What’s missing is twofold: the feeling that there’s a better option available, and the feeling that one can do something about the poor state of affairs that would make it less poor. Both of which speak to the stupidity of our present political system, and the triumph of neoliberal ‘anti’-ideology in convincing the world that the ‘anti’ is anything other than a total fabrication.

If I had them handy I’d quote from The Economic & Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844 here; instead I’ll just say that for various reasons, the overall level of political engagement in late capitalist society is just about nil (which almost begs a post/reply about the relative virtues of optimism and pessimism for the radical left…).