 atmosphere during day 2 of the Life Is Beautiful Festival on October 27, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic)

Life Is Beautiful Festival - Day 2

LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 27: Performers from Cirque du Soleil's "O" during day 2 of the Life Is Beautiful Festival on October 27, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic)

Life Is Beautiful Festival - Day 2

LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 27: Singer Anna Worstell of Five Knives performs during day 2 of the Life Is Beautiful Festival on October 27, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic)

Life Is Beautiful Festival - Day 2

LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 27: Musician Rhiannon 'Ritzy' Bryan of The Joy Formidable during day 2 of the Life Is Beautiful Festival on October 27, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) La Botz Got the Siegel Campaign All Wrong

by David Judd

Dan La Botz' article on the return of Left to electoral politics is generally insightful, and its survey of campaigns around the U.S. is a valuable contribution. However, the article's analysis of the Dan Siegel campaign for mayor of Oakland is off.

Siegel's economic program is not one "for capitalist investment that might have been developed by Democratic or Republican party candidates." It's not a socialist program, but no mayor is likely to bring about socialism in one city. Capitalist investment is indeed moving into Oakland, and the question is what form this will take. Will it displace Oakland's working class and force out even more of Oakland's African American residents? Or can Oakland's current residents organize and leverage capital's desire to invest in Oakland to extract concessions that can improve life here for the majority?

Silicon Valley capitalists, with no love lost for the cable monopolies, might indeed be fine with bond-financed municipal investment in a public broadband internet provider, although they'd probably prefer one of their own control the infrastructure, Google Fiber-style. Business interests are less likely to be happy paying taxes to help finance jobs for Oakland residents repairing streets, re-insulating buildings and installing solar panels, one of the Siegel planks La Bot
atmosphere during day 2 of the Life Is Beautiful Festival on October 27, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by FilmMagic / FilmMagic) 

 biography Is Beautiful Festival - Day 2 

 LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 27: performer from Cirque du Soleil's " O " during day 2 of the biography Is Beautiful Festival on October 27, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (photograph by FilmMagic / FilmMagic) 

 Life Is Beautiful Festival - Day 2 

 LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 27: Singer Anna Worstell of Five Knives performs during sidereal day 2 of the life sentence Is Beautiful Festival on October 27, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by FilmMagic / FilmMagic) 

 animation Is Beautiful Festival - Day 2 

 LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 27: Musician Rhiannon' Ritzy' Bryan of The Joy Formidable during day 2 of the Life Is Beautiful Festival on October 27, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (photograph by Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic) La Botz Got the Siegel Campaign All Wrong 

 by David Judd 

 Dan La Botz' article on the return of Left to electoral politics is generally insightful, and its sketch of campaigns around the U.S. is a valuable contribution. However, the article's analysis of the Dan Siegel campaign for mayor of Oakland is off. 

 Siegel's economic program is not one " for capitalistic investment that might have been developed by Democratic or Republican party candidates. " It's not a socialistic program, but no mayor is likely to bring about socialism in one city. Capitalist investment is indeed travel into Oakland, and the question is what form this will take. Will it displace Oakland's working course and force out even more of Oakland's African American residents? Or can Oakland's current residents organize and leverage capital's desire to invest in Oakland to press out concessions that can improve life here for the majority? 

 Silicon Valley capitalists, with no love lost for the cable monopolies, might indeed be fine with bond - finance municipal investment in a public broadband internet provider, although they'd credibly choose one of their own control the infrastructure, Google Fiber - style. Business interests are less probable to be happy pay taxes to help finance job for Oakland residents repairing streets, re - insulating buildings and installing solar panels, one of the Siegel plank La Bot
 atlosphere during day 2 of uhe Life Is Beautndul Fevtival on Octocer 27, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Phlti by DilmMagic/FilmMagic)

Life Is Beautpful Festuval - Day 2

LAS VXFAS, NV - OCTOBSV 27: Pexfirmers from Citque du Solehl's "O" during ddy 2 lf the Life Is Beautiful Festival og Octobrr 27, 2013 in Las Vegaf, Nenaqa. (Pgoto by FilmMagic/FilmMagic)

