Sisters and Brothers, given that the time span for the Congress is extremely short and literally right around the corner, I will strive to make my comments brief and right to the point. I believe that the two positions that have been issued by the C.C. are flawed. Unfortunately, given the time restraints, I will principally concentrate on a third alternate proposal with the hope, and spirit that there is still a possibility of uniting Socialists in the long and protracted battle for a real “fundamental change” in America, namely SOCIALISM. {If the time span really existed to allow for a real debate, then the probability to response to the various innuendos and attacks on the history and principles of Marxism would of been possible. Unfortunately, this is not the present case. And given that others have mainly concentrated on this aspect of our situation, allow me to comment on a third alternate proposal that hopefully can unify our ranks). My comments consist of the following:
I. Re the C.C. Positions:
A. The CC Majority’s “Stepping Forward...”
B. The CC Minority’s “Moving Forward...”
II. Proposed Tasks for Socialists in the U.S.:
A. Creating a Mass Organization of Socialist.
B. Creating a Forum of Debate & Analysis for Socialism.
III. Re the CC Majority Statement of Dissolution of LRS.
IV. Some Final comments on the Pre-Congress Process.
A) The CC Majority’s “Moving Forward...”:
Despite its generally correct analysis of the deepening crisis in the economic and political life of the working class and masses, the proposal on how and why LRS should be dissolved, and the call for the formation of a mass organization that abandons the conscious fight for socialism is fundamentally incorrect, in my opinion, and actually a step backward entering the 1990s.
1. It is fundamentally wrong to abandon the struggle to educate and organize and agitate the working class and oppressed nationality in the struggle to transform our day to day battles into a conscious struggle of the only fundamental change possible in the present historical epoch – socialism. In its position, the CC says that it upholds some aspects of Marxism, e.g., dialectical materialism. Yet, in actuality, it is abandoning historical materialism. Have our comrades forgotten the following elementary truth of the development of society: primitive communism was replaced by slavery; slavery was historically replaced by feudalism; feudalism was historically replaced by capitalism; and today’s world of capitalism, which has reached its highest phase of imperialism, is being replaced by the only social order possible: Socialism. This is what dialectical and historical materialism teaches. This is the only possible fundamental change. The various proposals of “mix-economy”, etc. are but transitions towards socialism. Yet, the CC-Majority proposes the dissolution of one of the best socialist formations in the U.S. and proposes the creation of a mass organization of activists” whose goals is some “fundamental change” to be further defined in the near future. In the interim, the recognition that the working class, as the largest, and most revolutionary class in capitalist society, is no longer consider to be the potential vanguard for revolutionary change in the U.S. This, to me, is a fundamental flaw and gigantic setback for socialists in the US.
2. The second flaw by the CC-Majority is that it has taken upon itself the task for speaking for all LRS cadre. In its position, it declares already, (before the convening of the Congress) that “we” no longer believe that Marxism is a leading ideology, that the concept of the working class vanguard party is wrong, and that the concept of the dictatorship of the proletariat is wrong. Yet, not all LRS cadres agree with this. In fact, many of us are calling for a review and analysis of the experiences of socialist in socialist construction, in party building, in its role in the national revolutionary struggles, etc., etc. Prior to three months ago, most cadres were not abandoning these concepts. It is wrong for the CC Majority to demarcate against the various Marxists concepts when in fact, not all members agree to those views.
Yes. There do exist members who disagree with Marxism, with the concept of the party and the dictatorship of the proletariat. But there also exist members who still support it.
3. The CC Majority ends its views with already declaring that the new organization will not have any “isms”. How is it that the CC-Majority already knows that the new organization, which does not yet have a program, strategy, tactics, constitution, etc. will not support a “ism”.
Sisters and Brothers, while I respect the right of comrades to have their views, it is my opinion that the way the CC-Majority is dissolving LRS, misrepresenting all the varying opinions within LRS, and embarking upon making Marxism-Leninism obsolete, without a real serious and scientific critique, and without offering an alternative social system, its positions gives fuel to capitalists ideologues in their quest to make the quest for socialism by the world’s poor working and toiling masses appear as an illusion.
HOWEVER, despite my disagreements with the basic new ideological abandonment of socialism by the CC-Majority, I do believe that their basic position of the need for a fundamental change in our organization is needed. I do think that the present form of democratic centralist formation is inappropriate at this juncture in the US. And I do think that the CC majority proposals on the structure of a new mass organization is quite sound. (More on this later).
