Greetings

[Ghost Hound]

Hello, my name is Sebastian and I am a Marxist-Leninist. I was originally interested in anarchism and progressed toward anarchist-communism, but began to see it as too idealistic and unorganized. I then moved toward Trotskyism but after much research, and after opening my mind, I now see Trotskyism as false and instead adhere to Marxism-Leninism, anti-revisionism. You could say I'm another "Stalinist" but when it comes down to it, I'm not here to get into the typical Trotsky versus Stalin argument solely because its just tiring, and its been done billions of times. Of course don't you crazy Trots think you're completely off the hook, but if the need for argument does arise, I will promise to be respectful so long as you are as well.

:)

School recently started up for me and I have economics class as my elective. Hopefully being here I'll be able to get more insights on economics to defend my own views within the classroom, instead of being forced fed capitalistic dribble. My teacher did say she "loves the idea of Marxism, just doesn't find it fair," but nonetheless I hope she is open enough to some of my criticisms.

I look forward to meeting everyone!

[Jazzhands]

Welcome. inb4 Q

[Veg_Athei_Socialist]

Welcome to Revleft:)!

[leftace53]

Dystopia through utopia! Organization through unorganization!
The ramblings of an anarkiddy.
Welcome!

[Q]

Welcome :)

What made you consider ML and reconsider Trotskyist ideas?

[Ghost Hound]

Welcome :)

What made you consider ML and reconsider Trotskyist ideas?

It started mostly when I began to think "Wait a minute. How do I know that say, Stalin is truly what he is made out to be?" And once I figured out [through research] the truth of Stalin, I lost interest in Trotsky and his theories. The entire thing started when I began taking an interest in Mao and Hoxha, and I developed Maoist leanings at the time. Once the "transformation was complete" so to speak, I was a Marxist-Leninist-Maoist, but after much reading on Hoxha, I now consider Mao an ultra-leftist of sorts; a revolutionary progressive democrat rather than a genuine Marxist.

[Q]

It started mostly when I began to think "Wait a minute. How do I know that say, Stalin is truly what he is made out to be?" And once I figured out [through research] the truth of Stalin, I lost interest in Trotsky and his theories. The entire thing started when I began taking an interest in Mao and Hoxha, and I developed Maoist leanings at the time. Once the "transformation was complete" so to speak, I was a Marxist-Leninist-Maoist, but after much reading on Hoxha, I now consider Mao an ultra-leftist of sorts; a revolutionary progressive democrat rather than a genuine Marxist.

Could you elaborate further? What research did you do? What is, according to you, the "truth about Stalin"? Which theories of Trotsky do you disregard (and, linking to this, which theories of Stalin do you approve)?

[Ghost Hound]

Could you elaborate further? What research did you do? What is, according to you, the "truth about Stalin"? Which theories of Trotsky do you disregard (and, linking to this, which theories of Stalin do you approve)?



I mainly looked for as many possible sources regarding Stalin as I could. Of course the most important is Another View of Stalin by Ludo Martens, but also works by Ian Grey, Anna Louise Strong, and so forth. Likewise, I even began to read Stalin's own works and I saw that they did not equate to "Stalinism," in that his theories are not totalitarianism. I also found a lot of other Marxist-Leninists that would answer my questions, and I managed to find a few people with relatives who lived in the Soviet Union who could provide accounts.
I disregard the theory of permanent revolution first and foremost. I disregard the notion that the Soviet Union was a "deformed workers state," or was highly bureaucratic. I disregard world revolution as idealistic. I disregard his suggestions regarding China and colonialism. I disregard his theory on the transitional program. Basically, I reject most all of Trotskyism.
For Stalin, I accept the theory of socialism in one country, I accept the need for a strong dictatorship of the proletariat and planned economy, I accept the theory of aggravation of class struggle under socialism, I accept the two-stage theory, and so forth. I believe that Stalin's theories often mirrored Lenin's, or were expansions of Lenin's own theories as well. I believe the Soviet Union achieved socialism as well.

[Nolan]

Welcome! :)

[4 Leaf Clover]

Could you elaborate further? What research did you do? What is, according to you, the "truth about Stalin"? Which theories of Trotsky do you disregard (and, linking to this, which theories of Stalin do you approve)?
aren't trotskyites leninists as well ?

[Ghost Hound]

aren't trotskyites leninists as well ?

It will depend who you ask. Many Trotskyists will say that not only was Trotsky supposedly the logical successor to Lenin, but that his theories were often similar to Lenin's and therefore some may claim the line of Marx-Engels-Lenin-Trotsky. However, for a Marxist-Leninist, such a claim is false, as Trotsky's theories do not equate to Leninism, and we could even argue that Trotsky was inherently anti-Marxist.

"In this period of ideological confusion, the Trotskyites are bound to come forward with scraps of pompous, high-sounding, empty, obscure and bombastic catchphrases which confuse the intelligentsia and non-class-conscious workers, in an attempt to fill the ideological vacuum and to pass off Trotskyism as Leninism. They are bound to make yet another attempt to substitute Trotskyism for Leninism. They must not be allowed to do this. Every Marxist-Leninist, every class-conscious worker, must play his or her part in frustrating this attempt and in ensuring that it fails as miserably as did all similar attempts in the past" (Harpal Brar, Trotskyism or Leninism?).


*Brar takes some incorrect stances himself, but nonetheless, I suggest reading his work Trotskyism or Leninism which shows how it is wrong for Trotskyites to attempt to "substitute" Leninism for Trotskyism.

[Q]

Closed, as the sockpuppet of cyberwave is banned.