Good point.
Having my experience with leftist protesting crowds at the University, there are many things I don't like about professional leftists as well.
Problem is, compared to the current mainstream in media and german politics, I understand they have an appeal to many people, me included.
Maybe I'm somewhat more of a marxist than you are (I suppose that's also because I'm younger), but my admiration is for the man himself, not so much for his acolytes.
Yes, I actually read Marx.
The Linkspartei's viewpoints on foreign policy and military affairs are mostly downright idiotic and unrealistic, but they often take up issues that are left alone, like civil liberties and such.
My problem is similar to yours: I'm too patriotic and too much a realpolitiker to have any place within the left, and too much an opponent of the current crop of politicians and media moguls and their policies to have a home in the right wing. Not to mention that active participation on the right wing is still much about family backround and belonging to the right student's fraternity, both of which I lack.
But I don't think demonizing the Linkspartei will help matters. The Linkspartei is actually quite convenient and it can be used as a boogieman and scapegoat for the established parties.
__________________
|