A Few Questions for CPUSA Members

[Skyhilist]

Hello, my name is Sky and I'm currently a supporter of trotskyism, and the Socialist Alternative party, but have been looking into modern communism lately and am interested to here more about it. To be more specific, I was wondering if you could answer a few questions for me about your organization since I'm contemplating joining. Would you mind please answering the following questions about your organization for me?

What are the differences between your beliefs and the beliefs of a trotskyist? What are the differences between your beliefs and an anarcho-communist (if any)?

In your opinion, what aspects make your beliefs more logical, more ethical and more reasonable than those of organizations like Socialist Alternative, and the Socialist Party USA?

In a classless communist society, how would you make sure that everyone did their fair share without forcing them into jobs they didn't want? How would you make sure that a classless society wouldn't just make everyone equally poor?

In past examples of communism, landowners rebelled believing it was their right to have a private business and own private land. These troublemakers were killed as a result. How would you make sure that these rebellions wouldn't happen in a modern communist world? If they did happen, how would you stop them without initiating violence and/or killing?

How would modern communism be different from modern trotskyism in terms of it's projectable outcomes in general in general?

Are there any differences between your organization and traditional/early communists? If so, what are they?

If socialism was achieved, why would your organization support a transition to communism after that? How would communism be maintained and what steps would you take to make society classless without making it universally poor?

In your opinion, why is communism better or more rational than other types of left wing governments like trotskyism and social democracy?

If your ideal state of communism was achieved, what would prevent if from failing or becoming corrupt like all communist governments have become in the past?

Suppose I wanted to vote for a communist in the general elections, or a candidate who's beliefs are most similar to that of your organization. Who would I consider voting, and why? Does your party have a candidate for the presidential elections?

What other USA political organizations would you consider Communist Party USA most similar to?

Do you think that communism can ever be truly achieved and maintained? If so, why, and how long do you think it would take?

What is the main factor that would separate your version of communism from versions of communism that have failed in the past or turned into dictatorships?

Thank you so much for your help.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

I do not think you are going to find any CPUSA members here (aside from maybe one).

You seem to be confusing communists with CPUSA when there are many different communist parties.

[OnlyCommunistYouKnow]

CPUSA is a laughing stock. I wouldn't recommend giving them a second thought.

[The Young Pioneer]

When I first discovered communism, I thought CPUSA was my only option, so briefly, I was a member of their Young Communist League. This was roughly five years ago, before they charged a membership fee, or at least, waived it because I was a student. When I went to renew the second year, I discovered a lot of things I disliked about CPUSA and just decided to be party-less.

I never got active with them, but I'll try to answer some of your questions...Please keep in mind I'm trying to answer for CPUSA, not for my own position on things...


What are the differences between your beliefs and the beliefs of a trotskyist? This might help explan CPUSA's feelings on Trotsky: http://www.scribd.com/doc/35558501/CPUSA-Expulsion-of-Trotsky-and-Zinoviev

What are the differences between your beliefs and an anarcho-communist (if any)? The CPUSA, in my opinion, likes structure too much (i.e. they speak about a minimum wage, government reform, etc.), whereas anarcho-communists as I understand, would rather do away with it?

In your opinion, what aspects make your beliefs more logical, more ethical and more reasonable than those of organizations like Socialist Alternative, and the Socialist Party USA? Haha, I can't answer this one, 'cause I don't think they're all that logical.

In a classless communist society, how would you make sure that everyone did their fair share without forcing them into jobs they didn't want? How would you make sure that a classless society wouldn't just make everyone equally poor? Reading their Party Program might outline this for you, as well as your next four or five questions, which I didn't copy here: http://www.cpusa.org/party-program/

If your ideal state of communism was achieved, what would prevent if from failing or becoming corrupt like all communist governments have become in the past? The CPUSA sees themselves and their ideology as much more democratic than those "socialist" nations who failed in the past.

