PEN-L message, Re: Welcoming Stan Goff Out of Marxism

> As far as Stan Goff's departure goes, I think the
burden of proof is on the advocates of Marx-ism to
make their case for Marx-ism's relevance. <

Comment

Goff is subtle in his approach to his own understanding of the historical process that he is living. Mr. Goff . . . brother Stan, draws a distinction between what he terms the theory of Marxism and the doctrine of Marxism. Another subtle distinction is what he terms "the method of Marx." I understand these distinction to mean that Marx method of approach contains its own history altering validity. What is termed Marx theory is a summation most call Marx's peculiar approach to society; and on what basis it is and must be constituted; how and why social revolution takes place as the result of the interactivity of the laboring process in the face of changes in the mode of production. The political doctrine of Marx - (the strategy of combat between classes and social grouping in a particular society at a specific stage of development and the role of communists), during the various phases of formation and maturing of the new working class of Marx era, the industrial working class, is called into question by Mr. Goff.

My personal feeling is that Mr. Goff desires and expect far to much from a political organization seeking to assimilate and put into effect a Leninist form of organization.

I have been a union member for all of my adult life and before that (before becoming 21 years old). What is my expectation from my union and the trade union movement? If I expect the trade union movement in America to become a revolutionary movement or a revolutionary union movement, (whatever that means), and it so does not, my first inquiry is not into the nature of the trade union movement but the character of my own thinking and the history of my own impressions. Then I would seek out a greater understanding into the nature of the union movement in history. .

Why would I want something to be different from what it is and is my expectation reasonable or achievable? Does my vision of what is . . . I believe to be possible, find resonance within a population sector? How did I, in fact, arrive at my own conclusions about the social movement and the various sectarian grouping in society - not just the Marxist type?

Goff seems to have discovered a concept of the working class that calls into question his own previous thinking and approach.

I say welcome to the world of reality.

Melvin P.