Effects of the "9 Letters"

[Thomas509]

I was a member of the Seattle RCYB for a little bit when it first got started, and then moved to an area where there is not a whole lot of political organization (except for the Minutemen and little pet projects they have here,) mostly due to it being a tiny agricultural town.
I was wondering how much of an effect the 9 Letters has had around the country. I've seen some people that I knew post here and there about it, but still can't tell if it's quite that widespread of a phenomena. Is there much struggle (or wrangling, if you prefer) in RCP circles, or is it ignored?

If anyone is wondering, I agree with most of it, but it still leaves some unanswered questions. The personality cult is the biggest problem I have with the RCP. I don't think it's completely unreformable, but at least a major 'threat' like this is needed to get the CC to see that the party is going to run itself into the ground if it keeps it up.

[RNK]

I think the effect it will have is wholly dependant on the reaction of the RCPUSA in the coming weeks. It will more than likely depend on them, their reaction, and if that reaction is "palpable" to the RCPUSA's supporters and non-supporters. There's certainly a lot of effort being made by those behind the Letters to propagate them, and the RCPUSA and many of their supporters have been akwardly dismissive and defensive, and its my opinion that if more common ground and more conciliatory rhetoric is displayed by both parties, there's serious implications for a widespread schism.

[patient persuasion]

I've talked to a couple "hard core" rcp supporters and have gotten interesting responses.

From a proletarian teenager who has gotten deeply involved with the rcp, I asked if the newspaper I saw being sold was the one with the 9 Letters critique, and the youth responded that s/he didn't know that there was a response to the 9 letters, and that in fact s/he hadn't read that particular edition.

I thought this was interesting considering how central I know this particular person to be in the organizational work of the Rcp in my area. It indicated that perhaps the issue wasn't being given an incredible amount of importance.

Then I spoke with an older (mid 20s) supporter from a more upper-middle class background. S/he knew exactly that the response was in the paper and after I asked about it s/he referred to it as the "non-response response." I asked what s/he thought about the situation and s/he responded that people should, "read Mike Ely's stuff, and read the stuff he cites." I asked how people would know to check the 9 Letters out if its not referred to directly in the "response" and the person responded, "yeah, i thought that was kind of strange . . . maybe something else is coming in the next few weeks that will address it more directly. but you know, there have been polemics like this throughout the history of the rcp."

I won't jump to any conclusions based on my anecdotal experience, but I do think it's interesting to consider whether certain sections of the RCP's base are being encouraged to debate the 9 Letters more than others . . . It'd be interesting to hear what experience other folks have had interacting with our comrades.