[Marxism] sectarians on Leslie Cagan on UFPJ national assembly in Chicago

[John Obrien]

I find it curious that people who say they are socialists and believe in marxist thought - then turn around and ignore this same basic ideology, because of either hoping for an easier way to organize, or outright opportunism and ignoring the basic realities, of who controls the Democratic Party and the capitalist forces it serves.
 
The false dream that working and oppressed people in the USA, can somehow take control of this political entity, that is neither democratic in its internal operations, or operates for other than the capitalist class, should have been understood long ago.  Whether in examples of the election campaigns of William Jennings Bryan, that coopted many of the populist People's Party, or more recently the Jesse Jackson presidential campaigns.
 
What came out of the Rainbow Coalition efforts in the 1980's, to work inside the Democratic Party - whose purpose was to advance a larger more effective and organized left in the USA? Many of these Rainbow Coalition leaders, have refused to recognize the truth and evidence.
 
Instead of the hard work it would take (and is essential for any real effective mass Left), they instead go along with the ministers, labor misleaders and non-profit operatives, seeking minimal changes (or actually signing on, to further concessions, to the capitalists and reversals won in previous massive struggles - such as Bill Clinton's welfare "reforms" and NAFTA)
 
Marxism believes in viewing things from an objective economic view and not just wasted hopes.  Lessons should have been learned about the need for independent activist groups and not being led into the Democratic Party and never to emerge again - being either bought off, or totally giving up, in hope for a small reform (that can be eventually taken away!) 
 
Today we see some of these leftists - promoting congressman Kucinich, who has even less chance than Jesse Jackson, to become the presidential candidate of that party.  In 2004, we saw Kucinich cave in and withdraw the antiwar plank from being even discussed, at that year's party convention - "for the sake of party unity". 
 
It will be no different this time - with those in control of the Democratic Party demanding obedience, to be even included in the 2008 election campaign - to serve the party winning and then serving the capitalists.  
 
Do people on this List, see the democratic party, helping poor and working people and encuraging their empowerment?  Do they see this party opposing militarism?  Challenging corporate world rule, or even corporate dominance of this party?
 
Will Jesse Jackson (who takes corporate money) or Dennis Kucinich (who has no chance of major corporate money) be the leaders that some expect (hope?) to lead the progressive forces in this country?  Will it be Maxine Waters, Antonio Villagrosa, Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama, Bill Richardson or John Edwards who will do this?
 
It seems to me, that people should learn from history and understand what economic forces and controls exists - instead of spending time and re-inforcing dellusions - of working people, working for capitalist owned candidates.  Especially on this List!!!!
 
Some capitalists want to throw scraps and small reforms to the toiling masses, while the more greedy arrogant ones, want to just keep taking and forcing people to work harder and get less in return - to maximize profits.  Both sides want to maintain capitalist rule and oppose workers rule.
 
Those on this List should understand the basics, of those with wealth and power, who exploit those who work and produce.  And which side, one should be on!  Recognizing the painful realities, of a small U. S. Left, that needs to organize working people independently, of the capitalist electoral parties, would serve us all better, than continuing illusions, that just prevents the real work, that needs to be done to truly end capitalism.  
 
Small reforms are nice, but if they do not encourage working people, to understand and insist on more empowerment, but instead promote a false message, that only begging for crumbs from the masters tables - instead of having control of one's own bakery - is possible - then we make no major progress and the world remains to be plundered by the greedy, at the expense of the needy.
 
 
 
John O'Brien> Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2007 00:10:13 -0400> From: marvgandall at videotron.ca> To: marxism at lists.econ.utah.edu> Subject: Re: [Marxism] sectarians on Leslie Cagan on UFPJ national assembly in Chicago>.> > It seems to me to make good sense for US leftists to look for opportunities> to work with the "the DP base". This is not tantamount to working with "the> DP" which implies political identification with the party's leadership and> program. This is how present and former CP'ers and others on the US left who> are active in the DP look at the matter and, while you may disagree with> this position, you should at least try to consider and present it more> honestly.> > Neither you nor anyone else can say whether this stance is "hopeless" or> not, and that a future radicalization is destined to bypass the DP and flow> directly to a third party. History will decide, and so far, history has> shown otherwise; successive generations of US workers - white, black, and> brown - and their representative organizations have expressed their> disatisfaction with the system within rather than outside of the Democratic> party.> > Of greater interest for the purpose of this discussion, it would seem to me,> is the majority of better paid and educated urban workers employed in the> more advanced and service sectors of the economy. They mix with workers of> other races and nationalities in their schools, workplaces and> neighbourhoods. They form the backbone of the labour, womans', national> minority, environmental, gay, and other movements. In 2000 and 2004,> virtually all cities with more than a half million population voted for Gore> and Kerry ahead of Bush. The political evolution of the urban working class> deserves the most careful attention,>