A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward.
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Are You a Commie ?
What are you, some kind of a commie ? If you're a Liberal of a certain age you've had to deal with this question dozens of times. During the first Cold War, Cold War 1.0 in the 50s and 60s, anyone who advocated for the working stiff, or what we now call the 99%, was called a Commie, a Pinko, a Comsymp or a Fellow Traveler. It was a standard, and very effective, right wing device. Joe McCarthy was an extreme example but accusations of Communist leanings were quite common in ordinary conversation. It seemed like the Cold War was waning in the 70s but Ronald Reagan brought it back to life with Cold War 2.0 in the 80s. It was almost as effective then as it had been earlier as a way to discredit Liberals and justify military adventures and regime changes. The echoes of it are with us to this day. You still hear old people disparaging single payer healthcare as "socialized medicine" and we're still in the grip of Milton Friedman's disastrous Free Market economics. If you read Uncle Miltie you'll see that his writings are just a series of bald, unsupported assertions and that he really only has one argument: any attempt to regulate the behavior of business or finance is a step towards totalitarian communism. That's it, that's all he ever had.
The reason that it was such an effective tactic is the the best-known Communist country, the Soviet Union, was a pretty nasty place. Anybody who had been paying attention knew this all along but a surprising number of well-meaning liberals actually believed that the USSR was a Worker's Paradise based on Marxist principles. Emma Goldman was deported to the Soviet Union in 1919 and her book My Disillusionment in Russia was published in 1923. She was astonished at the behavior of the Cheka, among other things, and reported that the Bolsheviks were thugs way back then. Both of George Orwell's dystopian classics, Animal Farm and 1984 are thinly disguised descriptions of the Soviet Union in the 1930s. Yet people continued to believe. They wanted to believe. They made excuses for Bolshevik excesses and dismissed eyewitness accounts as Capitalist propaganda. There was an actual Communist party in America. People like John Reed, Pete Seeger and Paul Robeson were Communists. There were Communists parties in every country in Europe and until Nikita Khrushchev's revelations, or confessions, in 1956 they had large memberships. There are two reasons that people were able to maintain their illusions about the Soviet Union. One was that the Bolshevik Worker's Paradise was a closed society. The true nature of the regime was effectively hidden. Official visitors were shepherded around by minders from the secret police. They only saw what government wanted them to see. In 1943 Henry Wallace, the Vice-President of the United States, visited Magadan, the port of the Dalstroi labor camps in Kolyma. He was given a carefully orchestrated tour of some of the camps. He was shown a fake, Potemkin Gulag; newly painted villages filled with happy, well-fed volunteer workers. The guard towers and starvation rations were not in evidence. The other reason people wanted to believe was that the economic analysis of Karl Marx had immense appeal.
Marxism is a description of the economic structure of industrial capitalism in the mid-19th century. It was based on the historical theories of a German philosopher named Hegel who saw history as a series of battles between opposite forces, or contradictions. This is the famous dialectic. Marx used this framework to describe history as a struggle between economic forces; the Capitalists who owned the factories and the proletariat who worked in them for wages. This is called dialectical materialism and it's actually pretty sound as far as it goes, although Marxists often have trouble with agriculture. It's pretty involved, as you can see if you go to the Wikipedia article I linked at the beginning of this paragraph. It's also unnecessary.
I've never read Marx. Do you want a description of life among the working poor of 19th century England ? You can find that in Marx's contemporary Charles Dickens. An understanding of class struggle ? Here's Aristotle, ca. 250 B.C.E.:
For the real difference between democracy and oligarchy is poverty and wealth. Wherever men rule by reason of their wealth, whether they be few or many, that is an oligarchy, and where the poor rule, that is a democracy. But as a fact the rich are few and the poor many; for few are well-to-do, whereas freedom is enjoyed by all, and wealth and freedom are the grounds on which the oligarchical and democratical parties respectively claim power in the state.
Politics, Book III, Ch. 8
Here's Adam Smith, from
Wealth of Nations published in 1776:
“For every rich man there must be at least five hundred poor, and the affluence of the few supposes the indigence of the many.”
Wealth of Nations, Book V, Ch. I
Smith again:
“The interest of the dealers, however, in any particular branch of trade or manufacture, is always in some respects different from, and even opposite to, that of the public. To widen the market and to narrow the competition is always the interest of the dealers. To widen the market may frequently be agreeable enough to the interest of the public; but to narrow the competition must always be against it, and can serve only to enable the dealers, by raising their profits above what they naturally would be, to levy, for their own benefit, an absurd tax upon the rest of their fellow-citizens.”
Wealth of Nations, Book I, Ch. IX
Finally, here's Thomas Jefferson, my favorite political philosopher.
Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties: 1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes 2. Those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise, depository of the public interests. In every country these two parties exist, and in every one where they are free to think, speak, and write, they will declare themselves. Call them therefore, Liberals and Serviles, Jacobins and Ultras, Whigs and Tories, Republicans and Federalists, Aristocrats and Democrats, or by whatever name you please, they are the same parties still pursue the same object. The last appellation of Aristocrats and Democrats is the true one expressing the essence of all.
Thomas Jefferson to Henry Lee, Aug. 10, 1824
So there you have it. I am not now nor have I ever been. I will not argue about the
bourgeoisie,
contradictions or
class struggle. I don't advocate a
dictatorship of the proletariat. I don't take my marching orders direct from the Kremlin, although that charge is back now with Cold War 3.0, and I don't go carryin' pictures of Chairman Mao. How 'bout you ?
Are You a Commie ?
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
List of All Existing Meatspace Groups
Where the Kogs Are: Index/Directory of the 130+ Localized Daily Kos Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Wednesday, June 4th
SFKossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet for Regina in a Sears Kit House!
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Picaro Tapas Restaurant
3120 16th Street (Near 16th Mission BART) • San Francisco
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. navajo
2. Meteor Blades
3. Regina in a Sears Kit House
4. Regina in a Sears Kit House's DH
5. side pocket
6. dharmasyd
7. norm
8. Lorikeet
9. justiceputnam
10. dsb
11. kimoconnor
12.
13.
14.
15.
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Maybees:
jpmassar
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Saturday, June 14th
Inaugural New Jersey Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Cranberry's Gourmet Cafe
10 Cedar Brook Drive, Cedar Brook Corporate Park • Cranbury
ORGANIZER: Send Avilyn a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Avilyn
2. belinda ridgewood
3. zitherhamster
4. avamontez
5. Christin
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Maybees:
Trosk
profewalt
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Latest diary: First New Jersey Kossacks Meetup!
Saturday, June 14th
DC Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: TBD
TBD • Washington, DC
ORGANIZER: Send NinthElegy a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. NinthElegy
2. mdmslle
3. webgenie
4. mimi
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Sunday, June 22nd
March for Democracy Arrival Rally
Call for a national Constitutional Convention for the sole purpose of proposing an amendment to end big money's corruption of our democracy. Dolores Heurta will be there to speak.
If you can't be there in person please sign this petition.
TIME: 11:00 AM
LOCATION: California State Capitol
1315 10th St • Sacramento
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
Latest diary: Something big is brewing in California
Tuesday, June 24th
NYC Kossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet for Dave in Northridge
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Donburiya
137 East 47th Street (Lex & 3rd) • New York
(Not wheelchair accessible, entrance is 2 steps down)
ORGANIZER: Send sidnora a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. sidnora
2. Dave in Northridge
3. Avilyn
4. plf515
5. followyourbliss
6. MBNYC
7. cohenzee
8. joanbrooker
9. waterstreet2013
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Maybees:
Laura Clawson
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Latest diary: NYC Meetup 6/24: Come Meet Dave in Northridge
Wednesday, July 16th
Annual Cheers & Jeers Dinner to Kick-Off NN14, Kossacks Only
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Vicente's Cuban Cuisine
1250 Library St • Detroit
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to RSVP.
RSVPs:
1. Common Sense Mainer
2. Bill in Portland Maine
3. smileycreek
4. paradise50
5. side pocket
6. Mrs. side pocket
7. norm
8. maggiejean
9. Shockwave
10. a gilas girl
11. susans
12. Sara R
13. belinda ridgewood
14. sidnora
15. Mr. sidnora
16. thankgodforairamerica
17. brillig
18. mik
19. K1
20. loggersbrat
21. Dave in Northridge
22. 714day
23. NormAl1792
24. texasmom
25. texasdad
26. a gilas girl
27. peregrine kate
28. provokingmeaning
29. justiceputnam
30. tmservo433
31. Mark E Andersen
32. Son of Mark E Andersen
33. winkk
34. theRoaringGirl
35. shermanesq
36. Doggie269
37. shanikka
38. jakedog42
39. ramara
40. skohayes
41. DebtorsPrison
42. gmats
43. Adam Blomeke
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Daily Kos Staff:
1. Markos Moulitsas
2. Susan Gardner
3. Will Rockafellow
4. Meteor Blades
5. Joan McCarter
6. Faith Gardner
7. Laura Clawson
8. Chris Bowers
9. navajo
10. Jen Hayden
11. Elisa Batista
12. Denise Oliver-Velez
44. LuLu
45. Chicklette
46. PerfectStormer
47. 4Freedom
48. DemSign
49. vicki
50. Cedwyn
51. jotter
52. aha aha
53. Dennis Shreefer
54. ohmydem
55. Brainwrap
56. Mrs. Brainwrap
57. Eclectablog aka Chris Savage
58. Anne Savage
59. BlueBarnStormer
60. sandiegodem
61. Pam Miles
62. TexMex
63. linkage
64. 2thanks
65. bunnygirl60
66. binkaroni
67. zenbassoon
68. nomandates
69. thepegster
Maybees: N in Seattle, Turbonerd, winifred3
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Latest diary: Connect! Unite! Act! ATTN: DC, Tucson & Seattle Meet-up Info! +Q: Roll Call, Are You Attending NN14?
Friday, July 18th
Daily Kos Detroit VA Hospital Service Project
Sara R delivers 65 quilts, hand knit scarves and hats, books, 65 teddy bears, hand made greeting cards, and phone cards from the DK Quilt Guild, WAYWO, the Readers & Book Lovers, IGTNT and individual Kossacks to the nursing home at the Detroit VA Hospital. This is a wonderful project that many people can be involved with even if they don't attend the convention. If you care about veterans in a nursing home this is your project. Please volunteer to help.
DELIVERY TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Volunteer Office of the Detroit VA Hospital
4646 John R St. • Detroit
ORGANIZER: Send Sara R a Kosmail to participate in making the gifts and/or deliver them.
RSVPs to help deliver gifts:
1. Sara R
2. NormAl1792
3. Winifred
4. Ninepatch
5. linkage (videographer)
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: DK Quilt Guild: What Inspires You?
Plenary Session Tables during the rest of the Convention
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to have a seat reserved for you in the main ballroom of the convention center for the big events. These table will be there so we can all find each other as a group. The seating is not assigned. You can float from table to table. I'm only counting to see how many tables I need to reserve.
Cheers & Jeers Table:
1. Common Sense Mainer
2. Bill in Portland Maine
3. brillig
4. mik
5. K1
6. vicki
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Motor City Kossacks:
1. peregrine kate
2. provokingmeaning
3. 4Freedom
4. Brainwrap
5. Mrs. Brainwrap
6. Eclectablog aka Chris Savage
7. 2thanks
8. Sydneyluv
9. DoReMI
10.
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SFKossacks Table:
1. navajo
2. Meteor Blades
3. smileycreek
4. paradise50
5. side pocket
6. Mrs. side pocket
7. Tim Delaney
8. maggiejean
9. Jeff in CA
10. Mrs. Jeff in CA
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SFKossacks Table II:
1. a gilas girl
2. justiceputnam
3. Dragon5616
4. DebtorsPrison
5. tmservo433
6. shanikka
7. aha aha
8. jotter
9. norm
10.
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Los Angeles Table:
1. Shockwave
2. susans
3. Dave in Northridge
4. gmats
5. 714day
6. jakedog42
7.
8.
9.
10.
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New York Table:
1. sidnora
2. Mr. sidnora
3. belinda ridgewood
4. thankgodforairamerica
5. Denise Oliver-Velez
6. hayden
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Seattle & Portland Table:
1. Lefty Coaster
2. Sara R
3. loggersbrat
4. N in Seattle
5. Cedwyn
6. linkage
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Texas/Oklahoma/New Mexico Table:
1. texasmom
2. texasdad
3. TexMex
4. nomandates
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Maybees:
kjoftherock, angry marmot, boran2, Turbonerd, northerntier, northerntier's SO,
Sunday, July 27th
Phoenix Kossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet for navajo
Event will be potluck, so please sign up here with food, beverages or booze
TIME: 4:00 PM
LOCATION: Mother Mag's Rooftop Terrace
(address given privately to RSVPs) • Downtown Phoenix
ORGANIZER: Send Mother Mags a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Mother Mags
2. navajo
3. Azazello
4. Mrs. Azazello
5. arizonablue
6. Mr. arizonablue
7. Kane in CA
8. puzzled
9. Late Again
10. Mr. Late Again
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Maybees:
rasbobbo
DaNang65
drnatrl
dewey of the desert
Mr. dewey of the desert
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Latest diary: Arizona meet-up: Summer potluck with Navajo!
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.