Re: [Marxism] The criticismofreligion[was:RE:Vnzla:reasonstobeoptimistic]

[Carrol Cox <cbcox@xxxxxxxxx>]

Marvin Gandall wrote:
> 
> 
> I may have overstated. I have in mind past comments by Mark and perhaps
> Carrol and some others on the list who have suggested political abstention
> represents a progressive rejection of the two-party system, and consequently
> the basis for building the Greens or another third party outside and to the
> left of the DP.

I think you vastly overestimate the strength of both "the left" and of
the working class as a whole, and among the results of this is that you
spontaneously attribute the same overestimation of working-class and
left strength to others. Hence your use of the term, "political
abstention." Poof. That is something that organized parties with a
substantial base do. I don't abstain because by abstention would be
invisible. I merely don't have anything to do with elections because my
interests lie elsewhere. I do argue that other conscious leftists
(=marxists and those who think like marxists) also should  find better
things to do. And I argue in various forums that the attempt to
radicalize the DP will never lead anywhere, as it has not led anywhere
since the CP launched the effort in 1936. But that's not a policy,
because I don't belong to an organized force that can have a policy.
That's my chugging away in my corner pending the day when (mostly
external) events will open up the way for a formation (or formations: I
think there can be a multi-party revolutionary left) to emerge that can
have a policy -- either of abstention or collaboration. I don't think
this envisaged formation would choose collaboration -- but that is for
the future to decide.

Carrol


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