Re: Contradictions of an election in an imperialist country

Dear Alan,

Below is an e-mail that was sent to S26 list. I did not ask the permission of 
the author to forward his/her mail to this list but I don't think s/he would 
mind. Someone on the S26 list made an argument similar to yours (well, not 
quite but hey!) about the elections and this is his/her response.

Best,
Sabri

******

Subj:    Re: [S26-global] revote in Fla.
Date:   00-11-15 20:12:54 EST
From:   redstar3@prodigy.net (Seth Oberman)
To: gshalif@netvision.net.il (Ilan Shalif)
CC: antiimf2000@egroups.com (S26)

The fact is that for many years voting was illegal. It was only through mass
struggle that women and African-Americans won the right to vote.  If it
wasn't important why do you think the ruling class fought it so bitterly and
continues to try to disenfranchise masses of voters?  The idea that your
vote isn't important is a ruling class idea. Your vote is a weapon.  It is
not the only weapon, but it is a very important one.  Also, we should not
place in conflict the fight to expand democracy (even under capitalism) and
the fight to win socialism. ( I'd recommend brushing up on marxist
dialectics.) Just as I think it is a mistake to place in opposition to one
another efforts to reform capitalism and the ultimate fight to replace it
with a fair, just and humane system, that I'll call socialism.  And even
this is not some total and final act. You see socialism has to be built.  It
will not come dropping out of the sky.  Millions of people will not wake up
one day and say, "you know what, we need socialism".  And in order for us to
win and build  socialism, the vast majority, millions and millions of
people, are going to have to be involved in the political process.  The vast
majority is going to have to see the need for it and then organize to win
it. Are going to have to see it as relevant to the struggles in their
everyday lives. Reform struggles are part of this historical process.
Through reform struggles people get involved, get a sense of their own
power, develop an understanding of the need for working class unity and
confront the limitations of our capitalist system. In fact it is only in
these struggles that revolutionary, anti-capitalist ideas can become mass
ideas. And that is one of the most important roles of the left.  We cannot
win socialism on our own.  If we could we would have already. We cannot
stand apart from mass struggles, superior and aloof.  We have as much to
learn as we do to teach.
I suggest that whether you voted for Gore or Nader or didn't vote at all it
is important to see this current election struggle as part of our ongoing
effort to expand the limited democracy that we have.  The right wing
certainly hopes that you don't so that they can move in and start to slash
and burn. They have already given every indication of their contempt for
democracy.
----- Original Message -----
From: Ilan Shalif <gshalif@netvision.net.il>
Cc: S26 <antiimf2000@egroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 2:19 PM
Subject: Re: [S26-global] revote in Fla.


> Hi People.
> I wonder how people naive enough to find in election some thing
> positive find it relevant to the movement.
>
> Every one know that if involved with election could change society
> the act was outlawed.
> Every government is an enemy of the people so why fuss so much about
> small differences among them?
>
> Ilan
>
> Seth Oberman wrote:
>
> > Dear Friends,
> >
> > The situation in Florida regarding the ballot count demands immediate
> > response and attention.  Thousands of citizens and community activists
> > are
> > hitting the streets in Florida protesting the injustices committed in
> > this
> > election.  We must fight on all fronts to demand a re-vote.   Please
> > email,
> > fax or call to the following government officials to let them know your
> > feelings on the issue.  The following is a form letter you can use as an
> >
> > outline for a more individualized letter.  Please feel free to add more
> > but
> > but keep it short and remember to be friendly and clearly state the
> > demands:
> >
> > 1. A prompt re-vote to ensure complete accuracy and fairness.
> > 2. A federal investigation conducted by the Office of the U.S. Attorney
> > General into polling practices in Florida.
>
>
>
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