Council Communism

[commie kg]

I've been interested in council communism lately, and I'm wondering if anyone can direct me to some good reading materials that outline council communist theory.

I guess I don't quite know what it is. ;) Trying to find a system that falls in line with my beliefs is pretty damn hard. :D

Thanks!

[synthesis]

Why don't you just create your own ideology? That's what I did. I was uncomfortable with both Leninism (Trotsky and Stalin included) and reformism, so I created the Program of the 21st Century Socialist (http://www.che-lives.com/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=12&t=15437).

If that doesn't appeal to you, what are your opinions on different issues? I fancy myself as having a pretty good knowledge of the different leftist ideologies and their positions.

What do you think about...

1. Affirmative Action
2. Armed Revolution
3. Bourgeois Democracy
4. The Role of Propaganda
5. The Role of the Socialist State
6. The "Socialism-In-One-Country" Theory
7. The Existence of Race
8. Pacifism
9. Noam Chomsky
10. Drug Legalization

Obviously, those are by no means every issue that must be addressed by leftists, but I think your positions on those should be pretty helpful in your struggle to be pigeonholed. ;)

[commie kg]

Originally posted by [email protected] 6 2003, 10:22 PM
If that doesn't appeal to you, what are your opinions on different issues? I fancy myself as having a pretty good knowledge of the different leftist ideologies and their positions.

What do you think about...

1. Affirmative Action
2. Armed Revolution
3. Bourgeois Democracy
4. The Role of Propaganda
5. The Role of the Socialist State
6. The "Socialism-In-One-Country" Theory
7. The Existence of Race
8. Pacifism
9. Noam Chomsky
10. Drug Legalization

Obviously, those are by no means every issue that must be addressed by leftists, but I think your positions on those should be pretty helpful in your struggle to be pigeonholed. ;)
Affirmitive Action

In it's current state, it's useless. I think a similar system based on someone's income could be implemented, and have better results.

Armed Revolution

Although bloodshed might seem to be a barbaric way of bringing about a peaceful, utopian society, I think it is the only way. The ruling class will never give up power peacefully, I think it will always come to revolution, as history has shown.

Bourgeois Democracy

If by that you mean parlimentary democracy, I am against it. I am a firm believer in direct democracy, and a dictatorship of the working class.

The Role of Propaganda

Mixed feelings here. I tend to believe that when the time comes for proletarian revolution, propaganda won't be needed. Educating the masses is always good, though. No need to force anything upon them.

The Role of the Socialist State

I do believe in a socialist transition period, but not a "Leninesque" one. I believe in a dictatorship of the class, not of a party or clique, as Luxemburg said.

The "Socialism-In-One-Country" Theory

History has proven this doesn't work. I think that when the revolution comes, it will be truly international, spreading accross the globe like wildfire.

The Existence of Race

I don't believe in it at all. I believe in one race, the human race.

Pacifism

I tend to be more militant, but I think militant action is futile until the time is right. Capitalism hasn't run it's course yet, but when it does, the world will be ripe for militant action.

Noam Chomsky

Bright guy, but I disagree with him on some points. I have emailed him a few times, and while I do believe in a socialist transition phase, he tends to take the anarchist line, advocating an immediate switch to classless society, which I think is unrealistic.

Drug Legalization

I don't have a problem with drugs, but I think that under communism, drug addiction will dissapear. The conditions that drive people to drugs will be removed, thus ending the drug problem.

[redstar2000]

Try this...

http://www.che-lives.com/forum/index.php?a...=0&#entry244060 (http://www.che-lives.com/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=6&t=16244&st=0&#entry244060)

Google has about 1200 entries on the subject: type in "Council + communism" and you will find a fair amount to pick from just on the first page of entries.

DyerMaker has a good point, though. In the end, serious revolutionaries investigate the traditions but make up their own minds...put together a "package" that makes sense to them.

It's the only way to go.

http://www.sawu.org/redgreenleft/YaBBImages/smoking.gif

The RedStar2000 Papers (http://www.sawu.org/redstar2000)
A site about communist ideas

[Pete]

Would council communism and a grass roots consensus based organization be similar to one another?

If so I suggest reading into the PIRG's around North America. One of them is OPIRG (http://www.opirg.org), or the Ontario Public Interest Research Group. These are great organizations, and all the mainstream ones at my school hate the PIRG here because we are mostly autonomous and we serve the student's needs.

Affliates are the Anti-Capatialist Community Association (ACA), and the Global Peace Coallition. Both ACA and the GPC disagree with each other most of the time, but are willing to come to a consensus to help a mutual cause, with other groups like OCAP (Ontario Council Aganist Poverty) and NO-WAR (I forget what it stands for, but the anachronym says it all.).

Enjoy

[synthesis]

Well, this may just be the natural instinct to try to "recruit" like-minded people to one's own ideology... but you seem like you'd like my Program. ;)

Did you read it?

If so, what did you like about it? (If anything.) What did you disagree with? (If anything.)

[commie kg]

Originally posted by [email protected] 7 2003, 03:41 PM
Well, this may just be the natural instinct to try to "recruit" like-minded people to one's own ideology... but you seem like you'd like my Program. ;)

Did you read it?

If so, what did you like about it? (If anything.) What did you disagree with? (If anything.)
Yeah, I read it. I liked it. There's really nothing I disagree with.

It's what I'd consider "real" Marxism, if there is such a thing.