Put a stop to the torture being carried out by the U.S. government and
others cooperating with it?
"End the imprisonment of people without rights or legal representation and
the heightened repression embodied in the Patriot Act?
"Actively and uncompromisingly oppose Christian fundamentalist attacks on
evolution and on science and the scientific method in general, and on the
separation of church and state?
"Vigorously defend the right to abortion, and to birth control?
"Consistently and systematically defend the rights of gay people?
"Seriously address and do something to actually end the continuing
discrimination and institutionalized racism, oppression and poverty that
were once again and dramatically brought tow light through hurricane Katrina
and in the way the government has dealt with that natural disaster and its
aftermath?

"The answer to these questions, as well as the actions of Bush himself, in
the face of growing difficulties for his regime and its agenda, show once
again why the Call, 'The World Can't Wait! Drive Out The Bush Regime!' is
speaking to a profound truth and a profound need when it says:

"There is not going to be some magical 'pendulum swing.' People who steal
elections and believe they're on a 'mission from God' will not go without a
fight."

****

Quite frankly, it seems to me that the "fix is already in" on the 2006
elections. The Diebold machines are in place, the crooked redistricting has
all been done, and the money and high-level support that does go to
Democrats are for the ones running on anti- abortion or other "Republican
lite" platforms.

One thing we can say with certainty is that the Democratic Party will not do
anything in the direction of what the vast majority of its base truly wants
and believes in--like the overwhelming public opinion to end the war now, or
the over 400 cities that opposed the Patriot Act--until their feet are held
to the fire--until they fear that people are getting beyond their control.
The blunt truth is that as long as they think people are willing to
passively go along with the whole process and are dependent on them, they
are never going to bend to the things people really care about.

Even for those of us who strongly believe there is still hope and something
to believe in in the electoral process -- or room to be created for those in
congress trying to do something -- we are here together because there is
recognition that this will not happen short of a massive upsurge from below.
When that does happen it changes everything and creates a political
situation that everyone has to respond to.

We have to recognize that the only thing that can save us is our own
independent political activity.

Now, the political cohesion of our Movement is not voting vs not voting; the
Call doesn't tell people not to vote. And it would be very wrong to make
that the dividing line. Anybody who says that this movement is against
voting perhaps has not read the Call. The point is that we cannot rely on
the Democratic Party -- that as our Call says, "This whole idea of putting
our hopes and energies into leadership who tell us to seek common ground
with fascists and religious fanatics is proving every day to be a disaster,
and actually serves to demobilize people."

Let's be real clear. This regime may be wounded, but is as dangerous, and
determined, as a wounded beast. And at this State of the Union Bush will
attempt a big comeback for his regime and his program. It must be massively
answered. And it will not be answered by what is being brought forward
following after the leadership of the Democratic Party. In fact, the time of
the State of the Union is going to mark the beginning of a whole campaign to
draw people's hopes and energies into relying on "leaders" who tell us to
seek common ground with fascists and religious fanatics.

Our mass actions around the State of the Union must provide people the way
to get on a different road -- the road of taking independent mass political
action, driving out this regime. Our plan for the State of the Union must
meet that challenge -- nothing less--or we will fail in our responsibility
to powerfully provide people with that path, at this crucial time. The
future we get really is up to us.

So let's talk about what we ARE going to do. Let's talk about, and let me
share, an audacious vision that our steering committee has come up with,
beyond what we sent out earlier in the week. Let's talk about a vision
commensurate with what we need to really make a leap toward driving out this
regime. Let's talk about taking a step that's going to create a whole new
dynamic in this society.

Let's talk about the State of the Union speech, when Bush will strut out
there, putting on his best face, and put forward his program of more war,
more repression, and more horror, with all the major networks covering him
and all eyes on him. Let's talk about how just as he starts to run his lies
to people all over the country and all over the world, from every corner of
the country he is politically drowned out by mass action. Let's talk about
how THIS becomes what everyone has to relate to, and how the biggest
question in society becomes, to quote the Clash: SHOULD HE STAY OR SHOULD HE
GO?

And let's talk about how we answer that question loud and clear to millions
and millions of people with further powerful action. That's what we have
been wrestling with, and I'm going to present you a new and even more
powerful vision, from the Steering Committee, of how to do that in a minute.

****

But let's be clear first: that is a tall order but this is what we need. To
say we made a beginning on November 2 cannot mean that now we settle into
gradual and incremental tactics to slowly grow this movement. This is not
the same old same old. This is not a pet project or a way to build a
movement. It is a serious challenge to unseat and drive out of power a
sitting regime and not just any old regime--but one that has to be driven
out--because what will happen if we don't?

We said in our Call that, in the face of what this Regime is doing, silence
and paralysis are NOT acceptable! If we are going to politically drown out
the State of the Union and get things into a different dynamic, we have to
shake people up AND we have to make a compelling case that they join us!
There are many people who would respond to our message, but we have not yet
even reached them. That's for starters--we REALLY have to get this Call out
there much more broadly.

At the same time, we very much need to learn better the things that prevent
some people who have heard our message and speak to their questions more
powerfully. But we can do that. The very things that compelled thousands to
step up and step out in the face of both repression and despair are still
here, and getting worse by the day. The very things that made each and every
person in this room turn their lives around are still there, and getting
worse by the day. And the vision that inspired all of those people that is
embodied in our Call is still here, and the potential to make that seemingly
impossible dream a reality not only manifested on November 2, but can and
must manifest all the more powerfully as we go into the State of the Union.
We can break the constraints--political and practical--that held people
back. And we will.

This weekend we have to decide this will happen and build our own framework
to make it happen. We are responsible to all the people who are not here,
who worked behind the scenes to make those events happen, or who couldn't
afford to come here today. We're responsible to our growing movement.

Therefore, the Steering Committee proposes a more ambitious and audacious
plan for the State of the Union, in two phases:

1) On the night of the State of the Union message, in real time across the
country, everyone mobilizes in their own area to Drown Out Bush's Lies. At
rallies called one hour before the speech (starting at 8 pm EST, 5 pm PST,
and so on) we will proclaim our determination to Drive out the Bush Regime.
The whole diversity of our movement, from high school students who have
spent the day mobilizing, to local government officials who bring
resolutions calling for Bush to Step Down, to prominent artists and
activists, unions, professional associations, student governments will
represent. As Bush begins to speak, literally, we will BRING THE NOISE in a
cacophony of sound that drowns out his speech. From drum circles to violins,
cat-calls to air horns to banging pots and pans--the whole variety of
musical expression from hip hop to classical will make a noise. Big media
outlets like Fox News might make good gathering spots for public DROWN OUTS.
People in nursing homes and hospitals, or at work on late shifts, could
participate where they are. The students, especially the high schools, can
help by not even going to school that day, but by criss crossing the cities
and towns in car caravans and flat bed trucks, and marches.

This part of the plan utilizes the strength we have in the youth and the
fact that people want to demonstrate wherever they are that they demand BUSH
STEP DOWN, and Take your whole program with you!

2) Then, the very next Saturday, we will get everyone possible to
Washington, DC by bus, car, train or plane to protest at the seat of
government. There will be prominent voices of conscience to help deliver the
people's verdict on the State of the Union. And that verdict will ring
through the streets of DC, and echo through the world: STEP DOWN STEP DOWN,
BUSH MUST GO! DRIVE OUT THE BUSH REGIME!

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