Sun, 20 Apr 1997 05:59:34 +0200 COCKROACH! #54 A EZINE FOR POOR AND WORKING CLASS PEOPLE. WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT OUR CHAINS. It is time that the poor and working class people have a voice on the Internet. Contributions can be sent to Subscribtions are free at Now on line! Check out the Home of COCKROACH! http://www.algonet.se/~malecki How often this zine will appear depends on you! -------------------------------------------------------- 1. The Labor Party Debate part 2! 2. Cockroach and pen-l list... -------------------------------------------------------- 1. The Labor Party Debate part 2! Chris D. writes; >James, I would like to suggest that you consider the idea that we have >embarked on a process, and I emphasis the word "PROCESS." The "business >unionism" school of organized labor is not going to change over night. "PROCESS" in capitals Chris! I will translate into practical reality for you without the capitals Chris. What your "PROCESS" means is opportunism of the lowest despicable degree and a tendency by the right wing of the LP to find and excuse to their cowtowing to the Democratic Party and are acting like a privileged layer (a caste) with its own *real* interests to defend! And you are doing it at the expense of poor and working class people! Every LP activist should read Chris's letter and my reply. Because the opposing sides in this debate and in *reality* could never be clearer then as it is expressed here! In Sweden as in America their is a real process going on and it is certainly expressed in the same opportunist way that you are presenting the list albeit the pressure is in exactly the opposite direction! We have a trade union bureaucracy here just like the Americans have a trade union bureaucracy! Here in Sweden the trade union bureaucracy has been loyal to the Social democratic Party for decades. Just as in America the trade union bureaucracy has been loyal to the Democratic Party. We have in both cases a trade union bureaucracy that is in fact a caste which has been fed with a silver spoon for years in both cases! In fact I think that the similarities could be recognized in many advanced industrial countries today.. Today as imperialist rivalry grows and the chase after more profits in a shrinking International market forces capitalism to declare war on its own working classes by mass unemployment,downsizing, moving all factories and industries to countries with cheap labor etc. (And the measures already taken will not be enough!) The trade union bureaucracy who's position nearest to the working class is beginning to squirm under the pressure. No longer able to bring even measly reforms as in the period of the post war boom and the cold war against the former Soviet Union (both are connected by the way) in a booming post war economy but have to defend parties like the Social Democracy which has deserted the working class and in America the Democratic Party which gave far less in reforms then any Social democratic Party here in Europe in a period where these parties no longer or never fought in the interests of even reforms find themselves in a pretty difficult situation. In fact the right wing shift in the Democratic Party can be seen in Clinton and the Democratic Parties and Republican parties "welfare reform" as a good expression of a leap to the right under American conditions.. In Sweden it is the Left wing parties both the Europe-Communists and various "Trotskyist" formations that are growing and making their voices heard. And the trade union bureaucrats under the pressure from the left and the working class who realize now that something is horribly wrong with the Social Democratic Parties they have always voted for and it is forcing the trade union bureaucracy to either moving to the right and becoming even more loyal to the Social democracy or to the left and being forced to take iniatives in the interests of poor and working class people that 10 years ago they never would even dream of along with the left! In America it appears from a distance that the formation of the LP with the so called "left" wing of the trade union bureaucracy is in motion. Very slow motion but moving. However, the trade union bureaucracy which has been fed with a silver spoon both in Europe and America during the good times are hardly interested in doing anything more then they are forced to do by the objective situation. Thus here in Europe the "Left" is much larger and the reformist trade union bureaucrats are forced to confront this. But it is foremost because the working class is beginning to wake up and move that these contradictions are evident in the trade union bureaucracy. In the United States where the left is smaller and the working class less organized and politicized is expressed in the present debate going on here on the LP list. And at present what we see is only the various fake lefts and trade union bureaucrats trying to keep the ties to the Democratic Party and its silver spoon that has fed them all these years. But I doubt if these people are representative of what is really going on in the United States or Internationally. Because what is going on are the preparations for a new war against the working class and all the reforms that came out of world war 2 and the cold war. But also jockeying of the various imperialist powers before a new show down to redivide the shrinking pie... Your process is only a whining defense of the present trade union bureaucrats and pro Democratic party advocates who have taken a little tiny step to let us no that they are alive. But not prepared to do anything to fight in the interests of poor and working class people. In fact