NORMAN BIRNBAUM
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agreements
to
wage the only kind of warfare which might succeed in
the Soviet bloc-serious pressure for more political autonomy for its
population. The pursuit of agreements on the control of nuclear
weapons and on arms reductions in Europe and elsewhere might make
this sort of political pressure more effective, rather than less so.
As I write thi s in mid- June, Senator Kennedy has as yet to declare
hi s candidacy, but he is running. I rather think he will win a narrow
victory and become president. His program will need strong legislative
support, and a good deal of organized pressure. In any event, Senator
Kenn edy is a skilled politician and not a new Manichean. He seems to
think tha t these policies too are acceptable to the American publi c. A
Kennedy presidency would not move our nation to the left in any
mechani cal way.
It
would generate expectations, and inflict disap–
pointments, which could mobilize millions of voters, and tens of
thousands of activists, who now feel that the White House is relatively
inaccessibl e-or unabl e
to
aid them. A Kennedy presidency would
represent something ra ther new; combining elements of standard
Democrati c Party coalition politics with newer programs and political
techniques designed [or an epoch of capitalist crisis.
It
would also call
for a large amount of international cooperation on economic issues,
and could bring the Democrati c Party closer
to
the European Social
Democrats and Socialists.
Millions of our fellow citizens would support profound institu–
tional changes, if they felt these were consonant with their own rights
and self- esteem. Thus far, alas, those who seek alterations in our society
h ave fail ed to develop a new idea of an American democratic culture
which would connect with a new politics. Whatever occurs in 1980, if a
program is not initi a ted from the White House, it will be developed
fr om below. Tha t will call for patience-and the ability to sustain
bitLer enmity, quite possibly backed by th e power of the state. In either
case, a turbul ent decade li es before us.
