[PEN-L:30287] RE: Re: RE: Reply to Michael Berube

["Devine, James" <jdevine@xxxxxxx>]

Title: RE: [PEN-L:30286] Re: RE: Reply to Michael Berube

I wrote:
> > If you want to disagree with Cooper, do it by criticize his facts, his
> > logic, and the information he leaves out. But the stuff about his
> > connections to the working class are irrelevant at this point in history.

Louis Proyect answers: 
> I will do exactly what I please, Miss Manners.

Of course you will, but is what you do effective for promoting socialism?

Calling someone a petty-bourgeois individualist lackey -- or "Miss Manners -- is exactly the kind of thing that will undermine your effectiveness in talking to anyone but a small group of those who already agree with you on absolutely everything.

One thing that people don't understand is that in 2002, the left is in horrible shape. If we stoop to _ad hominem_ arguments rather than trying to present rational arguments against our opponents, it will stay that way.

JD