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TheWayISeeIt

CommentaryontheQuestionofLabourandtheEnvironmentBy:DonCurrieChairCanadiansforPeaceandSocialismEditorFocusonSocialismNovember25,2008

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca

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The following isadiscussionon labourand theenvironment that is the resultofanemail

string

sparked

by

an

item

carried

in

Political

Affairs

the

theoretical

journal

of

the

Communist

PartyoftheUSA.SuchdiscussionsarebreakingoutinCanadaamongsomeleftprogressives

triggeredbythecurrentglobaleconomiccrisisofcapitalismandthefightbackoflabourin

ourcountryandinNorthAmerica.

It is an important discussion andwe in CPSbelieve it shouldbe thepropertyof awider

audienceofCommunists,progressivethinkersandlabourandpeaceactivists.Itarisesfrom

anexchangebetweensomemembersofCPS.TheFOScontributionisbelow.Thediscussion

needs togo further.CPSandFOSwillhavemore tosay.We invitecomment throughour

websiteatwww.FocusOnSocialism.ca(FOS).

DonCurrie

DearPaul,John,ComradesandFriends:

FirstofallthankstoPaulandJohnforinitiatingthisdiscussion.Itisabsolutelycrucialthatit

notonlybe introducedasyouhavedone,butcontinuesand involvesmorepeople.That is

whyCPSestablishedwww.FocusOnSocialism.caanditmustbeutilizedmoreeffectivelyasa

forumwheremoreandmoreworkersandfarmerscanparticipate.TheFOSEditorialBoard

remarksare

preliminary

and

leave

much

more

to

be

said.

Consider

it

only

as

an

opener.

PaulpointstothestatementofbrotherJohnCasewriting inPoliticalAffairsCPUSAabout

theautosector intheUSAandtheprospectsofbailoutandnationalizationwhichbrother

CaseconcludeswiththestunningstatementthatOnceretooledandrefocused,it'spossible

thegovernmentcould resell (FOSemphasis)the industry inwholeor inpartbacktoprivate

producersifthatprovedtobemoreefficient.

Paulcountered;Thisconstitutesalargerquestion whatwouldacommunist'ssolutionbeto

an

industry

that

has

bribed

politicians

and

undermined

policies

which

through

struggle

were

madeto'protecttheenvironmentandpeople'shealth'withhighergasmileage,allelectriccars

andloweremissions? Paulsfullriposteisbelow.

What is posed by these comments is the purpose and limitations of struggles to save

workers jobsas thecurrentcapitalistcrisisseverely impactsworkingpeople.Workerswill

fight for their jobs evenwhen it cannot be shown to be at the expense of capital. The

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca Page2of20

http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7744/http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7744/http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7744/http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7744/http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7744/http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7744/http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7744/http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7744/http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7744/http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7744/http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7744/http://www.focusonsocialism.ca/http://www.focusonsocialism.ca/http://www.focusonsocialism.ca/http://www.focusonsocialism.ca/http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7744/

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struggletodefendwagesandincomeisanecessityanddoesnotunfoldinidealconditions.

Noconsiderationwillstop the farmerswhodependon theWheatBoard for their income

fromdefending

its

purpose.

The

underlying

economic

imperative

is

very

powerful

and

just

in

bothcases.

ThatiswhyFOSwillattempttobroadenthequestionandnotconfineittooneindustryand

focusonsomebiggerquestionsof theory first, thatembrace thewholequestionofwhat

CommunistsinCanadashouldbeadvocatingforourindustriesthreatenedbytheonsetofa

majorglobaldepression.

Programs for economic reform under capitalism around which the labour and farm

movement can wage struggles and protect themselves and make progress towards

socialismare

the

order

of

the

day.

They

are

not

abstract.

They

are

urgent

and

concrete.

We

in CPS have beenwriting for some time on themes of the crisis of Canadian economic

developmentastheyrelatetoenergy,deindustrializationandtheenvironment inCanada.

Wewouldbethefirsttorecognizetheinadequacyofthoseeffortsandtheneedtofurther

deepenourunderstandingofwhatishappeningtoourcountryandwhattodoaboutit.

TheCommunistPartyofCanadahasalowleveloftheoreticaloutputonsuchquestions,and

pointedlybanstheworkoftheCPSfromtheCommunistpress.Whileweprovidea linkto

theirwebsite they do not reciprocate. The Peoples Voice republisheswork from other

sourcesincluding

the

CPUSA

but

ignores

the

work

of

CPS.

