Re: reply to Alan Bradley re PRD & DSP

["Alan Bradley" <alanb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Of course I have completely failed to adequately address the issues
involved in my previous post.

The problems are various:  first, I don't actually have all that great a
familiarity with the current positions of the PRD and its various members
and ex-members.  As such, I have to rely on sources such as those Tom
provides, which of course can't provide a complete picture of what is going
on.  I am particularly reluctant to rely on Tom's "many discussions", since
they are necessarily filtered through Tom's own set of preconceptions.  It
is hard enough dealing with my own.

Secondly, _if_ the position that Tom has attributed to the PRD is correct,
it has no particular relationship to any position of the DSP.  As such, I
can't tell you the "content" of anything.  And if the PRD are relying on
the "theoretical support" of the DSP for such a position they are misusing
that "theoretical support".  That is not inconceivable.  But there is still
that _if_.

One thing that might be skewing the picture is the equation "Stagism =
Menshevism/Stalinism".  This equation is one worth getting out of your
mind.  Then get stuck into the details of what the "stages" are actually
referring to, in terms of which class holds state power at each stage.
(Perhaps that should read classes, given that alliances may exist at
various points - but particular classes will dominate.)

I also have to admit that I am not a particular "high theory" enthusiast.
I mostly get my kicks out of history, and watching (and participating in!)
it being made.

Alan Bradley
alanb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2000 19:48:53 +1000
> From: "Alan Bradley" <alanb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: reply to Alan Bradley re PRD & DSP
>
> > From: "Tom O'Lincoln"
> > If democracy is not a realistic possibility under capitalism, just what
> > *is* the content of the "democratic revolution" that the PRD advocates
--
> > with the theoretical support of the DSP? I know from many discussions