On 30.10.2011 22:46, martin hardie wrote:
Have you been following the Spanish precursor to the occupy movement?
Yes, but certainly not the exact demographics.
I would none the less hazard the guess that the majority of Spanish
people are not active in the movement, even if they have the same
concerns. As I mentioned, just like OWS, the Spanish protestors no-doubt
feel themselves to be in solidarity with the masses, who will none the
less not reciprocate and turn instead to "legitimate" political
opposition, because no-one else is offering representation.
First of all, the majority of people do not have the time to
participate in movements, especially not long term occupations, nor do
they have time the time or interest in studying political theories to
unravel the contesting framings being presented. Moreover, people do not
feel comfortable seeing themselves as holding radical political beliefs,
on one hand they lack confidence in their ability to understand radical
politics (who could blame them?), and on the other hand simple sociology
tells us they are reluctant to alienate their social peers. Whatever
dissent exists among the masses, will be captured by the opposition
parties.
but I wonder if the institution of a party is apt for these times.
Yet, this is not our choice. Our form of Governance is what it is, and
thus even though we want to change it, we must struggle in the political
theatre as we find it. As I argued earlier
(http://dmytri.info/the-existence-of-demands-proves-the-existence), the
very fact that we have political demands means we are demanding
political representation.
It seems juvenile to demand representations from others that we
despise, to treat the plutocrats' parties as cruel gardians we direct
tantrums against in hopes of placation. For the movement to mature me
must form our own representation. And as we have not yet transformed
society, we must do so within the governing institutions of the current
society, for these are the institutions to whom our making demands are
addressed in the fist place. Read the placards around you for evidence.
We can not be naive enough to believe that whatever pitfalls and
complications may arise in forming a Debtors' Party, that its simply
better to direct our demands at the Plutocrat's Party. Can we?
Best,
--
Dmyri Kleiner
Venture Communist
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