Quote:
Die Linke was founded in the middle of June this year and it is now Germany’s third biggest party, with over 70,000 members. It registers between 11 and 14 percent support in polls, the third highest rating, and is set to enter regional parliaments in forthcoming elections in the states of Hessen, Hamburg and Thuringia
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There are five factors behind the rise of the new party:
Attacks on the German working class.
The role of the SPD in those attacks.
The return of class struggle from below.
A growing youth radicalisation.
Increasing unease at the role Germany plays in the “war on terror”, especially in Afghanistan.
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I wonder why we cannot get such a thing happening in America. Is US just too big? Parliamentarianism surely helps, but is it a prerequisite? People such as Lou Dobbs urge people to register as Independents for their voting rights, but its not really the same thing. (My grandfather proclaimed himself a Radical Independent, and I march to that tune, but thought better of registering as such in order to keep off of No-Travel lists, lol).
America does have a long history of popular parties forming for specific goals. I wonder what it would take to begin such a thing today.
Here is a link to the article I was reading, tho I have not finished reading it yet:
International Socialism: Germany’s political earthquake
So, what is the real skinny in Germany (anyone living there?)?