Hi Hari,
First--thanks for your quick reply. You said:
> My article was aimed at one thing
> and one thing alone:
> The assertion made on this list
> that there was a division between
> Marx-Engels and Lenin on the matter
> of a disciplined party, that was
> a professional party led by
> the advanced vanguard.
I was responding, Hari, to this comment of yours:
> A discussion on the party
> is over-due.
I favor such a discussion.
> Your taxonomy of party with Lenin
> is interesting - but it is for you
> - not me - to fully write that
> historical development if you choose.
It is for anyone and everyone who recognizes that the working class needs its
own party--to write--fully or partially--to the best of their abilities.
I do a lot of writing, Hari. My experience is that the most important thing in
writing--is to have dedicated and intelligent people read what we write. I
cannot "fully write" in answer to those questions you might consider
important--if you do not let me know what those questions might be. I am not
capable of reading your mind. Given a lack of serious engagement with the
ideas I have put forth--there is little realistic way for me to connect to
anyone else who may possibly be interested in the kind of party the working
class needs. I have written about the kind of party that I believe we
need--and the steps that are necessary to bring it closer. My experience is
that--generally--what I write is either ignored or replied to in a relatively
superficial way. There is little more I can do.
Part of the issue here, in my honest opinion, is motivation. If people have
fire in their belly, so to speak, they think and act differently than if they
do not.
I do believe that the working class needs a "disciplined party" led by an
"advanced vanguard" -- but saying this does not shed light on any question. A
discipline party doing what? An advanced vanguard doing what? We live in a
period in which numerous cults believe they are an advanced vanguard building a
disciplined party. So an intelligent discussion needs language which is more
than cult-speak.
I have attempted to answer this question--in outline--and in detail--in various
places. The organization the working class needs will emerge from efforts to
create a common democratic platform for public information. This platform will
be a weapon of the class struggle in the online war of ideas--and will:
* help us (and help activists) learn from one another
* help us (and help activists) separate wheat from chaff and
friend from foe
* help us (and help activists) resolve all the most important
practical questions
* help us (and help activists) resolve all the most important
theoretical questions
* help us (and help activists) overcome the crisis of theory
which has paralyzed our movement
A common democratic platform for public information will end up being the 21st
century equivalent of what Lenin proposed in WITBD.
I believe I can back up such an assertion--and answer questions about
it--provided that I have something to which I can respond. A deeper discussion
on the party cannot take place in the absence of motivated people who want to
make it happen. I am not holding a dagger to your neck. I am simply pointing
out, calmly, what appears obvious.
I should clarify that your article on the organizational work of Marx and
Engels was quite helpful to me. You put a ton of work into that--and I
appreciate it. I am working on something that will make good use of it, and
will make an effort to post it here before the end of the month, if not sooner.
The tenative title is "Spartabase Ex Machina". If you have any tips for me,
Hari, concerning how I might *realistically* better engage with you or anyone
else--please let me know.
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