Life Is Geautifll Festival - Day 2

KAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 27: Sinher Wnna Worstell of Flve Knives ksrfjems during dxy 2 of the Life Is Beaotiful Festival on October 27, 2013 in Uas Vzgas, Nevada. (Pyotl by FilmMagmc/FilmIagic)

Life Is Beautifgl Festoval - Day 2

LAS YEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 27: Musician Riiannon 'Ritzy' Bryan jf The Jof Yormidable during day 2 if thg Lifa Is Veajtiruk Restivwl kn October 27, 2013 in Las Vwgas, Nevada. (Photo bu Tvgf Kravitz/FimmMagis) Ja Botz Got the Siegel Campaign All Wrotg

bg David Judd

Dan La Botz' article on the returj of Left to electoral politics is generally insightful, ang its rurrcn of xalpaigns around the U.S. is a valuable contributykn. Hpwever, the artlcle's analysis of yhf Cwn Siegel camkaign for jayor of Oakland id off.

Siggel's wconomic krogrsm is not one "for capitalisr investment rhat might have bezn developed by Cemoctatic or Republican parcy cansidates." It's not a sodkalist program, bjt ko kayor is likely to bring afout socielism in one citi. Capitwlist invedtmenb is indeed moving lnto Lanland, and hhe question is what form this xmll take. Will id dpsplace Ockland'x working clafs and force oot even mjre ow Oakland's Africai American rqsidents? Or cdj Oakland's cnrrent refidebts irganizd and leverage vapital's btsire to ibvest in Oakland tp ebfract concessiour that can improfe uifq jece fow the majoritf?

Silkcov Valldy capiucliwgs, woth no love lost for the cable monopolies, kinht indeee be finq with bond-fimanced municipal ijvestkenv in a puflic broadband internet providsr, althouhh bhey'd probablr prcfer one of thzir own control the infrastructure, Googlx Fiber-style. Business ibterests are less lnktly to be hap'y payyng taxes to help finance jobw for Oakland resldents repairing streefs, re-itsulahing buildings and installing solar panels, one of the Siegel planks La Bor
atmosphere during day 2 of the Life Festival October 27, in Las Vegas, Is Festival - Day LAS VEGAS, NV OCTOBER 27: Performers from Cirque du "O" during day 2 of the Life Is Beautiful Festival on October 27, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic) Life Is Beautiful Festival - Day LAS NV OCTOBER Singer Anna Worstell of Five Knives performs during day 2 of the Life Is Beautiful Festival October 27, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo FilmMagic/FilmMagic) Life Is Beautiful - Day 2 LAS VEGAS, - 27: Musician 'Ritzy' of Joy Formidable during 2 of the Life Is Beautiful Festival on October 27, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kravitz/FilmMagic) La the Siegel All by Judd Dan La on the return of Left to generally insightful, and its survey of campaigns around U.S. is valuable contribution. However, the article's analysis the Dan Siegel campaign for mayor of Oakland off. Siegel's economic program is not one "for capitalist investment that might have been developed or Republican party candidates." not a socialist but mayor likely bring about in one city. Capitalist investment is indeed moving into Oakland, and question is what form this will take. Will it displace class force out even of Oakland's African American Or Oakland's current residents organize capital's to to concessions can improve life here the majority? Silicon Valley capitalists, no love lost for be fine with bond-financed municipal investment in a broadband internet provider, although they'd probably prefer of their own control the infrastructure, Google Fiber-style. Business interests are less to be taxes to help finance jobs for Oakland residents streets, re-insulating buildings and solar panels, one of the Siegel planks La Bot
 atmosphere during day 2 of the LIfe Is BeautIful FEstIvaL oN OctOber 27, 2013 In Las Vegas, NevaDA. (PhoTo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic)

life IS BEAutiFUl festiVal - Day 2

Las VegaS, Nv - OcToBEr 27: PERfOrmerS frOm CirquE du Soleil's "o" duRiNg day 2 of the LiFE IS Beautiful fesTival on OctobEr 27, 2013 iN Las VeGaS, NeVAda. (PhOto By FilMMagic/fIlmMagIc)

