As any union agitator knows, writes Luxemburg, "definite successes" in the form of material gains "absolutely are not and cannot be the sole purpose, the sole determining aspect in economic struggles." In other parts of Europe, strikes "without much "plan'" erupt because "a great exploited mass of proletarians [stand] opposed to the concentrated ruling power of capital or the capitalist state." Strikers are not infrequent but frequent, she continues, and "mostly end without any "definite successes' at all--but in spite, or rather just because of this are of greater significance as explosions of a deep inner contradiction which spills over into the realm of politics."
These are periods of the "most beautiful confusion"--"spontaneous combustion of the masses," union leadership, "economic struggle and political struggle, mass strikes and revolution." But it seems "that "theory' does not merely "stride forward' more slowly than practice: alas, from time to time it also goes tumbling backwards."
Organize voting rights campaigns! Prepare for the elections! We are the Left; we've got your back!
And we wonder why in the 21st Century it is possible for the capitalist state to amass its power to repress the voice of opposition and protests and to misrepresent the lived experiences of the workers even to themselves? Look to the Left, Luxemburg suggests! Look to those who present themselves as adherents of class struggle but who function for the capitalist rulers.
How can the workers here in the U.S. call for a General Strike for May 1st when we are "the strongest" government in thee world and we have a "Black" president?
While the Occupy Movement is supporting the May 1st call to stage a general strike, the Left press is silent.
Elections! Change again is on the way!
We should focus our attention, as Kautsky would argue, to supporting "the strongest government" and postpone expectations for "a mass strike until the year after the Reichstag elections."
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