We

can

live

with

that

and

do

not

dependonittodecidewhetherornottospeakourmind.

HoweveritisnotasmallquestionforusnonmembersupportersoftheCommunistPartyas

to the fate of the Party because it carries the name and theprestigeof the Communist

movementthatupholdsthecauseofsocialismtodayandthefuture,andalsotheprestige

andexperienceofthepast.ThefactthattheCommunistPartyhasaweaktheoreticaloutput

and does not strive to organize a discussion among its supporters onmajor theoretical

questionsastheyrelatetotheclassstruggleinCanadatoday,weakenstheentireleftandin

particularthecauseorsocialismthatrequiresconstantattentiontotheory.

Reviewing past articles of Spark will reveal that its editors are pre occupied with the

failuresofsocialism.ThenumberofseriousarticlesdealingwithcontemporaryCanadian

classstruggle,CanadaUSrelations,studiesonlabourandthestate,labourandsovereignty,

Parliamentary and electoral politics, federal provincial relations, militarisation of the

Canadian economy, Canadas role inNATO, SPP,NAFTA and economic development are

http://thesparkjournal.blogspot.com/http://thesparkjournal.blogspot.com/

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missing.Thereisatotalblankondiscussingnewtrendsintheeconomyandpoliticssuchas

changes in theenergysector, thepoliticsofwesternCanada,Communistcommentaryon

theoriesof

environmentalism,

corporate

agriculture,

the

impact

of

technology

on

the

productiveforcesandthecompositionoftheworkingclassetc.

The last issueof Spark, #$20 Summer 2008, had no in depth analysisby the CPCon the

balance of class forces, the programs of the political parties and the issues confronting

labourandfarmersasthecountrymovedtowardafederalelection.

TheCPCwebsiteisstatic.Itcontinuestopostitsfederalelectionmaterialsixweeksafterthe

electionhastakenplace.

Inthe

absence

of

serious

theoretical

work

by

the

CPC

it

is

no

wonder

that

the

theories

on

environmentalism and labour policy that emanate from Political Affairs CPUSA carry an

inordinateamountofinfluenceamongCanadianCommunistsandbecomesasubstitutefor

independent theoreticalwork by the CPC.A case in point is theworkof PA contributor

comrade Marc Brodine on the subject of environmentalism that reveals a disturbing

uncritical acceptance of the main tenets of modern environmental theorists and is

indistinguishable in its essence from Canadas own, ecosocialism which Brodine calls

environmentalsocialism.TheCommunistPartyofCanadaseemstohavenopointofview

onthesetheories.Ifitdoestheyarewellhidden.

TheoreticalpositionsstatedincontemporaryCommunistliteratureastowhatconstitutesa

correctMarxistLeninistprogramtocopewithglobalwarminghasevolvedintotwodistinct

lines.Oneisanuncriticalacceptanceofthemaintheoriesofenvironmentaltheoristsandthe

other is an effort to apply Marxism to this complex problem. It would not be an

exaggeration tosay thatone isLeninistand theother is revisionist.Thedenial that these

twolinesexistiscentristevasionandequivocationandfallsintotherevisionistcategory.

Therevisionistlinecanbesummedupasanassertionthatsinceglobalwarmingistheresult

ofhumanactivity, there isanaboveclasssolution to theproblem, resolvablewithout the

revolutionaryoverthrow

of

capitalism

in

the

imperialist

era.

The

solution

is

posed

as

largely

a

problemofeducationandenlightenment thatcanbe resolvedwith theappropriatepleas

andadaptationsofscienceandtechnologytoreformcapitalismintheeraofimperialism.It

isanaboveclass,evolutionaryviewthatreferstoMarxfor itseconomicassertions,Engels

foritsdialecticalassertionsandleapfrogsoverLeninsteachingsonImperialisminparticular

asitrelatestothetheoryofrevolutionintheimperialistera.

http://politicalaffairs.net/filemanager/download/9/Brodine_Dialectics_Nature.pdfhttp://politicalaffairs.net/filemanager/download/9/Brodine_Dialectics_Nature.pdfhttp://politicalaffairs.net/filemanager/download/9/Brodine_Dialectics_Nature.pdfhttp://politicalaffairs.net/filemanager/download/9/Brodine_Dialectics_Nature.pdfhttp://politicalaffairs.net/filemanager/download/9/Brodine_Dialectics_Nature.pdfhttp://politicalaffairs.net/filemanager/download/9/Brodine_Dialectics_Nature.pdfhttp://politicalaffairs.net/filemanager/download/9/Brodine_Dialectics_Nature.pdfhttp://politicalaffairs.net/filemanager/download/9/Brodine_Dialectics_Nature.pdfhttp://politicalaffairs.net/filemanager/download/9/Brodine_Dialectics_Nature.pdf

