Date: Wed, 30 Oct 96 14:15:02 GMT
From: Adam Rose <adam-AT-pmel.com>
Subject: Re: M-I: No more Mr Nice guy



Gary, I don't think you are a centrist.
I don't think any of the recent splits from the IS are centrists.
You and they are all revolutionaries that I disagree with.

Correct me if I am wrong, but when I argue dogmatically for
the "dogmatic" formula "workers state == commune state" , you
would basically agree, I believe.

Louis does not agree with this fundamental conception of what a
revolution is for.

Also, you, me and these more recent splits from the IS also want to
see mass parties consisting only of revolutionaries, precisely in order
to combat reformism, both left and right. We disagree about how to get
there, but this is our aim.

Louis P has a different aim. He wishes to construct the second international
parties which I want to destroy. He wants a party where revolutionaries,
centrists and reformists work together. This is why he argues that the 
foundation of the Communist International was a mistake. The only way
for revolutionaries, centrists and reformists to work together is for the
revolutionaries to compromise their politics. Centrists like Louis provide
a left cover for this accomodation. Louis' models for parties in advanced 
countries are the German PDS, the South African Communist Party, the 
Brazilian PT, and perhaps Scargill's SLP in Britain. These parties,
in a revolutionary crisis, PROP CAPITALISM UP. Revolutionaries need
to conduct a political and organisational battle against left wing
reformists in order to prevent such parties suceeding in their efforts
to save capitalism.

Louis is doing the exact opposite, or rather, would like to do the
exact opposite, but, unfortunately for him, reformists in the US
won't touch him with a barge pole. So he is reduced to arguing with
revolutionaries that they should become centrists like him.

[ After all, it's not as if he actually denies any of this, is it ? ]

Tony Blair represents reformism without reforms.
Louis represents centrism without centrists. 

Sorry for being so "retro Bolshevik".
Adam.



Adam Rose
SWP
Manchester
UK


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