On Jul 23, 1:45 pm, stephen <srdiam...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> What strikes me as most distinctive about the Lambertiste approach is
> their view that implementing the transitional program requires
> "materializing" (their term) specific transitional demands in broader
> organizations. Through work in these organizations, they recruit
> members, influence other tendencies, and even effect fusions with left-
> moving currents. I don't know if this was always their approach, or it
> was only adopted with the Workers Liaison Committees.
>
> The Lambertistes think the SWP's failure to fight seriously for a U.S.
> labor party was a root cause of its sectoralism in the 60s and its
> ultimate degeneration in the late 70's (not the middle 70s, as I had
> posted). What is a serious fight for a labor party?
>
> NOT (at least not primarily) carrying "Build a Labor Party Now"
> placards, like the Healyites. Rather they fight for local independent
> workers' candidacies and for a Black Party with a perspective aligned
> with the formation of a U.S. Labor Party. They are presently
> sup****ting the U.S. Presidential candidacy of Cynthian McKinney.
>
> Also NOT in the manner of the Robertsonites, who form transitional
> organizations that are really party adjuncts rather than broad forums.
>
> srd
SRD, what you say about 'in retrospect' is largely true. The OCI
barely commented on the SWP's anti-Vietnam war work. It' position on
the Labor Party..and I agree here with their analysis.. is also
retrospective. Looking backward, so to speak.
What the OCI talks about, and the Balance Sheet you posted, is based
on a more extensive do***ent by Frank Wainright that did a detailed
study of the application of the Labor Party position (as opposed to a
'slogan' or bullet point in a program) by the SWP from the 1930s
onward. It showed the weakness of the SWP's position and their lack of
waging a real fight around it, even though propagandistically they
were very much for a labor party be organized. They just didn't do
much about it. You made good point above.
David
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