1/A couple years ago, I wrote that left-leaning people in America had begun to seem very negativistic and reactive, without a utopian vision.
Well, maybe my sentiment was shared by others, because I think the socialist movement has emerged to fill that need for utopianism.
Well, maybe my sentiment was shared by others, because I think the socialist movement has emerged to fill that need for utopianism.
2/From free college and health care to high-speed rail, socialists are offering utopian visions of a life of comfort, convenience, and broadly shared material prosperity.
Even the Green New Deal has big elements of that:
theintercept.com/2018/12/05/gre…
Even the Green New Deal has big elements of that:
theintercept.com/2018/12/05/gre…
3/These visions can often get...*very* utopian. 
4/The socialist movement offers utopianism in less material ways as well. Its culture has been deeply influenced by the social justice movement, especially when it comes to gender and disability.
5/People make fun of videos like this, but I think they show a sort of social utopianism and a leveling instinct. Sometimes that is difficult to achieve, and people get frustrated, but they're *trying* to build a new kind of society.
6/The socialist movement promises a dramatic leveling of society in both material and social terms that would lead to far greater prosperity, comfort, status, and feelings of safety and acceptance for huge swathes of America.
If that isn't visionary, I don't know what is.
If that isn't visionary, I don't know what is.
7/I also think the socialist movement offers something else, something American society has sort of yearned for for a long time, and something that the social justice movement didn't necessarily offer: collectivism.
8/In the late 20th century and 2010s, America became a *very* individualistic place. Liberty was our north star. Social movements were framed in terms of individual rights. Capitalism and consumerism reined; society was all about what *you* want.
9/Individualism offers many benefits but I think humans also have an inherent need to be part of a collective group with a united purpose - to lose ourselves in a Movement. We lost that in late 20th century America, possibly as a result of Vietnam, consumer culture...whatever.
10/The social justice movement isn't so much of a movement, really. More of a cultural shift. Socialism, in contrast, has organizations (Bernie's campaign, the DSA). It has ideology and doctrine. It has concrete goals that everyone in the movement can all push for together.
11/That's a movement you can really lose yourself in. It can give you purpose, tell you what your place in the universe is, and stand you next to an army of people who are all pushing for the same thing.
That's something we probably all need, to a greater or lesser degree.
That's something we probably all need, to a greater or lesser degree.
12/Are the socialist movement's utopian goals realistic? No, of course not; realism cannot be utopian. Are there drawbacks to collectivism? Absolutely.
BUT, the movement has given lots of Americans some things they badly needed - positivity and togetherness.
BUT, the movement has given lots of Americans some things they badly needed - positivity and togetherness.
13/At some point the movement may run around on the rocks of grubby reality (as it may just have done in the UK). At some point, its collectivism may drive it to do bad things.
We're still far from that day, however.
We're still far from that day, however.
14/For now, to borrow a phrase from Hunter S., the socialists have all the momentum. They are riding the crest of a high and beautiful wave...
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