Re: Russian elections-Communist party

[Scott Marshall <Scott@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Marcus:
>Well, I agree with some of Scott's observations, but it leads me to
>different conclusions....


>This politics is the politics, as Lenin put it, of  'choosing our own
>butcher'. It is the politics of supporting the Democrats, the Labour
>Party, the Labor Party as 'a step in the right direction'. It is
>tailing social democracy. If not, it is pure opportunism. We will
>support the social democrats because that's where the workers have
>their illusions at the moment, so if we support them we will be seen
>to be moving with them, and win them when the nasty social democrats
>inevitably betray us.Well, the socdems have been betraying us since
>1914. Most ordinary people vote socdem or Democrat precisely because
>there is no alternative. Our task is to seriously build that.

This isn't a different conclusion. There's nothing here that we strongly
disagree on. But tactics.

>In all this talk of the SLP, russian elections, the DEmocrats/CoC,
>where is the independent role of communists and the working class? I
>can't see it too clearly.

I agree you can't see it too clearly.....;-) The independent role of
communists and the independent role of the working class are two different
things que no? I want to see an independent working class third party in the
US - labor led peoples party. I don't see it as a social dem party. We
already have several thank you. So what do I mean - I mean a mass third
party *independent* of big business (anti-monopoly capital). Such a party
will never exist if it can't take people away from the democrats. It will
include some elected leaders now in the Democratic party (because they will
be won to independence) ie: some members of the Congressional Black Caucus,
the Progressive caucus etc. This only makes sense if you see electoral
politics as just one of many fronts of struggle. Such a party will be
primarily electoral but based on the unions and other people's mass
organizations. All the changes taking place in labor and the peoples
movements point in this direction - and yes it will be a step in the right
direction.

The independent role of the communists is quite different. The social dems
are not the main problem, capitalism is. We have to use every venue to point
it out. Part of our independent role is to be a part of every genuine reform
movement that actually might improve working people's lives, fight for these
victories while (patiently to explain) that only socialism will finally
solve things. We have to build socialist consciousness which is absolutely
necessary for overthrowing the stinking carcass of capitalism.

Even mass communist parties (which i favor) cannot 'make the revolution
happen.' Nor can we be the working class. But we do know some of the
subjective and objective factors that will mature into a revolutionary
situation. Class and socialist consciousness (they are not the same things)
of broad sections of the working masses is one. A ruling class that can no
longer rule in the old way due to economic, social or political crisis that
can't be resolved in the old ways is another.

>
>I will not advise that anyone choose their butcher, will you?

Now for some heresy. Is the lesser of two evils ever a real problem for the
working class? Are some capitalist worse butchers than others? Does this
present tactical problems for communists? I think so. 'Purity' isn't
independent, it's isolated.

No I wont advise on butchers, but green grocers.....:-)

>
>Comradely Marcus
>
>PS Scott
>
>Anna P and I had a nice chat about you - she says hi!
>

Say hi back - glad to see you know some real reds...:-)

Best,
Scott



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