Re: Socialist alternative 'unity' offer to ISO

[Gary Maclennan <g.maclennan@xxxxxxxxxx>]

At 12:52 PM 22/10/2002 +1000, you wrote:
>  Socialist
> Alternative, who I think are very sectarian and ultraleft.


It is very wrong, I think,  to see SA leader, Mick Armstrong, as ultra-
left. I doubt if he has an ideological position at all.  He is a 'whatever
it takes man'.  At the moment he holds out on the left because he knows
that is his key to overwhelming the ISO.  Armstrong is a child of Tony
Cliff, weaned at the same sectarian teat.  If he needs to move to the Right
to outflank you he will do so.  At present he represents left purity
because that is the way to disorient the ISO CADRE.cadre.

What is happening to the ISO is that just as the Stalinists  were the only
ones left to perform the task of de-Stalinising Russia so the avatars of
the Great Sectarian have the task of de-sectarianising the ISO
tendency.  They are not very good at it, understandably. And that leaves an
opening for those who wish to cash in on the nostalgia for the glorious
days when ISO thought it was THE party.

As to the deeper question why people like Armstrong end up on the Left and
thrive on the Left's inability to grow and attract human beings I am not
sure I have a answer.  suffice to say that if the Left ever does break out
of its isolation, then Armstrong and his ilk will find out, when they are
cast aside, the true meaning of 'the emancipation of the working class is
the task of the working class'.

regards

Gary



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