The U.S. Left has long debated how to respond to elections and this year the controversy is more intense than usual. We asked two thoughtful left commentators—Rebecca Gordon and Natalia Tylim—to give their contrasting views on the November election and then we got brief personal comments from several members of the New Politics editorial board. Please note that these articles were completed before the June 27 Biden-Trump debate. The arguments advanced regarding Biden and the election more or less still apply if the Democrats replace him with another politically comparable candidate.
Symposium on the U.S. Election
In this symposium:
The Lesser Evil Is Still Less Evil
Rebecca Gordon calls on the US left to vote for the Democrat for President, to prevent Trump’s attacks on workers, women and democracy.
No Election Can Save Us
Natalia Tylim calls for building the independent Left forces in order to stop genocide and fascism, rather than supporting the Democrats in the upcoming election.
Vote to Save Our Basic Civil Rights
Frieda Afary calls for voting for the Democrats for President, in order to protect the basic freedoms and human rights in the United States.
Don’t Just Vote or Not Vote
Dan Fischer calls for focusing on independent grassroots organizing and direct action of the left, rather than ceding ground to the Democratic Party.
The Election and Left Responsibility
Stephen R. Shalom argues that it is moral responsibility for leftists in swing states to vote for the Democratic candidate in the upcoming election.
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