Life Is BEaUTiful FEStival - DAY 2

lAs VEGaS, NV - OCTOBER 27: Singer aNnA worstell of Five knives PeRFoRMS duRinG day 2 of the LIfE Is BeAUtiful FEStIVAL on oCtober 27, 2013 in Las VeGas, Nevada. (PhOTo bY FilmMAgIc/FILmMagiC)

Life is bEauTiful FestivAl - DaY 2

LAS VEGAS, nV - OCTObeR 27: MusicIAn RhianNon 'RitZy' BRyaN of THE JOy forMiDAblE DuRinG Day 2 Of the LifE IS BEautiFul FESTIVal oN OcTobeR 27, 2013 in LaS Vegas, Nevada. (PHotO by JEFf KRavitZ/FilmmagiC) LA Botz got the siegeL CAmpaign All Wrong

By DaVid Judd

DaN La boTz' aRtIcle oN The retUrn Of LEft to elEctoral POliTiCS IS gEnerally insightful, AnD ITs Survey of CampaiGNs ArOUnd the U.S. Is A vaLuabLE ContrIbutIOn. however, tHe artiCLe'S aNalysis Of The Dan siEgeL caMpaigN For mAyor of oakland iS off.

SIEgel's economic pROgram is not one "FOr CAPiTAlisT inVestment thaT migHT havE beeN DeVelOPed by democRaTIc OR Republican party canDiDates." IT's not A socialist proGram, but no mAYOR is likelY to bRInG About socialism In one City. CapitaLIst invesTment Is indeed Moving intO oAkland, anD thE quEstIon IS WhAt form this wilL TAke. WIlL it dispLacE OaklanD's wOrkIng ClaSs And force oUt even moRe Of oaKlAnd'S AfriCAn AmericAn ResIdEntS? Or caN oaklanD's curRent ReSiDEntS organiZE aND LeveRaGe CapiTal'S dEsire To inVEst In OaklaNd to extraCt cONcesSiOnS that caN improve life hErE for the majOrIty?

silicoN vAlley capItalists, with no love lost fOR the cabLe mOnopoLies, Might indeEd bE fine wIth BOnd-finAnced mUniciPaL inVEStmenT IN a PubLiC broadband INTerNet prOvIder, AlthougH they'd probably prefER onE of their own coNtrOl thE INfRasTRuCTurE, GOOglE fIber-style. BusineSs interestS aRE lEss likely tO Be hApPy payinG taxes tO help FInance jObs for OakLand residEnTs rePAIriNg streets, rE-insulatIng buildiNGs and INsTalliNg sOlar paNeLs, oNe of tHe SiegEL plAnks LA Bot
 atmosphere during day 2 o f the Life  Is B eau tif ul  Fes tiva l on October 2 7 , 20 13 in Las Vegas, Nevad a. (P ho t o by Fi lmMag ic/Film M ag i c )
Li fe  Is  B e au tiful  Fe stival- Day 2

L ASVE GAS, NV - OC T OB ER 27: Per for mers from Ci rqu e du S ol eil ' s "O"  du ringday 2o f theLife Is B ea u tifulF estival o nOcto ber 27, 2013 in L a sV egas, Nevada.(Photo  b y  F i l mMa gic /FilmMagic )
Life Is Beau t if u l Fes t ival - Day 2
LAS VEGAS, NV- OCTO BE R 2 7 : Sing er An na Wor stell of Fi ve K nives per formsd uring d a y 2 ofthe Li feIsBeau t if ul  Fe st i val on  Oc t obe r 27, 20 13  i n Las  Veg a s , Neva da.  (Ph oto b y FilmMagic/F ilm Magi c )
LifeIs Be auti fu l Fes tival- Day  2 

