tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6920488656220463337.post1824906380281099306..comments2024-02-07T19:30:21.880+11:00Comments on Left Focus: From the Past to the Future - Unearthing Labor’s Socialist Tradition.Vaughann722http://www.blogger.com/profile/11604027151490275320noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6920488656220463337.post-73944901784675584932009-10-31T16:50:13.890+11:002009-10-31T16:50:13.890+11:00I write, presumably as one of those few remaining ...I write, presumably as one of those few remaining revolutionaries Geoff refers to. To dispel some myths, let me quote from Tom O'Lincoln's analysis of the Communist Party of Australia at the time of the socialisation units (found in the August 2009 edition of Socialist Alternative at http://www.sa.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2058&Itemid=1). Tom says:<br /><br />'In these years the CPA was often "ultra-left". The party didn't know how to build alliances with non-revolutionaries. The Communists saw the opportunist side of the Labor Party, for example, but by simply denouncing Laborism and leaving it at that, they missed important opportunities to influence rank and file ALP supporters. For example, when ALP members formed leftist groupings called "socialisation units" and rallied behind sacked Labor Premier Jack Lang, the Communists largely stood aside from these mobilisations. That was a terrible waste.'<br /><br />Far from rejecting a radicalisation of the rank and file of the Labor Party, we revolutionaries would welcome it and work with those comrades in a united front of action.<br /> <br />But let's be frank. The Labor Party membership and even leadership today is not the Labor Party of the early 30s. Where, to use one small example, is Labor for Refugees, campaigning against Rudd's racism? <br /><br />I think there is another element that needs discussing.<br /><br />The socialisation units imagined the capitalist Parliament as the vehicle for socialism. A militant and democratic communist party could have oriented towards those comrades in the units to help them understand it was the struggle for jobs, against wage cuts and to save homes from being repossessed(to name a few), that was the way forward. <br /><br />But by then the stalinisation of the CPA meant, although it led some magnificent struggles, that the idea of socialism from below had been destroyed as stalinism spread its influence across the communist parties of the world, and the USSR became a state capitalist country.<br /><br />I welcome the opportunity to work with colleagues in the ALP when we fight for a common goal. I just don't notice the ALP membership today mobilising itself, let alone wider sections of society, for anything progressive.John Passanthttp://enpassant.com.aunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6920488656220463337.post-83434785935538106822009-10-26T16:30:05.508+11:002009-10-26T16:30:05.508+11:00Good article... Although one small amendment
&quo...Good article... Although one small amendment<br /><br />"Scullin was elected with the largest Labor vote in Australian history in 1929"<br /><br />1929 ALP 48.84%<br />1943 ALP 49.94%<br />1946 ALP 49.71%<br />1972 ALP 49.59%<br />1974 ALP 49.30%<br />1983 ALP 49.48%<br /><br />... and for one which Labor didn't win, but should have.<br /><br />1954 ALP 50.03%<br /><br />(Mind you 1990 made up for 1954)<br /><br />Perhaps that line could be changed for the largest Labor vote at the time...<br /><br />In response to Paul Gill, I think the best answer is to just do it, rather than waiting for Rudd et al.Lev Lafayettehttp://isocracy.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6920488656220463337.post-48769424266716896162009-10-26T12:09:46.813+11:002009-10-26T12:09:46.813+11:00How can we restore such grass-roots organisations ...How can we restore such grass-roots organisations within the party and the movement, so we can get away from the Neo-Liberal rubbish that vanilla leaders like Rudd try and force on us?<br /><br />Oh, and Hi Geoff, good to see you're still in the front line of the war :)Paul Gillnoreply@blogger.com