they do not give one dip shit about what is really going on with all the cuts and telling poor people to basically starve to death! that Clinton and the democrats campaigned on. They and you are only interested in doing as little as possible to keep up a good front in front of the workers that they do represent. It is the most conservative element of the entire workers movement that is being defended by you with your process. You are really saying that I want to suck up to the bureaucrats and the left wing of the democratic party because who wants to cut off the mouth that feeds them. And in this case historically it has been a trade union bureaucracy which has been fed with a silver spoon! But never the less it is only their interests you are defending with this line of PROCESS. In fact poor and working class people are moving much faster then both the right wing of the LP and the Social democracy here in Europe. They are beginning to feel the real situation that these politicians and their line represent in hungry stomachs, unemployment and for some starving to death. Just wait and see what happens when the new "welfare revolution" that the dems and pubs are cooking up take effect. Then you are going to see some real action. And you are going to see a bunch of whining politicians and trade union bureaucrats doing all kinds of high wire acts! The funny thing about this stuff is that it is not funny at all. It is criminal! And the right wing pro democratic loyal LPers and trade union bureaucrats are in fact a privileged caste defending their own silver spoon interests against poor and working class people In reality you are trying to get people to accept the new situation of mass unemployment and starve to death line.. While keeping the loyalty and lines open to the Democratic party. Well for serious militants and poor and working class people there should be only one answer to those who in any way are defending a line of not breaking with the democratic party. That is to turn your backs to them and get out their and build a real Independent labor party with a program that fights in the interests of poor and working class people. There is no other way. I left the rest of Chris's letter on the end here. Read it again. It is just one big excuse for the those " poor" little trade union bureaucrats who are so confused and have not realized yet that they were wrong shit. Bullshit Chris! Trade union bureaucrats know exactly what they are doing and who feeds them with the silver spoon! On the other hand a *real* labor party will go bravely forward with a program and a call for a break with the twin parties of capitalism! They will find new and young leaders both men and women in the unions and the communities. Who will be willing to go forward and fight for a new LP which with its program counter poses itself to the twin parties of capitalism. It is along this road and this road only that any serious person who wants to fight in the interests of poor and working class people must travel. This is the ONLY REAL way forward. Finally as I said in my first letter on this subject. Better to have this out now and get rid of the basic contradiction between to fundamental lines that can not be united in one party. Because if you don't there will never be and Independent Labor Party. But just a collection of fundamental opposing lines jockeying for position in something that will never help the poor and working class find a way forward.. Finally as a Trotskyist I would like to say that the LP if it wants any kind of critical support from the left who want to go much futher then most of the present left of the LP today then you had better get your act together. Your political capitulation time and again to the pro demo saboteurs of any kind of independent alternative makes the present situation in the present fake LP a joke. Because in fact the present LP in tactics, program and strategy is not INDEPENDENT at all but and appendage to the Democratic Party. And to say that it is anything else is just a pipedream. And anybody on this list who really wants to build a INDEPENDENT alternative should say exactly that both here and everywhere else. I as a trade union activists try to tell the truth to the workers as i see it. And in this case the LP at present is and appendage to the Democratic Party and deserve NO support what so ever! Better to vote for the Democratic Party! Then a fake Labor Party that is kissing the ass of the Democratic Party! That would for me be the truth today. And if you continue along this course should be condemned as a rotten block of fakers who will never do anything at all for poor and working class people. And deserve no support what so ever from any left organization. Break with the Democratic Party! Until then,No support for these Fakers calling themselves "The Labor Party"! Instead of an LP of Democratic Party Ass kissers! For a *real*Independent alternative to the Democratic Party! Bob Malecki Below is the rest of Chris*s letter... >To quote the late Prime Minister of Grenada, " >"Revolution is not an instant cup of coffee," and neither is the >extraordinary change that is in its infancy now in the labor movement. >It is a change that is exemplified by the realization on the part of >most union leaders that what they have been doing for 61 years in lue of >a real labor political strategy, that is, giving billions of dollars and >hundreds of thousands of volunters to the Democrats, has not worked in >our interests. It's just basic human nature that they would be hessitant >to move away from a failed policy, even after discovering that it is a >failure. They know it is a failure, but they mostly don't know