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ItisnotasmallquestionforCanadianprogressivestodiscussthisissueparticularlybecause

itssimplisticappealresonatesamongstudentyouthwhoareattracted topettybourgeois

radicalism.In

Canada

the

eco

socialists

are

dominated

by

Trotskyist

theorists,

the

most

prominentbeingProfessorIanAngus,longamilitantTrotskyistopponentoftheCommunist

PartyofCanada.HewasacriticofYours IntheStruggletheReminiscencesofTimBuck

andforthosewhostudysuchthings,therewasastrikingcorrespondenceofviewsbetween

Angus and the CEC of the CPC of the day in criticizing Tim Bucks alleged errors and

mistakes in his account of the history of the CPC in particular Bucks struggle with

TrotskyismandotheradvocatesofAmericanExceptionalism.Angus isnowbecoming the

neworacleofecosocialisminCanada.

Focus on Socialism has beenwriting for some time on the energy issue. FOS has been

pointingout that the current theoriesof environmentalism are an invitation to return to

idealism in the theory of class struggle and are a departure from the Marxist Leninist

teachingsofhistoricalmaterialismas it relates to economicdevelopment.FOSwelcomes

andencouragesworkersandfarmerstoconsiderwritingmoreandnotjustreactorcirculate

material.FOSwelcomesPaulscommentsonthematerialfromPAthathasbeencirculated.

FOStakestheviewthat ifsomething iscirculatedwithoutcomment itcanbeassumedthe

person circulating the item agrees with it and is prepared to uphold that standpoint.

Otherwisewhycirculateit?

Thepoint

of

entry

of

my

remarks

on

all

of

this

is

the

fact

that

Marxism

Leninism

is

once

again being challenged by an assortment of left petty bourgeois theorists claiming

Marxism and inparticular Leninism is inadequate to analyze and solve todaysproblems.

Thesetheorists,andtheyarepromotedinsidetheCommunistmovementaswell,assertthat

todays problems are exceptional and unique to our time and that in the interests of

coalition building require tolerance by Communists as new theories thatborrow from

Marx and Lenin but postulate an entirely new goal for the left revolutionary forces

defined asecosocialism,environmentalsocialism,redgreenrevolutionandvariants

ofthesame,thatpromoteafusionoftheenvironmentalandlabourandpeacemovements

inwhich

environmentalism

is

supreme

and

labour

is

subordinate.

TheothermanifestationofpettybourgeoisradicalismaffectingtheCommunistmovement

relates toourunderstandingofMarxistLeninistpolitical economy.One can read endless

theoreticalcommentariesthatdescribetheglobalcrisisasitaffectstheUSAmostofwhich

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stand inaweof itsseeminglyTeflon imperviousnesstoeconomiccollapse.This isthenew

formthatAmericanExceptionalismistakinginourtime.

AmericanexceptionalismwasrejectedbyCanadianCommunistsundertheleadershipofTim

Buck in 1929 on the eve of the StockMarket crash and again rejected by Buck and the

CanadianCommunistswhenittooktheformofBrowderismattheendofWW2.

SuchtheoriesassertthatUSimperialismissopreeminentwithintheimperialistsystemthat

itcanmanage itswayoutofanycrisisandemergestronger fromamajorcollapseof the

global system of capitalism at the expense of its imperialist adversaries. The danger of

theoriesofUSexceptionalismforCanada isthattheyareseizeduponbyCanadianfinance

capitaland inparticularPrimeMinisterHarper, to reinforce theviewofCanadian finance

capitalwhich

asserts

that

Canada

cannot

exist

and

flourish

independent

of

US

imperialist

oversight.SuchatheoryupholdsthemistakenideathatCanadaisincapableofindependent

economicdevelopment. ThefactthatCanadianfinancecapitalhasselfinterest indoingso

wouldrequireamuchlargerdiscussion.Howevertherearefewontheleftthatdenythatis

so.

