Comments on: The Utter Futility of Lesser Evilism http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/ a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:43:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Guess Who Said It? « The Unbroken Window http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-3487 Guess Who Said It? « The Unbroken Window Mon, 30 Jul 2007 01:51:38 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-3487 [...] 30th, 2007 by wintercow20 Hint: It is not President Bush the Second. Does not this provision reduce the UN (my edit), so far as concerns an early [...] [...] 30th, 2007 by wintercow20 Hint: It is not President Bush the Second. Does not this provision reduce the UN (my edit), so far as concerns an early [...]

]]> By: Jeremy Wells http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-653 Jeremy Wells Sun, 27 May 2007 16:44:56 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-653 "What is really needed is a revolution to overthrow the present system." Kim Petersen This level of understanding is hopefully emerging with the continuation of the war, with the bi-partisan support of the war, with the realization that all individual candidates of both parties are basically conservative. They wish to maintain their personal status quo and the status of quo of rule by corporate capitalism. Global warming will continue and intensify if corporate polluters refuse to stop pollution because it will affect profits. Wars will continue because the military-industrial complex is profiting from wars. Exxon and oil companies are making record profits. Privatization schemes to attack Social Security, public health, public schools, etc. destroy the living standards while enriching the already wealthy. The lack of affordable housing and living wage jobs are all results of a capitalism serving the intersts of a tiny minority. "The present system to be overthrown" is the entire global capitalist economy. The national and global capitalism economy must be redirected towards to fulfilling the universal economic survival needs of the vast majority of people. We must start this transition now if the planet is to survive global warming. Check out World Socialist Web Site http://www.wsws.org daily critical news analysis. “What is really needed is a revolution to overthrow the present system.” Kim Petersen

This level of understanding is hopefully emerging with the continuation of the war, with the bi-partisan support of the war, with the realization that all individual candidates of both parties are basically conservative. They wish to maintain their personal status quo and the status of quo of rule by corporate capitalism.

Global warming will continue and intensify if corporate polluters refuse to stop pollution because it will affect profits. Wars will continue because the military-industrial complex is profiting from wars. Exxon and oil companies are making record profits. Privatization schemes to attack Social Security, public health, public schools, etc. destroy the living standards while enriching the already wealthy. The lack of affordable housing and living wage jobs are all results of a capitalism serving the intersts of a tiny minority.

“The present system to be overthrown” is the entire global capitalist economy. The national and global capitalism economy must be redirected towards to fulfilling the universal economic survival needs of the vast majority of people. We must start this transition now if the planet is to survive global warming.

Check out World Socialist Web Site http://www.wsws.org daily critical news analysis.

]]> By: Jose M. Tirado http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-621 Jose M. Tirado Sat, 26 May 2007 18:29:18 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-621 In an article I published here a while back I wrote simply, "You cannot get the system you want by voting for people who don´t want that system." Nothing has changed. Greens have opposed this war long before it became a psedo-hip thing to do. Greens have advocated treating the environment as a national priority long before Democrats took this position and watered it down with nuclear powered dreams and more capitalistic fanstasies. The Greens favor the abolition of the Electoral College. If enough Greens were in Congress, Al Gore would have become President because Greens would have pushed this. If you want a different system you must vote for those who do too. Period. There is no way to get what we progressives want unless we choose progressivwes to represent us electorally. Mass movments can be effective but usually their agendas get quickly co-opted by the Dems. You (I say you because I live in Iceland) had a choice--to vote Green and finally get some Congresspeople you can trust. You didn´t. You voted for Dems. Yet again. That´s why nothing there changes. Vote Green next time. The whole world is watching. The American public overwhelmingly backed an end to this war in Iraq by selecting Democrats andthey have willfully ignored public opinion and the mandate they received. In an article I published here a while back I wrote simply, “You cannot get the system you want by voting for people who don´t want that system.” Nothing has changed.
Greens have opposed this war long before it became a psedo-hip thing to do.
Greens have advocated treating the environment as a national priority long before Democrats took this position and watered it down with nuclear powered dreams and more capitalistic fanstasies.
The Greens favor the abolition of the Electoral College. If enough Greens were in Congress, Al Gore would have become President because Greens would have pushed this.
If you want a different system you must vote for those who do too. Period. There is no way to get what we progressives want unless we choose progressivwes to represent us electorally. Mass movments can be effective but usually their agendas get quickly co-opted by the Dems.
You (I say you because I live in Iceland) had a choice–to vote Green and finally get some Congresspeople you can trust.
You didn´t. You voted for Dems. Yet again.
That´s why nothing there changes.
Vote Green next time.
The whole world is watching.

The American public overwhelmingly backed an end to this war in Iraq by selecting Democrats andthey have willfully ignored public opinion and the mandate they received.

]]> By: Tony Jones http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-581 Tony Jones Fri, 25 May 2007 07:23:45 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-581 An interesting article. It highlights at least two important points. First, that military might cannot solve what are esentially political problems (only political solutions can solve political problems) and second, that even the awesome power of the most militarily powerful nation on the planet has its limits. More military force is not necessailry better. To be effective it needs to be flexible. More is not always more - it may actually be less. An interesting article. It highlights at least two important points. First, that military might cannot solve what are esentially political problems (only political solutions can solve political problems) and second, that even the awesome power of the most militarily powerful nation on the planet has its limits. More military force is not necessailry better. To be effective it needs to be flexible. More is not always more - it may actually be less.

