Which communist party should I join?

Dagoth Ur wrote:

Yeah I'm pretty sure that's bogus because I've heard talks from more than one foreign communist.

Also wow Kurt on S-E. It's weird seeing you here.

Heh I like to pop in once and a while.

PSL definitely looks like the best American communist party.

If you need someone else to tell you what party to join, then dont join any party at all.

Research, read etc then later join the party. Your head is more important than anything else. Thats how you can win or lose a revolution.

What do comrades think of various smaller parties in the USA? For example:

• Freedom Road Socialist Organisation
• Party of Communists USA, formerly 'National Council of Communists USA'
• Ray O Light

Also, opinions on the Trotskyist parties:

• Socialist Alternative (Their City Council campaign looked impressive)
• International Socialist Organization
• Socialist Workers' Party

On the topic of the legality of party work, I am surprised that the authorities in the United States still appear to view the very small communist organisations there as a threat. The FBI surveillance and raids against the FRSO seemed way over the top.

From what I gathered, they were specifically targeted in connection to "terrorism" as a result from peace and solidarity work concerning Palestine and Colombia. They were apparently hoping to find "evidence" of this, or maybe the person sent to infiltrate them was supposed to provoke this "support for terrorism" or something? What was the aim? To test the waters? To cause a chilling effect? Who knows?

In any case, it's a healthy reminder that these causes are not just children's games of "supporting" struggles abroad from your computer, and that these organisations, however small, are not just sects. They directly deal with US foreign policy interests, and this will invite a response.

CPUSA has lawyers who can bail you out or file criminal complaints if ever you get into trouble with a violent right-wing nut or a racist cop. CPUSA has men and women in high places like Bernie Sanders and the lady he too 'recommended' in the leaders' debate, Hillary Clinton.

lev wrote:

CPUSA has lawyers who can bail you out or file criminal complaints if ever you get into trouble with a violent right-wing nut or a racist cop. CPUSA has men and women in high places like Bernie Sanders and the lady he too 'recommended' in the leaders' debate, Hillary Clinton.

So Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are, to use the favorite phrase of Senator McCarthy, "Communist Party dupes?"

Communist Party of USA has been endorsing Bernie Sanders without repudiation by the latter. Bernie endorsed Hillary although Hillary did not endorse him. Watch the debates, comrades.

Here's something on Bernie, comrade.

http://peoplesworld.org/everyone-s-talk ... hat-is-it/

csrothach wrote:

What do comrades think of various smaller parties in the USA? For example:

• Freedom Road Socialist Organisation
• Party of Communists USA, formerly 'National Council of Communists USA'
• Ray O Light

Also, opinions on the Trotskyist parties:

• Socialist Alternative (Their City Council campaign looked impressive)
• International Socialist Organization
• Socialist Workers' Party

On the topic of the legality of party work, I am surprised that the authorities in the United States still appear to view the very small communist organisations there as a threat. The FBI surveillance and raids against the FRSO seemed way over the top.

I am not so keen on the FRSO's advocating the United States be broken up along racial lines http://www.frso.org/about/nq/nq.htm. The Party of Communists USA by accounts while it is certainly good that they have broken with the Communist Party U.S.A. over the latter's casual tailing , and entryism with regards to the Democrats , they appear to be one of various minuscule Stalinist groups. Before now I had never heard of the "Ray o Light" ( Revolutionary Organization of Labor ) . But from what I have just read , they have some of the same issues as the other before mentioned groups. As to the Trotskyist groups you mentioned , while I certainly prefer them to the Stalinist /Maoist groups , they too are small and regional . And except for the Socialist Alternative , have never so much as put forth candidates for public office. The International Socialist Organization going so far as to endorse Jill Stein , of the Green party , for president http://www.jill2016.com/socialist_worker_interview_with_jill_stein_we_want_to_be_the_voice_of_struggle_in_2016. While I agree that we Communists should unite in support behind a single left-wing candidate , and that the eco-socialism of the Green party is preferable to the at best no more than center left social democracy , and social liberalism of the Democratic party , the ISO is not therefore a serious viable minor party , since it can not , and does not even try to effect even "sewer socialism". Why even the CPUSA has on occasion had members run for office as Democrats , such as Rick Nagin , for example. I think that the various Marxist groups should put aside their respective differences , and combine together into a multi -tendency party . But this does not seem to be going to happen anytime soon. So I say why should I join any specific group ? It reminds me of this Monty Python sketch https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iS-0Az7dgRY.

Jason24 wrote:

the ISO is not therefore a serious viable minor party

While I'm certainly no fan of the ISO (quite far from it actually), what exactly do you mean by "viable minor party"? Are you looking for a Communist Party that stands a chance in elections or are you looking for a party that will help intervene in the mass movements?