Reply To: Status of World Socialist Party (US)
I think the issue is not WHAT we say but HOW we say it and secondly TO WHO we say it to.
Yes we have a problem of being a relatively minuscule organization, Robbo, one that has no audience and no voice and no presence. Without those we are fated to remain small.
However, why is it that individual thinkers and writers can make an impact and be influential? Sometimes they are saying much the same as we are so why does a particular person resonate with the wider workers’ movement yet a political party like us fails to achieve a hearing?
I again say that no one member has the solution and that we require to rely on our collective knowledge and experience to come up with some strategy for the future. We require a dedicated themed discussion leading to a conference where we bring our companion party members to either physically or more likely through the Skype-type video meetings. We also invite non-SPGBers as observers with opportunity to speak as guests (but not to vote, obviously)
Perhaps it is negativism and bad for morale, Robbo, to say that if we continue as we are, doing moreorless the same things as we always have, then the prospect of growth is bleak. We won’t accomplish that transition to even what the SWP was called , the smallest mass party.
There is truth in the aphorism that doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is insanity. But equally we cannot engage in self-harming actions just to be seen doing something. Merging with reformists would be self-destructive as has been said. But there is a state of relationship between being aloof and being absorbed.
Let us identify the baby-steps that require to be taken to get us on the way as you advise. I’m happy with that being a start. From those we can gauge success and progress and build on. But if none is detected then we may require to consider a more radical change option.
We cannot even get members, even office holders and committee member, to frequent this forum and it isn’t because of the recent tech snags it has been having, the old forum similarly lacked engagement. So what does that say? Well, it appears we aren’t willing to talk to one another. Which brings me to a crucial question just how many talk socialism to those outside the Party? Are we simply a club?