While lurking on Marxmail, I have been put off by the caricature of democratic
centralism, and the occassional ISO bashing by members of this list. This is
reflected in the lack of postings on the recent ISO organized conference,
Socialism 2009 held in two different cities this year, Chicago and San
Francisco. While the event, previously held only in Chicago, usually draws
around 1,000 this year each site drew around 900 each. Even allowing for 100 (I
doubt that many) who attended both conferences, that's 1700. Regardless of
one's feelings toward Leninism/vanguardism, and the ISO, this was a significant
event which I would have thought could not have been ignored. In the interest
of full disclosure, I am a former member of the SWP, 1978-1981, having dropped
out before the purge got under way. I guess that makes me a premature
anti-Barnesite. I was a 6 year veteran of the ISO, in San Francisco and
Madison, until recently, having dropped out for personal
reasons that interfered with being active. What political differences I may
have had were and are insignificant. To be honest I had gotten comfortable
being a supporter of the ISO without any responibility, other than the
occassional financial contribution. Now that these personal issues are
resolved, and after reading Dan and Pauls posts, I find I can no longer justify
sitting on the sidelines. It's time for me to apply to the ISO for readmission.
Dan and Paul, thank you both for the wake up call. Regarding Carrol's remarks:
What?????
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