The following is an exchange that I participated in on the Yahoo Group, Socialism. As the content speaks for itself, I won't comment on it here. I merely am passing it along for the edification of all. And as I continue to evolve, for better or worse.
And for anyone out there that reads this, the only source that I could find regarding grok's referral to, "petit-bourgeois tools of the Democratic Party (but then -- so are the CPUSA and [AFAIK] SPUSA. Remember who split from who [in 1921?] and why. ;)" is at Wikapedia, under "Communist Party USA".
And the description there seems... well, unclear as to exactly who screwed who. Any clarifications would be greatly appreciated. Knowledge is power, as they say.
I don't believe in maintaining illusions in the bourgeoisAs I think I have previously noted on this blog that I would vote Socialist in the coming election, I had some questions about this article for its poster, grok. I asked him in a private email which upon its response, I felt it should go to the group. As I feel it is important to post here.
political system myself; but if people insist on voting in
the 2008 U.S. presidential elections -- Cynthia McKinney is
100% the people's candidate.
AN OPEN LETTER RE CYNTHIA MCKINNEY
TO OUR POLITICALLY CONSCIOUS
SISTERS AND BROTHERS OF BLACK AMERICA
For far too long Black America has been at the mercy of political pimps and usurpers, particularly of the Democratic Party. It is now the year 2008, and we in Black America, in conjunction with our Brown, Red, Yellow, and White sisters and brothers have a genuine and serious choice in order to build a true people's movement for real systemic change through the "Power to the People" campaign inspired by former U.S. Congresswoman Sister Cynthia McKinney.
Cynthia Mckinney has demonstrated that she wants, and is fighting for, real, systemic change; which is the only change that will address the health care, employment, judicial, and environmental needs of all people.
STEP UP TO THE PLATE NOW
Sister Cynthia is not a corporately sponsored clone like John McCain, Barack, or Hillary Clinton. She is The Real People's Candidate. Cynthia knows that her campaign is about building the opportunity for a different America; an America that supports and believes in itself and the peoples of the world in a very real sense.
For Sister Cynthia's campaign to be able to lay the serious organizational foundation that is sorely needed by us all takes money - -- your money. The nickels, dimes, quarters, and dollars that allow this beautiful and powerful sister to go around this nation with her/OUR message -- that we do not have to be, and refuse to be, hostages to what Brother Malcolm X correctly referred to as the "foxes and the wolves" of the Democratic and Republican Parties [i.e. the Republicrats] .
Every bit of physical and mental energy as well as every single cent from all of us is needed in this struggle. Cynthia, unlike the
candidates of the Democratic and Republican Parties is NOT corporately backed. This means that WE THE PEOPLE must step up to the plate and support her campaign and in so doing -- support ourselves!
Sister Cynthia McKinney is the ONLY one who seriously and fundamentally addresses our issues -- the concerns of Black America:
self-determination, reparations, judicial equality, police brutality, COINTELPRO, political prisoners, employment, decent housing, environmental justice, educational parity, and the absolute end to
unjust U.S. wars at home and abroad.
Sister Cynthia McKinney must be Supported NOW! At stake is literally EVERYTHING. Time to give our dollars to Cynthia's 'Power To The People' Campaign; for it is we the people's -- OUR CAMPAIGN! Do it now my brothers and sisters. Do it Now!
Sister Cynthia McKinney speaks truth to power! She is one of US. She does not pretend that the legacy of slavery is in the past. She makes it clear that jobs, justice, and equality are more important than ever before. She is bold about the fact that Black Liberation is a very important and serious ongoing struggle in the United States of America.
By supporting Cynthia, we support ourselves and our own humanity. We must do this and we must urge our sisters and brother to send every dollar, dime, nickel, and penny to support ourselves -- to support the Cynthia McKinney campaign for President. Remember that "the journey of thousand miles begins with the first step"!
ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE!
- -----
Open Letter Initiated by:
Larry Pinkney
Editorial Board Member & Columnist
The Black Commentator &
Founder / Director
Black Activist Writers Guild
Email: Lecconsult@aol. com
Colia L. Clark
Reconstruction Party Organizing Committee
Richard Wright Centennial 2008-2010
Email: ColiaClark@aol. com
Kali Akuno
Reconstruction Party Activist
Former Executive Director, Peoples' Hurricane Relief Fund
Malcolm X Grassroots Movement
Email: kaliakuno@gmail. com
I apologize to the group for speaking 'off list' in the following exchange. In spite of my self-acknowledged ignorance on the leftist movements in the world, and my desire to keep said ignorance as private as possible, this exchange is truly enlightening. I can't really express my gratitude for the lessons learned here in any other way than to post it to the group.
