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Well, if one COULD have a reasoned discussion along these lines, it might be best to put in in less polemical "rivers of blood". It's also necessary to reject Waistline's arrogant, flippant passive/aggressive "This line of thought is all stupid but Trotskyite-ism is reactionary...blah blah". On the yahoo Leftist Trainspotters list, going now for about 10 years and founded by die-hard Maoists, self-described Stalinists and Trotskyists but ALL with a sense of humor AND "proportion" which has worked well, many times better than this list I would say. We "spot" groups, talk about them somewhat dispassionately and try to spot what's going on in the left. Again, with a sense of humor, witty repertoire, massive fertilization of egos and smashing thereof. We have what is called "Nico's Rule", (named after a list member) that anything "left" is basically anything, person, party which, in Yankee nomenclature, would be to the left of the Democrats but not including them. Not accurate practical for 'spotting' purposes. There are a lot cross-over between that list and this one I might add. But don't cover over there if you take YOURSELF too seriously. We try, anyway, to leave the "Rivers of Blood" discussions to other lists because it is simply to unwieldy. Sometimes it pops up and we let it go a bit, usually by a newbie, then squash it, all of it, regardless of politics. Waistline, if he could only refraine from the 'matter-of-factually-you-suck-and-we-are-the-true-heirs-of-Lenin-don't-ya-know' nightclub routine, could make some good points. If only...a huh. * Joaquín's comm*ents are noteworthy if ONLY because he speaks to a reality that has left what Waistline says in a sort of historical dustbeen: there are new kids on the block and the FACT that most of the former communist countries are now very "former" says a lot more than to who won, what, when, in the 1928 comintern congress or whatever. If you look at the left generally, *especially* in developing countries there no more "majority communists" bullshit. It *depends* on what country. If you are a communist in Venezuela the left is defined by the PSUV. Period. The pro-Moscow communists, which still wield some weight in the unions, are simply irrelevant to what is going on there *as communists*. In Algeria, France and a few other countries, "majority communists" is now more anachronistic than ever or totally and absolutely irrelevant to the class struggle. "Communists" or acting as such, is *usually* means NOT in the "majority communist" party. It means nothing to say "..majority communists...". Clearly in some countries it is still very important. India, for example. But not Pakistan. In the Philippines there are more communists outside the "official" (and formally pro-Biejing) CPP/NPA than in it, with Trotskyism or "near-Trotskyist" groups now the "majority communists". But that is what the spotters list is for, to argue about these little factoids without anybody's entire political history on the line. I'm very partisan about my world view, my politics. But I am not flip about any of it. Ever. David Walters ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: [email protected] Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
