[Peace-discuss] Finkelstein on Ghandi

[David Green]

http://www.zcommunications.org/gandhi-and-occupy-by-norman-finkelstein
 
There is a lot to be learned from Finkelstein's study of Gandhi that is relevant to tactics being discussed on various local lists. Notice that elections and voting in our two party system are (tellingly) not even mentioned. Neither party is mentioned. In my opinion, Republicans promote the neoliberal agenda by proposing extreme measures. Democrats promote the neoliberal agenda by proposing compromises with Republicans. This has been a collective effort for goals that rulers of both parties support. It's worked pretty well for 36 years, since the campaign of 1976 when Carter was elected.
 
There are worthy goals of equality and recognition regarding race, gender, sexual orientation, immigrants, etc. still to be achieved, obviously. Unfortunately, these goals are by and large co-opted as a part of Democratic Party tactics to win votes for their ultimately neoliberal agenda, which ultimately converts genuine grievances into identity politics. That is why, even given an understanding of the historical struggle for voting rights for African-Americans, I'm left cold by all the attention being devoted to voting rights by the progressive media. Of course there are legitimate ongoing grievances and Republican outrages; but ultimately an emphasis on "working within the system" is only to the advantage of the domianant in a system based on domination.
 
And don't forget that both parties will try to run to the "right" of each other regarding foreign policy, especially Israel; ain't nobody gonna get my Jewish vote.
 
David Green
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