tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post115452591114756386..comments2023-10-25T12:49:50.074+01:00Comments on The Old Socialist Unity Blog - we have moved: Raul Castro speaksANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05901425044840795347noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-1154786521620771582006-08-05T15:02:00.000+01:002006-08-05T15:02:00.000+01:00Its certainly possible. I would argeu that actuall...Its certainly possible. I would argeu that actually we should seek to defend the Cuban regime against US imperialism, while remaining clear about its political limitations. It's not socialist, and it's not a 'workers' state' but it is standing up to US domination, and that surely is our starting point.Redaspiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12453413163248568650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-1154707072484898632006-08-04T16:57:00.000+01:002006-08-04T16:57:00.000+01:00To put it another way dave, were the bureucracy to...To put it another way dave, were the bureucracy to encourage more democratic participation in defence of the revolution, would you welcome that or oppose it?<BR/><BR/>the scenario is not unlikely due to <BR/>i) a possible power struggle over strategic direction if Fidel's absence is permanent.<BR/>ii) the positive influence of venezuellaANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901425044840795347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-1154705210846702732006-08-04T16:26:00.000+01:002006-08-04T16:26:00.000+01:00Broder: "by what agency will that be achieved"the ...Broder: "by what agency will that be achieved"<BR/><BR/>the actually existing alternatives at the moment mean that the only way reform is likely to proceed is at the initiation of the bureaucracy.<BR/><BR/><BR/>But what happens then is anyone's guessANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901425044840795347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-1154700858695113442006-08-04T15:14:00.000+01:002006-08-04T15:14:00.000+01:00"However, to defend the current state also need de..."However, to defend the current state also need democratic reform"<BR/><BR/>But by what agency will that be achieved?David Broderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06519934479228292062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-1154688719936550732006-08-04T11:51:00.000+01:002006-08-04T11:51:00.000+01:00but the call for workers socialist democracy, with...but the call for workers socialist democracy, without recognising the need to defend the existing giovernment against capitalist resortaion, is ahistorical wishfull thining.<BR/><BR/><BR/>there is no third camp, there is only defence of the revolution - or capitalist restoration.<BR/><BR/>However, to defend the current state also need democrattic reform, and interantionalism.ANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901425044840795347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-1154687742077229482006-08-04T11:35:00.001+01:002006-08-04T11:35:00.001+01:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.David Broderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06519934479228292062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-1154687725289683912006-08-04T11:35:00.000+01:002006-08-04T11:35:00.000+01:00I don't "want" the return of the Miami crowd. I do...I don't "want" the return of the Miami crowd. I don't think capitalist restoration would mark progress.<BR/><BR/>However, I think there is extensive, miscued admiration for the Castro régime. Even groups who want a so-called "political revolution" seem to identify pretty closely with Castro, Guevara and the Communist Party themselves!<BR/><BR/>I don't think you can call for "defense of the régime" rather than calling for a workers' socialist democracy.<BR/><BR/>For example, the IBT wants the workers to overthrow the bureaucracy, but the constant US threat means the priority [and thus only demand] is to defend what exists now, leaving no space for working-class politics.David Broderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06519934479228292062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-1154686008298723652006-08-04T11:06:00.000+01:002006-08-04T11:06:00.000+01:00redaspie: > "To what extent things have actually g...redaspie: > "To what extent things have actually gotten worse in the USSR since the collapse of 'Communism' is I think something of a matter of debate. "<BR/><BR/><BR/>no it isn't: see my arguments<BR/>http://socialistunity.blogspot.com/2006/08/have-things-got-worse-in-russia.html<BR/><BR/>As the US congress report in 2005 says: "Russia is also plagued by environmental degradation and<BR/>ecological catastrophes of staggering proportions; the near-collapse of the health system; sharp declines in life expectancy and the birth rate; and widespread organized crime and corruption"<BR/><BR/>U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration: "The country’s transformation to a more open economic system has created, temporarily at least, a large, new group of people in poverty"ANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901425044840795347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-1154641471324378372006-08-03T22:44:00.000+01:002006-08-03T22:44:00.000+01:00AN - I seem to remember people queueing up in thei...AN - I seem to remember people queueing up in their hundreds for rotten sausages in the Soviet era. To what extent things have actually gotten worse in the USSR since the collapse of 'Communism' is I think something of a matter of debate.Redaspiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12453413163248568650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-1154618721688864662006-08-03T16:25:00.000+01:002006-08-03T16:25:00.000+01:00So the terible collapse of living standards in the...So the terible collapse of living standards in the former USSR is a matter of indifference to you Dave?<BR/><BR/>Surely it is not just a question of "agency" as you so quaintly put it, but whether what happens next is better or worse. Surely you cannot believe that the "alternative form of exploitation" is worse than the return of the Miami mafiosi.ANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901425044840795347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21995284.post-1154616005582809292006-08-03T15:40:00.000+01:002006-08-03T15:40:00.000+01:00I'm not sure to what extent socialists can argue a...I'm not sure to what extent socialists can argue about who is the "best" candidate. It's not as if any of the 'choices' (except there's no voting...) are anything but Stalinist despots.<BR/><BR/>Sunshine Stalinism isn't so great... although rolling back public services would be bad, I wouldn't shed any tears for the demise of the 'alternative' form of exploitation.<BR/><BR/>Not, of course, that I'd back a US coup. Agency counts.David Broderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06519934479228292062noreply@blogger.com