Permanent Revolution

bright spark on Mon 10, November 2008 @ 17:06

bright spark — 2008-11-10 17:06:12

I am sure we all have stories of the popular reaction to Obama's victory in Britain last week. Sometimes when you have been in politics a while(or decades!) you become a little inured to the novelty factor in politics. But the day after his victory I was turning into my street in Lambeth, south London when a black council street cleaner and a passing black woman on her way to work pumped fists and whooped (I am sure they did not know each other), shouting "Obama, Obama!".

That night with my boy at the council fireworks display I was taken aback by the conversations around me along the lines of "wasn't it wonderful", "I cried for ages". More than one Afro-Caribbean mum at my boys' school was all Obama partied-out by the end of last week.

The sheer sense of joy and hope expressed by people who have experienced a life of racism cannot be overestimated.

Wladek Flakin on Mon 10, November 2008 @ 22:41

Wladek Flakin — 2008-11-10 22:41:48

It's important to mention the need for a political party of the US working class, which was always been missing in American politics (there's an interesting article about this in the latest issue of PR). I've heard different estimates of the amount the trade unions pumped into the Obama campaign - the IMT mentions the figure $300 million (http://www.marxist.com/us-elections-welcome-to-school-of-democrats.htm), whereas the 15% PR speaks of would amount to about $100 million. In any case its a vast amount of money which would assure that a candidacy of the workers' movement, although outside the two major parties, would be in the middle of the political map. Instead, this money is given to a bosses' party for whom the workers' movement is at most a minor constituency.

Eleanor on Thu 13, November 2008 @ 12:18

Eleanor — 2008-11-13 12:18:47

It occurs to me that we need to remember and emphasize the historic significance of what his election represents for people, particularly in the US. The phrase “I never thought I’d see a black president in my lifetime” is easy to say, but it does have very real meaning for a number of people. I personally felt a tinge of excitement at the news of his election and like George I was moved by his rhetoric. This feels different, this feels historic. Don’t get me wrong I have no illusions in what he stands for. I am not suffering form “Obamania”, but for a moment, at least, an oppressed section of society felt as though their voice had made a difference. We should be careful how we rain on that parade. Of course we should raise questions and I think George is right to point out that should be done in a patient manner. A little more tact before we start Obama-bashing wouldn’t go amiss.

Vicky Thompson on Sat 15, November 2008 @ 21:01

Vicky Thompson — 2008-11-15 21:01:27

"this effort helped Obama secure the highest share of the white vote won by a Democrat since 1976"

That's astonishing! Excellent article, George

Robbie on Sun 16, November 2008 @ 13:07

Robbie — 2008-11-16 13:07:43

I'm largely in agreement with George's article. It's very important that revolutionary socialists don't take a sectarian attitude to the movements that have rallied around Obama. Just telling the oppressed black population that celebrated Obama's victory that it is not going to make a difference to them, and that they should instantly shed their illusions in him would be wrong. Hundreds of thousands demonstrating on election night is huge, and shows that there is a real appetite for change. Revolutionary socialists should not ignore this, and should instead fight within this movement to try and force Obama to live up to his promises, and to take these demands further. We certainly musn't ignore the significance of these events and just let those hundreds of thousands who have been mobilised just slip into disillusionment. There is a real opportunity for socialists here which we mustn't, cannot, waste.

Robbie on Sun 16, November 2008 @ 13:09

Robbie — 2008-11-16 13:09:44