Re: [Marxism] Galloway faction splits from Respect

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Alan Bradley wrote:
I was actually happy to let Lüko sit in the corner
muttering to himself, but, yes, it would be nice to
know exactly what he thinks.

Well, I wasn't happy to see Luko doing this because I know him for decades
and have discussed with him for decades and know that he is a committed
revolutionary who has accumulated a lot of knowledge and information.  I
KNOW that what he has to say would help the discussion whether others or I
agree with it or not.

If I had written him privately, he would have offered his views privately,
and that's not what I thought was needed so I offered my criticism to him on
the list.

I don't think the Socialist Alliance and Respect have much in common.  The
Socialist Alliance was an attempt to regroup a number of socialist groups.
Its failure was due to the fact that unification of the various groups in
the sectarian environment of the left was premature. So the other groups
broke off one by one, and the originator, the Democratic Socialist Party
formerly the Socialist Workers Party. was left holding the remains, a number
of revolutionaries who had been won to the dsp's politics.  That number has
increased over time. So the question of what to do with the Socialist 
Alliance is complex, one where administrative solutions would be frankly
outrageous.

One "principle" I hold to firmly. The issue of what to do with the Socialist

Alliance, and how should the DSP should relate to it and what is its role
given its existence DOES NOT JUSTIFY A SPLIT, PERIOD.  Not provoked by or
carried out by any of the points of view that exists.

EVERYONE IN THE DSP and above all the leaders of all factions whould now be
required to read two books: Tne Cannon writings 1932-4 published by
Pathfinder Press.  And Dog Days: Cannon vs. Scnacntman in the Communist
League of America,1931-33, punlished by the Spartacist League's Prometheus
Presa.  

The latter volume highlights. among manu other things, the weaknesses of
Cannon's factional approach to advancing a  proletarian orientation for the
group, weaknesses that may be detectable on all sides of the current
disputes. (This was in the process of learning the revolutionary-Bolshevik
tradition that Trotsky offered in this dispute.

Those involved in this dispute must ask themselves what justification they
can present for a split for the revolutionaries in Australia and around the
world they attempt to influence.  I don't think radicalizing youth or
working people could make sense of it from either side.
Fred Feldman


________________________________________________
YOU MUST clip all extraneous text before replying to a message.
Send list submissions to: Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism