Chomsky 'the spectrum of acceptable opinion'

[rogerashton]

5. Hey, man, I was speaking to YOUR point

which seemed to argue that Bernie would remain within the "spectrum of acceptable option" pre-2012. Not so. "Socialist" and "Political revolution" were not at all within that spectrum. Today they nearly are, thanks to Bernie.

Now, you are quite right, of course, to say that TALKING about socialism will not make socialism. But talking about socialism will make more people aware of the possibilities that various socialist positions (including anarchism) have discussed. And shifting the "spectrum" to get people talking about socialism and political revolution is one step, just one, in the right direction.

Frankly, I'm a Fabian socialist. Like all Fabians, I fear violent revolution, because I'm pretty sure the fascists will win, and if not the fascists, then the "Stalinists." I believe ISO is a Trotskyist group. Do I need to say that I don't think Trotskyism -- however honest, intelligent and authentic -- is on the right track? Perhaps we don't exactly agree what socialism is, in every detail. Can we agree on workers' power? Can we consider whether we will move toward workers' power more rapidly by supporting Bernie than not? I think we will.