of any >workable alternative. Our job is to show them, and the entire >memberships of the unions, that there is a reasonable alternative, one >that has already worked in every other industrialized country with the >same kind of electoral system as we have in the United States, a Labor >Party. Most people in the labor movement still have never even heard of >the LP, much less had the time to actually consider all of the >advantages of a labor party to the unions and the working class. >It will take time. It's a process. But while the members of the unions >and their jleaders are considering our pitch, I think it would work >better if LPers weren't trashing them at the same time, as some on this >list have a habbit of doing. On our side, we have the evil Democrat >Party that never fails to supply the labor movement reason to want >anoother alternative. On our side we have the fact of a 61-year failed >relationship between the labor movement and the Democrats in which labor >gave a lot and got deeper and deeper anti-labor legislation in rturn. On >our side we have the arrogant anti-labor stance of the Republican Party >that is just a shade worse than the arrogaNt anti-labor stance of the >Democrat Party. On our side we have the fact that the overwhelming >majority of the working class has boycotted elections for years out of >pur disgust with both parties of the rich and the bosses and owners. On >our side we have a rich history of a century and more of labor parties >around the world finding out how to win a better place for the working >class within capitalist economies, not the place we deserve for the work >we do, but relatively better than we have here in the United States >where working class people are treated like the lowest part of society >instead of an equal part of society like we should be. >I is going to be a process. >In solidarity, >Chris Driscoll -------------------------------------------------------- Cockroach and pen-l list... Date: Thu, 06 Feb 1997 08:16:54 -0800 From: Michael Perelman Reply-To: michael@ecst.csuchico.edu Organization: california state university, chico, ca To: malecki@algonet.se Subject: cockroach and pen-l >Bob, please do not post cockroach to pen-l. You should continue to give >people your table of contents. One of the problems we have on pen-l is >too much material, which causes people to unsub. > >Thanks for your understanding. > >p.s. I read cockroach, as I told you before. >-- >Michael Perelman >Economics Department >California State University >Chico, CA 95929 > >Tel. 916-898-5321 >E-Mail michael@ecst.csuchico.edu > > Hej Michael, Most of the stuff on Pen-L is garbage! But if you insist on refusing Cockroach and other issues that I post. Well, take Pen L. and shove it up your ass. Now you either take me off your list or leave it alone! Because what your are doing is banning Trotskyists and kissing the asses of the Liberals and Mensheviks that post dozens of piss articles that have nothing to do with poor and working class people and their struggles! Furthermore I am posting your letter and this reply to you to the other lists, the newsgroups and a future issue of Cockroach. The reply to your letter is sharp because of your obvious provocation and sucking up to liberals and I until futher notice from you will advocate a boycott of *your* list because you are acting like a little dictator who opens his arms to the petty bougeois liberal elements on the Net who can write droves of garbage everyday. And even the Stalinists are tolerated as long as they follow your personal rules..Well,Trotskyists do not get down on their knees for anybody and especially assholes like yourself who think that a list is their personal property and try to ban free speech! In fact there is more interesting polemics and class struggle in any issue of Cockroach then ten letters to the Pen L- list. Futhermore it is noted that this letter from you came not two hours after I sent the announcement of the coming conference in Philadelphia linked to both the Jamal case, Police violence against poor and working class people, and the death penalty which is used mainly against black people in the United States. And with liberals like the people on Pen L I have no doubt that just the idea of black people organising themselves against cop violence, the Jamal case and the death penalty make you hysterical. And certainly would make them depart from your personal fiefdom! Is it the pressure of the recent ruling on Simpson case that is bringing out this inherent racist reaction? Nothing would surprise me more that this call which I sent to Pen L is directly linked to your ban on Cockroach not two hours after I sent it to the list! So besides being a haven for the liberals it might be that you are worried about Pen L participants who just might get upset because black people in Philly are trying to organise. Which obviously puts you and your list with one foot in the camp of the racists and the other foot shaking in fear of the bougeois state in America which is doing everything to try and execute people like Jamal. And until Pen L makes a clear declaration that this is not the case then I assume the worst. Michael you are a disgusting piece of shit! Bob Malecki CC: everybody I know! And that is a whole lot of people you whiny little fucking piece of shit. Barkely writes; > I want to apologize to Michael P. and to the list >(what, again?!). I feel responsible for bob malecki having >come onto this list. Barkely is always apoligizing to somebody. If it is not Proyect, it is somebody else. In this case he is apoligizing for a feeling of "responsibility" for sending malecki to Pen L. His apologies make about as much