Communist Party USA

[Orange Juche]

I just joined the Communist Party USA. I realize they are too reactionary with their endorsement of JOHN KERRY, but if theres one place that needs reform, its the Communist Party USA... I plan to work to turn it away from being another corporate double-ballot line party.

What are all you're thoughts on this party?

[Anarchist Freedom]

You really wasted your money man... They endorse democrats openly. They said they would try and STOP a revolution from occuring soo essentially there nothing more then bourgesis liers.

[Orange Juche]

Originally posted by Anarchist [email protected] 22 2004, 01:22 PM
You really wasted your money man... They endorse democrats openly. They said they would try and STOP a revolution from occuring soo essentially there nothing more then bourgesis liers.
See, what I figured though is I could be part of a faction in the party working against the Democrat endorsements. Maybe help take back the party from those who have hijacked it.

[Non-Sectarian Bastard!]

Wasted effort.

Rather join true revolutionaries. The IWW perhaps?

[Orange Juche]

Originally posted by Non-Sectarian Bastard!@Nov 22 2004, 04:51 PM
Wasted effort.

Rather join true revolutionaries. The IWW perhaps?
hmm... maybe its not a wasted effort. Its always worth a try to reform the party, eh?

[redstar2000]

Here's the difficulty that you find yourself in when you join what you think is a lousy group and try to "reform it from within".

While you are trying to persuade other members of that group to move in a better direction, you're also talking to people who are not members of that group at all.

But what can you say to them?

"Hey, come join my crappy group and help me make it better."

Not very inspiring, eh?

I know a lot of people feel the urge to "join something"...as if the act of joining a group is somehow "a step forward".

I can only offer my advice -- based on 40 years of being around the left.

You must learn something of the politics and history of the group, sure. But even more important is to meet with those people in person and see what they are really like as people. Would you feel "at home" with these people, enjoy working with them, be able to "promote" the group with a "whole heart"?

If they are not "real comrades"...then most likely they are "business associates" -- people who pretend a degree of friendliness until the opportunity arises to advance themselves by screwing their "friends".

And then you end up feeling "used", get cynical about radical politics, and just give up and quit.

If you can't find a left group that you really like, it's better to wait...or even look into the possibility of starting your own! It can be done.

:redstar2000:

The Redstar2000 Papers (http://www.redstar2000papers.fightcapitalism.net)
A site about communist ideas

[refuse_resist]

Noooooooooooooooooooo, how could you join them? :(

There are many far-left political organizations to join. Certainly, the CPUSA isn't as good as the rest. The fact that they support the democrats is reason enough not to join or even associate with them.

[Orange Juche]

Originally posted by [email protected] 22 2004, 10:28 PM
Noooooooooooooooooooo, how could you join them? :(

There are many far-left political organizations to join. Certainly, the CPUSA isn't as good as the rest. The fact that they support the democrats is reason enough not to join or even associate with them.
Well I joined to make it STAND for something again, but redstar made a great point.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

I was a member of the Communist Party Of Canada in the past, and may be joining the semi-autonomous PCQ. Why? Social reasons!
There are few better ways to enguage in interesting discussion and advance ideas than arguing with crusty old Stalinists and energized but confused young Trots*!

They way I see it, the worst they can do is expell me for being an anarchist - and I'll join the pantheon of greats who have been booted from official communist parties.

Anybody else dig Camus?


*Shouldn't you be in the IS? Or the CMI? Or NSG? Or . . . ?

[Red Heretic]

Originally posted by Non-Sectarian Bastard!@Nov 22 2004, 08:51 PM
Wasted effort.

Rather join true revolutionaries. The IWW perhaps?
The IWW is the best. =)

[RedAnarchist]

Originally posted by [email protected] 22 2004, 08:47 PM
See, what I figured though is I could be part of a faction in the party working against the Democrat endorsements. Maybe help take back the party from those who have hijacked it.
Do they have factions in the CPUSA? Or do you mean Fraction?

[Orange Juche]

Originally posted by XPhile2868+Nov 23 2004, 01:36 PM--> (XPhile2868 @ Nov 23 2004, 01:36 PM)
[email protected] 22 2004, 08:47 PM
See, what I figured though is I could be part of a faction in the party working against the Democrat endorsements. Maybe help take back the party from those who have hijacked it.
Do they have factions in the CPUSA? Or do you mean Fraction? [/b]
I meant faction... I think lol. Like the Debs Tendancy in the Socialist Party. Start a similar group in the Communist Party. If anyone else is a member of the CPUSA and is interested....

[Andrei Kuznetsov]

I used to be a YCL-USA member and a supporter of the CP-USA... but after about 2-3 years of frustrated inactivity and disillusionment with them, I left to become an Anarchist and eventually became a supporter of the RCP.

