Date: Mon, 7 Jul 1997 14:23:56 -0400 (EDT)
From: Gerald Levy <glevy-AT-pratt.edu>
Subject: M-I: Re: Mass Organizing


> From: Louis Proyect <lnp3-AT-columbia.edu>
> That is not what I am talking about. For example, when I was in the
> SWP from 1967 to 1979 there was always one minority grouping or another
> that was biding its time until the next convention to persuade the party to
> adopt its dissident viewpoint. When the minority viewpoint became the
> majority viewpoint, then the Militant would have a new "party line" on
> whatever. This, however, was not the way the Bolsheviks functioned.

This wasn't the way the SWP operated either! There was never any major
minority in the history of the SWP from Cannon forward where the "minority
viewpoint became the majority viewpoint." Of course, during most of the
SWP's history there were some members of the national leadership who
belonged to minorities.

The SWP, relatedly, never said that they ever made one serious mistake
(let alone, erroneous political position). Sometimes positions would
shift, though, over time. Thus whereas the SWP leadership at one time
considered Castro to be a "centrist" it came to shift its position to
calling Castroism "revolutionary."   But, it's not like any minority
championed that position. Rather, the leaders _of the majority_ changed
their position ... and then (arrogantly) announced the "new line"
(in-between conventions, no less).

The SWP never had an atmosphere where minorities, criticism, and dissent
were encouraged. Rather -- *at the best of times* -- they were only
tolerated.

Jerry



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