How bad is the CPUSA really, and what are the alternatives?

[Lokomotive293]

I was just wondering, because I live in Germany, and I know next to nothing about the situation of the left in the US.
Now, I know that there is the CPUSA, and that they used to be (a very long time ago) a fairly strong party. What I've heard is, though (this is only what I've heard, I'm not claiming this is true or attacking anyone, since as I said I don't know) that nowadays, the CPUSA (or what is left of it) has been taken over almost completely by opportunists and practically doesn't do much more than campaign for the Democrats. Are things really that bad?
And if yes, is there another Marxist-Leninist party, one that is not made up of opportunists but at the same time is not some ultra-sectarian whatever?
As I said, I don't live in the US, and I'd really like to know what the situation is like there. :)

[Ismail]

The CPUSA today is barely "communist." It sells books by Marx and Lenin but that's about it. It praises modern-day China as an example of "socialism" in action, it tails the Democratic Party, promotes reformism and eschews class struggle in favor of "beating back the ultra-right" (i.e. "vote Democrat so Republicans don't get elected.") They endorse Obama for President, just like they endorse basically any liberal Democrat.

The CPUSA has always had a problem with right-wing sentiment. In the 1940's its leader, Earl Browder, actually disbanded the Party and argued that class struggle was basically irrelevant in the USA. The Soviets promptly intervened, brought back the Party, and of course expelled Browder as a renegade. After 1956, however, the CPUSA went back to most of Browder's policies in effect (even Browder said that Khrushchev was taking mostly the same positions as he himself did.) The CPUSA did play a notable role in the civil rights struggles of the 1930's-60's, but as an actual working-class party it was always lame and right-wing except in its earliest days when most of its members were Russian immigrants and such.

As for "Marxist-Leninist parties," there's quite a few depending on how broadly you want to use the term. There's the PSL, FRSO, RCPUSA, etc. There's also smaller ones like the USMLO, PLP, American Party of Labor, etc.

[Lucretia]

The CPUSA is not communist at all. It basically operates as a front group for the highly pro-capitalist Democratic party, working to elect its candidates.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Communist in name only, supports democrats, has long given up on working class struggles,and believes Obama to be progress.

[Lenina Rosenweg]

The CPUSA today is barely "communist." It sells books by Marx and Lenin but that's about it. It praises modern-day China as an example of "socialism" in action, it tails the Democratic Party, promotes reformism and eschews class struggle in favor of "beating back the ultra-right" (i.e. "vote Democrat so Republicans don't get elected.") They endorse Obama for President, just like they endorse basically any liberal Democrat.

The CPUSA has always had a problem with right-wing sentiment. In the 1940's its leader, Earl Browder, actually disbanded the Party and argued that class struggle was basically irrelevant in the USA. The Soviets promptly intervened, brought back the Party, and of course expelled Browder as a renegade. After 1956, however, the CPUSA went back to most of Browder's policies in effect (even Browder said that Khrushchev was taking mostly the same positions as he himself did.) The CPUSA did play a notable role in the civil rights struggles of the 1930's-60's, but as an actual working-class party it was always lame and right-wing except in its earliest days when most of its members were Russian immigrants and such.

As for "Marxist-Leninist parties," there's quite a few depending on how broadly you want to use the term. There's the PSL, FRSO, RCPUSA, etc. There's also smaller ones like the USMLO, PLP, American Party of Labor, etc.

Was the early CPUSA made up primarily of Russian immigrants? As I understand the CP was formed from a merger of about a dozen foreign language sections and the native English speaking Communist Labor Party, both expelled from the Socialist Party.

One of the most radical ethnic groups were the Finns, who were sympathetic to the party although I'm not sure if many Finnish-Americans actually joined it.

"American exceptionalism" has had a recurring history within the CPUSA, from the days of Jay Lovestone. Lovestone was instrumental in kicking out the Trotskyist around James Cannon, then he himself was kicked out 6 months later for AE.He had a fascinating trajectory after this, becoming involved in sleazy business unionism in the IGLU and eventually, by the early 60s, working to overthro governments in Latin America for the Kennedy administration.

I guess the most recent manifestation of this is Sam Webb.

The current CPUSA is interesting as a historic fossil.They could be regarded as "Dengist", although they don;'t use that term and seem to be trying to orient themselves towards the PRC while also working for Obama and liberal Democrats.Much of the "debate" with the party is over control of their lucrative Manhattan real estate.

My guess is that the CPUSA is one of those groups which will probably fold with the next ten or even 5 years.

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

It's a fucking joke to the point where even the RCP could be seen as a better alternative. :lol:

It's like a mango, red on the outside, yellow on the inside.

[ed miliband]

i'm intrigued by their relationship with the democrats, like is it mutual? do the democrats acknowledge them or is it something they'd rather ignore?

