General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Here's how to change the world [View all]My ideal conception of society is distinct from what can be accomplished, so just because I think that communism in its purest sense most directly embodies the christian spirit does not mean I would not work with socialists, be the radicals or democratic socialists. In this way the modern generation of communists are less idealistic than people like you, in that we are willing to ally with people even if we do not fully agree. What is necessary is a coalition of people, so you and I are not opposed really.
WSDEs and Co-operatives are hardly radical, by the way, in that they currently exist and work very well. Getting there is also possible, we could pass a constitutional amendment that states that privately owned businesses have to be be owned in part by the workers of it, with internally determined percentage of ownership depending on internally determined criteria.
The problem with traditional social democracy is that if you leave the capitalist class intact they -will- come back to get you and reverse the gains made, and they get better at doing this each time. Right now the social democracies of europe are being rolled back on a consistent basis, even in previous social democratic strongholds like Sweden.
So ultimately we agree, democratic socialism is necessary. I am pessimistic that it is possible, however.