Communist Parties in America

[Bostana]

Which Communist party in the United States would you guys recommend is the best.

Thank you Comrades

[RedMarxist]

PSL-Party For Socialism and Liberation.

at least comrades have told me its a good party. :)

[The Dark Side of the Moon]

I also wonder. But I don't know, I am really tempted to register vpusa.com, and start my own party.

[RED DAVE]

Which Communist party in the United States would you guys recommend is the best.

Thank you ComradesYou have just stepped into perhaps the biggest hornets nest on RevLeft. My advice to you before joining any group is (1) take your time: the revolution isn't next week; (2) educate yourself in Marxism; (3) clarify your own beliefs; (4) watch what groups do, not what they say; (5) avoid, wherever possible, the word "Communist."

RED DAVE

[Tablo]

I say don't join a party and just get involved in more of the broad leftist scene. I like SDS a lot just because we do real good stuff without worrying about an ideological line or sectarian party conflicts.

[Q]

See for a comprehensive list this page (http://www.en.anarchopedia.org/List_of_Left-Wing_Parties_in_the_United_States).

Also, expect a lot of advertising from all the kiddies wanting to recruit you now.

[#FF0000]

I also wonder. But I don't know, I am really tempted to register vpusa.com, and start my own party.

another party is just what we need

[Obs]

I also wonder. But I don't know, I am really tempted to register vpusa.com, and start my own party.
Best Mod already pointed this out, but really, that is the worst idea anyone has ever had.

[Terminator X]

There really is no "best communist party in the US" - all are various shades of mediocre.

PSL, ISO, SPUSA, SEP, RCP are some of the most active/notable.

[thriller]

There really is no "best communist party in the US" - all are various shades of mediocre.

PSL, ISO, SPUSA, SEP, RCP are some of the most active/notable.

SPUSA would get SOOOO angry if you called them a "Communist" party :D

I'd check around and see what's near you and what actions they do. I joined the Local SP in Madison here hoping to take to the streets. Revising the by-laws seems to be the primary concern the last 6 months. Check out every group before joining. I joined the ISO before knowing they were Leninist (no offense, just not my political camp) so I felt dumb after leaving so soon because I joined the first group I saw with the word socialist, bad move.

[The Dark Side of the Moon]

another party is just what we need

Oh yes, don't you mean
"oh we need one party, as their are no communist party's in the USA"

[Tablo]

I don't think there can be a communist party with good or consistent politics in the US simply because most people have piss poor politics and aren't going to sit down and read a lot of political theory. I don't blame them either.

[#FF0000]

Oh yes, don't you mean
"oh we need one party, as their are no communist party's in the USA"

guess it depends on what you mean by party. i don't think we need a bunch of student activists and historical roleplayers playing model-Central Committee but maybe that's just me.

[#FF0000]

SPUSA would get SOOOO angry if you called them a "Communist" party

Well I don't know about that. There's lots of people who rep communism within the SPUSA. Maybe with Wisconsin SP is different though, since I think it was formed independently of the SPUSA or something

[Martin Blank]

If you see yourself as a Che-style "Marxist-Leninist", then, given where you are and what you believe, I would say that the Workers World Party is probably the best fit for you. I would suggest PMing Noth or Nuvem on here about it.

[KurtFF8]

I say don't join a party and just get involved in more of the broad leftist scene. I like SDS a lot just because we do real good stuff without worrying about an ideological line or sectarian party conflicts.

Even as someone who is involved with a Party, I think this is dead on.

It took me a while of slowly getting into activism before I learned the terrain of the American Left. And if you just jump into a party via a recommendation, you may find that they're not for you and be turned off to Left politics in general. And that wouldn't be good.

[ProletarianResurrection]

You have just stepped into perhaps the biggest hornets nest on RevLeft. My advice to you before joining any group is (1) take your time: the revolution isn't next week; (2) educate yourself in Marxism; (3) clarify your own beliefs; (4) watch what groups do, not what they say; (5) avoid, wherever possible, the word "Communist."

RED DAVE

WOW! Why exactly? :confused:

[thesadmafioso]

WOW! Why exactly? :confused:

I take it your new to the whole concept of American history, right?

You see, I say this because there was this little thing called the cold war a while back, and it sort of meant that the term communism was actively defamed by most every political mechanism of the American state for about 50 years. Since then, the term has been somewhat difficult to use to positive effect around many Americans, for obvious reasons.

[Susurrus]

I take it your new to the whole concept of American history, right?

You see, I say this because there was this little thing called the cold war a while back, and it sort of meant that the term communism was actively defamed by most every political mechanism of the American state for about 50 years. Since then, the term has been somewhat difficult to use to positive effect around many Americans, for obvious reasons.

So? We anarchists have been defamed for longer than that, but we still call ourselves anarchists...

[Property Is Robbery]

I say don't join a party and just get involved in more of the broad leftist scene. I like SDS a lot just because we do real good stuff without worrying about an ideological line or sectarian party conflicts.
Yeah but the SDS is really small and not active anywhere near me.

[Tablo]

Yeah but the SDS is really small and not active anywhere near me.
Well that was just an example. I was just expressing my preference for broad left groups.

[Property Is Robbery]

Yeah I know what you mean. I wish SDS had a branch near me because I'm too busy to help start one.

[KurtFF8]

Yeah but the SDS is really small and not active anywhere near me.

Well maybe just find out what groups are active near you (if any) and perhaps just email them or ask about meetings you can go to to get a feel for it.

[NoOneIsIllegal]

So? We anarchists have been defamed for longer than that, but we still call ourselves anarchists...
Communists have been defamed longer than anarchists. You can find old newspaper articles condemning "communists" in the United States (especially with the hysteria of the Paris Commune) dating back to the 1860s and 1870s. The stereotype of a bomb-welding anarchist didn't really kick start until the 1880s and 1890s with the rise of insurrectionism and propaganda of the deed. It was a quick phase in anarchist history, but it has come to overshadow us for many moons.

[thriller]

Well I don't know about that. There's lots of people who rep communism within the SPUSA. Maybe with Wisconsin SP is different though, since I think it was formed independently of the SPUSA or something

Yeah the SP Wisconsin would be angry, but so would most of the people on the National Committee. They tend to look down on me for reping communism. Although I do know plenty of self-declared communists in the SP.

[Susurrus]

Communists have been defamed longer than anarchists. You can find old newspaper articles condemning "communists" in the United States (especially with the hysteria of the Paris Commune) dating back to the 1860s and 1870s. The stereotype of a bomb-welding anarchist didn't really kick start until the 1880s and 1890s with the rise of insurrectionism and propaganda of the deed. It was a quick phase in anarchist history, but it has come to overshadow us for many moons.

Actually, the term "anarchist" came into use in English around 1642, where it was typically used as a term of abuse. So yeah, we have been defamed longer.

[Tommy4ever]

Actually, the term "anarchist" came into use in English around 1642, where it was typically used as a term of abuse. So yeah, we have been defamed longer.

But not the same extent.

Say the word Anarchism to someone and the first thing they think of is silly counterculture teenagers, say Communism to someone and they think of gulags and Stalin.

[El Louton]

Start your own! Don't listen to the others! If you want to, do it!