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We must focus on victory (reply to Anton)
Posted 30th March 2011 at 19:36 by Ben Seattle
Hi Folks,
I wrote this post 5 days ago in reply to a comment by Anton on his blog. Unfortunately, the RevLeft blog software does not like this post and will not allow it out of the mod queue. Both Anton and I have worked (to no avail) to fix this technical problem. Therefore, I am posting it here.
We must focus on victory
Hi Anton,
First, I would like to thank you for your recent posts. I have come to the conclusion that weekly posts are necessary to maintain the necessary focus we need to keep alive the idea that discussion and summation of our revolutionary experience--is worthwhile and will, eventually, pay big dividends.
Your comments were interesting, and I will comment (briefly) about some of them. But I also want to bring up the idea that we must struggle, in our online discussion, to focus on the right things. If we, instead, yield to the temptation to focus on what seems interesting at the moment, our discussion will reach a dead end--and we will get demoralized concerning the value of this kind of discussion.
In my report on our March meeting I gave my opinion that:
Do you agree with this?
I am concerned that our discussion could otherwise drift into areas which are not productive.
This issue comes up all the time, in many contexts. I made a graphic about it 15 months ago (see below):
The tendency of online discussion to drift into unproductive areas is something that I believe everyone has experienced, and has been often noted, as in this famous cartoon:
In particular, in relation to what (in my opinion) is our necessary focus, I asked (above) about your thoughts on three of the conclusions to which I have come:
Do you agree with this?
Why are questions like this important?
In our circles, we will constantly bump up against at least three other organizations: SAIC, the RCP and Kasama. All three of these organizations (in my opinion) have serious problems that have led them to recoil from the tasks which are decisive for the revolutionary movement. It is necessary for us (in my opinion) to struggle to understand these decisive tasks. And, in every case, these tasks are inseparable from the questions/assertions above.
In particular--I believe revolutionary work must revolve around helping the working class become conscious of its historic role and destiny: overthrowing bourgeois rule and creating a society of peace, abundance and genuine community.
Do you agree with the sentence above?
All the best,
Ben
I wrote this post 5 days ago in reply to a comment by Anton on his blog. Unfortunately, the RevLeft blog software does not like this post and will not allow it out of the mod queue. Both Anton and I have worked (to no avail) to fix this technical problem. Therefore, I am posting it here.
We must focus on victory
Hi Anton,
First, I would like to thank you for your recent posts. I have come to the conclusion that weekly posts are necessary to maintain the necessary focus we need to keep alive the idea that discussion and summation of our revolutionary experience--is worthwhile and will, eventually, pay big dividends.
Your comments were interesting, and I will comment (briefly) about some of them. But I also want to bring up the idea that we must struggle, in our online discussion, to focus on the right things. If we, instead, yield to the temptation to focus on what seems interesting at the moment, our discussion will reach a dead end--and we will get demoralized concerning the value of this kind of discussion.
In my report on our March meeting I gave my opinion that:
Quote:
there is a relatively simple way that we can help to keep our discussion and focus on the right topics.
Over the next several months, the topics we discuss should revolve around what we believe is best for:
(1) Our name
(2) A short mission statement
(3) A list of principles that represent who and what we are
We should make an effort to sort these out without any compromise--as if it were of great importance that we got these things right.
I believe that, if we focus in this way, that we will automatically, so to speak, tend to focus on the most important topics.
Over the next several months, the topics we discuss should revolve around what we believe is best for:
(1) Our name
(2) A short mission statement
(3) A list of principles that represent who and what we are
We should make an effort to sort these out without any compromise--as if it were of great importance that we got these things right.
I believe that, if we focus in this way, that we will automatically, so to speak, tend to focus on the most important topics.
I am concerned that our discussion could otherwise drift into areas which are not productive.
This issue comes up all the time, in many contexts. I made a graphic about it 15 months ago (see below):
The tendency of online discussion to drift into unproductive areas is something that I believe everyone has experienced, and has been often noted, as in this famous cartoon:
In particular, in relation to what (in my opinion) is our necessary focus, I asked (above) about your thoughts on three of the conclusions to which I have come:
Quote:
(1) The revolution to overthrow bourgeois rule
will represent the interest of (and eventually enjoy
the support of) the overwhelming majority of society
(2) Revolutionary work will require helping the masses
to break from the influence of the social strata (of
trade union bureaucrats, community "leaders", etc)
that is dependent on, is supported by and takes
direction from the bourgeoisie
(3) Revolutionary work will be centered on giving
the working class and oppressed confidence that
the working class can run society better than the
bourgeoisie. This will require (among other tasks)
wide-ranging and public discussion and debate
-- in particular about the need for the democratic rights
of speech and organization when the working class
runs society.
will represent the interest of (and eventually enjoy
the support of) the overwhelming majority of society
(2) Revolutionary work will require helping the masses
to break from the influence of the social strata (of
trade union bureaucrats, community "leaders", etc)
that is dependent on, is supported by and takes
direction from the bourgeoisie
(3) Revolutionary work will be centered on giving
the working class and oppressed confidence that
the working class can run society better than the
bourgeoisie. This will require (among other tasks)
wide-ranging and public discussion and debate
-- in particular about the need for the democratic rights
of speech and organization when the working class
runs society.
Why are questions like this important?
In our circles, we will constantly bump up against at least three other organizations: SAIC, the RCP and Kasama. All three of these organizations (in my opinion) have serious problems that have led them to recoil from the tasks which are decisive for the revolutionary movement. It is necessary for us (in my opinion) to struggle to understand these decisive tasks. And, in every case, these tasks are inseparable from the questions/assertions above.
In particular--I believe revolutionary work must revolve around helping the working class become conscious of its historic role and destiny: overthrowing bourgeois rule and creating a society of peace, abundance and genuine community.
Do you agree with the sentence above?
All the best,
Ben
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Comments
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Anton's reply
Hi folks,
Because of technical problems, I have copied Anton's reply from his blog here:
Quote:Ben--
As to your three assertions on revolution and revolutionary work:
1--(interest and overwhelming support...)--Yes
2--(bad social strata) and 3-- (working class run society better and confidence therein) are connected to each other.
Solutions will require both creating new revolutionary institutions and transforming many existing ones along with the basic orientation of their personnel.
Some factors include masses of workers and oppressed learning new skill sets and learning new ways of using skill sets we already have.
Society will need to move away from the Taylorist/Fordist-etc models of 'scientific management'-- this will involve new relation between science and society.Posted 30th March 2011 at 19:51 by Ben Seattle 
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