Rob goes over the deep end with this claim. In fact what we have is three people claiming to be Trotskyist and that is another matter. Fundamentally there are three historic trends in the labor movement which at one time or another claimed to adhere to the Marxist interpretation of history and class struggle. The Social Democracy, Lenin and his Bolsheviks, and the Stalinists. I place Trotsky in the Bolshevik department including as a leader of October and the history of the Left Opposition and creation of the FI. The tactical and programmatic arguments being fought out here are not new. And these fights turn around historical positions of the past which belong in one of these three historical currents. Just as most of the people on this list when they argue a point-the point will find a home in one of these currents historically. When it comes to the three "Trotskyists" the differences here are also connected to adaption,liquidation, capitulation and political approach to the tactics and ideologies of one of these three currents. There ain't no way in the world that either Dave, Bob or Hugh can all be Trotskyist or Leninists or anything else for that matter when the differences and shades of these burning issues are so deep. But this goes for all others on this list as well. Marxism is a science, just as program and tactics are a science and vital to the success or failure of our common future. And the reason we fight it out is because we all firmly believe our grasp of the questions involved are correct. And the rather deep and complicity of these questions can-- nor will not be proven correct in one day, one week, or one year. Just because these differences have plagued the whole workers movement since its inception. And will also plague them in the future. But out of this crucible and struggle will be forged the cadre that will be part of trying to form the future. I disagree with Rob also about the point of practical "unity" to get things moving in the right direction. It is hardly necessary for our little group of thaxists to have unity at all. This stuff is connected to the struggle of the working class whether it be a strike or the national question or war. And human material who interpret these events in different ways within the bounds of the above mentioned three historical currents in the workers movement. Obviously with the goal of attempting to find a way out of the mess we are in. On this list we do have a certain unity -(with the exception of Chris) we all oppose the NATO attack and this is and important basis of unity. This war also raises far reaching questions like the national question, the class character of the degenerated and deformed workers states, inter-imperialist rivalry and how the next war will be and what character it will have and will also be a variable test tube not only for the so called three "Trotskyists" but all on this list and the entire left .. The difference is that we can discuss these differences here even when they are very intensive and heated because we don't need just "unity" for itself on the lowest common denominator but unity of a revolutionary current that will be forged in the next period around these burning issues. There ain't nothing personal in this stuff in the big tactical, ideological and programmatic stuff. And it will have to be fought out by people like us or somebody else. If the First World War destroyed the 2nd International-and Germany destroyed the Third International-events in the future will lead to the destruction of the left as we know it because wars do that. And a new world war will certainly separate the wheat from the corn in regards to the present "left" to a lot of questions now being discussed. That is life since the beginning of the workers movement. Somebody said some time that "war and revolution" eats people. But if we don't find a solution to this stuff we all are gonna be eaten anyhow. The only think we are free to elect is which side of the barricades and with what tactics and program. Besides this "unity" presented with your view so fucking undialectical in itself. Unity can only come from struggle rather then agreeing to disagree. And whether any of us agree on this little list don't make any difference. We are just a few actors on the stage of history all claiming what we think best. But it will be the masses in motion, wars and possible revolutions which will decide this stuff connected to who is trying to lead what where...And this in itself contradicts the "unity" theory. Warm Regards Bob Malecki PS: writing this on Office 2000 (Premium edition)! What a hard disk/ram memory eater! More then 350 Meg on disk and things popping and hopping all over the place in the background using all ram memory. Reminds me of the chicken and the egg stuff. Except gone berserk with the hard product blowing up because its being programmed to lay faster and bigger eggs. Over and above this I can't even BCC the Cockroach! Mailing list. But old Eudora 2.0 which I ran on a 486 33mz machine can do it! ------------------------------------------------------- Check Out My HomePage where you can, Read or download the book! Ha Ha Ha McNamara,Vietnam-My Bellybutton is my Crystalball! and "Radiotime"-the Book! Now the International Communist League Page! Just push on the "Spartacist" Button. Or Get The Latest Issue of, COCKROACH, a zine for poor and working-class people. Checkout the "Non RADIO News" Page.. And now the "Black", "Brown and "Yellow" pages.. http://home.bip.net/malecki http://www.algonet.se/~malecki Email <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ------------------------------------------------------- --- from list [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---
