( I use the word “we’"somewhat loosely. In fact, I live outside the US.)
Sunkara has a point. So we dodged a bullet this time. But who’s to say what we will be confronted with in 4 years, or 8 years, or 12. If our fate is tied to the continuation of the Democratic party in office, we’re in trouble. It’s unlikely that they will pull off the miracle of staying in office into the indefinite future.
Seen in strictly electoral terms, it’s hard to see our way out of this mess. At what point do we break from the Democratic Party and launch a left challenge? If this year was not the right time, what reason do we have to believe that we will be better placed next time?
All I can suggest, and it’s hardly original, is on the ground organizing for whatever it is that can gain some traction. Sunkara makes some proposals to do this.
But he also warns against “narrow identitarianism.” Is this why he makes no mention of Black Lives Matter? It seems to me that, whatever happens in elections, a powerful anti-racist movement will be a bulwark against reaction. Similarly for a strong women's movement and LGBT struggles. In my view, building these movements does not cut us off from organizing beyond our ranks.
ken h
