Re: [Marxism] A lesson from old history

[Brian Shannon <brian_shannon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Jan 11, 2006, at 1:14 PM, Marvin Gandall wrote:

> Is it your position that the Morales government should immediately and
> publicly declare its intent to replace the National Congress with a  
> new
> parliament of workers' and peasants' deputies, from which the
> disenfranchised Bolivian bourgeoisie would be excluded?
>
> It's not clear to me, although that's what I'm inferring from your  
> comment
> above. It also seems to underlie the long discussion about Bolivia  
> which has
> now reached into the more ethereal realm of the meaning of the  
> theory of
> permanent revolution. — Marvin Gandall

Forgive me for jumping in, but for socialists the issue is to explain  
the role of imperialism and the role of the national bourgeoisie and  
the role of social-democratic type leaders such as Morales in order  
to prepare for the replacement of the capitalist state by a  
government of workers and peasants.

How this should be done is a question for the revolutionary  
socialists on the ground. In other words, whether one should make  
this a demand on Morales is a question of strategy and tactics.

Some on this list are saying that Morales is a leader that should be  
followed. I and others are saying that Morales's victory is a great  
opening and is an expression of the desire of the masses to take  
power. However, electing Morales is not taking power. Even Morales  
doesn't claim that it is. It is the illusion of taking power. That  
illusion must be explained.

Unfortunately some of those on this list who were educated to know  
better are adding to the illusion.

Brian Shannon


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