[Peace-discuss] re: Chomsky arguments

[Tom Mackaman]

Mort writes:  "The U.S. population ...  have not been able to express any equivalently coherent and effective resistance to the Bush agenda." 
 
That is a truism!  The question is *why*.
 
Carl and Matt are right.  It is amazing, given the fact that absolutely noone has sanctioned these thought processes, that a simple and growing majority of Americans believe the war to have been a mistake.  This speaks highly of normal Americans.  
 
But this deep and apparently spontaneous opposition finds absolutely no political way forward.  That is the lesson of the last election.  Much of the energy of the anti-war movement, with the aid of the relentless boosterism of many so-called "lefts," was channeled behind the pro-war John Kerry.  No independent, anti-war political perspective was advanced.  The motto of the "lefts" was, "Unity Now!  Protest Later....maybe--depends on who wins!".  The Democrats steadfastly refused to capitalize on the growing opposition to the war, and they therefore collapsed versus the most unpopular reelected President in modern US history.  By the way, lest there be any doubt about what John Kerry would have done, he has just clarified for us:  "Kerry rejects call for Iraq troop withdrawal" http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/feb2005/kerr-f01.shtml.  He now has no pressing political reason for such abject cowardice.
 
Chomsky's analysis here points to what should by now be well-known:  the problem is not a lack of democratic sentiments or concern for social justice, but a political system that effectively ensures that the class interests of working Americans find no home.  (another great example is the Frank book).  To the extent there is great political backwardsness and confusion in the US--and it undoubtedly exists-- it is itself historically and politically conditioned.  It is not absolute.  And it must be fought against precisley by building a political movement that appeals to masses of working Americans.     
 
I must confess that, even for those of us who attempted to fight against the "anybody" squad of the American left and could see this misanthropic "it's the people's fault" line of argument coming from miles away, it is still amazing to see it in action.  And so it has come to pass:  the same people who rejected "divisive" public criticism of the likes of Kerry and Obama--both proud and avowed militarists--are now blaming the "volk" for the absence of criticism!    
 
Rather than blaming "the people," those who are seriously committed to peace on the left need to do some serious analysis of their own political perspectives.  The hard lesson of Democratic Party betrayal must be assimilated:  an independent party of the working class is required.  Otherwise, these same arguments will be repeated four years from now.  No doubt, the standing of "the people" in the eyes of some will have fallen further still.
 
Regards,
Tom     
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