Hello, do you know the difference? The Raytheon, Goldman Sachs left is not the left.
November 13, 2022
Dear Liberals or Conservatives,

When you say left, you probably aren’t actually talking about the left. Find another name. Or at least understand the difference between the woke left and the traditional left which although largely silenced does still exist.

Here is a crude guide for liberals and conservatives who want to know the difference.

PS: If you want a stark demonstration of the differences between the current woke left and traditional left, and see how the woke left has become the intersectional pet of the ruling elites, watch this 2 minute CIA recruiting video or read: Anti-Oppression Politics is a Red Herring to Divert Our Attention from Empire, Inequality, and Class Solidarity.

Issue Traditional left Woke left
Free speech Yes, a core value historically, although there is debate about the boundaries No
Speech is violence No Yes
Anti-capitalist Yes Sometimes lip service but belied by funding and support they receive in the halls of capitalism
Anti-authoritarian Yes, no, depends. Historically, plenty of both. The anti-authoritarian strands generally consider that leftist ideology was hijacked and distorted by authoritarians, such as the Bolsheviks No
Class analysis Yes No
Antiracist Yes, but sees working on material benefits for everyone as a path to diminish real, historical racism Centers on race as an explanation for everything, perpetuates grouping of humanity by race
Universalist core No, centers on grouping people by race and race as an explanation for all the world’s ills
Anti-empire Yes although sometimes blindspots for some leftists in being able to see non-american imperialism for what it is Speaks about anti-colonialism of the past but is supported by the most imperialist of corporations and supports many imperialist policies based on party partisanship
Workers’ rights Yes, including worker ownership of enterprise Limited to some unionization but because it centers on race, not workers in general it is divisive and supports the status quo
Social justice Yes, but focused on improving material well being of all, not centered on race Centered on race and identity
Transgender ideology Neutral, individuals could go either way but is not relevant to core leftist ideology Core issue
BLM Yes to the underlying cause of social justice, but sees the BLM organization with skepticism Yes, unequivocally
Anti-war Historically against war which is seen as elites grinding up working class Neutral but partisan pro-democrat, woke elites appear to be more Raytheon influenced
Materialist analysis of social ills Yes, primarily concerned with material well being No, primarily concerned with subjective identity and magical thinking
Challenges power Yes No

 

AcademiaFeaturedFree speechTransgender IdeologyMark White
The woke left is to left as ersatz coffee is to coffee

The woke left is to left as ersatz coffee is to coffee

Woke

1948 Nescafe advertisement

One of the hallmarks of today’s woke left is to conflate speech with violence. Fearful of the ‘harm’ that might be experienced from hearing certain words, the woke left has become widely confused about the issue of free speech in general and between speech and literal, physical violence.

In New Zealand this week, Posie Parker was assaulted as she tried to speak–a mob surrounded her and forced her off the stage and ultimately out of the country. The group that prevented her from speaking has taken to social media to declare a great victory.

Free speechPlebity
The why and what of our Free Speech and the Left virtual conference

The why and what of our Free Speech and the Left virtual conference

Conference

Free speech and the left conference 2023

Momentum is building for our Free Speech and the Left virtual conference scheduled for June, 2023.

The conference participants include some of today’s most interesting voices, coming together to discuss the most divisive issues of the day.

We’re in active collaboration with the New Zealand site Redline, India & the Global Left and acTVism Munich.

What is the left?

Panelists will consider whether leftist thought offers relevant and useful ways of thinking about capitalism and exploitation, empire and forever wars, cancel culture and identity politics, environmental destruction and degrowth, social justice and universalism, animal rights and morality, and of course free speech.

FeaturedFeminismJanette Higgins
Daughter of Spanish Civil War veteran speaks out about identity politics

Daughter of Spanish Civil War veteran speaks out about identity politics

Opinion 

Jim Higgins - Fighting for Democracy. A Canadian Activist in Spain's Civil War

“I couldn’t be myself,” or words to that effect: It was written in pencil on a piece of scrap foolscap I found amongst my father‘s papers after he died in 1982. He wrote that sentiment in 1977 when he was working on his memoir. My father’s name was Jim Higgins, and his book is called Fighting for Democracy: a Canadian Activist in Spain’s Civil War. It was not published until 2020.