Social Issues

[TC]

I started this thread to start a discussion about what social issues should be prioritized by the left:

1. What social issues aren't being given enough attention that we should try to address more? Where is the worst exploitation and abuse being ignored.

2. What social issues are being fetishized and fixated on in disproportion to their importantance? Where is is social liberation being replaced by mere liberal identity politics trying to appear to take a 'progressive stand' on hot issues in the media, like bourgeois politicians trying to be seen to 'do something.'

3. What social issues are aspects of the left coming down on the wrong side of?

[Sadena Meti]

1. Gender Equality. Social Issue that affects half the world's population, actually, no, all of it. I think the Left has fallen pray to the theory of post-feminism, thinking just like everyone else that the problem has somehow been solved.

2. Oddly, I'd say too much attention is being focused on gay rights. Now I don't want anyone to jump on my for that, I am totally in favor of it. But perhaps it is because of my views on #1 that I say this. Elminiate gender distinction and homosexuality becomes a non-issue. But so much effort is being wasted trying to integrate LGBT issues into the mainstream we forget that it is the mainstream itself that needs to be changed.

3. Not sure in particular. General speaking, when the left is standing on the same side as right-wing libetarians, that's a good indicator we are on the wrong side.

[bcbm]

Originally posted by rev-[email protected] 30, 2006 11:15 am
General speaking, when the left is standing on the same side as right-wing libetarians, that's a good indicator we are on the wrong side.
Many right-wing libertarians are such for their economic positions, maintaining a socially permissive perspective, ie in favor of gay rights, legal equality and less restrictive gun control. Although their ideas of legal equality differ from our own, on the rest I would say that their support for any given position doesn't neccessarily make our support for it wrong.

To the topic at hand, I think that one issue being neglected is that of stem cell research. The religious right is taking a hard drive at it right now and I haven't seen too much in the way of support. My own state is facing the prospect of it being completely illegal, and our university is one of the last in the country that can receive federal funding.

[Pink TnT]

1. Native Americans issues. It is easy to think about people we oppressed in Chile, Brazil, Guatemala, Nicaragua and so on, but our own aboriginal population is all but invisible to the left.

2. Even as I am a bisexual comrade, LGBT issues get too much of the spotlight. Such issues are important, at least as important as other issues, including overthrowing capitalism. But the left need not dwell on the only real disadvantage that LGBT people face now: discrimination in marriage.

3. I know that it is difficult for some dedicated comrades that petty bourgeois people are taking up rank with the revolutionaries. However, we need to stop alienating people for being "lifestyle anarchists" and "bourgeois radicals" and so on. We need to swell our ranks, even if nicely dressed people come to the strikes and protests. We need to be about as inclusive as we claim to be.

[Raisa]

1) Racism and white bias.
This goes right along with imperialism.

2) Prison

3) class contiousness.

4) Sexism.

In that order.