The rise of the faux Socialists.

"Every man gotta right to decide his own destiny,
And in this judgement there is no partiality.
So arm in arms, with arms, we'll fight this little struggle,
'Cause that's the only way we can overcome our little trouble." ~Zimbabwe~ Bob Marley

Progressives and faux Socialists have been chirping a lot about Barack Obama's declaration that the defund the police slogan was a bad idea. Well, I hate to break it to them, but Obama was right.

No one in their right mind would think that defunding the police, or even saying it in such a manner would appeal to the general public. Most people view that as a cry to get rid of the police altogether, and that is the last thing that people living in crime- ridden neighborhoods in cities like Philadelphia want to do.

 I, for one, am tired of these so called progressive left wingers and "woke" people who sit behind their ivory tower desks and in their air conditioned television studios, and then pontificate to us about how good Socialism and progressive policies are. (I see you Mark Lamont Hill and AOC)  It's offensive.  I was teaching in rural Jamaica as a part of Michael Manley’s National Youth Service program before some of them were even born. My Socialist bona fides is quite strong. I know a thing or two about Socialism, as I have lived it and studied it for a great part of my life.

 Honestly, I consider myself more of a Socialist than anything else, because I happen to think that Socialism, in its purest form, is the best type of government for the majority of the people in the world. But I am also a realist, and I understand that you will never win elections in this country by being too far to what most Americans consider the left. The way you win the ideological battle is at the ballot box, and in order to do that you have to be smart politically. This means appealing to moderates in the middle and energizing your own base.

The faux Socialist out here calling for radical change know that it can’t be achieved in the voting process, And, let's keep it real, they damn sure aren’t going to take to the streets to start a revolution. That would mean having to give up their cushy lifestyles and making real sacrifices. 

The only alternative is to win elections and effectuate change by implementing policies that are closer to our socialist principles without the scary catch phrases. And the only way we are going to do that is to be smart enough to get more votes than the other side. 

To use a football and sports analogy: Don't give the other side bulletin board material to use against you. Be smart about what you are trying to do and how you are going to get there. 

Remember, there are more than one ways to skin a cat. Or, for that matter,  a turtle.         

"To divide and rule could only tear us apart;
In everyman chest, mm - there beats a heart.
So soon we'll find out who is the real revolutionaries;
And I don't want my people to be tricked by mercenaries." 

No mercenaries needed brother Bob. They are easily fooled by just about anything.