The Socialist Who Wasn’t

This was originally intended as part of the collection of short discussions, but pulling them all together took longer than expected, and the other stories fit together under a general heading, so this will be a briefer-than-usual post.

Nathan J. Robinson
A Socialist when It’s Convenient for Him

One of the more intriguing headlines of the last couple of weeks was this one from vice.com: “Socialist Publication Current Affairs Fires Staff for Doing Socialism.” Nathan J. Robinson, the author of Why You Should Be a Socialist and editor-in-chief of the journal Current Affairs, which is described on its webpage as “Socialism with Cajun Characteristics,” essentially fired virtually the entire staff when they advocated for a workers co-op.  Apparently all this talk of actually doing socialism instead of talking about it made Robinson, who plays Napoleon the pig in this community theatre production of Animal Farm, nervous about losing the absolute control to which he believed himself entitled. 

He referenced “his vision for the Current Affairs as published in the first issue.”  That statement of purpose seems intended more to entertain than to illuminate.  Indeed, it’s difficult to find anything there to support Robinson’s current position.  A cardinal principle that the magazine is “firmly against the hurting of other human beings” certainly doesn’t jibe terribly well with his recent actions.  Indeed, that opening salvo expresses particular disdain for “the libertarians, who despise every tyrannical act unless it happens to be done by the boss.”  Um…

You can read statements from two staffers who were… ahem… asked to resign here and here.  It certainly looks like a mess.  But Curmie is less interested in Robinson’s outrageous antics per se and more in a brief exchange over on EthicsAlarms (you’ll have to scroll down pretty far).  I’m particularly fond of the comment by Glenn Logan: “Socialism is one of those things that looks good on paper, but when you experience it, you convert to capitalism mighty fast…”  

What he’s really saying, of course, is that if you’re an insecure, hypocritical, asshole willing to betray the trust of your friends for a little more perceived power, capitalism is the most proven means of accomplishing your goals.  Well, that assertion is difficult to dispute.