MoreoverUSExceptionalism isusedbyUS imperialist ideologists to justify thenotionof

entitlement toCanadasresources, relegatingCanadatotheroleofsupplierofcheap raw

materials in the firstplace naturalgas, electricity andoil includingunprocessedbitumen,

destinedfor

processing

in

US

refineries

by

US

workers,

as

well

as

a

steady

supply

of

minerals

andforestryproductsastheyarerequiredornot.

The latter is something the CPUSA seems to take as normal and that rarely merits a

comment in any of their commentaries on their Partys proposals for energy and

environmental reform. In a discussion with comrade Halabi of the CPUSA EconomicCommissionandacontributingeditortoPArespondingtoacommentbyFOSthatCanadian

energy resource exploitation involved the question ofwho owns the resource said that

sovereigntywasacapitalistorbourgeoisconstruct.

TheCPUSA

has

condemned

the

environmental

damage

caused

by

Canadian

developments

in

the Alberta Oil Sands but are silent about US refineries processing Canadian bitumen,

supplyingittotheUSmilitaryandprovidingUSconsumerswithcheapCanadiannaturalgas,

evenwhen suchanarrangement threatensCanadas long termneeds.TheUSenjoys the

benefits from the integrationofCanadianproducedhydroelectricalpowerwithoutwhich

many US cities would be in a permanent state of brownout and which is done at the

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Suchtheoriesalso implythat labour is indifferentaboutnatureandthefateoftheplanet.

They imply that labourmustbehelped tounderstandby enlightened intellectualsnot to

objectto

the

necessity

of

voluntarily

muting

and

subordinating

its

class

interests

whenever

thechoiceisdefinedbyenvironmentalismtobebetweenlabourandnature.

There isan invitation in thisapproach tohandover toenvironmentalism thedefinitionof

what constitutes themain contradiction in society. It notonly invites,but demands that

Marxismrevise its theoryastowhatconstitutesthemaincontradiction insocietyandthe

motiveforceforsocialistrevolutiontoconformtothenewecosocialisttheories.

Theecosocialistsdeclarethemaincontradictioninsocietyisnotthecontradictionbetween

theprivateownershipofthemeansofproductionandthesocialformofproductionandits

presentday

manifestation,

the

contradiction

between

state

monopoly

capitalism

and

the

workingclassandallworkingpeople.TheMarxistdefinitionastowhatconstitutesthemain

contradictionitisassertedisinadequateandmustberevisedandredefinedbytheneweco

socialismasthecontradictionbetweenmanandnature.

Havingelevatedthiscontradictiontothemainone it isbutasteptopostulatethat labour

mustvoluntarilyacceptanewrelationshiptoproductionthatenvironmentalismassignstoit

andwhichitdefinesasnecessaryandwhichmustbecomelaboursobligationtohelptosave

the planet. Workers (and also farmers it is presumed) according to ecosocialism must

acceptvoluntarily

giving

up

employment,

support

deindustrialization

and

the

decline

of

manufacturing and support a complete revision of all sectors of the economy that it is

alleged contributes to global warming, such as auto, energy, logging, mining,

transportation,agriculture(Wewillnotgoonbecausethelistisendless)untilnewgreen

jobsarefound.

Todaythecarbonfootprint ismeasurableeverywhere,downtoonesowndomicileand

weareallenjoinedbyearnestenvironmentaliststoreducethatfootprintnomatterwhat

it takes. Presumably that would mean for modern farming a return to horse drawn

implements,removinghalfofthelandeachyearforsummerfallowing,cattlemanureasthe

principalfertilizer(hogmanure isout),returning irrigationsystemstotheiroriginalstream

flows etcand abandonment of all agriculture of scale. Certainly huge combines and

cultivators,thatpulverizethesoil,highyieldcropsdependentonthelatestinpesticidesand

herbicides,theuseoffossilfuels,coalgeneratedelectricity,(Alberta80%)ornuclearenergy

(Ontario20%)muststop forthwith.Every farmwillhave itsownwindpoweredgenerator,

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solarpanelandthermalheatingpower,offthegridandnotdependentonpollutingformsof

energy. Andofcourseallofthiswillbedonenowandundercapitalism.

There isa seriousdisconnect, ifoneapproaches suchproblemsbyproductionsectorand

attempt to solve them industry by industry. The obligations set for labour by the

environmentaliststoreformcannotbeappliedforexampletoenergysectorworkersand

notalsotoautoworkersandfarmers,butitisdoneallofthetime.

