Re: [Marxism] Germany: Beginning of a rupture between unions and SPD

[Einde O'Callaghan <einde@xxxxxx>]

Johannes Schneider wrote:
> On Tue, 06 Jul 2004 10:18:47 +0200, Einde O'Callaghan <einde@xxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
> > There are great problems with the PDS in the East. Firstly, there is
> > teh  problem of its heritage. Because it never decisively made a break
> > with  the SED past
>
>
> What do you expect from them? Adopting the teachings of Tony Cliff and
> saying the GDR was capitalist like the West?

Of course not. but if there had been a neugründung in 1990 instead of a
transition from SED to SED/PDS to PDS/SED to PDS they wouldn't be so
tarred in the eyes of many working class people here who rejected the
Workers' and Peasants' State.

> 'Break with the SED past' has become a catch phrase in German political
> discourse actually meaning to denounce everything that was different in
> the East from the West.
This isn't what I mean - even within the PDS there are some who now see
the 1990 decision as a mistake.
> > There is also a question as to how "left" sections of the PDS
> > actually  are. In some of the villages and small towns the PDS has
> > been simply the  SED under a new name. they have no problems forming
> > alliances with the  CDU - "After all we know each other from earlier
> > times" (a reference to  the fact that the East CDU was part of the
> > "National Front" that ruled  in teh East under the hegemony of the SED).
> I could adopt your line of argument here and say that socialist should
> fight for the socialist character of the PDS, since there are so many
> good  comrades on the ground...
Soem of them are coming over to the newly emerging party.

> > More importantly the PDS is compromised by it's participation in
> > state  governments in Berlin and in Mecklenburg where they are
> > carrying out the  same old shit as the SPD, the Greens and the
> > bourgeois parties - cut,  cut, cut until their traditional voters turn
> > their backs on them.
> Dont you remember the old PDS slogan: "Change starts with opposition"?
> They did not start as a party in government, but proclaimed opposition
> such like the Electoral Alternative does today.
> But since PDS and Electoral Alternative share the same ideas about the
> state beeing a neutral instance they both argue that 'another policy is
> possible' within the existing framework and do not exclude particpation
> in  government.
All speeches at teh conference last week rejected participation in
government. Doubtless a "Realko2 wing will develop but that's part of an
ongoing struggle - to refuse to take part in this struggle is to give up
before you start.

Einde O'Callaghan


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