sense has his "new" long wave upturn in the economy does. Both are totally not connected too any kind of reality. He was drawn in because of my posting >my infamous New Year's attack on Louis Proyect to the >marxism-international list as well, where bob hangs out. Which he later on got down on his knees for and begged for forgiveness! A particully despicable action in this case. Because Jerry L. was right about Proyect threatening to turn his political opponents in to the administrators. Proyect openly threatened and said that he had turned in Hans and only long after said that this "was a big joke" and Proyect allso went all over the net accusing me of being and agent provateur among other things. That the MI moderaters defended Proyect against Jerry on this was a big skandal. But Jerry's actions earlier on both M1 and M2 were also a big skandal. Because when he held in the stick he help to creat special rules for his political opponents. >Since he hates Lou P., he thought this would be a place to >come check out. This is a lie and a slander Barkely. My relations with Proyect are not personal but political. And in fact what I hate about Proyect is not his person but his neo Stalinist Menshevik journalism of the worst sort. Including accusing his political opponents of being cops and agent provacateurs. And threatening to turn in political opponents to the administrators. Plus his rotten neo-Stalinist Menshevik line expressed on things like Cuba, Nicaragua and the party question among other things. Not in the least his latest turn of jumping in bed with Aldolfo as a "comrade" who sees Stalin has some sort of fucking god! Nor do I hate Michael P, the moderater of Pen L. I hate his attitude of political cowardness, treating Pen L as his personal fiefdom and banning Cockroach one hour after I put and announcement about a big conference in Philly around cop violence on the list. As a Trotskyist we defend the right of people to write and express what they believe in and on principle would not tell anyone to stop sending material to and open list! And when I say that Michael is a big piece of shit it is directly related to is actions politicallly rather then personally. There is certainly nothing personal in this except that i think that in both of the above cases the individuals act like pieces of shit..Just as you do with you constant apologist creeping around and backing down politically especially in the case of Proyect. In fact I have more respect for both Proyect anf Michael then i do you. And Jerry also because they at least are not constantly down on their knees begging for forgivness. Stop crawling aroiund in the muck on your stomach Barkely. >I told him offlist what pen-l is about, >and knowing something about him, warned him to behave >himself, and that if he behaved properly there is a lot of >interesting stuff going on, even if it is more academically >oriented than he is used to. The above is true. Except for Barkely "behaving" means basically not having any positions at all except " apoligize" and trying to be a nice guy/girl to all and sundry! that he has ended up pulling what he has. > BTW, he also spent time in the can during the Vietnam >years. He has a strange past, but that seems to be true. Well at least you squirm out of you that my past is true. But being the coward that you are it would have helped if you had made that statement back on M1 when Proyect accused me of lying and being a cop and agent provacateur. Unfortunately you were silent. And the silence was in fact a de facto block with the worst sort of neo Stalinist smear campaigns that were going on on m1... And "Strange past" ? How would you know Barkely what pasts poor and working class people have. How would you know what it was like growing up in the slums of New York City during the McCarthy era? And to think that my past is strange, well you should meet some of the other exiles! How about Erik who came out through Cambodia when Kissinger was saying "there are no Americans in Cambodia" or J who had a choice between a orphanage in Waco or the marines, or others who went over to the otherside and live in Vietnam today. The American anti-war movement turned their backs on these people. And still do today! Because most of the so called activists went on to doing carreers and dropped out of politics altogether! Those that haven't are doing a nostalgia trip which is basically and ego trip in pop front politics of the Vietnam period. Most of the colledge students that ran off to Canada or England like Clinton got a pardon or all man amnesty. Poor and working class people who could not run off but deserted either on the way to Vietnam or in Vietnam had to go back and do prison time and apoligize. Those who refuse to do that are still in exile! So even in this field the poor and working class people got screwed! Finally I say once again that Michael with his attitude of making this list and what is sent to it his personal fiefdom. The only *real* ban on anything would naturally befascists who get No platform anywhere. And as I have not been thrown off the list yet i intend to continue to ship Cockroach to the list until i am thrown off.. Note: Soon after this letter I was thrown off Pen L.. Bob Malecki ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check Out My HomePage where you can, Read the book! Ha Ha Ha McNamara, Vietnam-My Bellybutton is my Crystalball! Or Get The Latest Issue of, COCKROACH, a zine for poor and working-class people and now starting the "Never Ending Story"... http://www.algonet.se/~malecki Back issues of Cockroach and my book at http://www.kmf.org/malecki/ --------------------------------------------------------