It rings true since it’s based on a smidge of material analysis, and the superficial similarity with leftists steals our momentum (dragging us back at the moment, but attempting to hitch a ride when there’s another Bernie type wave). Protofascist IMO. Vance correctly identifies that there is a bourgeoisie that controls the USA, and that ordinary people should instinctually oppose this, but he draws the lines of the classes such that the “elite” contains people like journalists and nurses, and the “real Americans” includes himself and ski-doo dealership owners and such. This is not new rhetoric, but Vance is actually doing a little analysis so it works well.
For instance, he says that the reason illegal immigration exists is because all the business owners - many of them Democrats - profit from illegal immigration. The low wages paid for under-the-table work push down the wages paid to citizens. That’s true! It’s convincing, it’s material. But Vance goes on to say that the way to stop this phenomenon is not for workers to band together to force business owners to pay them high wages no matter the supply of labor, or even just to make immigration (functionally) legal again so immigrant labor isn’t so cheap, but to keep immigration (functionally) illegal but just make the border even more deadly.
Thanks Mohammed and thanks to your friend. I want to tell him I’m so sorry that the American left has so far failed in our mission to organize the people. Although both our political parties support Israel, polls show that most Americans want to stop. From underneath our government the hearts of the people are with you.
And I want to ask him: What do you think about political organizations within Gaza? I’m curious to hear your thoughts on Hamas, the PFLP, the various PLO groups; armed struggle and mass struggle. What is working, what is not? What is popular, what is unpopular? Are most people politically engaged or is it too hard because of Israel’s attacks?