In this era of domination by big banks , multinational corps., corp
conglomorates , etc,
elections are controlled by by these most powerful sections of capital
and their Parties thru their state and the mass corp. media . Over $3
billion will be spent by the Demopublicans in this year alone on their
"democratic" election charade. The Demo-publicans are wallowing in
corporate cash . They usually don't use all of it either. Some candidate s
will have a big stash already banked for the next election (and to just
invest -wax fat , etc).
But Nader and Buchanan (Greens and Reform Party ) are no answer for masses
either, but they promote chic updated American styles of Populism-- a
claim to back up all classes, claims to rein in big business depradations
,etc. . Nader is 'leftish' Populist in rhetoric and platform. Buchanan is
"right' Populist in rhetoric and platform. Millionarie textile exploiters
like Roger Milliken give $$$$ to both Nader and Buchanan. These bosses like
this like the nationalism and trade protectionism, higher tariffs in many
industies offered up by both Nader and Buchanan. Ditto for the US
nationalsts of the AFL-CIO unions. Some union hacks promote Nader to
sound 'militant', others like those heading the steelworkers and
teamsters, let Buchanan bogart some of their political rallies. They
promote anti-mexican bigotry and stoke the coals of USA 'getting tough '
with its key rivals on trade issues. But when all is said and done , at
least until the next open recession , the unions still back Gore --and
co. He is super-patriotic enough, at least for now,
Working people are now impotent in the bosses state election booths, the
epoch when workers could gain
lasting type reforms, public schools, cheap land, via elections is long
over. Elections are more a form of state propaganda to keep the masses tied
to the illusions of bourgeois 'democracy' , the false idea that workers
have some say now in the affairs of state. Like many tactics, to
parphrase Engels, (Anti-duhring), Political Tactics and methods of
struggle progressive in one historical period can become reactionary in a
later period. The role and nature of capitalis election circuses are one
example to prove this axiom.
workers can organize politically --for a workers communist party and
industrially , in territorial groups of struggle against capital , bringing
working masses together on a class against class platfrom of
education and action..
neil
http://www.internationalist.net.
