Pragmatic Leftist Theory

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The neolibs are too far right. The tankies are doing whatever that is. Where's the space for the people who want fully-automated-luxury-gay-space-communism, but realize that it's gonna take a while and there are lots of steps between now and then? Here. This is that space.

Here, people should endeavor to discuss and devise practical, actionable leftist action. Vote lesser evil while you build grassroots coalitions. Unionize your workplace. Participate in SRAs. Build cohesion your local community. Educate the proletariat.

This is a place for practical people to develop practical plans to implement stable, incremental improvement.

If you're dead-set on drumming up all 18,453 True Leftists® into spontaneous Revolution, go somewhere else. The grown ups are talking.

Rules:

-1. Don't be a dick. Racism, sexism, other assorted bigotries, you know the drill. At least try to default to mutually respectful discussion. We're all on the same side here, unless you aren't, in which case kindly leave.

-2. Don't be a tankie. Yes I'm sure you have an extensive knowledge of century-old theory. There's been a century of history since then. Things didn't shake out as expected, maybe consider the possibility that a different angle of attack might be more effective in light of new data.

-3. Be practical. No one on the left benefits from counterproductive actions. This is a space informed by, not enslaved to, ideology. Promoting actions that are fundamentally untenable in the system in question, because they fulfill a sense of ideological purity, is a bad look. Don't do that.

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agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works

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submitted 3 days ago by agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works to c/PLT@sh.itjust.works

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I don't want this to just be a place for rants and memes. I do want this to be a place for rants and memes, but not just that. We need serious, respectful, cooperative discussion to figure out the path forward. Actual dialectics, where opposing views are analyzed and synthesized. Not the stubborn factionalism we're all so familiar with.

If we're going to accomplish anything, we need organization and a plan. Effective organization is gonna have to be grassroots. An effective plan cannot be. 10,000 independent coalitions pulling in different directions don't get us anywhere.

So let's make a plan.

I'd like to ask anyone willing to contribute to post their proposed timeline of action for discussion. Please, be respectful. Criticize ideas, not people. Focus on achievable actions. "Everyone takes up arms against their oppressors next Thursday" is not an achievable action.

If you disagree with an approach, suggest an alternative. We're not getting anywhere by telling each other we're wrong. We need to agree on what right looks like, and a good solution that you can actually implement is better than a perfect one that will never see the light of day.

I'll start in the comments.

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[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

On the whole, I generally dislike timetables.

My one disagreement is that timetables get people moving in a specific direction. If the timetable has to be extended, or shortened, with new developments, so be it. I presented a timetable (and a particularly optimistic one at that) to consider the feasibility of a course of action, and approximately how long such a course would take to yield results.

Yes a failed milestone can be disheartening, but the momentum has the potential to carry enthusiasm regardless. The way I see it, the discourse as it stands is too vague, concerned more with romantic idealism than specific, coordinated action. A timeline creates urgency and immediate direction, which are valuable features for the cause.

Point there is just that there is that progressives going into local government should be aware of that much more detail and compromise-oriented bend - many of the precepts we work on are concerned with national or state-scale government; there are fewer opportunities - though certainly not no opportunities - for strict progressive policies.

Well said, though in truth my primary goal with winning local office is less about direct action at that level (though that is also a desired effect) and more about building a roster that can be gradually elevated to higher office.