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Written by Al Markowitz
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Upon reading much of the pre-convention discussion I must agree with Michael Scheinberg's points in "Kicking it up a Notch," and also some of the comments on Party democracy.
While not wanting to play into sectarianism, these are areas of vital importance to our Party. Many of us do good work within working class struggles but how do we maintain that all-important "Communist Plus"? That is what defines our work.
It is an absolute necessity to enlarge class consciousness if we are to truly defeat the ultra-right and undermine its growth among the least educated of our class. I believe the best approach is a consistent anti-corporate line that must be shown as the basis of every issue.
Let's face it, the reason what is "possible" within the system we now have is that the system itself is owned by corporate interests which have undermined and stolen representative democracy. More and more, otherwise non-politicized people are realizing that.
The Supreme Court ruling making corporations "people" brought this to
the surface. We need to be building on this because it is central to all
that we do and who we are. After all, the antithesis of a corporate
dictatorship (otherwise known as fascism) is working class democracy
(otherwise known as socialism). Corporations are the instruments of
bourgeois power and when we fight corporate power, we are in effect
fighting capitalism.
While I am absolutely against those who would suggest changing the name
of our party, "anti-corporatism" can be used in the struggle without
feeding into the anti-Communism that lingers in the minds of many.
Undoing anti-Communism happens in the struggle itself as people realize
the implications of corporatism, grow a class-conscious understanding
and get to know Communists by our work. That will inevitably lead to the
growth of our party.
As for our day to day work, Comrade Bruce Bostick is right that we need
to be in the forefront of the crisis facing workers who are struggling
against unemployment, foreclosures, and the theft of hard-won benefits.
Still, outreach is vital and as great as the People's World website is,
it is no substitute for a paper which can be handed out or picked up in
factory lunchrooms, tables, or anywhere working people gather. Websites
are fine for those looking, but a paper reaches many who don't know to
look and who don't cruise the web looking for socialist sites.
The
decision to discontinue the paper needs to be revisited and such weighty
decisions should be made by the Party as a whole.
Overall, I am impressed by the range of discussion. It shows us to be a
healthy, dynamic party and is what separates us from the ultra-left
sects. I hope that our Party leaders will not react to valid criticism
with defensiveness and that those who are critical will place Party
unity above sectarianism whatever the decisions made collectively at the
convention.
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