Re: 'long and painful process'...

12/19/2000, Paul Broome wrote:
    > One thing is clear (IMHO): it will not be arrived at by
    grandiose projects or idealism. There will be, as others on
    this list have suggested, no quick fix or magical cure. The
    emancipation of humankind from both capitalism and
    imperialism will be a long and painful process.

Dear Paul,

On what basis do you claim that this is 'clear'?  Do you
have an argument why things are likely to, or must, proceed
in a 'long and painful' manner?  Or do you simply find a
lack of arguments for a quicker path, and hence make the
default assumption that none exist?    Or is it simply that
the statement agrees with everyday consensus assumptions,
and hence no evidence is required?  What about the
fact that grandiose projects and idealism have been central
to many past regime shifts?  And does gradual simmering 
accurately characterize the dynamics of previous revolutions?

yours,
rkm