The PSL

A few weeks back I went to the RCP book store here in Chicago. Today, I went to the PSL's Office here. There was an open discussion on What would a People's Government look like. I told them about this site. A few members asked me for the URL to check S-E out. This was my first in person contact with this party. I had an opportunity to speak and I did. I got good feedback from lots of the members.

What was kinda funny was the facilitator at the meeting said to me 'we are not a Stalinist Party'. I said to him that I had a very Positive opinion of Stalin. He told me right then that I shouldn't have any major ideological differences with them and I should come back for more of their discussions to see if I'd want to join up with the party. I will consider it once I have more of an idea on their stance. They are a Revolutionary party with a non-revisionist stance and consider themselves partisans with the Cuban Revolution. All good things in my opinion.

I wanted to know who here may be a member of the PSL or can relate to any experiences working with the PSL.

Please and thank you.

I've only ever dealt with them via email, but think very highly of them. I was asked if I could hook them up with some Australian Leftist organisations which I tried my best to do. They do their best to work with any organisation they have common ground with which goes to their credit. I've bought their book on China and its analysis very well researched, thought out and educational. If their analysis on other topics is half as good, they would still be good party ideologically speaking.

I suspect that when/if the U.S. eventually embraces Socialism, the PSL will have had a lot to do with it.

Yeah they seem to be the favorite party around here. I think I visited their website once probably on the advice of someone here. I hear a lot of good things about them but I don't really have any experience with them.

I have read their newest publication.. What we are fighting for I advise that those interested get a copy and read it. It is a very good outline of the PSL and didn't find anything that I categorically disagree with.

http://www.pslweb.org/site/PageServer?pagename=PSLprogram

I am quite excited about this.

Currently just started their candidency class to become a member after I attended their National Conference on Socialism in LA. PSL is great. They have a solid Marxist-Leninist party line; however, they are involved in the most "populist" struggles such as fighting against racism, LGBT bigotry, police brutality, poverty, corporate greed, ect. There work in ANSWER is also great, and I'd argue is the leading anti-war movement. They do a great job at relating everything together, i.e. the war and budget cuts for example.

I have their program, that chaz linked to but haven't gotten around to reading it.

This may sound like a kinda vague question but what exactly are they doing to move forwards in terms of socialism reaching the US?

By being active in the Movements that RR spoke of, they are creating awareness of the need for revolution. Once again, I'd recommend reading that pamphlet.

I might eventually but I'm probably gonna put it off for awhile due to finals coming up and just being too lazy/not having the attention span.

Certainly take your time. It took me about 90 minutes. It's only 57 pages. But, finals can be distracting. Something as important as an opinion on a party should be done with as few distractions as possible.

chaz171 wrote:

they are creating awareness of the need for revolution.

Do they want to start a legit revolution or are they more like ballot revolution?

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Do they want to start a legit revolution or are they more like ballot revolution?

It's legit from what I gather. We're not stock piling weapons in a compound in Butte, Montana quite yet.. But the reality is there. They don't rule out any options. But when they speak of the impossibility to completely vote out capitalism, there is the reality of insurrection. They claim partisanship with the Cuban Revolution- not so much the Bolivarian model although sympathy for that movement exists. I don't have that many answers as of right now. They don't claim to know what the future holds either. Take into consideration- this party seems rather sturdy for only being 6 years old-imho

thekraken wrote:

This may sound like a kinda vague question but what exactly are they doing to move forwards in terms of socialism reaching the US?

Part 4 of the PSL pamphlet: "To the question of what revolutionaries do in non-revolutionary times, Lenin's answer was clear: Build the party, build the organization without which the revolutionary oppurtunity cannot be transforme dinto a revolutionary victory." Currently building the revolutionary party to prepare for the revolutionary crisis, kept in mind the PSL was formed in 2004, while we were not in a crisis. Currently we are in a crisis, that we are not out of yet. As of now, capitalism seems incapable of getting itself out of the mess it made. We'll see were this crisis takes us.

chaz wrote:

Something as important as an opinion on a party should be done with as few distractions as possible.

Like the pamphlet, What we are fighting for, I'd also suggest Why Socialism? and Democracy and Class Society. All three are easy reads and most Marxists should have very little to disagree with what they say. If you are semi-literate in socialism/Marxism it shouldn't be anything ground breaking; however, they are great reads for beginers.

Red Brigade wrote:

Do they want to start a legit revolution or are they more like ballot revolution?

If we could vote in change, don't ya think we would all be democrats?

PSL engages in the electoral process more so as a soap box to spread their message.

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PSL engages in the electoral process more so as a soap box to spread their message.

I'd go as far as saying that is the only reason for their engagement. IMHO. No one would state this publicly, and shouldn't..