randomWalks

In the summer of 2000 the recession that has hammered working people all across this country (and the world) had not set in. September 11 had yet to occur. Two wars had not been fought. Bush then did not appear to be the extreme right-wing crusader that he is now having since mounted new attacks on affirmative action and abortion rights at home while ushering in a new racist era of empire and colonialism abroad.

Bush's buddies won the lottery with his election having enjoyed tax cuts, lucrative contracts and a blind eye turned towards the corporate scandals that wrecked the lives of thousands of Americans. Meanwhile social services are under their most consistent attack in decades as budget crises plague most states even while the government finds $399 billion for the military and $75 billion for the Iraq war and continued occupation. And in contract talks across the country unions fold and agree to concessions while the boss's pension plans get protected.

It seems the stakes now are light years more dramatic than they were in 2000.

All of this is occurring in a climate where Bush's approval ratings remain high (but are falling again) even though his agenda clearly does not jibe with what people in this country want. This country is pro-choice, opposes tax cuts for the rich, supports affirmative action, and is worried about health care, among other issues. These stances do not mesh with the Bush agenda where the war is the prime source of his continued popularity.

So there are again major questions for Progressives, just as there were in 2000.

Why aren't the Democrats fighting back given that Bush's agenda is mostly unpopular? Can we affect change within the system? Can we force the Democrats to the Left? What do we say and do about lesser evilism?

Do we vote Democratic, regardless of the candidate chosen, because Bush must be defeated at all costs? In the run-up to the election do we try to influence the party by throwing weight behind its left-wing: i.e. Howard Dean, Dennis Kucinichor Al Sharpton. Can we take back the Democratic Party?

We could go Green or to one of the other, smaller third parties in an attempt to break the two-party hegemony in this country.

Or should we reject electoral strategies and continue to devote resources to building a mass movement that can fundamentally bring about change in a way that elections simply cannot?

Here's some links on the legacy of lesser evilism:

The Trap of Lesser Evilism.
The Democrats and War.
The Democrats today.
Reformism and the anti-war movement (via indymedia).
The Iraq War and the 2004 Presidential Election.
To Vote or Not to Vote.