Pointing to the ugliness of this plant, however, should not distract us from the fact that our biggest problem is our anti-intellectual political climate.This coming out of Britain, which is hyper-intellectual compared with the US.
I am not sure that this is a good criticism of Brand and the position he stands for though, which is basically the position Occupy Wall Street took in refusing to make specific demands.
What this position states is that ordinary people are not supposed to figure out the details of governance, but they are not so dumb as not to notice when things are a mess. This position is most effectively stated in the streets. Getting into the street sends a strong message to those who are supposed to be smart enough to figure it out, which is why they occupy the positions they do, that they are doing an unacceptable job and that job is in jeopardy.
This argument was made among various activist groups in which I participated during the anti-war demonstrations in the Sixties and Seventies. There was no agreement on solutions but unanimity on the need for taking action against an intolerable situation.
This is actually a good strategy and tactic as a fulcrum. Of course, there has to be a debate about alternatives, but the beginning of a revolt against unacceptable conditions and behavior is not the time to be having it. Focus instead on what most people revolting agree on, which is what is unacceptable. Then let a hundred flowers bloom. Some of those flowers are going to come from TPTB interested in not getting shown the door. But that won't happen unless they think that there is a good chance that they will be turned out, and they understand the consequences of righteous anger a lot better than reasoned argument.
But at some point, solutions have to be found, agreed upon, and implemented. This is the outcome not so much of planning, however, but of action. Events in motion evoke practical solutions, and the necessity of time forces compromise where previously different parties stood on principle.
Stumbling and Mumbling
Russell Brand & our political culture
Chris Dillow | Investors Chronicle
Chris makes some good points here that the Left should think about. .
ReplyDeleteThe difference between the left and right is that the political right discovered the economic right long ago and it some ways, the economic right is the political right. Conversely, the political left has not discovered the economic left and therefore as no credible alternative to "capitalism' other than to replace with "schemes." Pathetic.
ReplyDeleteSome of those flowers are going to come from TPTB interested in not getting shown the door. But that won't happen unless they think that there is a good chance that they will be turned out, and they understand the consequences of righteous anger a lot better than reasoned argument.
ReplyDeleteTom it seems to be happening in some place in Europe right now, as things get worse, the people in power feels threaten and are trying to construct different policies and discourses.
The problem is, ofc, they are hopeless, because of the euro nightmare and their own incompetency and lack of knowledge regarding monetary operations. So the trajectory still looks like pretty bad despite apparent (only apparent) progress (shit storm incoming in 2015 when recession strikes). It would be hilarious if it wasn't as tragic as it is, because it's creating real pain.