RE: SWP says 'don't vote' on Prop 54 in California

[Walter Lippmann <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

[ quoted text clipped ]

It's correct to observe that the SWP's new
position of abstention on Proposition 54 is
a sign of a deeper abstention from politics.

It should bring to a conclusion whatever the
most optimistic might have had that a turn in
the group's politics toward something more
engaged in the living daily struggle.

Regardless of whatever the interesting news
it publishes or books it prints, it puts is own
views and organizational priorities above and
ahead of the interests of the struggle itself.

Highest on the agenda is the recruitment and
the holding of supporters for the organization.
Thus, the political need which such groups all
have to politically justify a separate existence
by staking out some supposedly unique view
of political life and reality. But there's nothing
unique or new about being on the wrong side
of an issue, and justifying that with Militant-
sounding rhetoric. That's how it needs to be
understood, characterized and explained.

Its opposition to the rescue of Elian Gonzalez
while a defining moment, actually reflected the
genuine politics of the organization (to which
I long belonged and which I STILL don't regret).

If you read the points the SWP made against
Elian's rescue, most criticisms of the INS were
on target, but the ultimate result put the SWP in
the same political camp as the Cuban-American
exile right wing leadership who likewise claimed
"democratic rights" were violated in the rescue.
http://www.themilitant.com/2000/6418/641801.html

Here's the SWP's view in favor of abstaining on
the reactionary Proposition 54 in California now:
http://themilitant.com/2003/6734/673455.html

It serves the same purpose: to drive a wedge
between the members and supporters of the
group and everyone else, and that's the reason
it's advanced: to justify non-participation in the,
pardon the expression, "concrete struggle which
is actually going on."

It's no wonder that the Spartacist League finds
this an appropriate time to try to intervene in and
recruit from the Socialist Workers Party since it
has greater experience at and a more consistent
record in this kind of activity. That's a good thing
about the SL, which ALSO does good things ;ole
book publishing on historical topics such as the
writings of James P. Cannon.
http://www.spartacist.org/ENGLISH/Recall810.htm

It's indeed a sad business to observe.


Walter




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