* G. McGovern wins nomination in '72 because people rather than party-insiders get to pick. Loses 49 states. Democrats invent "Superdelegates" to prevent any re-occurrence for 50 years.
* Carter attempts various liberalizations. Serves one term. Americans swing way right for Reagan, Thatcher shows it's international. Politicians get credit for Fed's inflation fight, austerity and low taxes on high incomes credited as financial genius. "The Left", psychologically, goes into catatonia.
* Left in general runs away from class struggle, is taunted by Gingrich and evangelicals to "liberal" rather than "progressive" fights over human rights for minorities. (Credit to Corey Doctrow for the quick definition: Progressives object to 150 people having the power and money to make nearly all the big decisions in the world; liberals are OK with that as long as minorities are represented in the 150. Clintons were liberal non-progressives.)
* 9/11 is successfully employed to make left-wing geopolitics look naive and near-suicidal, as it was in the Red Scare.
* "The Spirit Level" in 2007, makes clear how damaging neoliberal economics have been for human life; right/left currently involved in effort to pry right out of Iraq. The right continues to control foreign policy right through Obama administration; takes literally 20 years for 9/11 to stop scaring people.
* Moore makes Fahrenheit 11/9, pointing out that Obama threw all the poor communities in Michigan under the bus with lead in their water. Calls upon Democrats to return to progressive values of reducing income inequality.
Q: I've followed all that in real-time for 50 years. Do I really need to read "Death of the Left"?
Fire Weather is terrifying! Some of the conclusions he draws about energy sector are a bit naive. not wrong, just lacking perspective. Even so it’s a great book for the climate skeptic in your family.
I just started Too Dumb For Democracy BTW. With the current warm weather we are having I’ll likely have it wrapped up by the end of the christmas break.
My #1 too
And if you haven't read Death of the Left yet, you might like it. It's a great critique.
I hadn't heard of it, grateful for the rec!
Curious to hear what you think if you read it.
From my own memories:
* G. McGovern wins nomination in '72 because people rather than party-insiders get to pick. Loses 49 states. Democrats invent "Superdelegates" to prevent any re-occurrence for 50 years.
* Carter attempts various liberalizations. Serves one term. Americans swing way right for Reagan, Thatcher shows it's international. Politicians get credit for Fed's inflation fight, austerity and low taxes on high incomes credited as financial genius. "The Left", psychologically, goes into catatonia.
* Left in general runs away from class struggle, is taunted by Gingrich and evangelicals to "liberal" rather than "progressive" fights over human rights for minorities. (Credit to Corey Doctrow for the quick definition: Progressives object to 150 people having the power and money to make nearly all the big decisions in the world; liberals are OK with that as long as minorities are represented in the 150. Clintons were liberal non-progressives.)
* 9/11 is successfully employed to make left-wing geopolitics look naive and near-suicidal, as it was in the Red Scare.
* "The Spirit Level" in 2007, makes clear how damaging neoliberal economics have been for human life; right/left currently involved in effort to pry right out of Iraq. The right continues to control foreign policy right through Obama administration; takes literally 20 years for 9/11 to stop scaring people.
* Moore makes Fahrenheit 11/9, pointing out that Obama threw all the poor communities in Michigan under the bus with lead in their water. Calls upon Democrats to return to progressive values of reducing income inequality.
Q: I've followed all that in real-time for 50 years. Do I really need to read "Death of the Left"?
Fire Weather is terrifying! Some of the conclusions he draws about energy sector are a bit naive. not wrong, just lacking perspective. Even so it’s a great book for the climate skeptic in your family.
I just started Too Dumb For Democracy BTW. With the current warm weather we are having I’ll likely have it wrapped up by the end of the christmas break.
Thanks for the book recommendations. I'll pass this on to the Book Club I read with.
Happy Christmas!