Louis writes: > Ultimately, there will be a battle between > socialists and fascists just as there was > in the past. For success in such a battle, > we need to build the ranks of the left while > sharpening its understanding of class principles. > The same sort of attempts to dull this > understanding that took place during the 1920s > and 30s are obviously at work today.
Louis, Why should French socialists not work on building the ranks of the left while sharpening its understanding of class principles and vote for Chirac at the same time to ensure that Le Pen is stopped this time? If they vote Chirac on May 5 does it mean that they support Chirac? Not that if they abstain they will make much difference but why take chances? By the way, here are the votes for the Nazis, SPD (Social Democrats) and KPD(Communists) for the below elections: 1930 September, Nazi (18.9%), SPD (24.5%), KPD(13.1%) 1932 July, Nazi (37.3%), SPD (21.6%), KPD(14.3%) 1932 November, Nazi (33.1%), SPD(20.4%), KPD(16.9%) I got these numbers from "Socialism for a Sceptical Age", Ralph Miliband, 1994. Let us forget about everything else and just look at these numbers. Except in July 1932, Communists and Social Democrats put together were beating the Nazis. Now who is guilty? Social Democrats or Communists or both or all the rest other than the Nazis? Again, I am just talking about the numbers. The conditions in France and the rest of the world are different today but how do we know what the future will bring us? Best, Sabri
