DeLeon

[RaptorJesus]

In my travels over the internets, I have run into the website of the Socialist Labor Party of America, who proudly exclaim that they are the "Home of Marxism-DeLeonism". While who DeLeon was is no mystery to me, he contribution to Marxist theory, is. Could anyone explain to me his contributions to Marxism, if any?

[Ander]

Wow, I was JUST linking my friend to some of De Leon's work!

De Leonism can be considered ultra-left as it rejects Leninist "democratic centralism" and sees unions as the main proponents of revolution. I believe that they identify with anarcho-syndicalists somewhat as some of their ideas are similar.

[Vargha Poralli]

De Leonism can be considered ultra-left as it rejects Leninist "democratic centralism"

You should stop being total stupid.Leninism policies are more than this democratic centralism.


sees unions as the main proponents of revolution.

Then surely it cannot be ultra left. Those types oppose all forms of Trade Unions.


I believe that they identify with anarcho-syndicalists somewhat as some of their ideas are similar.

The difference between Anarcho-Syndicalism and Delonist model is on the question of political parties. The former rejects it totally while the latter considers it is necessary in the Workers struggle.

[TheGreenWeeWee]

Daniel De Leon concept was the Socialist Industrial Union (SIU) or one big union. DeLeon was co-founder of the I.W.W. There was disagreement with politics which led to the Socialist Labor Party (SLP) to walk out I think. The story is a bit confusing since each side has a different story and accusations. Don't know I wasn't there. What is the plan of the I.W.W. after the revolution? Anyways, the SIU is not a trade union--nor trade unions--nor does it hold to the concept of brotherhood between the working class or the employing class. Neither has nothing in common. Workers need to understand that the capitalist class is absent and that they run the means of production today.

The idea of SIU, which does not exist, was to take on the capitalist class on the economic front and on the political front. Workers would unite under a single SIU, learn to manage production and distribution and elect, through ballot one person-one vote, department heads and administrators. Workers would also vote for the SLP which after being elected through majority vote would serves as a signal for the general strike and locking the capitalist out of the building. Those elected keep the police and military from restoring the means of production back to the capitalist who have called on them. However, the elected officals will also use the police and military (by letting them know who is in charge) to defend the workers from those capitalist who have paid into a corporate strike fund. The strike fund is used to pay para-military personnel (who are not police officers) to break up strikes. They are used today to break up strikes and protect scabs crossing the picket line. They video tape strikes to be used in court by the capitalist. They also been known to beat the crap out of strikers so it is a good idea to video tape those guys to show their abuses.

After the means of production is secured the SIU (this is conjecture on my part) would start issuing Time Labor Vouchers (TLV) to tally hours in production. Due to differing jobs the TLV may be based on stress and caloric expendature. The more hard and stressful a jopb may be the more TLV would be paid an hour. This idea would fill jobs that most people would shy away from thus avoiding any shortages that a "free access" society would bring about. For every hour of production 20 minutes worth of TLVs would pay the wages of educators, doctors and those in social services. NOTE: The LTV is not a wage since it is not money and does not circulate. The LTV is used as exchange at the social store for food items, furniture, TVs, computers, etc. No one at the social stores gains from accepting the TLVs since they cease to exist upon transaction. Those in the social stores are part of the SIU.

The SIU becomes the republic of labor or industrial government since now that decisions would be made by workers on what is produced and distributed. The political government ajourns itself (according to U.S. Constitution) in favor of the industrial one. Workers would continue using the ballot to elect or recall administators and department heads.

Outside of work and in one's own community--conjector on my part. The community does not need a political party to guide it despite those who feel that force comes in handy. Rather, the people (society) would decide what they would want to do. If people use their TLV for lumber, brick, drywall, etc, to build a church, temple or synagoge then they have that freedom to do so. If there is crime a community council can ask for a special department in the SIU for protecting the weak from the strong and to ensure civil liberties with social justice. We really don't know what the future holds but it won't be as we would want it to be.

If I made mistake in this blue print presentation...oh well I am just human

[Janus]

Deleonism (http://deleonism.org/)

Old thread about this.
What is Deleonism (http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=41880&hl=Deleon)

[Ander]

You should stop being total stupid.Leninism policies are more than this democratic centralism.

Please show me where I said that democratic centralism was the only policy of Leninism.

I wasn't being "total stupid," I was simply telling the truth. Democratic centralism is a large part of Leninism.


Then surely it cannot be ultra left. Those types oppose all forms of Trade Unions.

Yeah, I realised I was wrong to categorize De Leon as ultra-left :wacko: Although ultra-leftists don't oppose all forms of trade unions, only reactionary and conservative ones.


The difference between Anarcho-Syndicalism and Delonist model is on the question of political parties. The former rejects it totally while the latter considers it is necessary in the Workers struggle.

Ok.

[TheGreenWeeWee]

Here is a link to Daniel De Leon's writings...

http://www.marxists.org/archive/deleon/index.htm