That specific meeting was in 98. But I had been increasing my interest and activity in socialist change for about two years at that point.

After that, I backed away from that specific set of beliefs while I reevaluated exactly what kind of change was really needed, and how it should be achieved.

I ended up less radical, and a little less focused on the exact dogma, while shifting towards more of a hope of the kind of social structure that some of the nordic countries have going. But I still think that the U.S. is going to require a non peaceful revolution to pull us back from the brink of fascism. I hope a peaceful revolution is possible, very, very much.

But I've also seen what you said, that the general left is too prone to infighting. And there's a ton of lip service without the willingness to sacrifice comfort.

That's why I tend to focus my limited resources towards reform in practice. I just don't see an actual revolution, peaceful or otherwise, happening in my lifetime.