Good article, but I continue to take issue with your typology of democratic republicans versus socialists. The real division is between phony reform socialists who believe that progress consists of a strike here, a jobs program there, and the election of squadristas like AOC or Ilhan Omar and real socialists who understand that the entire US system is in nothing less than an existential crisis that only the working class can solve.
Hi Dan, thanks for the comment. I agree that there are some who think tinkering with the existing political system or working within it can lead to a democratic society and a socialized economy. I don't think that will work. I also agree there are some socialists who have a broader view and see the entire US system as a problem. However, even many of those folks, the "real socialists," have different ideas about how to achieve socialism and what to talk about in the here and now. The democratic republican distinction is important because it explains a strategy (socialism will come about through a democratic republic) and a theory of political agitation (we should be talking about now the need for a democratic constitution, exposing phone democrats, etc).
Good article, but I continue to take issue with your typology of democratic republicans versus socialists. The real division is between phony reform socialists who believe that progress consists of a strike here, a jobs program there, and the election of squadristas like AOC or Ilhan Omar and real socialists who understand that the entire US system is in nothing less than an existential crisis that only the working class can solve.
Hi Dan, thanks for the comment. I agree that there are some who think tinkering with the existing political system or working within it can lead to a democratic society and a socialized economy. I don't think that will work. I also agree there are some socialists who have a broader view and see the entire US system as a problem. However, even many of those folks, the "real socialists," have different ideas about how to achieve socialism and what to talk about in the here and now. The democratic republican distinction is important because it explains a strategy (socialism will come about through a democratic republic) and a theory of political agitation (we should be talking about now the need for a democratic constitution, exposing phone democrats, etc).