Unless you are in any position to influence it - in other words, unless you are a part of the capitalist ruling class.

This fact is so fucking obvious, yet apparently many people on the American "Left" don't see it, and continue to put their faith (and it is faith) in "working within the system" of electoral politics (read: electing "better people" - whatever that means - to positions within the government). Do they not realize that the whole fucking point of the bourgeois state is to create, maintain, and enforce - by any means necessary, including violence and the threat of violence - the system of private property that is the legal and political foundation of capitalism? (and the "rights" granted by the bourgeois state to the class that possesses and accumulates capital - i.e. the bourgeoisie?) How the fuck do Leftists expect to have a "political revolution" when the political system in which they operate is fundamentally incompatible with - and indeed, violently opposed to - the Left?

It appears to me that much of the American Left (or at the very least, those people and organizations that are nominally Left) has outright accepted the legitimacy of bourgeois politics. When the likes of Donald Trump and his "basket of deplorables" are far more willing to actively oppose bourgeois liberal "democracy" than the CPUSA (oh how the mighty have fallen)...well, something is seriously fucked up indeed.

I just talked about this briefly in another thread, Allen. "Trump Train" such as it is - that is where the strong opposition is right now. But don't confuse liberals with leftists. On Twitter it is very easy to see the divisions. Leftists are not #with her - they are supporting the Stein/Baraka ticket if they participate in electoral politics at all. And Baraka is actually pretty good if you read some of his stuff. He is decidedly anti-capitalist from what I've seen. It's a minority camp, but it will be interesting to see if they can get 5% of the vote. Liberals are now the status quo (perhaps they always have been - HRC has been doing a fine McCarthy imitation lately with all her blatant red baiting). They are spending their time mocking everyone else, calling for civility, etc. The CPUSA was co-opted long ago - those are liberals.

The CPUSA was co-opted long ago - those are liberals.

You are dead right. Fuckin' shame, but there it is.

Speaking of which, have you got any idea wtf is going on with the Houston Party, seeing as you're there.

Speaking of which, have you got any idea wtf is going on with the Houston Party, seeing as you're there.

Nope, I really don't talk politics down here much. Probably because I live out in the suburbs, but also I'm a bit of a hermit by nature. I do know that most of the democrats in these parts that I have met one way or another stuck with Hillary. There is a pretty big Green contingent down here too, but they just talk about switching to renewable energy - they don't really tackle the underlying issues of class/imperialism. So, you only get so far in discussions.

Unless you are in any position to influence it - in other words, unless you are a part of the capitalist ruling class.

This fact is so fucking obvious, yet apparently many people on the American "Left" don't see it, and continue to put their faith (and it is faith) in "working within the system" of electoral politics (read: electing "better people" - whatever that means - to positions within the government). Do they not realize that the whole fucking point of the bourgeois state is to create, maintain, and enforce - by any means necessary, including violence and the threat of violence - the system of private property that is the legal and political foundation of capitalism? (and the "rights" granted by the bourgeois state to the class that possesses and accumulates capital - i.e. the bourgeoisie?) How the fuck do Leftists expect to have a "political revolution" when the political system in which they operate is fundamentally incompatible with - and indeed, violently opposed to - the Left?

It appears to me that much of the American Left (or at the very least, those people and organizations that are nominally Left) has outright accepted the legitimacy of bourgeois politics. When the likes of Donald Trump and his "basket of deplorables" are far more willing to actively oppose bourgeois liberal "democracy" than the CPUSA (oh how the mighty have fallen)...well, something is seriously fucked up indeed.

Thank you for this. I needed to see this today. Someone who can articulate my frustration with *liberal* (clearly not Leftist) friends. I am so sick of hearing "working within the system", and "turning the wheel" ever so slowly. I've been practically blamed for single-handedly affecting the outcome of the "S"election because I refused to vote for one of two wings of the same vulture.

I haven't been to this forum in a while, but I'm so glad you guys are still around.