Sunday, January 31, 2016

The science of history is optimistic. But History is also ironic


As a democratic Socialist myself, and a critical supporter of Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, I think an early Sanders primary victory would be GOOD NEWS for " progressive " forces in the United States.Old Bernie is absolutely right about a large turn out in Iowa favoring him- not Hillary. This is true of American presidential elections in general. Why ? Because the vast majority of registered voters have CLASS interest not harmonious with the wealthy- really wealth- ruling class.
However, history has the record of backward working class people supporting fascist demagogues-like Hitler in Germany. There are very few examples of a STRONG MAN rising above class contradiction -like the Roman general Julius Caesar . Naturally the bitter Aristocrats in ancient Rome assassinated him. Some American plutocrats thought FDR was a " dictator ". To the end they called him " that man ".
According to Leon Trotsky Joseph Stalin did not represent the Russian working class ( Lenin did ) but Stalin represented the growing " privileged bureaucracy " after the triumph of the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.
The irony of History ! And the optimism of the " science of history ". The democratic Socialist H.G. Wells, at the end of his life, had faith only in the capacity of HOMO SAPIENS to learn. He had a prophecy of a needed WORLD BRAIN -which we call the Internet today.
Wells was democratic Socialist himself

No comments:

Post a Comment

Comments that are courteous, concise and relevant are always welcome, whether or not they agree with the views expressed here or not. Profanity is not necessary. Thank you for reading “Time Enough At Last!”

Ron