Doing sociology and philosophy in real time by looking at developments in contemporary Western politics and culture, from a Moral Libertarian perspective. My mission is to stop the cultural systemist left and the authoritarian right from destroying the West's Enlightenment traditions.
So Keir Starmer isn't Left-wing? Inside the Online Left's Psychology | TaraElla News
Today, I'm going to talk about the fact that much of the online left seems to find newly elected British Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer not left-wing. As I understand it, Starmer identifies as a socialist, and supports the re-nationalization of several industries. That, I believe, makes him to the left of even Bernie Sanders! Not my cup of tea, but definitely very leftist. Yet, they think he's not a leftist, probably because he defeated someone to his left.
Which, of course, reminds me of the situation where the online left appears to think that Joe Biden is actually a Republican, and a worse choice than Donald Trump! Never mind the fact that Biden now has the most progressive platform of anyone who ever run for US President on a major party ticket, with things like a $15 minimum wage. I suspect that even if Biden were to support Medicare For All, they would still call him a conservative.
For the extremely online left, the point isn't whether Biden or Starmer is progressive or not; the point is simply to have a fight. If you suspect that nothing will ever satisfy these people, then you're absolutely correct. This psychology comes from a long line of Western Marxist thinking, where it is the struggle itself that is romanticized, and for that, practical chances for progress are often sacrificed, so the 'struggle' can continue. The true believer is all about the stuggle, never mind how working people are sacrificed. Of course, this is an attitude that only the economically and socially privileged can maintain. No wonder actual working class people don't want to have anything to do with this faction of the left.
