Joining the CPUSA: Looking for info from members

[jacobin1949]

I'm interested in getting active with the CPUSA. If anyone here is a member then please contact me. I'm looking for general info on what life is like as a member and what is being done to gain recruitment and publicity for the organization.

What kind of work do you do? And how can it be improved?

[Ultra-Violence]

Why would you join th CPUSA? Try some other Org thats way more revolutionary than that garbage The Free Peoples Movement perhaps?

[RedStaredRevolution]

In my opinion the CPUSA is kind of a joke. They're probably the least "revolutionary" of any of the leftist parties in America. I woulden't waist my time with them if I were you. There so many better organizations you could get involved with.

[cenv]

This is a revolutionary leftist forum, so I don't think there are any CP-USA members who post here regularly.

[Comrade Rage]

Trust me, the CPUSA is not revolutionary. They used to run candidates-kind of the opposite of revolutionary-then they stopped that and started endorsing Dumocrats!

Honestly, my opinion on what is the best way of helping the cause of communism in America today is: small groups based on direct action. Not only is there not any Communist party in America not frought with organizational problems, but that is also the best way to operate in a political climate that is getting more, and more authoritarian each day.

[jacobin1949]

Seems they get the worst of both worlds. They are dismissed by the radical left as sellouts and liberals. Yet they will never achieve mainstream status since they are THE "Communist Party". The average American would sooner except more radical groups like the SWP, FRSO or PLP because their names are less threatening.

[Comrade Rage]

Originally posted by [email protected] 24, 2007 07:56 pm
Seems they get the worst of both worlds. They are dismissed by the radical left as sellouts and liberals. Yet they will never achieve mainstream status since they are THE "Communist Party". The average American would sooner except more radical groups like the SWP, FRSO or PLP because their names are less threatening.
That's what happens when you stand in the 'middle of the road'. You get hit by both directions of traffic.

Believe me, the CPUSA deserves it.

[bootleg42]

Yo, don't join the CPUSA. It's a joke and it's basically the most left branch of the democratic party.

Basically you'll end up just cheering on the democrats and nothing more by joining them.

Start small in your community by spreading the word....of course first you'll have to read and learn for yourself. Don't go out preaching without a good knowledge of communism, socialism, marxism, leninism, anarchy, maoism, etc. Learn, then spread the word.

Of course if your community is full of just idiots (like a white suburbian neighborhood who are overly patriotic) then learn what you can and then when you can, move to areas (like inner cities or third world countries) where such ideas could be used for the benefit of the working class and poor.

[which doctor]

Originally posted by [email protected] 23, 2007 04:48 pm
I'm interested in getting active with the CPUSA.
If you're interested in getting active, the last thing you would do would be to join the CPUSA.

[companera1917]

Although I am not a member of the CPUSA, my experience with them has been quite positive.

They are a very large organization with a strong working-class and diverse base of members from what I've seen, and publish a magazine called Political Affairs (http://www.politicalaffairs.net) which I often read, it has lots of good information on our democratic mass movements and what they're up to.

They also have a youth organization called the Young Communist League (http://www.yclusa.org) that you may want to read about.

One reason I have a positive view of the CPUSA is because of its revolutionary roots. Did you know that Angela Davis ran for the CPUSA in an election? W.E.B. DuBois and Paul Robeson were also in there. It is also practically the U.S. equivalent/sister organizations to parties that are fighting on the frontlines of revolutions today such as the Cuban Communist Party and Communist Party of Venezuela.

I understand this is a forum for more ultra-leftists and anarchists, so I can see why the CPUSA would be criticized here. There are many debates around the CPUSA's theory of a peaceful transition to socialism where necessary and its tactics to work electorally. These are all interesting debates, and it is funny because those same debates existed around Lenin's time, to which he responded with Should we participate in bourgeois parliaments? (http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1920/lwc/ch07.htm)

Anyways, I realize your intent was not to engage in a war over the theories and ideology of the CPUSA so to more directly answer your question, I would strongly suggest going to the big peace rallies in your city this weekend (Saturday), where you'll most likely have the chance to meet up with these guys, and talk to them about how they organize and recruit. The CPUSA has always put a large priority on the peace movement because of the threat of imperialism, so I'm sure they'll be there.

[R_P_A_S]

the CPUSA is more communist than the Chinese Communist Party

[Eleftherios]

Originally posted by [email protected] 25, 2007 01:31 am
the CPUSA is more communist than the Chinese Communist Party
That doesn't say much though.

[Dros]

The CPUSA is a bunch of revisionist swine.