160
own powerlessness. Until the myths
of the free market economy and
the role of private power are ex–
posed, no new effective coalition
can arise. And if they are not
exposed, we must continue to rely
on old outworn formulas for coali–
tions - like Mr. Howe's. Indeed,
his coalition is based on one other
myth which must be destroyed–
namely that labor is as powerless
as the "poor" and therefore has as
much interest in the goals of radi–
cal change.
Brian R. Wright
Mr. Howe replies:
Whatever anyone thinks about
my current political views, it seems
to me beyond dispute that they are
sharply different from those held
LETTERS
by people like myself in the thirties.
So the charge of nostalgia seems
beside the point.
Mr. Wright's questions are in–
teresting, and to answer them fully
would require another "intermin–
able" essay. Let me therefore make
just a few points:
1) A coalition does not presume
an identity of interests; if such an
identity were present there would
be no need for coalition. That there
can be a clash of interest between,
say, highly-paid sheet-metal workers
and unemployed Negro youth is
obvious. At such points, whatever
labor-Negro coalition exists may
break down or suffer severe strains.
But that is no reason why there
cannot
be
sustained cooperation
(which also implies tension) in be–
half of the many goals that unions
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