TheCouncilofCanadiansis(CofC)campaigninginAlbertafornomoreoilsandsapprovals

even as energy sectorworkers arebeing laidoff in the thousandsandnew construction

halted.Whynotadvocatethepermanentclosureofallautoplantssincetheytoocontribute

toglobalwarming?Ifecofriendlycarscanbeproducedwhy isitnotpossibletoopenupa

scientificdiscussion

of

the

how

to

reduce

the

CO2

emissions

from

fossil

fuel

production

to

enable itsfurtherexpansion inamoreecofriendlywaytomeettheneedsof industryand

consumers?

Onecanonly imaginethereceptiontheCofCwouldgetiftheyattendedanautoworkers

rally in Oshawa and called for the shutting down the whole auto industry. But C of C

supporters some ofwhom are Communists seem to consider it perfectly acceptable to

mountdemonstrations inAlberta to shutdownoil sandsdevelopmentand throwenergy

sectorworkersoutoftheirjobs. Suchaboveclass,reformistapproachestotheproblemsof

economicsustainability

bear

scrutiny.

ItisapeculiarthingtoreadthecommentaryoftheCPCLabourSecretaryinPeoplesVoice

commentingwithsoundandfuryabouttheworkingclassofOntariosufferingcatastrophic

job loss in manufacturing but somehow falling silent when it concerns energy sector

workerswho labour in theAlberta oil sands, the Saskatchewan oil fields or inNorthern

British Columbia or for that matter in NewfoundlandLabrador or for Irving Oil in New

Brunswick.

Theseworkers,as loggerswere inthepast,aredefinedbymisguidedenvironmentalistsas

theapostates

of

labour

lumped

in

with

their

employers

as

despoilers

of

the

environment.

And this passes forMarxism. It is unacceptable and it demands a deeper analysis to be

consideredeven remotelyconnected toCommunism.Themottoofone forallandall for

one, solidarity forever, and class solidarity cannot be set aside so easily because it is

offensivetoourenvironmentalfriends.

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It isnotanoption for labour toabandonstrugglestomaintainemploymentbecausesuch

employmentisnotecofriendly.Communistscannotandmustnotsupportsuchtheories.It

iseven

asserted

by

the

new

environmentalist

theories

that

it

is

counterproductive

to

the

goalofreducingglobalwarmingforworkerstostruggleforhigherstandardsofliving,and

theymustdefersuchstrugglestoanewecofriendlystruggletorevisetheproductive

forcesdownwardtoprovidenewgreenjobsbasedonentirelynewindustries,thatdonot

asyetevenexist.

The 100,000USandCanadianautoworkersconfronting job loss todaymustmove to the

sidelinesand into thebreadlinesandwait foragreen job tomorrow.Theenergysector

workersofAlberta,nexton thechoppingblockwilljusthave to findother jobsasone

ardentCofCspokespersonasserted ina recentmeetingplanningamarch to theAlberta

Legislaturetoshutdownoilsandsproductionallforthecommongood.

The demand by environmentalism that all forms of energy extraction, production and

consumptionmustbealtered, toeliminatefossil fuels,nuclearenergy,coal firedelectrical

generationandtohaltfurtherhydroelectricconstructionanddecommissionthosethatare

nowinserviceandestablish,rightnow,andundercapitalism,alternativerenewableenergy

systemsthatwillcarrytheproductiveforcesofcapitalismintothe21stCentury,intoanewer

moreecofriendlyform,isalldefendedasnecessarytosavetheplanet.

Closescrutiny

of

such

ideal

solutions

is

beyond

the

scope

of

this

short

essay

but

when

it

is

doneandsubjectedtotherealityoftheneedsof moderncapitalistproductionitdissolves

intonothingnessasitrunsintotheobjectivelyrealproductiveforcesthatexistandthatwill

exist for some time, and the impossibility of affecting their progressive development

without confronting the question of which class holds political power over decisions

affectingthefurtherdevelopmentoftheeconomy.

Inotherwords,according to thenew theoriesofecosocialism, themain responsibilityof

the working class is no longer to overthrow the capitalist system and replace it with

socialismbuttodeferthatstruggleandparticipate inagrandcoalition ledbyenlightened

ecosocialists inanewstruggle, toavertenvironmentalArmageddon. In this theory is the

implicit suggestion that looming environmental disaster transcends class contradictions,

thattheycanbemadetodisappearorputonhold,as labourengages inagrandcoalition,

withenlightenedcapitalists(AlGore)andenvironmentalists(DavidSuzuki),inajointeffort

tosave theplanet.Theclassstrugglepresumably iscapableofbeingplacedonholduntil

thisgrandtaskiscompleted.Thatisnotreality.

