Someone please inform me of the last social revolution that was not the product of radicalism.

[Paradoxical]

I'm trying to understand the argument that in order to defeat a corrupt system I have to become part of it.

I'd just like to know when we last overcame great social injustice by "playing" along.

[ZombieHorde]

1. r

[franzia99]

2. You're making a good point. I also think right now is a good for time radical reform...

It's all about branding your message though in a way that will get through to regular folk who don't pay much attention to politics/social issues. I was thinking we need something like a liberal equivalent of the tea party in the republican party. Not sure if that's what you meant by radical reform though.

[drm604]

3. Define radicalism.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you but a discussion like this requires that we define the terms.

Was the so called "Reagan revolution" a result of radicalism? (An undesirable example, but still a social revolution.)

Was women's suffrage a result of radicalism?

Was the civil right's movement a result of radicalism? (I'm leaning towards "yes" as the answer to this one).

Are the current improvements for gay people (there's still a LONG way to go, of course) a result of radicalism or gradual change over several generations?

Were Social Security and Medicare the result of radicalism?

I'm not trying to blow away your theory here. It's an interesting conversation.

[Paradoxical]

7. The "Reagan revolution" was not a revolution at all.

You can't have a revolution that goes backwards.

All the others could be classified as radical changes.

[blindpig]

4. Exactly.

Gradualism does not produce real change. Society, like biological evolution, changes in leaps, see punctuated equilibrium.

http://monthlyreview.org/2005/03/01/homo-floresiensis-and-human-equality

[Paradoxical]

5. Well according to some on here, you're wrong.

We have to become part of the corrupt system before we can change it.

Which is utter nonsense as far as I'm concerned.

[socialist_n_TN]

6. I can't think of any.........

Also remember that you don't have to have a majority to bring about radical change. The radicals DO have to be SUPPORTED, either actively or passively, BY the majority though.

I personally will play along with the system as long as I can until class consciousness is raised enough for the majority of people to see which side they are on. At that time though, all bets are off.