]]> By: Hue Longer http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-572 Hue Longer Thu, 24 May 2007 21:59:34 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-572 On a different note, the fear behind “lesser evilism” is disgusting. It's like choosing to become someone’s property because you fear what will happen if you're not protected by the relationship, worse still is worrying about your collective submissive safety then cowardly attacking those who won’t capitulate to the rape. I coined this once and called it, "the penis or the gun syndrome" (Any who attacked Nader voters may want to try it on for size). I also stand by in disgust watching people confessing to " lesser" logic, actually celebrate when Democrats get in. "Hooray! I'll be getting raped by a nicer gang, I'm so glad not enough heroes risked this relationship"! If the Nader's get attacked again, here's hoping Republican's get in... At least Democrats will understand how victimized they are and won't be cheering On a different note, the fear behind “lesser evilism” is disgusting. It’s like choosing to become someone’s property because you fear what will happen if you’re not protected by the relationship, worse still is worrying about your collective submissive safety then cowardly attacking those who won’t capitulate to the rape. I coined this once and called it, “the penis or the gun syndrome” (Any who attacked Nader voters may want to try it on for size). I also stand by in disgust watching people confessing to ” lesser” logic, actually celebrate when Democrats get in. “Hooray! I’ll be getting raped by a nicer gang, I’m so glad not enough heroes risked this relationship”! If the Nader’s get attacked again, here’s hoping Republican’s get in… At least Democrats will understand how victimized they are and won’t be cheering

]]> By: Philip V. http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-571 Philip V. Thu, 24 May 2007 21:57:04 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-571 Thanks for your candid response. I agree. Thanks for your candid response. I agree.

]]> By: RLaing http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-570 RLaing Thu, 24 May 2007 21:26:10 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-570 Vote, schmote. The sole purpose of the Democratic party on this score is to steer the energies of dissent into a dead end. They're doing great at that, at least. The vote that actually counts is the one where people do or do not show up at a recruiting station to volunteer to fight a war. In that sense, and in no other, Americans as individuals have a real voice in how long and how intensely the politicians can continue their war. Vote, schmote. The sole purpose of the Democratic party on this score is to steer the energies of dissent into a dead end. They’re doing great at that, at least.

The vote that actually counts is the one where people do or do not show up at a recruiting station to volunteer to fight a war. In that sense, and in no other, Americans as individuals have a real voice in how long and how intensely the politicians can continue their war.

]]> By: Kim Petersen http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-557 Kim Petersen Thu, 24 May 2007 14:48:23 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-557 I appreciate your comments Philip. How to get a third-party candidate elected is a whole other article, and right now, I am not a paid campaign strategist for any party. Obviously, the system must be changed to weed out the influence of special interest groups. But that is just a tweak. What is really needed is a revolution to overthrow the present system. I appreciate your comments Philip. How to get a third-party candidate elected is a whole other article, and right now, I am not a paid campaign strategist for any party.
Obviously, the system must be changed to weed out the influence of special interest groups. But that is just a tweak. What is really needed is a revolution to overthrow the present system.

]]> By: Philip V. http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-556 Philip V. Thu, 24 May 2007 14:06:01 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-556 A very good article with many good points and insights. Your conclusion however, is inconclusive. First, exactly how do we get a third-party candidate elected. Second, how is that candidate to be prevented from succumbing to the same special interests? A very good article with many good points and insights. Your conclusion however, is inconclusive. First, exactly how do we get a third-party candidate elected. Second, how is that candidate to be prevented from succumbing to the same special interests?

]]> By: sir jorge http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-555 sir jorge Thu, 24 May 2007 13:05:32 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-555 There are a lot of factors, but it does seem that on a daily basis there is a flip flop between democrats and republicans in so many different statements that the media puts out. It's headache inducing, and unfortunately a sad state for those of us that want to learn more. There are a lot of factors, but it does seem that on a daily basis there is a flip flop between democrats and republicans in so many different statements that the media puts out.

It’s headache inducing, and unfortunately a sad state for those of us that want to learn more.

]]> By: CS http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-554 CS Thu, 24 May 2007 12:41:03 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/05/the-utter-futility-of-lesser-evilism/#comment-554 Petersen's recent articles have come with a sense of urgency in terms of urging action and potentcy in terms of content. The mind set of the House slave highlighted by Petersen (in a previous piece) in comparison to the situation in the Arab world was an acute observation. And now in this current piece, Petersen shreds the futility of rebuilding American defenses undergirded by the theology of lesser evilism. Think of Hiroshima, Vietnam, Iraq and a host of US global interests! Is imperialism a lesser evil as opposed to Corporation-driven democracy? Petersen’s recent articles have come with a sense of urgency in terms of urging action and potentcy in terms of content. The mind set of the House slave highlighted by Petersen (in a previous piece) in comparison to the situation in the Arab world was an acute observation. And now in this current piece, Petersen shreds the futility of rebuilding American defenses undergirded by the theology of lesser evilism. Think of Hiroshima, Vietnam, Iraq and a host of US global interests! Is imperialism a lesser evil as opposed to Corporation-driven democracy?

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