anonymoose
Classical Liberal
Enough time has gone by to render a judgement: despite ample opportunity to advance their cause, the left’s 21st century project has failed and failed badly.
Consider:
The project hasn’t been a complete failure. Left parties, including the Democratic Party, have succeeded in building strong bases among the educated and professional classes… they have generally controlled the commanding heights of cultural production. As a result they have mostly set the terms of “respectable” discourse in elite circles (only).
The left… has squandered enormous political capital on a 21st project that has largely failed. Twenty-five years is long enough; it is high time to try something new.
Consider:
- It has failed to stop the rise of right populism.
- It has failed to create durable electoral majorities.
- It has failed to achieve broad social hegemony.
- It has failed to retain its working-class base.
- It has failed to promote social order.
- It has failed to practice effective governance.
- It has failed to jump-start rapid economic growth.
- It has failed to generate optimism about the future.
The project hasn’t been a complete failure. Left parties, including the Democratic Party, have succeeded in building strong bases among the educated and professional classes… they have generally controlled the commanding heights of cultural production. As a result they have mostly set the terms of “respectable” discourse in elite circles (only).
The left… has squandered enormous political capital on a 21st project that has largely failed. Twenty-five years is long enough; it is high time to try something new.