Michael Kazin pinpoints not only the left's biggest failing but also the solution to our political problems:
"...the left must realize that when progressives achieved success in the past, whether at organizing unions or fighting for equal rights, they seldom bet their future on politicians. They fashioned their own institutions -- unions, women's groups, community and immigrant centers and a witty, anti-authoritarian press -- in which they spoke up for themselves and for the interests of wage-earning Americans... To paraphrase...Joe Hill, the left should stop mourning its recent past and start organizing to change the future."
Whatever Happened to the American Left?
Michael Kazin, "The New York Sunday Review", Sept. 25, 2011
The success of the right wing is based on their superior organzation and coordination between organizations, and between organizations and politicians. While the left has many organizations, most focus only on narrow issues. There are the unions, a handful of internet publishers serving as clearinghouses for information, boatloads of bloggers whose alliances are effectively little more than hand-waves across the room, community organizations with poor communication, and a few inconsistent and uncoordinated fundraising organizations. In these loose associations, they are almost completely ineffective against the right wing.
We need contracts between progressive groups that will allow us to mount effective opposition to the forces that are ruining our country and our planet. What we're doing now isn't working at all.
-- David Dickinson