Making liberal politics radical

[Eastside Revolt]

I have been getting more active lately, and I have come to the conclusion that revolutionary poltitics are non-existent in my location.

A group that I am getting envolved with is applying direct action to liberal issues such as:

- Setting up tent cities and attempting to stop the police from ripping them down, as an way to draw attention to the booming homeless population; and aswell to pressure the local politicians to build social housing (projects <_< ).

- Acting as advocates for those who are being denied their welfare rights. Eventually when we are denied these rights, after using all the legal methods, we retaliate using direct action.

Is there really a point in kicking up a fuss over such liberal issues?

Now I do plan to stick with it for now, as this is about a radical as politics get where I live, with the exception of completely dropping out of society and becoming a homeless squeegy kid. But I would apreciate some advice.

[Coggeh]

you must learn from defeats , using legal methods like this will gain you support in your community , it will show that someone is finally standing up for the working class .. keep at it ... socialism cant be delievered to the people through a barrel of a gun nor crushed upon them with an iron fist ... its their stuggle as much as yours .Keep it up comrade

[Janus]

Is there really a point in kicking up a fuss over such liberal issues?
I suppose it would be helpful to work with them, see what they&#39;re about, and try to persuade some of them to your side. I also don&#39;t see why you consider those problems "liberal" issues when they are pandemic to the entire world so I don&#39;t you should consider it "shameful" to engage in struggles. After all, that&#39;s what most of us are doing and that&#39;s how we&#39;re winning support by engaging in such practical issues rather than simply running out and screaming "class war" all day.

[which doctor]

Maybe the problem is that you are looking for revolutionary politics, when in fact you should be looking for revolutionary anti-politics. :)

[YSR]

I agree with Janus. Both the issues you illustrated don&#39;t exactly scream "liberal" to me. Perhaps an even more useful action in your "tent city" campaign is to eventually organize around find homeless people housing in a direct action manner ie squatting. I have no experience in that field, but it might be worthwhile.

Whatever you do, don&#39;t go to the liberal groups in your area for help. Organize the lower classes and the oppressed, even if it feels like you&#39;re alone. My experience has been that when you&#39;re in an isolated situation, it&#39;s easy to turn to liberals for support when you feel totally alone. Just make sure they&#39;re not using you, as they have a tendency to do. If at all possible, radicalize workers rather than get help from liberals.

[Forward Union]

Originally posted by [email protected] 11, 2007 08:55 pm
Is there really a point in kicking up a fuss over such liberal issues?

Yes.

Im writing a document at the moment, of rough-advice for users on this forum who want to get involved, and just before I logged on here I wrote a bit on Entryism.

Entryism is the political tactic of infiltrating a group and trying to change it from within. As a presumably trusted member, you have some influence over the course of action of the group. Therefor you can suggest taking more militant direct action, and put forward a solid class analysis, linking their struggle into the wider struggle against capitalism.

Both examples of actions you gave sound beautiful and organic. They may not be &#39;revolutionary red-flag waving marx-quoting steel-mill workers&#39; but they are working class people fighting for their rights, for welfare, and against the homelessness that the capitalist system causes. I can&#39;t think of anything more worth dedicating my time to, to be honest. The fact that they have their analysis wrong and think that they can pressure their politicians, gives you all the more reason to be involved - I would go so far as to say that if you are the only revolutionary there, it is your duty to speak up. You need to respectfually argue your point and back it up with real examples. And in the spirit of entryism, get more revolutionaries involved.

Yes, im telling you, you should hijack the group, just don&#39;t make it obvious.

good luck comrade&#33;

[cb9's_unity]

Working with liberals is a must because as i&#39;ve found most liberals have good intentions but don&#39;t understand liberalism doesn&#39;t change anything. I was a liberal up till last year and then i started doing research on socialism and thats all it took to make me switch to communism. Liberals wan&#39;t to be communists but bougeois lies make them think it is impossible. Getting into personal conversations and disproving those lies should gain you a few allies

[Comrade Marcel]

What do you think being revolutionary would be? Starting a people&#39;s army? The time is obviously not ripe for that.

All the things you describe the Black Panthers did. It&#39;s called community work and self-defense.