RGacky3
3rd October 2011, 11:33
Along side Unions I think left parties are very important, and not neccessarily because I think they should win national elections, I don't think that national elections are that important and I believe many times national politics is where left parties go to die.
Take for example the French Communist party, Gererally not that high electoral results, yet htye have a lot of power, why is that? LARGE membership, a large and active membership, and activity in local politics (where many times you can get more done), you also have them being the main left opposition (historically, not anymore) to the government and thus leading in protests and strikes. Nowerdays you have the New anti-capitalist party that seams to be the raising star on the left in France
Or take Socialist Left in Norway, out of government it was gaining popularity as a left alternative to labor, out of power it was pulling labor to the left and acted as a socialist counterweight, in power it was pulled by labor to the right, in power it is in a position of weakness, out of power its in a position of strength, SV can pull voters out of labor if labor gets too capitalistic, in power, it has to cooperate with labor to stay in the government. Recently SV took a serious beating, and I think it has to do with SV moving to the right.
I think left organizations, everywhere, should focus more on local politics, building a large and strong grass roots base and focus on being the opposition, being the one that sides with the protesters and unions, and the one that forces the social-democratic parties to the left, rather than focusing on getting IN national power, which will many times strip you of your ability to fight against the power, especially if national power leaves you subservient to the larger parties.
This is mostly for the parlimentary system, not so much for the US, however in the US, I think overall its the same, but given American politics, having a socialist in national government, even if its just to be a voice, does a lot.
Take for example the French Communist party, Gererally not that high electoral results, yet htye have a lot of power, why is that? LARGE membership, a large and active membership, and activity in local politics (where many times you can get more done), you also have them being the main left opposition (historically, not anymore) to the government and thus leading in protests and strikes. Nowerdays you have the New anti-capitalist party that seams to be the raising star on the left in France
Or take Socialist Left in Norway, out of government it was gaining popularity as a left alternative to labor, out of power it was pulling labor to the left and acted as a socialist counterweight, in power it was pulled by labor to the right, in power it is in a position of weakness, out of power its in a position of strength, SV can pull voters out of labor if labor gets too capitalistic, in power, it has to cooperate with labor to stay in the government. Recently SV took a serious beating, and I think it has to do with SV moving to the right.
I think left organizations, everywhere, should focus more on local politics, building a large and strong grass roots base and focus on being the opposition, being the one that sides with the protesters and unions, and the one that forces the social-democratic parties to the left, rather than focusing on getting IN national power, which will many times strip you of your ability to fight against the power, especially if national power leaves you subservient to the larger parties.
This is mostly for the parlimentary system, not so much for the US, however in the US, I think overall its the same, but given American politics, having a socialist in national government, even if its just to be a voice, does a lot.