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-----Original Message----- From: Ben Seattle Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 9:23 AM To: 'pof-200' Subject: Five discussion threads on RCP's reformist slogan Hi everyone, Currently, the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) is promoting a campaign under the slogan "Drive Out the Bush Regime!" The RCP is claiming that this slogan represents a decisive break from "politics as usual" and is key to developing the consciousness of activists. Unfortunately, the RCP's slogan promotes the illusion that activists (and the movement) can ally with one section of the ruling bourgeoisie in order to weaken or defeat the other section. As such, this slogan works to undermine the consciousness of activists and represents a capitulation to the social-democratic political trend (ie: a political trend that is in alliance with and serves the imperialist Democratic Party). This capitulationist slogan is part of the RCP's efforts to earn political capital from social-democratic forces and further develop a long-standing alliance with sections of social-democracy. The arguments used by supporters of the RCP to defend this capitulationist slogan (and general orientation) are typical of social-democratic ideology and are centered around the idea that our movement will be damaged if (1) we tell the masses the truth about who our enemies are and (2) explain the need to overthrow the existing system of bourgeois rule. Capitulation to social-democracy is commonplace in the progressive movement. This capitulation is why our movement is paralyzed. The path to attracting the attention and respect of millions -- is to tell them the truth. Our movement will only become powerful as tens and hundreds of thousands of activists see the need to break from and puncture the suffocating influence of social-democracic politics which work relentlessly to channel the energy of activists into the gutter. The path forward for a powerful movement is _independence_ from bourgeois influence - independence from illusions that we can unite with one section of the bourgeoisie against the other -- independence from the illusion that the ruling bourgeoisie, for all of its internal disagreements, is not united against _us_. The need for an independent movement -- a movement which is not afraid to recognize the need to do away with the entire political and economic system of imperialism -- is the central ideological task for building a powerful antiwar movement. The RCP is clueless about the need for independence and about the necessity of arming activists, ideologically, against the social-democratic efforts to (1) hijack the antiwar movement, (2) turn activists into election fodder and (3) lead activists down the path of demoralization. The RCP criticizes the Democratic Party just enough to claim "clean hands" in the alliance it is developing and also to claim its position (as the extreme left-wing of social-democracy) in a political ecosystem that is incredibly corrupt and is based on the deception of the masses. This kind of treachery and hypocrisy is common in what should be "our" movement. However, with the weapon of consciousness, and with the emerging revolution in digital communications -- activists who want to see our movement become powerful -- and who oppose the RCP's most recent capitulation -- can bring their message to other activists in the movement. We can and must explain to activists (including supporters of the RCP -- many of whom have revolutionary aspirations but a weak understanding of social-democracy) why the RCP's current slogan damages the movement and strengthens the influence of social-democracy. This work is essential, not only to oppose the current course of the RCP's hypocritical leadership, but also to raise the consciousness of activists everywhere concerning how social-democracy works to undermine the antiwar movement -- and the need to create a movement which is independent from social-democracy. Below are links to 5 discussion threads in which anti-reformist activists have engaged supporters of the RCP's capitulationist line. Sincerely and revolutionary regards, Ben Seattle http://struggle.net/ben Isolated from one another we are easily defeated. Connected to one another no force on earth can stop us http://MediaWeapon.com -- 1 -- Seattle Indymedia: The World Can't Wait: Thoughts on Driving Out the Bush Regime replies by: Sunsara Taylor, Ben Seattle, Jaroslav, dromo, redstar2000 June 23 - July 1 http://seattle.indymedia.org/en/2005/06/246772.shtml -- 2 -- Seattle Indymedia: The World Can't Wait! Drive Out the Bush Regime! statement by: Margot Harry, C. Clark Kissinger, Travis Morales, Sunsara Taylor replies by Ben Seattle, Iskra June 30 - July 3 http://seattle.indymedia.org/en/2005/06/246881.shtml -- 3 -- Seattle Indymedia: A Response to "Drive Out the Bush Regime" Statement Iskra and Frank July 3 - 7 http://seattle.indymedia.org/en/2005/07/246938.shtml -- 4 -- Another World is Possible Forum: Thoughts on Driving Out the Bush Regime repeater138, Iskra and others June 27 - July 23 http://awip.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=articl es&thread=1119845921&page=1#1121635762 -- 5 -- Revolutionary Left forum: The World Can't Wait! Drive Out The Bush Regime! Numerous people: Severian, CommunistLeague June 29 - July 10 http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=37370 Related web page (by Ben Seattle): ---------------------------------- A comment on RCP's current "Battle for the Future" campaign -- Crying "Wolf" over Fascism -- Hysteria about "fascism" serves to hide the essential role of the Democratic Party in the political and economic system of imperialism plus: -- Pieces of a Puzzle that Lock Together -- How hysteria about fascism helps social-democracy suck the life and militancy out of the antiwar movement http://struggle.net/ben/2005/rcp_cries_wolf.htm (This is not a discussion list--the discussion list is pof-200) THEORIST LIST -------------- To unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theorist/messages Info: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theorist/ POF-200 ------- home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pof-200/ to subscribe:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! 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