To all American leftists

[ComradeAmir]

I've been reading a lot about the leftist movement in general for around a year and a half or so, and what I have been thinking about for the past couple of weeks or so is that in the west, (basically having to do with American leftists) is what can we do to really change America? If the corporations, cia, government, etc. are as powerful and corrupt as we leftist know they are then how is there ever going to be change in America? To me a lot of people that criticize the government and know the real truth just sit on their asses all day and ***** about it on the internet, not really doing anything about it. Even if we join in leftist parties in America we are still much to small to have a significant impact (if any) on u.s. policy. We criticize America and its capitalist state quite often but we are still LIVING IN AMERICA! Many American leftists in the 1950's moved to the USSR so they could be in the leftist environment they dreamed of (of course the ussr was no where near their dream and most came back to the u.s.) I mean look what the capitalists did when their countries turned communist. In the Soviet Union they either left, were killed or conformed, in China they ran away to Taiwan, were killed, or conformed, in Cuba they ran away to Florida, were killed, or conformed. Why dont we (American leftist) move to Leftist countries, if we can not revolutionize America anytime soon. Lets experience Venezuela or Cuba.

In most revolutions which lead to a Leftist take over, the countries themselves were already in shambles. (Russia, China, Cuba, Vietnam). America will not be in shambles any time in the near future. It is leaning towards it now and has been for a while but it still has (to me) a long way to go before the masses will believe and support a revolution.

I (being a young leftist) am just very confused as to what I and the entire American Leftist community should do. Why dont more of us move to
Venezuela and Cuba and get the world talking as to why people from America (the supposedly greatest nation on earth) are moving to these countries. It just seems like an overwhelming task to change America because of how much power the Wealthy capitalist really have and since our country is not in shambles as I have said, we really can't get the average American to side with us.

I would greatly appreciate some input on this topic. thank you to all who have taken the time to read this.

[Coggeh]

I've been reading a lot about the leftist movement in general for around a year and a half or so, and what I have been thinking about for the past couple of weeks or so is that in the west, (basically having to do with American leftists) is what can we do to really change America? If the corporations, cia, government, etc. are as powerful and corrupt as we leftist know they are then how is there ever going to be change in America? To me a lot of people that criticize the government and know the real truth just sit on their asses all day and ***** about it on the internet, not really doing anything about it. Even if we join in leftist parties in America we are still much to small to have a significant impact (if any) on u.s. policy. We criticize America and its capitalist state quite often but we are still LIVING IN AMERICA! Many American leftists in the 1950's moved to the USSR so they could be in the leftist environment they dreamed of (of course the ussr was no where near their dream and most came back to the u.s.) I mean look what the capitalists did when their countries turned communist. In the Soviet Union they either left, were killed or conformed, in China they ran away to Taiwan, were killed, or conformed, in Cuba they ran away to Florida, were killed, or conformed. Why dont we (American leftist) move to Leftist countries, if we can not revolutionize America anytime soon. Lets experience Venezuela or Cuba.
Thats not really a choice to make for a lot of leftists ,also its a global revolution we have to have the left intact in countries to spread the revolution .

Theirs no point freaking about how "small" the left is in America , apathy about joining movements just creates more apathy towards them movements , get active ,even a small movement can be the driving force for change on a lot of local issues .

Get involved in campaigns , we have to build the left by winning and fighting for reforms to get workers and young people more active in movements and then show them the logic of why this is all happening which is simply a system based on profit .Forget all the glorious ideas you have in your head about running down wall street with an ak-47 , the real work is not glamorous but it is key in building a movement for working class people .


In most revolutions which lead to a Leftist take over, the countries themselves were already in shambles. (Russia, China, Cuba, Vietnam). America will not be in shambles any time in the near future. It is leaning towards it now and has been for a while but it still has (to me) a long way to go before the masses will believe and support a revolution.
People don't just wake up in the morning see that life sucks and go ya im going to become a socialist ,you have to take hard long steps in order to build a movement , start campaigns in your workplace to call for a real union leadership etc and other campaigns against low pay and for better working conditions , express your ideas and try and show people again why this is all happening .


I (being a young leftist) am just very confused as to what I and the entire American Leftist community should do. Why dont more of us move to
Venezuela and Cuba and get the world talking as to why people from America (the supposedly greatest nation on earth) are moving to these countries. It just seems like an overwhelming task to change America because of how much power the Wealthy capitalist really have and since our country is not in shambles as I have said, we really can't get the average American to side with us.

I would greatly appreciate some input on this topic. thank you to all who have taken the time to read this.
What good will moving to other countries where conditions aren't all that great , in venezuala people are starving because Chavez would rather pay for weapons from the Russians than feed his people .Overthrowing capitalism was never an easy task in the first place .My advice to you is to read more into socialism , look for a socialist party near you so you can maybe go to a meeting or two and decide if this party suits you if so get active get involved in campaigns because the grassroots campaigns are more often than not one of the best ways of building a movement capable of challenging the capitalist class .

http://www.revleft.com/vb/political-organisations-t27951/index.html
:list of parties .