I appreciate grok's willingness to keep my questions private. But there is some good information here. And I can swallow my 'pride' enough to share it for the value of its lessons to all.
I am hopefully on the "learning curve" of which grok speaks below. And I have learned from this exchange that some of my 'gut' feelings are leading me in the 'left' direction :-).
So, without further adieu, my lesson on Marxist Thought and humility for the day...
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As the smoke cleared, Alan Sammet heartlandheretic@yahoo.com mounted the barricade and roared out:
grok,
I hope that you don't mind the 'off list' message.
Not at all. The only thing I don't really like about private messaging on public posts is that others don't know it's going on. And what isn't seen isn't thought about, etc. This I know for a fact. And so consciousness- raising and/or organizing isn't taking place.
But I would like your opinion about this question:
Do you not feel that the 'Brian Moore-Stewart Alexander' ticket of the Socialist Party USA is a workable option to the effort to move the nation to the left?
AFAIC the Socialist Party USA is a reformist, anti-leninist outfit, much like any social-democrat undertaking in the world -- created essentially to steer workers away from revolutionary class-consciousness and into reformist bourgeois electoralism.
Having said that, I don't believe that any existing party or group has what it takes to lead the working-class today; and so it is my belief that we should all instead be working at creating a socialist *United Front*, whatever our beliefs. However, I'm talking about a _revolutionary_ socialist United Front -- which would by definition exclude all groups which do not believe in either socialism vs. capitalism, or in the revolution necessary to achieve this. The rest,
however, is negotiable.
I respect Cynthia McKinney, but I do have some minor personal concerns, none of which are 'race or gender based'. I do have a bit more of a preference for Stewart Alexander over Brian Moore. But that is the ticket that the party chose to run. Both are fine men and exemplary activists.
Looking at this dialectically (as should be a basic fundamental of life), McKinney has her pluses and minuses. I don't really support her that much politically, but mostly only on account of her deep and abiding reformist approach. However, I very much do respect that she is on a learning curve, and fighting the Good Fight all the way -- as is Hugo Chávez, for that matter (as should we all be). The question, however, is: will she stop and go no further? And that seems to be in the affirmative, AFAI can see.
However IMO, a successful mass revolutionary party would have a profound effect on essentially radical liberals like McKinney -- who might just make the jump to marxist revolutionism. But then she'd only be arriving where many of us have already long been at. But then again: the process of self-discovery is itself an important factor in building the mass struggle.
I am asking you because you have far more experience and knowledge of Marxist thought and activism than I. In fact, I have only been an SP (and CP) member for a few months. And I am still trying to understand the disconnect with those two party's.
The CPUSA is still stuck far up the Democrat's butts, aren't they? That sez it all for the stalinists. WTF have they learned from the demise of the CCCP? Sweet fuck all, in fact. And it's pretty much the same all over the world. I can't even stand reading their Internet copy. Lose them, is my advice. I did. They still think they are carrying Lenin's torch -- and they manifestly are NOT. They've long been de facto in the trashbin of History where they belong.
And frankly, I don't trust 'Greens'. They seem to me to be marginally environmentally aware bourgeoisie (if I have used the term correctly).
You said it. Another deadend -- and petit-bourgeois tools of the Democratic Party (but then -- so are the CPUSA and [AFAIK] SPUSA. Remember who split from who [in 1921?] and why. ;)
I am simply asking if you would care to take a moment to school me a bit. I won't pester you with this sort of thing in the future frequently. I just want to learn and I respect your knowledge, experience, and activism. So, who better to ask?
Hey Alan -- this is *definitely* better than all the abuse I get. ;P
- -- grok.
"...so it is my belief that we should all instead be working at
creating a socialist *United Front*, whatever our beliefs."
Sign me up!
AFAIC grok, you are a sage. Thank you.
And for anyone out there that reads this, the only source that I could find regarding grok's referral to, "petit-bourgeois tools of the Democratic Party (but then -- so are the CPUSA and [AFAIK] SPUSA. Remember who split from who [in 1921?] and why. ;)" is at Wikapedia, under "Communist Party USA".
And the description there seems... well, unclear as to exactly who screwed who. Any clarifications would be greatly appreciated. Knowledge is power, as they say.
