tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257493550531569180.post6548707010423170746..comments2024-03-26T16:16:22.535+13:00Comments on AGAINST THE CURRENT: THEY'RE READING OUR SOCIALIST COMMENTARY OVER THEREUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257493550531569180.post-22055685077387713892021-02-25T16:49:00.340+13:002021-02-25T16:49:00.340+13:00It is unfortunate that you've chosen to repeat...It is unfortunate that you've chosen to repeat the fiction of some corporate Democrats that it was the work of radicals that resulted in a number of failures in some state elections. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez addressed that fiction, placing the blame fairly and squarely at the door of a centrist politics that failed to present a clear progressive alternative to Trump, relying simply on the fact that Biden wasn't Trump. Biden wouldn't even support free medicare for all. <br /><br />Said AOC: 'It’s really hard for us to turn out non voters when they feel like nothing changes for them. When they feel like people don’t see them, or even acknowledge their turnout,'<br /><br />I must say though your reactionary view doesn't surprise me because you also supported the centrist politics of Hillary Clinton. That was a winner, wasn't it? <br /><br />What you describe as 'declamatory ideological journalism' is hysterical nonsense. It is simply left wing and socialist commentary. That's possibly something your not familiar with in your own writing since, last time I looked, you were praising the conservatism of the Labour Government. Steven Cowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04352539377513132294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257493550531569180.post-55640250333782081562021-02-25T16:44:44.381+13:002021-02-25T16:44:44.381+13:00This comment has been removed by the author.Steven Cowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04352539377513132294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7257493550531569180.post-68793190715580053952021-02-23T10:01:06.305+13:002021-02-23T10:01:06.305+13:00Jacobin is every bit as entertaining a read as you...Jacobin is every bit as entertaining a read as you suggest, Steve. But, it's impact on the politics of the United States is as miniscule as its 60,000 circulation (in a nation of 330 million!) suggests.<br /><br />It is, I believe, important to note (especially in the face of your criticism of Labour Party supporting centrists at The Standard, The Spinoff and The Daily Blog) that the only serious impact of socialist ideas on the recent US elections was to frighten-off sufficient voters in key states from supporting Democratic Party candidates further down the ballot paper. This failure to eject Republicans from state legislatures and Governors' mansions will have serious consequences for working-class voters, who will continue to suffer disproportionately from the effects of blatant gerrymandering and voter suppression laws designed to keep upper- and middle-class interests firmly in the driving seat.<br /><br />The extreme intimacy of New Zealand politics militates against the sort of declamatory ideological journalism favoured by Jacobin. We are still a small enough country for journalists and commentators to be able to reach and (occasionally) influence their political leaders with relative ease.<br /><br />While that happy situation persists, it is probably best to avoid shouting at and insulting them to aggressively. Sensible, too, I would say, to advocate practical change, rather than revolutionary mayhem. <br /><br />The Jacobins are, when all is said and done, best remembered for cutting off people's heads during Robespierre's bloodthirsty "Reign of Terror".<br /><br />Not really the sort of thing Kiwis go for. Or, at least, not in large numbers. Chris Trotterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09081613281183460899noreply@blogger.com