Date: Wed, 12 Apr 95 20:25:06 BST From: Ron Press <anclondon-AT-gn.apc.org> Subject: Gorbachev//rascism Hi Gorbachev >>>>>>>>>>>>> From: Rob Frantz <rfrantz-AT-u.washington.edu> I myself find it difficult to see why so much blame is laid at Gorbachev's feet. <<<<<<<<<<<<<< The demise of the system, ( It had many of the characteristics of what many would call socialism, jobs, education, pensions, health care and so on. It also had amny things which could not be squared with democracy which should have beena major aspect of socialism), The demise of a system cannot in all consience be blamed on one person. I think there is a school of thought called conspiracy theory, which is rightly discredited. But even a conspiracy needs more than one man. Just as the victory over the Nazis was not down to Stalin, so the failure of the form of socialism in the former USSR cannot be put down to him alone, nor to Gorbachev later. I regard the learning of lessons from history essential. But history is much distorted in the telling as has been recently pointed out in the list. We must dig deeper. I beleive it is because so far all recent systems of organisation have adopted a pyramidal structure. This is prone to developing dictatorships. Is there another viable organisational system? I remember in the womens movement in the UK they had a much looser system. For example they held their meetings without a platform but all sat in a circle. It had quite an unusual effect. Certainly the system in the USSR gave little or no chance for participation in decision making for the ordinary people. No more than the system in the USA does today. Except that there is the possibility of a movement like the movement against the was in Vietnam, or the CND in the UK. ? My friend Stalin said, `when the line is decided organisation decides all' ( or something like that), I think we generally know where we want to go but the form of organisation is very wooly. re Rascism. >>>>>>>> From: Kenny Mostern <kennym-AT-uclink2.berkeley.edu> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<< I agree that rascism is not an essential tool for the capitalists. But it certainly one they use very effectively from time to time. I cannot however remember a time where rescism has ben a usefull tool in the hands of the working class. Ron Press --- from list marxism-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu --- ------------------
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