[A-List] Workers arrested amid rising protests over pay and layoffs

[Waistline2 at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/5/2009 2:28:55 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
charlesb at cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us writes:
> has steadfastly gone along with  the Democratic
Party, on which both it and ordinary US workers coincide<  

^^^
CB; The notion that "going along" with the DP in the US in some  periods is 
not revolutionary is the type of error that Lenin criticizes in  _Leftwing 
Communism_.  The groupings or individuals that think of  themselves as 
revolutionary but absolutely shun _electoral_ work in the US  system is ultra-left error 
of the type , with modifications for some historical  and national 
differences,  criticized by Lenin in the chapter "Should we  work in bourgeois 
parliaments ?". This is another example of some of Lenin's  thinking being almost 
completely fresh today.



Comment  

Blocking with the bourgeoisie and its political parties is only  
revolutionary during a moment in history where the Monarchy is being overthrown  or under 
conditions of a historically specific class alignment. In the case of  Russia 
it was the Czar. In America, blocking with the bourgeois parties, ("going  
along" with the DP in the US) or entering into alliance with them, is in all  
instances decidedly non-revolutionary. Period. What Lenin wrote should never  
blind us to a concrete analysis of our own country. 
 
Doing work in the electoral arena - as communists, Marxists,  
environmentalist, etc. is totally different work and a different concept than  blocking with 
the Democratic Party. The criticism by many is over our inability  to break 
with our own bourgeoisie and it is a correct and proper criticism,  which 
demands that one explain - not justify, their actions. Lenin cannot  justify our 
actions or explain our behavior. The Democratic Party is the enemy  of the 
workers. 
 
Did the CPUSA publicly and officially endorse Obama? Most of my old  comrades 
(in organizations) refused to endorse anyone in the Presidential  campaign 
and after the election celebrated the workers crossing a historical  boundary 
and voting for a black to lead America as president. The question is  hardly 
ever "who is wrong" but "what is wrong." 
 
The working class or rather that section of voting America, which is not  the 
majority of the workers in our country, have yet to learn about the class  
nature of the bourgeois parties. The non-voting majority of the workers, do not  
see the class connection between individuals and parties but simply see no  
relevance in voting. And those who do not vote or advocate taking part in the  
national presidential election are not "ultra-leftist."  
 
A large section of our workers are reactionary and right wing in their  
ideology. To simply quote Lenin and not at least try and explain our economic  and 
political landscape is a refusal to think or try to be creative in ones  
vision. For instance some comrades might be assigned to work not simply in the  
electoral arena but within the realm of Democratic Party organization and  
activity. Why? Because many workers who vote are within this realm, especially  in 
small towns where independent activity is impossible. There are decent  workers 
who vote Republican, although from the perspective of the Republican  Party's 
electoral base, these are amongst the most reactionary workers in the  
country. 
 
Bottom line. 
 
The Democratic Party is the enemy of the workers and this lesson has yet to  
be understood by our workers. Until we can field a Labor candidate on the  
national level - as president, refusing to take part in a national presidential  
election is not a "political error." Those taking part in the national  
Presidential election are not necessarily wrong or in error.  
 
However to advocate a political block with the Democratic Party, under an  
anti-monopoly ideology, is a political and ideological error for a communist and 
 communist organization. Lenin's approach would have been to extend his party 
in  all sectors of activity. 
 
Waistline 
 
 
 
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