Re: Red & Green
D_Richardson wrote: >Before we assume that the environmentalists present a viable arena, we >should be aware that, at least in the leadership, they have been >acquainted with socialism and have found it distasteful. The following >is from Sam Smith, local DC curmudgeon, national Green Party figure, and >(I had thought) one of the more important local progressive naysayers. >I am forwarding this piece because it is so reprehensible: it says a lot >of what is wrong with Smith and the Greens. The value of the Green Party is that it represents a challenge to the 2-party system. Recent successes in New Mexico indicate that the stranglehold might be broken for the first time in decades. DSA'ers might resent the Green Party challenge because it goes against their strategy of realignment, in other words making the Democratic Party a social democratic institution like the British Labor Party or the NDP. The defense of this strategy is often couched in Marxist orthodoxy. The Greens might just decide that such Marxist orthodoxy deployed on behalf of Bill Clinton is nothing but hot air. In any case, the Green Party is one of the more hopeful signs in the American electoral arena despite the mixed bag of the Nader candidacy. Louis Proyect
[PEN-L:67] Re: red/green dialectic
Louis Proyect: Thanks for the kind remarks. I think you're absolutely right about the changing conditions in Western Europe. It would be an interesting line of investigation to figure out how Le Pen, the American Militias, etc. reflect the emerging contradiction between society and nature in the "first world". On Sat, 29 Jul 1995, Marianne Bruen wrote: > > > > Many of Louis Proyect's recent contributions have been > exceedingly encouraging and helpful to me, and I go o > armed with many a quote and reference from him to a a > conference on "Building a Secure and Sustainable World" > in Helsinki in 2 days. On one point I would like too > up-date him, and I think quite a few others on pen-l. > > Part of a sentence of his reads "when people have jobs, > homes, savings, etc. as they in Western Europe". This > image of Western Europe just doesn't hold anymore, nor > does the notion that over-population is not something > of concern to people here. Germany has approx. 1 million > homeless and between 3.5 and 4 million unemployed. Things > are certainly not better in most other Western European > countries. The subject of over-population is the focus of > many talk shows are well as serious articles. And while > Germany's famous "social net" is probably still one of the > best, it is being trimmed fast and furiously. It is amazing > to me how many benefits that were long taken for granted > here, have disappeared during the 7 years I've been here. > While I won't speak for Liechtenstein and Monaco, even > Switzerland has been cutting back at an increased pace > during the last couple of years. > > There are even a number of people you declare in public, > and without shame, that the various wars, as well as aids, > are probably good or at least necessary: "After all we've > got to deal with over-population some how". (On the ote other > hand, they would like to bomb at least the war in Bosnia off > the evening news). > > Marianne Brun ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) > > > >
[PEN-L:61] Re: red/green dialectic
Many of Louis Proyect's recent contributions have been exceedingly encouraging and helpful to me, and I go o armed with many a quote and reference from him to a a conference on "Building a Secure and Sustainable World" in Helsinki in 2 days. On one point I would like too up-date him, and I think quite a few others on pen-l. Part of a sentence of his reads "when people have jobs, homes, savings, etc. as they in Western Europe". This image of Western Europe just doesn't hold anymore, nor does the notion that over-population is not something of concern to people here. Germany has approx. 1 million homeless and between 3.5 and 4 million unemployed. Things are certainly not better in most other Western European countries. The subject of over-population is the focus of many talk shows are well as serious articles. And while Germany's famous "social net" is probably still one of the best, it is being trimmed fast and furiously. It is amazing to me how many benefits that were long taken for granted here, have disappeared during the 7 years I've been here. While I won't speak for Liechtenstein and Monaco, even Switzerland has been cutting back at an increased pace during the last couple of years. There are even a number of people you declare in public, and without shame, that the various wars, as well as aids, are probably good or at least necessary: "After all we've got to deal with over-population some how". (On the ote other hand, they would like to bomb at least the war in Bosnia off the evening news). Marianne Brun ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
[PEN-L:19] Re: red/green dialectic
A crass commercial announcement: people interested in Louis' comment may want to see Jesse Vorst, Ross Dobson, and Ron Fletcher, 1993. RED ON GREEN: EVOLVING ECOLOGICAL SOCIALISM. Winnepeg/Halifax, Canada: Society for Socialist Studies/Fernwood Publishing. in pen-l solidarity, Jim Devine [EMAIL PROTECTED] Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ., Los Angeles, CA 90045-2699 USA 310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX: 310/338-1950 "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- K. Marx, paraphrasing Dante A.