[Lenina Rosenweg]

As far as I know the CPUSA is totally ignored by the Dems.The irony is the the CP orients to the Dems but the Dems wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole.Any tiny hint of "communism" in mainstream US politics is like the kiss of death.

[Goblin]

I believe Sam Webb endorsed Obama.

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

i'm intrigued by their relationship with the democrats, like is it mutual? do the democrats acknowledge them or is it something they'd rather ignore?

The Democrats tolerate them with the understanding that their small number of supporters will vote blue, but I've never seen them actually acknowledge their presence. Mostly because they don't need to and because it would give the Republicans some useful dirt to put into campaign commercials.

[Manic Impressive]

I heard their membership numbers are more than pathetic even though they are the largest communist party in the US. IIRC I heard it's only about 500, although I may be confused it might be something like 1500 but even then they're hardly a mass party or something so literally any of the tiny parties are a viable alternative.

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

I would imagine its probably a lot like the IWW where there are several thousand members but only a tiny fraction of them pay dues. Probably a fair amount of boomers who signed up decades ago and have just forgotten that they are members.

[NewLeft]

As far as I know the CPUSA is totally ignored by the Dems.The irony is the the CP orients to the Dems but the Dems wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole.Any tiny hint of "communism" in mainstream US politics is like the kiss of death.
The CPUSA appeared briefly on the Obama endorsement page. :lol: Taken down after it appeared on Glenn Beck.

[HEAD ICE]

As far as I know the CPUSA is totally ignored by the Dems.The irony is the the CP orients to the Dems but the Dems wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole.Any tiny hint of "communism" in mainstream US politics is like the kiss of death.

Now obviously it is political suicide for anyone in the USA to accept support from a communist. However way back in the day, when the CPUSA was actually something of a force, they were pretty much militant foot soldiers for Roosevelt. Even though they never outright endorsed him they were lock step with him the whole way through. However this was obviously a conscious decision so as not to give Roosevelt bad press. Same thing happens today. The CPUSA has never came out and said they endorse anybody.

The CPUSA even when it was something was always a patriotic organization (except for the verrrrrrry early days). There is a reason why the govt went after the Trotskyists during the war even though they were miniscule in comparison to the CPUSA.

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

I'm more interested in the CPUSA's property scams that have been mentioned in this thread and in others. Does anyone know which property they've gotten control of and what they're doing with it?

[Ismail]

There is a reason why the govt went after the Trotskyists during the war even though they were miniscule in comparison to the CPUSA.Trots were against the war effort. The CPUSA was for it because of the Nazi invasion of the USSR. That's the only reason, otherwise the CPUSA faced persecution as well (e.g. the Voorhis Act.)

[Lenina Rosenweg]

During the Second World War the CPUSA went along with the no strike pledge hile the Trotskyists did not. They viewed WII as a war among imperialist poers (which it as) but they said that activists should "go with the class". They encouraged SWP members to join the military and felt it as important for the working class to get military training.

Interestingly the CP supported the nuking of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,

James Cannon's defense is a masterful statement of the Trotskyist view of the war and working class orientation towards it.

http://www.marxists.org/archive/cannon/works/1941/socialism/index.htm


As I understand the Voorhis Act also affected the SWP. They couldn't officially be in the FI/ISFI, etc. I believe this is still in effect.

[x359594]

I would imagine its probably a lot like the IWW where there are several thousand members but only a tiny fraction of them pay dues...

The IWW has about 1,200 dues paying members and unlike the CPUSA is actively organizing workers in some of the most exploited industries such as food services (including coffe shop baristas,) bicycle messengers, and sex industry workers.

The CPUSA has about 800 members. As mentioned above, the party owns valuable real estate in Manhattan and recently sold its archive to New York University for a large sum. Lenina very accurately described the Party in above post.

[x359594]

...Does anyone know which property they've gotten control of and what they're doing with it?

It's the building on Union Square that the Party has owned since the 1930s; they haven't acquired any new real estate.

[Die Neue Zeit]

As I said, I don't live in the US, and I'd really like to know what the situation is like there. :)

Given your class background, one alternative you should look at is the SP-USA.

[Prometeo liberado]

It's a fucking joke to the point where even the RCP could be seen as a better alternative. :lol:

It's like a mango, red on the outside, yellow on the inside.

A CPUSA-Mango ate your revolutionary communist baby.

[TheRightfulEmperor]

CPUSA has become extremely counter-revolutionary. Of course, it has it's thing where they condemn the alt-right, capitalists, and Trump, but rather than actually trying to expand their support base, they have just transferred their supporters to the Democratic party's elections. In a way, you could say that they have become more reactionary than communist. Orwell's worry of communist parties systematically falling into a counter-revolutionary stance has come true. The CPUSA is regarded by many a third party, that has no interest in revolution, or establishing communism, but just being a party engaged in petty party politics. If they ever got elected(very unlikely) they would probably just advocate for enough modest reforms to keep their support base happy.