Democratic Socialist

[AOR]

71. Robert Reich is a liberal capitalist passiveporcupine...

Hartmann, Reich, ect...talk a good game but they are unable to take the next step in denouncing capitalist social relations as the problem. That's fine but they should not be claiming to represent leftist politics because they don't. They will NEVER let go of Capitalism.

Some of the things that Robert says are fine in the context of "reform" but he simply doesn't get it. The cognitive dissonance whether real or deliberate is beyond all comprehension. Robert is a liberal capitalist who believes Capitalism can be "reformed and regulated" into a benevolent prosperity for all. Mr. Reich could not be more wrong. Liberal reforms in a capitalist empire is like putting a band-aid on a limb infected with gangrene.

Robert Reich actually made this comment in an article widely covered a few months ago at many venues --

" The widening inequality — combined with the increasing numbers of people who work full time but are still impoverished and of others who have never worked and are fabulously wealthy — is undermining the moral foundations of American capitalism."

ThAs statement is truly beyond all comprehension passiveporcupine. Somebody should tell Robert that the "moral foundations of American capitalism" are built on the institutionalized theft of labor and savage inequality and it has always been thus. That's the way it works and always has. And no, it is a "not a new feature of another kind of Capitalism that's not like the moral kind." It is the normal workings of Capitalism in all it's glory. Without a doubt one of the most absurd and ridiculous comments ever uttered by Robert Reich. Capitalism doesn't have any moral foundations. The foundations of Capitalism are expropriation of the working class and the commons of the people to funnel profit to a minority ruling class.

As far as co-ops go... most leftists don't buy into that mysticism at all. Working class struggle means a struggle of ALL workers. Workers of the world unite is more than a slogan. Solidarity is all workers have. "Socialism" within a capitalist power structure will be degraded to the point of extinction. ALL workers need to control the strings of the means of production and distribution of their labor. Not co-ops while capitalists and the ruling class retain their power. The capitalists will allow pockets of "socialist entrepreneurs" all day long as long as they maintain their political and economic power. As spot on as Richard Wolff is on a lot of Marxist critique he always loses his shit and the narrative when he starts yammering about mystical shit like workers co-ops in a capitalist power structure.

Richard Wolff always hedges about "curing capitalism", "mixed systems", "workers cooperatives", and a dozen other feel good "solutions" that appeal to disaffected Progressives and "middle class Socialists and Marxists" of all stripes. They just gotta have that "little bit of Capitalism thrown in" to "keep things from getting out of control and totalitarian" He throws in his lot with such esteemed "radicals" as Jill Stein and the "Green Shadow Cabinet." Fucking joke.

Without a complete change in the power structure and control of the commons that serves at the alter of Capital rather than the workers and labor as a WHOLE... Wolff's proposed solutions are more reformist pablum. There's not going to be any "mixture of Socialism and Capitalism" that doesn't leave the Socialism part of it in the dust in the long run. Workers Cooperatives for how many workers ? What about the rest ? Will their exploitation end while the Workers Cooperatives are negotiating with the capitalists for their little space of "Socialism" in the mixed system ?

It is all bullshit and calling it leftism doesn't make it so. The problem is Capitalism period. That is the 800 pound gorilla in the room. Without addressing the 800 pound gorilla in the room - which is Capitalism - this is all meaningless pablum. If Sanders wants to get out a message... he needs to address and start talking about working class political power and put this feel good "help for the middle class" bullshit to rest. The middle-class is a decomposing social structure that was a 30 year aberration in capitalist social relations. Bernie, Hartmann, Reich, ect... are still speaking in the tongues of the ruling class when they spout that horseshit.

Again... Sanders is shaking the tree with his message and stands far above the rest in a capitalist power structure and electoral field and that's fine as far as it goes. The problem is that if Sanders doesn't win... the liberal wing of the party is going right back into the fold and voting for another neoliberal, warmonger corporatist in Clinton. Sanders makes no secret he is going back into the fold himself. It is what is but people should not be trying to put a leftist or socialist edge on Democratic Party politics because there is NO leftism or socialism going on.