Revolt

[LOUDNOISE]

We need a revolution, or something that will drastically change this nation(United States). Perhaps something as large as the Sendero Luminoso. Any thoughts? Could it be done(Most people would most likely say no, but give the thought a chance. I mean it would have to be extremely well planned. More so then anything before. It is the USA...)
May I remind you that Thomas Jefferson called for a revolution every 10 years just to keep the government in line.
We also severely out number the 500 or so people who control this nation.

[KrazyRabidSheep]

The United States is still well set in it's ways.

Attempting to set off a revolution now would fail miserably.
500 is a much too low estimate; you have to take into account not only the wealthiest, but the rest of the bourgeoisie class (their families, accomplices, heirs, etc.), the "landlords" and the enormous petit-bourgeoisie class in the U.S.
In addition, even most non-bourgeoisie (proletariat, lumpenproletariat, peasantry, and farmer classes) would not support the revolution, since they have been convinced that their is either no problem, that the alternative to capitalism is so horrible, or simply that the act of revolution would be so worse then the status quo.

Before any revolution, many more people would have to be recruited to the cause, and if possible, the petit-bourgeoisie class would have to be weened off their bourgeoisie masters' teats.

This is the most tedious part of a revolution, but without adequate recruitment and education, no revolution will prevail.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumpenproletariat)

[Dros]

Yes we do. I suggest that you visit the Revolutionary Communist Party, (www.rwor.org) a Maoist vanguard party (fraternal to Sendero Luminoso) that exists inside the United States and is actively fighting for a revolutionary solution to our problem.

[KrazyRabidSheep]

Yes we do. I suggest that you visit the Revolutionary Communist Party, (http://www.rwor.org) a Maoist vanguard party (fraternal to Sendero Luminoso) that exists inside the United States and is actively fighting for a revolutionary solution to our problem.
Even assuming for a moment that I support Maoists (or Bob Avakian, a name not unknown to me), I see no numbers anywhere on the site. There could be only a single member for all I know.

And while support need not be a majority, it needs to be known. The organization needs to be known to people so it cannot be written off as a cult, terrorist organization, group of nuts, etc.

Even then, an organization has to be careful about it's image. In the U.S. I am sure the KKK has a larger following then the RCP, but imagine if the KKK made a grab for power. I just don't see it.

Here I am not judging the Sendero Luminoso, but simply citing resources concerning it's popular support:


While Shining Path quickly seized control of large areas of Peru, it soon faced serious problems. Shining Path's Maoism was never popular. It never had the support of the majority of the Peruvian people. According to opinion polls, 15% of the population considered subversion to be justifiable in June 1988 while 17% considered it justifiable in 1991.

Not horrible, but nothing great. . .


In June 1991, "the total sample disapproved of the Shining Path by an 83 to 7 percent margin, with 10 percent not answering the question. Among the poorest, however, only 58% stated disapproval of the Shining Path; 11 percent said they had a favorable opinion of the Shining Path, and some 31 percent would not answer the question.
This is more promising. . .


A September 1991 poll found that 21 percent of those polled in Lima believed that the Shining Path did not kill and torture innocent people. The same poll found that 13% believed that society would be more just if the Shining Path won the war and 22% believed society would be equally just under the Shining Path as it was under the government.
This doesn't sound good to me however I read it. . .


Many peasants were unhappy with Shining Path rule for a variety of reasons, such as its disrespect for indigenous culture and institutions, and the brutality of its "popular trials" that sometimes included "slitting throats, strangulation, stoning, and burning."Brutality isn't new, but it doesn't look good when you're side is doing it. . .admittedly, any violence is brutal, and sometimes violence is needed. . .



While punishing and even killing cattle thieves was popular in some parts of Peru, Shining Path also killed peasants and popular leaders for even minor offenses. Peasants were also offended by the rebels' injunction against burying the bodies of Shining Path victims.

Shining Path also became disliked for its policy of closing small and rural markets in order to end small-scale capitalism and to starve Lima.
As a Maoist organization, it strongly opposed all forms of capitalism, and also followed Mao's dictum that guerrilla warfare should start in the countryside and gradually choke off the cities. Peasants, many of whose livelihoods depended on trade in the markets, rejected such closures. In several areas of Peru, Shining Path also launched unpopular campaigns, such as a prohibition on parties and the consumption of alcohol.
Some good stuff and some not so good stuff.


In 2003, the Peruvian National Police broke up several Shining Path training camps and captured many members and leaders. It also freed about 100 indigenous people held in virtual slavery.
The sources for all of these may be no more then propaganda (the last one probably is), but I threw them out there anyway.

Anyway, my point here is that Sendero Luminoso has significantly better support then the CRP could hope to have, yet has by no means attained what I would call "popular support".
The CRP could not hope to accomplish what the Sendero Luminoso has.

I'm sorry, I just don't see a revolution in the U.S. right now. Patience is a virtue, and as far as a U.S. revolution is concerned, a necessity.[/color]

[Dros]

Even assuming for a moment that I support Maoists (or Bob Avakian, a name not unknown to me), I see no numbers anywhere on the site. There could be only a single member for all I know.

The party does not discuss membership or party structures outside of the party. The reason for this is simple: the party was born out of the struggle in the sixties which saw the FBI ruthlessly target party members and leaders with disinformation or simply with guns. The party's degree of secrecy is so that we present a less easy target for the bourgeois dictatorship if (by which I mean when) they come down on us.

The RCP runs a series of bookstores throughout the US in cities such as LA, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Boston, Cleveland, Honolulu, Chicago, Detroit, and Atlanta.

There's more then just one member.;)


And while support need not be a majority, it needs to be known. The organization needs to be known to people so it cannot be written off as a cult, terrorist organization, group of nuts, etc. Even then, an organization has to be careful about it's image.

Very true. We do work hard at that.


In the U.S. I am sure the KKK has a larger following then the RCP, but imagine if the KKK made a grab for power. I just don't see it.

That's because there are dozens and dozens of organizations claiming to be the KKK and there's no material basis for them to seize power.


Here I am not judging the Sendero Luminoso, but simply citing resources concerning it's popular support:

Yeah. It got a pretty bad rap with a bunch of people. What is the point of this?


Anyway, my point here is that Sendero Luminoso has significantly better support then the CRP could hope to have, yet has by no means attained what I would call "popular support".
The CRP could not hope to accomplish what the Sendero Luminoso has.

Not right now.


I'm sorry, I just don't see a revolution in the U.S. right now. Patience is a virtue, and as far as a U.S. revolution is concerned, a necessity.

Who said anything about doing it right now?! That would be impossible and the party is keenly aware of that and it's a significant part of the party's state strategy with regard to making a revolution in this country. I suggest you read some of the party's materials, specifically the Draft program for a better understanding of how revolution could work in the US.