An article to reflect on going forward

[izzybeans]

I wonder if the "center-left" coalition can hold together long enough to get some meaningful things done in the coming future. What would it take to do that? I'm trying to learn to be disappointed and not shoot myself in the foot while doing it. I'm writing letters, voicing my complaints, looking for forums of protest, etc. I'm wondering what can be done critically about policy that doesn't destroy our lever of power. I'm not sure this whole "I ain't votin'" stuff is cutting it for me. There has to be better more rational answers somewhere, right?

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/democratic_party/index.html?story=/opinion/feature/2009/12/21/lind_progressive_divorce

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As long as Kilgore's New Democrats treat his social democrats as failed New Democrats who are too naive about politics, and as long as his social democrats treat New Democrats solely as unprincipled corruptionists, there can only be a dialogue of the deaf.

If we distinguish neoliberals, New Dealers and Greens from one another, then the center-left coalition, at the level of first principles, is not a marriage of two partners but a ménage à trois. It resembles the ménage à trois on the right that unites libertarians, Christian conservatives and neoconservatives. Recognizing that there are indeed distinct and fundamentally incompatible public philosophies to the left of center does not prevent cooperation among the schools for common purposes. The three factions can work together to maintain a Democratic majority, just as the neocons, libertarians and social conservatives disagree on first principles but unite in elections to support Republicans against Democrats.

Democrats should learn from Republicans how to manage a ménage à trois.

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