From the People before Profits website, a Communist Party USA website.
Extreme Makeover Goes Too FarJoe Sims December 6 2010
C.J. Atkins, in his recent article "Living in an Era of Change," expresses a desire for a bigger socialist movement. To achieve it, he prescribes an “extreme makeover” for the CPUSA: first dropping communist from its title; and second dropping the designation “party” and becoming instead a socialist group within the Democratic Party.
In his own words, “I would suggest that we ponder whether it may be appropriate to drop not only the “communist” half of our title, but the “party” half as well.”
For comrade C.J., anti-communism is so deeply embedded it is impossible to overcome; “The communist ‘brand’ is undeniably sullied beyond reprieve for the vast majority of Americans,” he contends.
Gee, I wonder why...maybe the fact Communism has killed more people than any type of tyranny in the history. Joe Stalin killed approximately seven million people before the start of World War II in a purge...the Chinese and their purges, the killing fields in SE Asia....why should we not embrace that!
Impossible too are third party and independent efforts, though for different reasons. “Efforts to operate in the electoral arena in opposition to both the Democratic and Republican parties only results in splitting the center-left vote and helping the right wing back into office” C.J. says...
...But, clearly, the U.S. has entered a new political moment. Heightened class and democratic struggle, the Great Recession and its aftermath, Obama ‘s ascent to the presidency, the assertive posture of the AFL-CIO, the growth of social networks, the counter-revolt of the extreme right, all have combined to produce an unprecedented situation – and opportunity.
U.S. ideological life is also in flux. A broad radicalization process with its roots in capitalism’s deep systemic crisis is at work. As polls repeatedly indicate, a broad left current flows in the streams of public consciousness: fully a third of America’s youth have favorable views of socialism.
Anti-communism too is not the force it once was. Just recently in the deep south, a labor council bought an ad for the Illinois People's World annual banquet, congratulating the PeoplesWorld.org and its labor editor, John Wojcik, for a prize-winning article, an inconceivable event in the not too distant past. In Connecticut, state AFL-CIO leaders participate in PW events where the CPUSA anniversary is celebrated; in Cleveland a well-known communist, Rick Nagin, running in a non-partisan race for City Council received the city’s AFL-CIO endorsement and nearly won.
That really makes the union members feel good I bet!
...The socialist left and Marxists in particular face difficulties: in recent years sections of it have stagnated, declined, or disappeared all together. Non-Marxist democratic socialists, too, are facing similar challenges without significant growth.
The CPUSA from this standpoint has held its own with several hundred spontaneous applicants for membership a year for nearly decade. Its websites reach 5,000 readers a day, or 30,000 in a week. With all its weaknesses, the party has a national infrastructure and an experienced group of organizers and activists. This background unfortunately is missing from Atkin’s analysis.
Of C.J.’s two proposals, neither of which can be supported, the idea that the character of the party be changed is the most significant: “It is my belief that we could be more effectual operating as a socialist and working-class political organization which does not present itself as a 'party' as such,” he asserts.
There are several issues at stake here. Among them are the role a Marxist party, the concept of the necessity of the political independence of the working class, and historical precedents.
The role of the party
Comrade C.J.’s concept of what he would replace the CPUSA with is ambiguous. It seems the new group, while independent, would work in and through existing parties. “Our members can freely participate in the Democratic Party process, with the Working Families Party or other independent political formations, etc. as appropriate to the circumstances,” our writer suggests.
C.J. makes an important point in stressing the importance of electoral politics. It is certainly the case that in the U.S. the real stuff of politics and governance occurs through the two mass political parties. Here is where the action is and it is here, mainly through the vehicle of the Democratic Party, that the peoples' movement fights for its interests. Serious politics cannot stand apart from these struggles.
Also correct is his implicit criticism of a section of the U.S. left, including voices in the CP, that minimizes electoral struggle in general and show particular disdain for working with the Democratic Party.
For the foreseeable future Democratic Party circles will be an area of engagement for those wanting to make a difference.
It's a long article but gives a perspective on what the CPUSA thinks. I've often said Jack Kennedy would not recognize his party today...with Pelosi, Reid and B Hussein Obama as the heads of the serpent he would run from it as fast as possible.
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