This is a call to all those on campus who are dissatisfied with the current state of the nation. I know there are a lot of us out there, but it is hard to tell sometimes. Those with right-wing politics can just skip this letter. It does not concern you. This is a message to all the leftists trying to exist in a worldwide time of reaction. It seems, too often, that we must be crazy for being so hopelessly out of lock-step with the New World Order.
We know that the American left is in retreat these days. Attacks on affirmative action, immigrants and the welfare safety net are only the recent manifestations of a sustained decades-long corporate campaign to shift American politics firmly to the right. They have been trying to shut down viable progressive politics and action, and they have been winning.
We know that the existence of the horrendous NAFTA, GATT and other trade treaties that the U.S. forces upon the world testifies to the supreme hegemony of the "free market" ideology, over lesser concerns such as human rights, fair labor standards, environmental protection and true democracy. Multi-national corporations set policy and dictate terms, with the U.S. military ready to invade and impose order when needed. The majority will continue to live in misery, and the right tells us that this is the most natural and perfect economic system.
We know the main problem is that major decisions are completely out of the hands of the people. Elected officials respond universally to the interests of capital, at the expense of the majority. Corporations take much of the action that affects us, and they systematically "downsize" the workers, attack their unions, keep their wages low and working conditions inadequate.
We are not supposed to know that capitalism is just one way of doing things and perhaps not the best way. We are not supposed to realize that our workplaces lack even the pretense of democracy. We are supposed to believe that it is good to squeeze profits out of a health care system that neglects 40 million people.
Police brutality is always an aberration, CEOs are justified in making millions, the environment can be sacrificed for profits, racism is nearly gone, feminists are responsible for the breakup of the family, the rich need a tax break and on and on in an endless steam of ideological lies masked as truth. We are not supposed to question this New World Order.
Leftists do not believe any of this, of course. The liberals, progressives and radicals out there who want to reform the system or overthrow it, know what is going on. We are all working on the issues that are important to us, whether it is anti-racist, labor, feminist, environmental, anti-imperialist, gay rights or any of a thousand causes that desperately need fighting. We struggle against an endless mountain of right-wing money, and the dominant ideology that it supports. The problem is the lack of a significant, visible, movement to change things.
There is enough discontent and energy out there to put together a powerful force that can challenge the corporate order and all its eager servants. It starts with the left coming back together, dropping the defensive, apologetic attitude that has shackled us for too long and standing with one defiant voice for real change. We have to let the rest of the country know that we are here, that we are angry and that we will not be stopped!