******************** POSTING RULES & NOTES ********************
#1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message.
#2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived.
#3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern.
*****************************************************************
I certainly accept that several comrades participating in this
discussion (mostly living in North America) have a different point of view.
I am also aware that the pressure of the public opinion is currently
extremely strong. Many modern Marxists have looked with ridicule to the
European social democrats who wavered in summer 1914. But they could not
imagine the immense pressure of public opinion which existed at that
time (and which was shared and supported, by the way, by most scientists).
As a result, many of the left (who have a radical point of view about …
what should have been done in 1914 when they were not born) share the
idea today that this time really we should accept being imprisoned at
home and not fight against the ruling class. This time, the rulers
surely will not lie because they also want to fight the pandemic.
“But many scientists support this!” Is it really the case that
scientists are above classes and class interests? Is it really the case
that all scientists support mass lock down? Well, everyone with some
interest in the issue can see that this is not the case. I for my side
listen to my comrades with medical knowledge. And, fortunately, I have
also the chance to hear about the political discussions from my comrades
in very different countries – from South Korea to Mexico and from
Britain to Kenya. This allows me having a better understanding about
global discussions (and not only those in the imperialist West).
It was never my intention to push anyone to go on the street. Every one
shall be free to stay home. People who want to lock themselves up should
do so. It is just annoying to hear self-proclaimed Marxists supporting
the measures of the ruling class to forbid anyone to fight on the
streets as it happened until very recently in France, Chile, and many
other countries. And all this at a moment when a new 1929 takes place
before our eyes! (And is it really accidental that the bourgeoisie
imposes these measures at exactly the same time as we have a new 1929?!
Is no one suspicious about the timing?! And this from people who
consider themselves as intellectuals and academics!)
Allow me to predict that the bourgeoisie will say for quite some time
that there should be no mass demonstrations. Surely, only for health
risks reason. And, guess what, there will be a number of scientists who
will support this. Guess who pays them?! And during all this time, when
we are locked up for weeks and months, they will advance their
counter-revolutionary agenda (from austerity to surveillance etc.)
So when will you support mass actions again? Probably when most of the
left will do so. Because than it would be not “sectarian” to call for
this. And when will the left call for mass action? Probably when
Sanders, Corbyn etc. think it is OK. Because than it would be not
“sectarian” for them to call for this. And when will Sanders and Corbyn ….
Finally, the South Koreans demonstrated that it is possible to fight the
COVID-19 epidemic with mass and free testing, with free health care,
with basic rules for hygiene but without mass lock down. I am sure that
the virus in South Korea is not less aggressive and transmittable than
in the U.S.! South Korea succeeded in this DESPITE a reactionary
evangelic cult which (deliberately or reckless) spread the virus as much
as possible. The acts of such a criminal cult made it even more
difficult for South Korea to fight the epidemic (the cult leader, a
self-proclaimed brother of Jesus, told his supporters not to cooperate
with the health service and not to tell them where they had been, i.e.
whom they might have infected). Why do comrades still claim that the
reactionary lock down policy is TINA (“There Is No Alternative”)? If
comrades support the lock down policy, they should at least not also
lock down their brain!
Am 18.03.2020 um 23:10 schrieb Tristan Sloughter via Marxism:
******************** POSTING RULES & NOTES ********************
#1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message.
#2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived.
#3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern.
*****************************************************************
I do trust science. I trust doctors on epidemics . . . the same way I
trust environmentalists on the climate. Why would we not? Most of us know
enough to understand whether these things make sense or not.
This ^.
Not only that, but we have comrades working in medical services. If we are able
to flatten the curve and in the coming weeks or months so the health care
system isn't stressed to a breaking point we should rely on those comrades to
discuss appropriate measures for if/how mass actions can be handled.
_________________________________________________________
Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm
Set your options at:
https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/aktiv%40rkob.net
--
Revolutionär-Kommunistische Organisation BEFREIUNG
(Österreichische Sektion der RCIT, www.thecommunists.net)
www.rkob.net
[email protected]
Tel./SMS/WhatsApp/Telegram: +43-650-4068314
--
Diese E-Mail wurde von Avast Antivirus-Software auf Viren geprüft.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus
_________________________________________________________
Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm
Set your options at:
https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