[Davie zepeda]

The leftist here only seem to criticize each others instead of unifying and bring down the system we all hate which is capitalism .We fight each other over who will lead the people i rather those who only wish for the glory to go to the firing squad. A Communist and socialist a anything is always on the side of the oppressed which we must defend with sacrifice.
most of the American leftist are bourgeoisie intellectuals which would hate to live like a real revolutionary which is sharing the struggle if the man next to me doesn't eat i will not either !
I only wish i could find a way to reach Cuba or Venezuela .I want to go to Cuba but cpusa said i have to pay for my self and i can't afford it for now i might work all year just go i don't if they would let me stay if deny going back you think they would let me stay?

[Labor Shall Rule]

As revolutionary communists, we recognize that no amount of conversion, one person at a time, to an ideology with no material example, no concrete basis, is ever going to work. By balling and chalking from a base (i.e. your community and workplace) to live in the third world and preach of their own 'change' from hundreds of miles away, is to ignore that you have a science of action and struggle that can be used to influence movements that challenge the conditions permeated by capitalism in your own hometown.

I'm sure that, right in your own neighborhood (!), you'll find people that are interested in labor, queer liberation, Black and Chicano liberation, Puerto Rican independence, and anti-war movements, simply because they are effected by those issues in daily life.

[Revy]

Socialism was not won with patience or simple "appeals" or petitions. You can't just present a petition to the US Government saying "Please become socialist".

You have to do things. The Russian Revolution is held up by leftists - well - they did not give up because they had a very brutal government.

Venezuela already has a major movement for socialism there. We are living in the USA, it will never change without socialist action in the face of collapsing social conditions. The situation we are entering into in the USA right now, is very conducive to revolution. Moving away for political reasons is pointless, unless you or your loved ones are in imminent danger.

[cop an Attitude]

I feel all I can do is just inform those whom want to hear about communism/anticapitalism. I am fairly open with my ideals so if anyone is curious they know they can ask me about it. I tried to from a leftest club but with a lack of intrest from my student body it hasnt really panned out yet. A leftest club making a good name in the community (mainly community service) would be great PR and help those in need. Also try protests, its a good way to network and express your opinion. Don't just sit around, or if you do, read and think. The only real way to "change America" is being active in a time of ecomonic national crisis, such as a depression, in my opinion. People wont really care about the left until the horrors of life are at their doorstep. Things have to get a lot worse before it gets better. But who knows, China's turning into a capitalist nation and moving ahead in the world market (besides that market fall the other day). Soon America may not be on top and that would open up opritunites for a backlash in the market. Next recession may be a depression which would open some eyes.

[play.clown]

latimesblogs.latimes.com/presidentbush/2008/06/vermont-too-blu.html

American's just don't like to call themselves socialists etc. However, in all honesty, I think they are leaning more and more toward it. There is still definantly a strong right movement though. I wouldn't lose hope. I would just be a "missionary", tell them your views gently, rationally, the pros, why you think this way--avoid calling it any sort of left word until you really have them convinced.

[bezdomni]

The dominant trend among the left in the united states, if it isn't flagrantly reformist (like the CPUSA or DSA or some shit) is economist. Actually, that seems to be a fairly dominant trend in the whole fucking world.

The RCP's strategy in the U.S. is "hastening while awaiting" - meaning doing work to build up a basis for revolution among the masses and awaiting a situation that would be hospitable for an actual communist revolution to break out.

[Foldered]

I'm a member of the Communist Party of Canada...

[Political_Chucky]

Even if we join in leftist parties in America we are still much to small to have a significant impact (if any) on u.s. policy. We criticize America and its capitalist state quite often but we are still LIVING IN AMERICA!

So just because we criticize the state we must just pack up our bags and leave? To fix a problem you can't run away from it and that isn't very socially productive I think. Your still quite new and i'm glad you posted this in the learning forum because it seems to me a shit load of ignorant fucks on this site just WANT revolution and chaos without thinking about why its neccessary and criticize other people on this site for *****ing on the internet... Well the movement is produced by workers of society and workers of society still have families to tend and still work and its not easy to just involve yourself in a movement...




I (being a young leftist) am just very confused as to what I and the entire American Leftist community should do. Why dont more of us move to
Venezuela and Cuba and get the world talking as to why people from America (the supposedly greatest nation on earth) are moving to these countries. It just seems like an overwhelming task to change America because of how much power the Wealthy capitalist really have and since our country is not in shambles as I have said, we really can't get the average American to side with us.


My most educated guess would lead me to believe you are a young adult who lives with their parents and has that luxuary of not having to worry about the most major bills. And since you are a young "leftist" I suggest you just keep reading and informing yourself becoming more and more active..

[Magdalen]

I'll try to answer the comrade's point with a quotation from the 18th century English radical Thomas Paine. Although I know little about Paine and his works (perhaps this is one to bring up on the Learning page in the future), and although the American Revolution was not of a proletarian nature, I think this illustrates it rather neatly.

After the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin approached Paine, inviting him to remain in the US indefinitely. Franklin said to him, "Where liberty is, that is my country," But Paine rejected his offer, stating, "Where liberty is not, that is mine."