[Marxism] YADL

[John]

On Wed, 2009-04-01 at 14:51 -0700, milongonsinga wrote:
> You may be wrong that Obama's election won't open a significant window
> for the left. But that would be our fault.

I think S. Artesian put it best saying the window has been opened anyway
by actual material conditions - economic downturn etc. The election of
Obama is in part a response to that. Obama is attempting to mitigate
that and get the system back "normal". I'm not sure how that is an
opportunity that wouldn't have existed anyway, or anything to celebrate.

> Either way, decriminalizing homosexuality is no small thing, in the
> same way the Civil Rights movement here was no small thing. Each way
> is a blow against the repressive capacity of the state.

Of course decriminalisation was a good thing. That's why I described it
as such. The question is, was the election of a Labour government (NZ's
approximate equivalent of the Dems) a good thing. Or more importantly,
did it open up a window of opportunity for the left? On that question,
the answer is unequivocal. The left withered during the period of Labour
government, *even though* it was unleashing free market deregulation and
neo-liberalism on an unprecedented scale.

>  As far as ICE is concerned:
>  Spencer Hsu of the Washington Post also highlighted the possible new
>  focus reports: Napolitano has sought to chart a middle course by
>  ordering a review of which immigrants are targeted for arrest. While a
>  policy is still under development, Napolitano has said she intends to
>  focus more on prosecuting criminal cases of wrongdoing by companies.
>  Analysts say they also think ICE may conduct fewer raids, focusing
>  routine enforcement on civil infractions of worker eligibility
>  verification rules.

So fewer (but still some) "in your face" ICE raids, but more "routine
enforcement". As I say, Obama will be better than Bush. Deportations
will be below the radar instead of in such public view as it was before.
I don't expect that life for the illegals will be substantially better.

His Iraq withdrawal policy mirrors Bush's. Meanwhile the guy's
escalating the war on Afghanistan and Pakistan in a way Bush didn't dare
to -  and he telegraphed that very clearly before the election. Those
who wanted to believe just blocked their ears and closed their eyes.

And don't start me on his Middle East policy . . .
Cheers,
John