Jillian
4th October 2009, 17:30
Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm a socialist, although I have always struggled with trying to figure out where I best fit on the socialist spectrum. I'm persuaded by Marx's labor theory of value and think that freedom and equality are inherently incompatible with private ownership of the means of production. Beyond that, I find myself engaged in an active struggle with the ideas of various socialist theorists. I'm just not sure where I fit.
I'm a public school teacher in South Florida, which has the double curse of being both in the American South and the home of all the Cuban emigres, so I am extremely closeted about my politics in my personal life. I use the handle "Jillian" consistently online, which allows me to have a private personal life online and yet saves me from feeling TOO anonymous. I am female and thirty-something, and still trying to adjust to life in Florida - been here for about four years, and still not crazy about it. Moved here from the Northeast.
What brings me here right now is my growing disillusionment with the utility of electoral politics. I've always voted, and I've tried the gamut from working within the two-party system to pushing third parties. I never expected smashing success with any strategy I've tried, but the general level of failure I've been feeling at working within the electoral system lately is pushing me to look elsewhere for talk and challenging thoughts and communication. I feel like I'm missing something, and I hope that by hanging out here for a while, I'll get a better handle on my thoughts. Hope that makes sense.
Personally, I like to think of myself as a big nerd with a sense of humor. I hate the stereotype of the humorless leftist, and do what I can to combat it. I'm looking forward to getting to know people here and being educated, challenged, stimulated, and entertained. Hope to talk with you all soon.
I'm a public school teacher in South Florida, which has the double curse of being both in the American South and the home of all the Cuban emigres, so I am extremely closeted about my politics in my personal life. I use the handle "Jillian" consistently online, which allows me to have a private personal life online and yet saves me from feeling TOO anonymous. I am female and thirty-something, and still trying to adjust to life in Florida - been here for about four years, and still not crazy about it. Moved here from the Northeast.
What brings me here right now is my growing disillusionment with the utility of electoral politics. I've always voted, and I've tried the gamut from working within the two-party system to pushing third parties. I never expected smashing success with any strategy I've tried, but the general level of failure I've been feeling at working within the electoral system lately is pushing me to look elsewhere for talk and challenging thoughts and communication. I feel like I'm missing something, and I hope that by hanging out here for a while, I'll get a better handle on my thoughts. Hope that makes sense.
Personally, I like to think of myself as a big nerd with a sense of humor. I hate the stereotype of the humorless leftist, and do what I can to combat it. I'm looking forward to getting to know people here and being educated, challenged, stimulated, and entertained. Hope to talk with you all soon.