B) The CC Minority’s “Movining Forward...”:
While I don’t fully understand all that occurred in the CC, and why the Minority position took so long to appear, I must praise the Minority position for their struggle, to defend Marxism-Leninism and socialism, and the leading role of the working class in the struggle for socialism.
However, I too think, that there are problems and contradictions in the organizational proposals. (And I too have some differences on some of its comments on socialism, but this is a debate of socialists that will take place for quite some time).
1. The CC Minority fails to address what is the central task today, and the relations ship of party building, (if any) to the mass movement. (Although, the CC Minority did defend the need for a working class party).
2. The CC Minority states that we must continue to uphold the Marxist-Leninist principles, but openly be socialists. This is indeed vague.
3. Its organizational proposal does appear to suggest the continuation of a M-L democratic centralist formation, with modifications in theory and organization. Quite frankly comrades, this is not going to change much in the present state of the masses today. Moreso, if fails to take into account the real difficulties confronting Marxist-Leninists and Socialists alike, i.e., the tremendous bourgeois ideological offensive against socialism. To its credit, the CC Majority does recognize this difficulty, but leads us to flip-flop and abandon the struggle for socialism.
HENCE Sisters and Brothers, I believe and propose the following for consideration:
A) Creating a Mass Organization of Socialists in the U.S.
First of all, as a Marxist, I pose the following question: What Period are we in? What is the Central Task of Marxist?
I believe that for quite some time, we are no longer in a period where the central task is the construction of a vanguard party of the working class. And for several reasons: the mass movement, despite the numerous battles, is still in an ebb; the oppressed nationality movements for self-determination and equality is surging forward, but still led by national reformist leaders; the working class is still split and does not even aspire to build a labor party, never mind a communist or socialist party.
We are living in a period where imperialism is on the world offensive; penetrating even the socialist camp; where the world socialist experience is undergoing a crisis; and as a result, many of the world’s revolutionaries, (including us in the LRS) are so confused that we are losing our bearings, some of us are burnt out, others are abandoning socialism, and others are seeking clarity, but don’t know where to begin.
Meanwhile, as stated clearly and elegantly by both the CC Majority and CC Minority, the masses are beginning to fight and lead new spontaneous battles. Watsonville. P-9. Dinkins campaign. The Rainbow Coalition. ANC. Palestine. Dominican Republic. The Native Indians in Montreal, Canada. The fights against racial violence by Latinos, Blacks, Asians, etc.
But Sisters and Brothers, this country and the world has always been an arena of class and national struggles. The TASK is for the revolutionary classes to produce its leaders in the form of political parties and be the compass to guide the struggle forward to victory, and not in continuous cycles.
Given the crisis of socialism, and the difficulties that many of us have addressed and agreed upon, the task of spending our energies to maintain a Marxist-Leninist and democratic centralist formation is expending our energies wrong, in a wrong period.
THE PERIOD we find ourselves demands that we strive to rebuild confidence in the aspiration for socialism, while simultaneously organizing, educating, and agitating the masses forward.
Today, this task can best be served by a more open, and broad socialist mass organization. Despite the difficulties in USSR, China, Cuba, or even in the social-democratic experiences like in France, etc., SOCIALISM is still the only path forward. Socialism means: economic justice; equality; democracy; self-determinations for nations equality for woman; peace; equal and just trade; etc. The masses everyday at the factories gravitate towards socialist ideals, e.g.: full employment; free medical care; free and affordable housing; etc., etc., The aspiration for SOCIALISM, and the actual management of a socialist economy by working and toiling people are two different tasks. TODAY it is our responsibility to do everything possible to educate the masses on what socialism is. To just advocate for “fundamental change” with no real goal in sight, is only to add to confusion, and allow Bourgeois democrats to have a hey-day.
I believe, and would endorse the “organizational proposals” of a mass organization as stated by the CC-Majority to be a starting point of discussion. BUT THE ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE A SOCIALIST ORGANIZATION, and not a “cadrefied Rainbow Coalition”.
There must be a constitution with by-laws that insures a real democratic procedure, and not allow for decisions to be made secretly by cliques that make up the rules in course of every day events. As well, this would logically allow for the co-existence of differing political views. But, constitutionally, this should not disrupt the life and task of the Mass Socialist Organization striving to imbue the growing mass movement with socialism.
