Date: 03 Sep 96 08:10:45 EDT
From: Jon Flanders <72763.2240-AT-compuserve.com>
Subject: "Unity" norms vs Workers Democracy!


 >>  What is a "non-Stalinist list? Quite a number of people that are on or
were on this list are Stalinists in their political line. <<Robt. M

 Jon Flanders:

  Let me get this straight. You object to Stalinist non-Stalinists excluding
Stalinists from a non-Stalinist list that will undoubtably have a Stalinist
line due to the number of Stalinists in their political line who will be
participants.

  What is an Anarchist? What is a Social Democrat? Etc..... Would you jump up
and down screaming exclusion if a group of Anarchists wanted a unity list? The
group that wants a list will define it. If other groups want the Spoon
collective to set up a list for them, so be it.

  Are you going to insist on attending every meeting that is vaguely political
in cyberspace, whether the other attendees want you there or not? In the
physical world you could not. If a socialist group in Sweden decided their
program excluded you from membership, would you barge in anyway, or recognize
that other tendencies have the right to organize as they see fit?

  Frankly, I think socialists around the world owe the Spoons collective a
debt of gratitude for the service they provide. I am surprised sometimes they
continue, given the abuse they get from some of the participants.

  Carry on your "struggle" Bob. I am not going to go any further in this
discussion with you, I can't match your volume and have no desire to.



  E-mail from: Jonathan E. Flanders, 03-Sep-1996




     --- from list marxism-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---