It probably offends many that I’m so ruthless toward politicians, no country excepted. But to my mind, the struggle for democracy & human rights cannot accept the discounts or half-assed endorsements they offer. When it comes to politicians, so few can be trusted to operate without deceit. ‘Lesser evil’ doesn’t play well in practical, let alone principled, politics. We need to lay out our maximum program for social change–exactly what we want & need–knowing the struggle to achieve it will not be without temporary accommodations to power. But a temporary accommodation should not become a permanent capitulation. To my mind, working people are not served nor social transformation achieved by half-assed promises or discounts on justice.