[was: RE: [PEN-L:22827] Re: Re: Re: Marxism as Science and Religion] Alan C writes: > ... In my view, a top-down organization is not very likely to "reflect the views of the masses". As I see it, these views will get reflected only when the masses themselves participate actively in the discussion, distilling, and presentation of their views. You certainly don't need a group of paternalistic iluminati to reflect the masses' views for you.
> This is precicely the discussion taking place in many of the 55 plus neighborhood assemblies in Buenos Aires today. There is a strong emphasis on maintaining the horizontal organization. People have been screwed over by representatives (of every political colour) and no longer want to delegate "the views of the masses" to representatives.< how about delegatory democracy, in which these neighborhood assemblies elect delegates, not representatives. Delegates are subject to easy recall. This is one aspect of the Paris Commune-style democracy that Marx admired. (Of course, the issue of popular representation is a different one from that of how to organize a leftist organization, though many of the same points apply.) Jim Devine [EMAIL PROTECTED] & http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/~jdevine
