Politics

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In-depth political discussion from around the world; if it's a political happening, you can post it here.

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America must not surrender its Democratic values | Bernie Sanders (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 10 hours ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

16 comments fedilink hide all child comments

There's not a whole hell of a lot that's new here, but it's important to remember that if you're not recognizing the country we've known, colonialist and imperialist as it's been over the years, you're not alone.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

The nationwide free breakfast program for students was created directly in response to the black panthers free breakfast program. Prefiguring a better society through direct action and political education has proven more effective than engaging in electoral politics.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

SBP (which is only one relatively small and highly means-tested example) was passed by elected politicians. BPP didn't put it in place themselves, elected politicians in office who were in favor of it used the opportunity of national attention to push other elected politicians to pass it. And that is just one of many student food assistance programs, most of which were not passed due to attention created by direct action.

I'm not arguing against direct action, I'm just disputing that it's been "more effective" than other means. It tends to facilitate the more effective means. The advantages that community action provides are around being highly agile and highly targeted. It can't provide countrywide, uninterrupted assistance programs, because no community groups have the resources necessary for that. The BPP could never have provided free lunches for students nationwide by themselves, and they didn't want or attempt to.