The mood

One of the most important things for activists is to be able to judge the mood. Especially important is to be able to recognize when there has been a sharp change in the mood. If we are not capable of this then events will take place, moods will change and we will just continue in our old way as if nothing has changed. 

The mood has most definitively changed here in the US and internationally over the past few weeks. Capitalism with its arrogant offensive onslaught against the working class, with its sneering claim that there was no alternative to its rule and its unregulated rule has been knocked off its perch. This is an event of historical importance. Do not take my word for it. 

Here is the Financial Times, the mouthpiece of British Finance capital. On Oct 4th/5th it had an article entitled: "Fear and loathing in the aftermath of the credit crisis."  It went on in its first first paragraph. "Historical events change behaviour and attitudes. The two world wars, the great depression of the 1930's and the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US each shaped the way a generation thought and acted. The financial crisis will be no different."  It went on to say that there was a "deep sceptism - loathing, even - of of the financial wizards who got the world's markets into this mess. 

In an effort to separate themselves from this mess and not go down with the ship the pro capitalist mouthpieces such as the Arch Bishop of Canterbury and the Pope are even coming out and complaining about capitalism. 

What are the lessons for us activists and socialists. We can get an echo now for our our ideas that we have not been able to get in the past period. From this we have to draw organizational conclusions. These are that we have to increase our interventions and more boldly go out to meet workers and youth. There is a greater willingness to criricise capitalism now than at any time in decades. We as socialists must put forward our socialist alternative and go out and become more active. 

Sean