I wish, but I'm putting my money on that not happening, at least not with all its current institutions intact. Refer to the history of entire 20th century. If anything, having a rival superpower makes the US more and more insanely right-wing. I mean, you can already see this in action today.
Oh I definitely don't agree with that. The only reason that the various reforms of the 40s, 50s, and 60s happened in the US were because of the threat of the USSR.
Domestically, yeah sure. Communists and other liberatory movements, as well as the shadow of the USSR, certainly forced the hand of the US to give concessions and reforms. However, the more important and insidious part to consider is its foreign policy - it was in competition with the USSR and socialism that the US committed genocide, bio-chemical warfare and other war crimes in Vietnam, Laos., Cambodia, or Korea. It was to counter the USSR and socialism that the US funded death squads in Iran, the Caribbean, Central and South America to torture and kill villages of innocents, or to continue to support the Apartheid regime, even after the Civil Rights Movement was successful in the US.
I have no reason to believe that the US won't be more or less the same in competition with China.
It's important to remember that our perceptions of people's views, that we usually get from social media, do not represent the entirety of the nation, but rather, clusters of people. I would say that, as a consequence of the BLM protests, although more people are coming to support more socially left views (The opposite is also true), the consensus on economic policy is roughly unchanged. Sure, most people want Bernie's platform, but most people don't want a radical reconstitution of the economy. Yes, the American left is starting, to some degree, find it's feet again, but it's hampered by decades of propaganda and ideology.
Let's also assume that the majority of Americans are economically left, a situation that I desperately wish for. This scientific study shows that normal people have virtually no say in policy outcomes:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/testing-theories-of-american-politics-elites-interest-groups-and-average-citizens/62327F513959D0A304D4893B382B992B
This is a summary from a lib source, but I recommend going through the actual study:
https://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/is-america-an-oligarchy
In summary, even if the majority of US citizens are left, if they work within the confines of their system, nothing will change. Brown people will still be blown up in places halfway across the world, children will still mine for coltan in war-ravaged Africa.
At least we can say that of all western countries it is the one where the condition seem pretty ripe for a revolutionary moment. I just fear that in that case the US will slip into some fascist dictatorship instead of a revolution being successful.
But one can hope for things going right for once. Inshallah.
America, hopefully.
I wish, but I'm putting my money on that not happening, at least not with all its current institutions intact. Refer to the history of entire 20th century. If anything, having a rival superpower makes the US more and more insanely right-wing. I mean, you can already see this in action today.
Oh I definitely don't agree with that. The only reason that the various reforms of the 40s, 50s, and 60s happened in the US were because of the threat of the USSR.
Domestically, yeah sure. Communists and other liberatory movements, as well as the shadow of the USSR, certainly forced the hand of the US to give concessions and reforms. However, the more important and insidious part to consider is its foreign policy - it was in competition with the USSR and socialism that the US committed genocide, bio-chemical warfare and other war crimes in Vietnam, Laos., Cambodia, or Korea. It was to counter the USSR and socialism that the US funded death squads in Iran, the Caribbean, Central and South America to torture and kill villages of innocents, or to continue to support the Apartheid regime, even after the Civil Rights Movement was successful in the US.
I have no reason to believe that the US won't be more or less the same in competition with China.
Good point, I was only thinking domestically.
I don't think their foreign policy will ever substantially change or capitalism wouldn't be able to sustain itself if it cannot exploit some other.
Agreed, imperialism and the domination of capital's interests transcends all other considerations in American foreign policy
I thought that American citizens have been swinging to the left. Am I wrong about that?
It's important to remember that our perceptions of people's views, that we usually get from social media, do not represent the entirety of the nation, but rather, clusters of people. I would say that, as a consequence of the BLM protests, although more people are coming to support more socially left views (The opposite is also true), the consensus on economic policy is roughly unchanged. Sure, most people want Bernie's platform, but most people don't want a radical reconstitution of the economy. Yes, the American left is starting, to some degree, find it's feet again, but it's hampered by decades of propaganda and ideology.
Let's also assume that the majority of Americans are economically left, a situation that I desperately wish for. This scientific study shows that normal people have virtually no say in policy outcomes: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/testing-theories-of-american-politics-elites-interest-groups-and-average-citizens/62327F513959D0A304D4893B382B992B
This is a summary from a lib source, but I recommend going through the actual study: https://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/is-america-an-oligarchy
In summary, even if the majority of US citizens are left, if they work within the confines of their system, nothing will change. Brown people will still be blown up in places halfway across the world, children will still mine for coltan in war-ravaged Africa.
Under what administration? Or do you think a revolution could actually be successful in the US?
Yes. I think a Leftist 'revolution' is possible. In fact, I think it's already starting.
At least we can say that of all western countries it is the one where the condition seem pretty ripe for a revolutionary moment. I just fear that in that case the US will slip into some fascist dictatorship instead of a revolution being successful.
But one can hope for things going right for once. Inshallah.