B) Creating a Forum of Debate and Analysis for Socialists:
Simultaneously, while building the organization and partaking in the mass struggles, the national and regional leadership of such an organization has a urgent task of organizing theoretical research, study, discussion, analysis, with the purpose of seeking clarity and resolution to the present crisis of socialism.
This can be done via: Quarterly National Journal with an independent editorial board; local forums that addresses the various burning questions of the day; Sponsorship of public educational classes that studies and debates the various problems facing socialism. Plus more.
The point is that we create mass socialist education and debate.
Is Marxism-Leninism the leading ideology?
Is the central task Party Building?
Is Social-Democracy a viable alternative?
Is the dictatorship of the proletariat obsolete?
These, and much more will not be answered in a real sense by any of us, even if the Congress was postponed till next year! This is a real debate occurring among all socialists.
Our responsibility, which would be unique in the US, is to create a mass organization of socialists leading the mass movement, but at the same time, organizing a mass discussion and debate on the problems confronting world socialism.
I believe that these are the two urgent task confronting socialists in the US.
The CC-Majority positions actually abandons socialism, and fails to seriously propose a way forward that is non-sectarian, and helps to build faith in socialism.
The CC-Minority upholds socialism, and Marxism-Leninism, but its organizational proposal fails to take into account that we are no longer in the period of party building, and hence, we must retreat from the democratic centralist form of organization at this juncture. Otherwise, we will continue to lose veteran cadres who are feeling burnt out, and failed to address properly the real crisis of socialism that is confusing not only us veterans, but the new generations of revolutionary fighters from the youth, working class, electoral battles, minority struggles, etc.
I believe this proposal can re-unite those socialists in the Majority and Minority to embark on a worthy cause.
In order to embark upon the formation of a new Mass Socialist Organization, yes the LRS needs to cease to exist. I do not believe this to be a violation of Marxist-Leninist principle. In fact, in the first historical world crisis of Socialism, Marx and Engels called for the dissolution of both the Communist League, and the First International. After a long ebb period, Engels, along with Kautsky and other socialist leader embarked upon the building of mass socialist workers and peasant movements, that led to the mass formation of Socialist Parties and the Second International. And when the Second International entered its crisis with the rise of imperialism and imperialist world war, Lenin and the Bolshevik Party led the development of new Communist Workers Parties. And in the task of socialist experimentation, Stalin was the first to chart the course armed with the party of workers and peasants of the USSR. Yes, they were bound to err in the first socialist experience by workers and peasants. And when fascism, born from capitalism, wrecked havoc throughout the world, it too created massive confusion and crisis in the Third International, and in the process of world socialist construction. And when after WW2, and the dominance of US imperialism, with its nuclear bombs, its blackmail tactics, and “red peril” campaigns, it too ushered a crisis of socialism. The Sixties produce the joining of national liberation movement in colonies and semi-colonies, as well as within imperialist countries like the US (Black liberation; Chicano liberation; Puerto Rican liberation; etc.), and victories of workers and peasants in China, Cuba, and other Third World countries. This too produced our generation of fighters.
But with all this, the socialist experience is still young! About 100 years old. Yet world capitalism and its expert ideologues are over 200 years old and moribund, yet resisting defeat. Socialism is, and will continue to make mistakes.
Yet, the CC-Majority declares various Marxist principles obsolete, and calls for the formation of a mass organization with no “isms”. This is capitulation. Sorry if I hurt anyone’s feelings. Those of us in LRS who still believe in Marxism and socialism cannot agree to such “Statement of Dissolution”. As well, even the presentation of the history of LRS appears to be quite one-sided, dominated by the experience of principally IWK. This is wrong!
If Sisters and Brothers embark upon a new organization, let the “Dissolution Paper” reflect the reality of the present state of LRS. There exist differences of opinion and that LRS is and has always been a Marxist-Leninist organization.
While I understand that our student network had some difficulties, it is a gross injustice that the pre-Congress discussion was rushed, leading various comrades to be suspended, others are already resigning, and others are just waiting to see what happens. The world was not going to change from Sept, to Nov. Fascism was not going to take over the campuses! I, as well as others would have liked to actually respond to the many wrong historical analyses, and pragmatic conclusions made in the CC-Majority Statement. But our so-called “democratic process” really has not allowed sufficient time. Yet, I present the above views as a last effort on my part to preserve a socialist formation with most or us as its initial nucleus. Please pardon my wordiness and sloppiness.