Eight Lessons for Progressives Inspired by Syriza

[Ichingcarpenter]

Syriza has also been level-headed -- and so must we. There are at least four preconditions for Syriza's January electoral breakthrough that don't exist in the U.S.: proportional representation in elections; an economic crisis of immense, social fabric-destroying proportion; a history of subjugation by foreign powers; and disciplined, determined activists raised in the radical movement. Still, there are significant lessons to learn from what is happening in the Mediterranean in America, where our organization is based, and elsewhere.

Lesson 1: Clearly identify the enemy.

Syriza had a story to tell that rang true, and they didn't shy away from telling it. It went like this: foreign creditors teamed up with a discredited domestic political system in order to benefit the tax-avoiding oligarchs, and together they pushed brutal, livelihood-destroying austerity measures. The story rang true to Greeks -- because it was true.

There isn't a perfect analogy to the U.S. context, but we have our own Syriza-style tight loop of a story: Wall Street, oil companies and Walmart buy political power in both major parties, which deregulate, subsidize, and under-tax so that corporate profits and executive compensation reach astronomical heights while wages stagnate, climate change goes unchecked and risks of another financial collapse pile up.

It's a story we have to tell, too.

Lesson 2: Against the oligarchs and the "totalitarianism of the market" which serves as a cover for their interests, we, the forces of democracy, have to fight back.

Only a few benefit from the oligarchs' policies, but they have the power and they have a grip on the political system. The oligarchs prevent the creation of a genuinely fair electoral playing field via a rigged campaign finance system and the rollback of voting rights. The oligarchs bring in cheap immigrant labour but prevent immigrants from getting citizenship. The oligarchs buy politicians. Democracy -- real democracy -- is a threat to them.

America gave birth to the idea of popular sovereignty, but who in America today believes that it is the people who rule? We will get policies for the rest of us when the rest of us have real political power.

Lesson 3: Inequality is objectionable, but more fundamental is articulating how people are denied the things that they need.

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/03/03/eight-lessons-progressives-inspired-syriza


please keep this kicked in this forum

including steve if you would

[TexasTowelie]

1. The 4 a.m. bump--K&R!

[vlakitti]

2. Fine article on the Greek crisis

in an international context. Thanks for reposting it here.

And there's a good piece by Conn Hallinan at People's World which covers much of the same territory, extending the analysis to similar austerity atrocities in Ireland and Portugal:

http://www.peoplesworld.org/lies-and-myths-about-greece-and-europe-s-debt/

[postulater]

3. Sounds like Wisconsin. nt

[nenagh]

4. K&R

[Bugenhagen]

5. K&R

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. Lesson 1: Clearly identify the enemy.

Lesson 1: Clearly identify the enemy.

Syriza had a story to tell that rang true, and they didn't shy away from telling it. It went like this: foreign creditors teamed up with a discredited domestic political system in order to benefit the tax-avoiding oligarchs, and together they pushed brutal, livelihood-destroying austerity measures. The story rang true to Greeks -- because it was true.

they made it clear that even the so called liberal parties were corrupted by the oligarchs who were playing both the left and right for their gain.

[TBF]

12. ^ this right here. nt

[newthinking]

7. Excellent. Thanks for posting it.

Check out the sig line

[Scuba]

8. Excellent. Kicked and recommended.

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. kick

[socialist_n_TN]

10. Here's my kick......

Since Syriza and Podemos are both parties with either a working class base OR substantial working class support they should be critically supported against enemies of the working class in general. HOWEVER, the key word is "critically". Neither will be able to make lasting changes in their countries because both seek to come to an accommodation with capitalism. Even "save" capitalism as it's "erratic Marxist" finance minister says.

Capitalism, and ESPECIALLY capitalism in crisis, is a system that does NOT play well with others, even benign social democratic systems. Because Syriza and Podemos are seeking to save capitalism and give it a more humanistic face those movements are bound to fail. That will never happen because capitalism itself won't ALLOW it to happen. UNLESS it comes down to the point where that human face is the only thing that will save the system itself. IOW, unless capitalism is facing an existential crisis. Even then they will try fascism as a first resort to try and save the system. Once fascism is defeated, THEN they will finally try humanism.

So let Syriza and Podemos go for it and I'll support their right to try. But only because workers need to see with their own eyes that the ONLY way to improve their status is socialist revolution.

[TBF]

11. I've pinned it for awhile -

important lessons for us here.