I can’t remember where I read it recently but someone was talking about the need for the Left to think about Machiavelli rather than Gramsci as a guide for political action at times of defeat.

The other big problem, as noted above, is the lack of any viable political vehicle with the ALP’s secular turn to the right – and for that matter, the lack of any convincing alternative to neo-liberal economics.

I can’t remember where I read it recently but someone was talking about the need for the Left to think about Machiavelli rather than Gramsci as a guide for political action at times of defeat.

The other big problem, as noted above, is the lack of any viable political vehicle with the ALP’s secular turn to the right – and for that matter, the lack of any convincing alternative to neo-liberal economics.

The odd thing is that persuasion was a successful strategy – opinions have changed enormously on all the ’60s agenda issues – that if not now abandoned has at least been heavily diluted. It might be the subculture problem – when virtually everyone you meet agrees with your basic worldview you no longer need to be persuasive.

My theory is that the first generation of intellectual-political movements are usually the best, because they have to constantly find more persuasive ways of presenting their arguments and defending their position. Those who come later lazily adopt the conventional wisdom. It’s just as Mill argued back in the mid-19th century; you need competition in ideas to stay sharp.

The odd thing is that persuasion was a successful strategy – opinions have changed enormously on all the ’60s agenda issues – that if not now abandoned has at least been heavily diluted. It might be the subculture problem – when virtually everyone you meet agrees with your basic worldview you no longer need to be persuasive.

My theory is that the first generation of intellectual-political movements are usually the best, because they have to constantly find more persuasive ways of presenting their arguments and defending their position. Those who come later lazily adopt the conventional wisdom. It’s just as Mill argued back in the mid-19th century; you need competition in ideas to stay sharp.

* part of the reason is that the Left’s primary political outlet, the Labor Party, no longer does so. Mind you, the right elites hide their own real agenda just as much.
* There are fewer outlets for persuasion than there used to be.
* And, you’re right, we’ve collectively wimped out on trying to persuade the unpersuaded and have resorted to chatting amongst ourselves.

Any suggestions as to where I can set up my soapbox so outer suburbanites can hear?

* part of the reason is that the Left’s primary political outlet, the Labor Party, no longer does so. Mind you, the right elites hide their own real agenda just as much.
* There are fewer outlets for persuasion than there used to be.
* And, you’re right, we’ve collectively wimped out on trying to persuade the unpersuaded and have resorted to chatting amongst ourselves.

Any suggestions as to where I can set up my soapbox so outer suburbanites can hear?