Hi Thomas (RMAXX)

["Chris, London" <100423.2040@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Thomas,

Thanks for responding to the challenge.
I am glad we are communicating. I like the frank open style in your
post (below).

I do not fully understand what a tech school grad is because I come
from England. I thought it quite possible you
were not a "class enemy" even though you must understand why  people
might react negatively to your greeting.

This list may not be the most interesting list for you, but no, this list
is not intended for academics alone  and no you cannot be chucked off. Nor can
anyone.

Many subscribers are from academic departments, but probably disatisfied with
them. Many subscribers are very interested in practise. I myself spent
some years with countless others promoting the boycott of South African
goods against apartheid, standing outside supermarkets trying to communicate
with people with just one sentence, as they walked past. At its peak 27%
of British consumers said in one survey that they tried to avoid buying
South African goods.

I am curious why you are interested in marxism. What is there in your personal
life or your job that makes you disatisfied with the present political and
economic situation?

Even better, what concerns your friends above all?

If you choose at the most one or two burning questions that honestly
concern you, I think you may be surprised you are not actually flamed.
Even if you are, stand your ground, and I think some people will try to
give you an answer. In my opinion a really clear question that
relates to what ordinary people care about cuts through a lot
of theorizing.

The reason why there is so much argument on this list is because people are 
actually
*not* 100% sure. The subscriber who thinks he or she is, is the real fool.
And we all know that although we think marxism is very interesting, most 
ordinary
people do not find it so.

This list is not really designed for people completely new to political practise
and the volume will probably put you off, but while you are with us,
try a couple of your most penetrating questions.

You have put one already: "Why is the left so fragmented?"

What comes to my mind is that "the left" is trying radically to oppose
the existing state of things, but capitalism is so flexible that it is
able to adapt and brush off most challenges. So unless there is a very
clear battle to be fought, like against fascism or apartheid, it is
difficult for the radical left to be sure of one main strategy for producing
a revolutionary change. So it argues and tries many different approaches
without confidence that any one of them will be successful.

Others may disagree.

But I am not sure what is behind your question. It would help if you could
say why you are interested in what you call "the left".

Cheers,

Chris B
London. co-mod



<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
From: ThomasM343@xxxxxxx
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 1996 19:53:57 -0500
Subject: where and why

               Chris B.,message received and understood.I understand that
this list is intended for academics.I am not an academic,and for that reason
I proably don't belong
 here.I am a tech school grad,and I won't pretend to have the understanding
of Marxism
 that others on the list have.I do have a lot of questions.Questions that
will probably get
 me flamed.So Chris before you boot me off  I'll ask a few questions.
             Why,is the left so fragmented and weak?I don't know how to put
it,but does
 intellectual debate and discussion ever move beyond theory to constructive
action?
              At times I don't understand the direction or level these
discussions are taking.Is
 it intetellectual grandstanding?Is it the result of the debate taking place
in an esoteric
 eclectic hermetically  sealed academic atmosphere?Has Marxism reached a
level of
  ecclesiastical biblical interpretation?Or,is it a game of one
upsmanship-who can quote
  the most obscure source or reference to Marx.As I stated -I am not an
academic,and
  I am willing to stand corrected.

                                                             RMAXX



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