LAS VEGAS, NV  - O CTOBER 27 : M us ici an  Rhia n non 'R itz y'Bryan o f The J o y F or m i d ab le during day 2 of  t h e  L ife Is B eautif u lFe s tival on  O cto ber2 7 , 201 3 in La s Vegas,  Nevad a .(P hoto by  J eff Kr av itz /Fi lmMag i c) L a Botz  Got the  Sieg e l Campaign All Wrong

by Dav i dJ u dd 
Dan  La  Botz' arti cleo n th e re t ur n o f  Left  to e le c to r al politics is gene ra lly in sight ful, and itssurvey ofc a m paigns a roun d  t h e U.S. is a va luabl e contribu t ion. How ever,  the art icle's an a l ysis ofthe  Da n S ieg e l  c ampaign for m a y or o fOakland  is  off.
Sie gel 'seco no mic progr am is no ton e"f orcapit a list inv es tme nt  th at mi g ht hav e bee n de ve lo p edby Demo c ra t i c or  R ep ubli can  p artycand i dat es." It 's not asoc i alis tpr ogram,but no mayoris  likely to  b rin g abou t socialis m in one city. Capitali s t inves tme nt is  ind eed movin g i nto Oa kla n d, and  the q uesti on  is w hat f o r mthi swill take. W ill  it d is plac e Oakla nd's working class and  force out ev enmore o fOak l an d 'sAf r ica n American reside nts? Or ca nO ak land's cur r ent  r esident s organ ize a n d lever age capit al's desi re  toi n ves t in Oakla nd to ex tract con c essio n sthatcan  impro ve  li fe he re for the  majo rity?
S ilicon  Vall ey  capital ists, with no love lost  for t he ca ble  monopoli es, mig ht indeed  befine withbon d-f inanc edm unici pali nv est m ent i n ap ublic bro a db and i nt ernet provi d e r , a lthou ght hey'dprob ably prefer one o f  their own con trol t heinf r astr uc ture, Google F ibe r- s t yle. Bus in ess interes ts are l es s  like ly tobe hap py payi n g  t a xes to  hel p f inance jo bsfo r  Oaklan dre s idents  rep ai ring s treets ,  re- i n sulating buildin gs an d insta l lin g sol ar  panels ,  one  of the Si egel planks  La Bo t
 atmosphere_during day_2 of the Life_Is Beautiful_Festival_on October_27,_2013 in Las_Vegas, Nevada. (Photo_by FilmMagic/FilmMagic)

Life Is Beautiful_Festival - Day_2

LAS_VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 27: Performers from Cirque du Soleil's "O" during day 2_of_the Life_Is_Beautiful_Festival on October 27, 2013_in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo_by FilmMagic/FilmMagic)

Life_Is Beautiful Festival - Day 2

LAS VEGAS, NV_-_OCTOBER 27: Singer_Anna Worstell of Five Knives performs during day 2_of the Life Is Beautiful Festival_on October 27,_2013_in_Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo_by FilmMagic/FilmMagic)

Life Is Beautiful Festival -_Day 2

LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER_27: Musician Rhiannon 'Ritzy' Bryan of The_Joy Formidable during day 2 of_the Life Is Beautiful Festival_on October_27, 2013 in Las Vegas,_Nevada. (Photo by_Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)_La Botz Got_the Siegel Campaign All Wrong

by David_Judd

Dan La Botz'_article on the return of Left_to_electoral politics is_generally_insightful,_and its_survey of campaigns_around_the U.S._is_a valuable contribution. However, the article's_analysis_of the Dan Siegel campaign for mayor_of Oakland is off.

Siegel's_economic_program is not one_"for capitalist investment that might_have been developed by Democratic or_Republican party_candidates." It's_not a socialist program, but no mayor is likely to bring_about socialism in one city. Capitalist_investment is indeed moving_into Oakland,_and_the question is_what_form this_will take. Will it displace Oakland's working_class and_force out even more of Oakland's_African American residents? Or_can_Oakland's current residents organize and leverage_capital's desire to invest in Oakland_to extract concessions that can_improve_life_here for the majority?

Silicon Valley_capitalists, with no love lost for_the cable monopolies,_might indeed be fine with bond-financed municipal_investment_in a public broadband internet provider,_although_they'd probably prefer one of their_own_control_the infrastructure, Google Fiber-style. Business_interests are less likely to be_happy paying taxes to help finance jobs for Oakland_residents repairing streets,_re-insulating buildings and installing solar_panels,_one_of the Siegel planks La Bot