Economic reductionism

Here’s Engels letter to Bloch in which he makes a case against economic reductionism, at least, in the “first instance.” E.P. Thompson, by no means an economic determinist and in a reply to (or polemic against) Louis Althusser, a French Marxist, said that the economic factor is present not only in the last instance, but in every instance and the role of historians is to uncover how and to what degree. Thompson, it should be said, thought highly of Engels, who in letters at the end of his life, addressed and challenged dogmatic interpretations of the writings of Marx and himself. In the wake of the lively, at times contentious, debate over the rise and fall of Trump, Engels observations/letters when he was an old man, are worth reading (or reading again).

Moral hypocrites

The Catholic bishops hate Biden and love Trump. What a bunch of moral hypocrites. Much more could be said. Glad I bailed on this outfit more than a half century ago.

Buffalo’s socialist mayor

From afar India Walton seems like a pretty remarkable candidate. From what I read she made a firm commitment to bring a new form of governance to the city of Buffalo, making people and their needs – not real estate interests, not police – the foremost priority.

I don’t know how much her avowed socialist pedigree figured in her campaign and election. Probably on the margins and there is nothing wrong with that. But what I find interesting is that she had no hesitation not only to embrace socialism on election night when asked if she was a socialist by a local reporter but also the dexterity to give a quick and succinct – not long winded – rendering of socialism in her reply: “All it means is that I’m putting people first. People over profits. I’m representing the working class, the poor, the forgotten.”

I doubt if I would have answered the question this way years ago, but her reply captures, for me at this point in my political life, the essence of what socialist governance should be about, albeit with this addendum – robust mass participation and decision making – deep democratization – in the affairs that matter in people’s lives should be a distinguishing feature of socialism as well. I’m sure the new mayor would agree.

Urgency of now

The Biden agenda, which represents the beginnings of a significant break from neoliberalism – an ideology and practice that dominated the country’s political, economic, and ideological life for nearly 4 decades – should command the attention and receive the full support of the expansive coalition that elected Biden last year. The main task of this coalition, therefore, isn’t to “critique” or “push” or or “fine tune” the many positive legislative initiatives of the administration or to passively observe the clash that is taking place between the administration and Congressional Democrats on the one hand and Congressional Republicans on the other. Quite the contrary. Practical engagement in support of Biden’s domestic agenda should be the watchword.

Don’t think that the far flung, right wing authoritarian coalition is passively observing what is transpiring in the nation’s capital. From the right wing evangelicals to the right wing extremist media, they understand on a very practical level that the immediate imperative is to defeat – no crush – Biden’s agenda. Everything else in their view pales in comparison. Isn’t a similar urgency and practicality necessary on our side?”

Unstinting support

I would say the sprawling coalition – and progressive and left thinking people in the first place – should give unstinting support to the Biden administration’s agenda – infrastructure, voting rights, etc. The future of the country and the outcome of the midterm elections turn on the administration’s success in enacting its agenda this year and next. And the support should be active, demonstrative and neighbor to neighbor.

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