I might be able to make it, although I'd obviously like to have something local to me so I can get more involved on a regular basis. I hope they get back to me.
So, I would favour the paper opening up conversations with individual leaders of the other parties on doctrinal lines and arguing through our differences. Demonstrate in public the errors of the likes of Alex Callinicos, Harpal Brahr, Peter Taaffe.etc I think the WW would agree. But the problem is that these leaders never bother to respond to what they call a 'gossip rag'. So, the critique remains one-sided and this can be troublesome at points, I agree. The Communist University of this year already has set dates. Would that be an opportunity to get to?
...If, however you attack the "intellectuals" who lead these movements in a way that opens up dialogue with that "intellectual" you can both undermine their authority, undermine their invincibility and most importantly the members of these parties would be much more willing to listen, firstly because it would be in the form of a dialogue, so they had an interest in the conversation but secondly and most importantly these members often have no great love or loyalty for these "intellectuals" they just don't know how to remove them. So, I would favour the paper opening up conversations with individual leaders of the other parties on doctrinal lines and arguing through our differences. Demonstrate in public the errors of the likes of Alex Callinicos, Harpal Brahr, Peter Taaffe.etc But yeh, if they're active in my area I will join.
...Secondly the party seems a bit removed from the working class. They seem to talk amongst themselves for the most part which is a problem. Thirdly, despite their defense of the Weekly Worker I think if I were the editor the constant sniping of other groups would change to a more constructive engagement with the ideas of individual socialists and communists. By all means attack something Alex Callinicos has said or believes but just attacking the SWP seems to me a bit pointless. The reason I believe this is because the parties of the left are weak and an easy target but the sectarian loyalty of the members is strong. Also the level of democracy within these parties is also minimal so even if individual members agree with the WW critique they can't really do anything about it. Cont...
I am familiar with the CPGB PCC & in fact I emailed them the other day about whether they had a cell in my local area, I haven't heard back though. I think they have some interesting ideas although there are some things that I'm not so keen on. The Left Unity project, for example. It seems to be slowly dying and tbh I think it was always going to as it was horribly deformed from the very beginning. The CPGB PCC still believe in the project though, so that would be a difference. Secondly the party seems a bit removed from the working class. They seem to talk amongst themselves for the most part which is a problem. cont...
You seem like a serious poster and you have self-identified as an 'orthodox' Marxist and look for a group to join... Are you familiar with the CPGB? What are your thoughts on them?
