[Marxism] DISILLUSIONED WITH MARXMAILers!

[Haines Brown]

> Haines Brown wrote:
> > It just occurred to me: do you see the term "petite bourgeois" as
> > an insult for some reason?
> 
> Of course it is an insult. The "Marxist-Leninist" parties have used
> this term as a cudgel against opposition tendencies since the early
> 20th century at least.

I suspect the context is different. What I said was obviously intended
to be about social classes, not tendencies in working-class
parties. You are quite correct to note that should a working-class
party or an opposition within it have values better suited to the
petite bourgeoisie, it would be regrettable and worthy of
insult. However, I don't recall that working class parties came up in 
the discussion (perhaps I'm wrong, but that's my recollection). You
seem to be reacting more to certain unfortunate tendencies in some
working-class parties than to my comments. 

> All in all, this kind of meat-headed linquistic abuse is a symptom
> of a dying subculture--"Marxism-Leninism". It will take a long time
> to die off but die off it certainly will.

I suspect the term "Marxism-Leninism" is broadly used as an (arguably
unfortunate) label to refer to the developing ideology of the working
class. As such, it can't "die off", for the working class is permanent
and so too is its ideology, whatever form it takes.

Because it is so conventional to use the term "Marxism-Leninism" to
refer to the only ideology specific to the working class, there is a
danger that a justified criticism of dogmatism or a thoughtless
embrace of Marx and Lenin's specific views despite changing
circumstances will be construed as a rejection of working-class
ideology per se. I'm sure that is not your intent, and so I regret how
you expressed yourself here. It could easily be misunderstood.

-- 
 
       Haines Brown, KB1GRM