Suppose I wanted to vote for a communist in the general elections, or a candidate who's beliefs are most similar to that of your organization. Who would I consider voting, and why? Does your party have a candidate for the presidential elections? I guess your go-to guy for that would be Sam Webb. I dunno if he's running for president per se, but I'm sure he can be written in, right along with Bugs Bunny and the like. :rolleyes:

What other USA political organizations would you consider Communist Party USA most similar to? They claim The Young Communist League is "independent" of them, it's really just their youth faction. Theres also the Maoist "Revolutionary Communist Party" and the Progressive Labour Party which was created by some break-off CPUSA folks who disliked the USSR's state capitalist tendencies.

Do you think that communism can ever be truly achieved and maintained? If so, why, and how long do you think it would take? From the CPUSA perspective, they seem to think so. Their idea of a revolutionary beginning would be a twelve dollar minimum wage and elections reform.

What is the main factor that would separate your version of communism from versions of communism that have failed in the past or turned into dictatorships? The CPUSA thinks the Soviet Union went astray with the glasnost and perestroika policies, and seem to continue to idealise China.


Hope that helps, comrade. :)

[Lucretia]

Hello, my name is Sky and I'm currently a supporter of trotskyism, and the Socialist Alternative party, but have been looking into modern communism lately and am interested to here more about it. To be more specific, I was wondering if you could answer a few questions for me about your organization since I'm contemplating joining. Would you mind please answering the following questions about your organization for me?

What are the differences between your beliefs and the beliefs of a trotskyist? What are the differences between your beliefs and an anarcho-communist (if any)?

In your opinion, what aspects make your beliefs more logical, more ethical and more reasonable than those of organizations like Socialist Alternative, and the Socialist Party USA?

In a classless communist society, how would you make sure that everyone did their fair share without forcing them into jobs they didn't want? How would you make sure that a classless society wouldn't just make everyone equally poor?

In past examples of communism, landowners rebelled believing it was their right to have a private business and own private land. These troublemakers were killed as a result. How would you make sure that these rebellions wouldn't happen in a modern communist world? If they did happen, how would you stop them without initiating violence and/or killing?

How would modern communism be different from modern trotskyism in terms of it's projectable outcomes in general in general?

Are there any differences between your organization and traditional/early communists? If so, what are they?

If socialism was achieved, why would your organization support a transition to communism after that? How would communism be maintained and what steps would you take to make society classless without making it universally poor?

In your opinion, why is communism better or more rational than other types of left wing governments like trotskyism and social democracy?

If your ideal state of communism was achieved, what would prevent if from failing or becoming corrupt like all communist governments have become in the past?

Suppose I wanted to vote for a communist in the general elections, or a candidate who's beliefs are most similar to that of your organization. Who would I consider voting, and why? Does your party have a candidate for the presidential elections?

What other USA political organizations would you consider Communist Party USA most similar to?

Do you think that communism can ever be truly achieved and maintained? If so, why, and how long do you think it would take?

What is the main factor that would separate your version of communism from versions of communism that have failed in the past or turned into dictatorships?

Thank you so much for your help.

The CPUSA is a liberal outfit. It has nothing to do with "modern communism" (whatever is meant by that).

[Skyhilist]

Thanks for all the help guys, I really haven't explored communism in modern times very much so I wasn't really sure about CPUSA or how credible they are. In this case though, do you think any communists in general could please explain to me how communism could be maintained without rebellions in this country and without failing like past communist governments have. I know you guys are saying more democratic but I mean what would stop people from just voting to eliminate communism out of ignorance. Also, could any communist please explain to me why you personally view communism as more logical and effective than socialism? I guess CPUSA wasn't the right way to go, but I don't want to just dismiss communism as wrong because of them, so could any communist on here please answer these questions for me (from your own viewpoint though, not a CPUSA viewpoint)? Thanks again guys.

[Crux]

Moved thread to Learning