I agree with all of the above reasons as to the lack of coherent left
movement as 15.1 million US citizens are unemployed and 40 million lack
health care (these two issues alone as a campaign platform to build a
movement has very large potential IMO). I would also posit a theory that
understands one of neoliberalisms main goals as the individualization of
suffering and oppression. After I posted that article on the 26 year record
breaking unemployment I began to wonder if this wouldn't actually enhance
capital as much as open up the possibility of social resistance and a growth
of a movement. The unemployment figure means one thing for sure, an
increase in the reserve army of labor and the associated increase in
competition for jobs and increased productivity as folks fear the loss of
jobs. With fewer people in unions there is little regress to a boss who
says "increase your productivity to match that of Joe's or else you are out
of a job". I see little reason that it will automatically lead to movement
building and cooperative means to oppose this heightened exploitation. The
recent history regarding housing foreclosures and the individualization of
the issue ('folks just bought homes they can't afford') reveals the real
world level of consciousness of workers in the US. How to break out of this
and recognize the collective capacity to overcome the problems is the real
issue going forward. I just don't know how to do it.
Brad
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