There are far more revolutionary alternatives out there; the CP-USA is beyond hope.

[Orange Juche]

Originally posted by Andrei [email protected] 23 2004, 05:33 PM
I used to be a YCL-USA member and a supporter of the CP-USA... but after about 2-3 years of frustrated inactivity and disillusionment with them, I left to become an Anarchist and eventually became a supporter of the RCP.

There are far more revolutionary alternatives out there; the CP-USA is beyond hope.
Eh, Im working on changing it... Ill probably end up following that same route though lol.

[1949]

The "Communist" Party USA upholds Andrew Jackson, initiator of the Trail of Tears, as a "progressive" U.S. president, and, worse yet, their youth organization supported having more police in the public schools at the height of the whole stir around Amadou Diallo!

Why? "Because the youth in the schools can not learn in an unsafe environment infested by gangs and bullies". Did it hit them that the worst gang is the gang in blue-- the police themselves? No, they were simply tailing the Democrats as they have for years and totally betraying the oppressed and the progressives that are attracted to them agree with this type of bull.

Not to mention they support the AFL-CIO, a reactionary "union" that had a role in the coups in Chile in 1973 and Venezuela in 2002. And they also supported Khrushchevite revisionism in the Soviet Union and currently support all the other revisionist countries in the world as "socialist", even China. I suggest you find a better party, MeetingPeople.

[Orange Juche]

The Red Faction (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cpusaredfaction/)

For any members of the CPUSA on here interested, I started the mailing list for the faction/caucus of the party to stand against their reactionary imperialist policies. There should be an ACTUAL website up soon. Check it out!

[Zingu]

As a question, can students join the IWW? I know its a union, but it cerntainly isn't like the regular labor unions.

[BOZG]

From the iww.org FAQ:

(1) I am a student and/or I am unemployed; can I still be an IWW member?

Yes. According to the IWW Constitution, under Article II (Membership), Section 1(b):

No unemployed or retired worker, no working-class student, apprentice, home- maker, prisoner or unwaged volunteer on a project initiated by the IWW or any subordinate body thereof shall be excluded from membership on the grounds that s/he is not currently receiving wages.

[BOZG]

Originally posted by [email protected] 24 2004, 06:16 PM
The "Communist" Party USA upholds Andrew Jackson, initiator of the Trail of Tears, as a "progressive" U.S. president, and, worse yet, their youth organization supported having more police in the public schools at the height of the whole stir around Amadou Diallo!

Why? "Because the youth in the schools can not learn in an unsafe environment infested by gangs and bullies". Did it hit them that the worst gang is the gang in blue-- the police themselves? No, they were simply tailing the Democrats as they have for years and totally betraying the oppressed and the progressives that are attracted to them agree with this type of bull.

Not to mention they support the AFL-CIO, a reactionary "union" that had a role in the coups in Chile in 1973 and Venezuela in 2002. And they also supported Khrushchevite revisionism in the Soviet Union and currently support all the other revisionist countries in the world as "socialist", even China. I suggest you find a better party, MeetingPeople.
The more I learn, the worse they get. What do you mean by supporting the AFL-CIO? That they openly endorse the leadership or that they campaign within it?

[1949]

Originally posted by [email protected] 27 2004, 10:04 AM
The more I learn, the worse they get. What do you mean by supporting the AFL-CIO? That they openly endorse the leadership or that they campaign within it?
I'm not exactly sure. It could be both.

Here are some articles on the AFL-CIO in Venezuela, in case anyone doubts they had a role in the 2002 coup there:

Concerns Over Possible AFL-CIO Involvement in Venezuela Coup Led to February Picket (http://www.zmag.org/content/LatinAmerica/hoyt-ven-aflcio.cfm)

AFL-CIO and Venezuela: Return of Labor Imperialism, or a Mistaken Reaction? (http://www.zmag.org/content/Labor/sipesaflven.cfm)

[il Commie]

Are you sure you're doing the right thing? I mean, if you'd be joining the british labour party I'd understand, because they are a true party. But CPUSA? They are a small and stalinist propagnda group, acting as a Democratic Party loby. Redstar is right, how would you do promote this group? What would you say to people on the street?

It is hard for me to say it because I'm a member of the israeli YCL and a supporter of the israeli CP. CPUSA are our sister-party. But sometimes even sisters can go horribly wrong. Wouldn't it be better for you to just join a group who oppose Kerry?

But still, I think that if you decide to create a faction inside your party that would oppose the support for the Democrats this is good. Every revolutionary group is good, and if you will actually change your party that would be a great thing. So good luck, if you choose this way.