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Such theories, taken to their ultimate conclusion state that the overarching threat to all

humanexistence isno longer the threatof imperialismandnuclearwar,butthe threatof

environmentalextinction.

The

left,

it

is

postulated,

must

become

involved

with

the

environmentalmovement inagrandcrusade to save theplanet,allelse issecondaryand

anyonewhodoesnotaccept thisfundamental truth is reactionaryandworse,counter

revolutionary.

It is with the above in mind that we venture to restate some Marxist economic

fundamentals and assert that it remains the frameworkwithinwhich further discussions

need to takeplace. If these fundamentalsarenotvalidandhavebeen replacedbyanew

ecosocialist blend of Marxism and environmentalism it is incumbent upon those who

believe so to say so and defend that conviction as we are required to defend our

understandingofMarxism.

MarxinVolume1ofCapitalP177definedlabour.Hesaid:

Labour is in the firstplaceaprocess inwhichbothmanandnature,participate,and in

whichmanofhisownaccordstarts,regulatesandcontrolsthematerialreactionsbetween

himself and Nature. He opposes himself to Nature as one of her own forces, setting in

motion arms and legs, head and hands, the natural forces of his body, in order to

appropriateNaturesproductionsinaformadaptedtohisownwants.Bythusactingonthe

externalworld

and

changing

it,

he

at

the

same

time

changes

his

own

nature.

Furtheron(page178)Marxsays:

The elementary factors in the labourprocessare 1, thepersonalactivityofman i.e. the

workitself,2,thesubjectofthatwork,and3,itsinstruments.

When discussing a Communist answer to present day problems of economic crisis

overtaking the capitalist system of production and in particular how it impactsworkers,

nature and society we have a scientific method to use and apply. We need to remind

ourselvesof

that

method.

What

are

some

of

the

basics

of

that

science

that

can

help

us

developstrategiesandtacticsandprogramsthatuniteallworkingpeople?Whatisprimary

andwhatissecondary?

TheleftisawashwiththeoriesandtreatisesthatdenyMarxsteachingsontheprimacyof

labour. They imply that labour is theproblem rather than the solution and further, that

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Labourpowerisacommoditythatthecapitalistbuysinthemarketplace.Hebuysitbecause

itcontains theabilitywhenset towork in theproductionprocess tocreateavaluemuch

greaterthan

what

he

paid

for

it.

When

a

worker

sells

his

or

her

labour

power

to

the

capitalist,he/she labourspartofthedayforwagesenablinghim/hertoexistandreplenish

strengthandprovidehousingand foodand reproduce the familyso theycancontinue to

labour.

Theportionofthedaythataworkerworksforhis/herneedsislessthantheentireworkday.

Thecapitalisthaspurchased labourpowertoworkforthewholeworkday.Theportionof

thedaybeyondwhichtheworkerlaboursforhis/herownneedstheworkerlaboursforthe

capitalistfornothingandthecapitalistappropriatesthevalueofthatlabourintheformofa

surplusofvaluethattheworkercreatesandthatisnowembodiedinthecommoditiesthat

areproduced.Thecapitalistsellsthesecommoditiesintothemarketplacewheretheunpaid

labourtimeembodiedinthecommodityisrealizedasthecapitalistsprofit.

A portionof that profit he reinvests as capital, part he consumes and the remainder he

reinvestsinwhatMarxcalledrelativecapital,orinthepurchaseofmorelabourpower.The

capitalistcannomoredowithoutlabourpower,thantheworkercandowithoutwork.The

sourceofallcapitalissurplusvaluecreatedbytheworkingclassandthesuggestionbythe

environmentalists that the working class can be made to disappear from polluting

occupationsisabsurd.Itisnotwhatworkersdothatisbaditisthewayinwhichtheirlabour

poweris

used

to

create

capital

that

is

appropriated

and

used

to

expand

capitalism

that

bears

scrutiny.

The capitalistcannotexistwithout labourpower.That is thebasis for theexpansionand

growthofhiscapitalthatisusedtorecreatethemeansofproductionandthatresultsinthe

processofrecreatingtheworkingclassandinitsabsolutegrowth. Theformofthegrowth

oftheworkingclassisanothersubject,butthefactofitsgrowthandthatitconstitutesthe

overwhelmingmajorityof society is indisputable.Theworking class is theproductof the

objectivelyrealproductiveforces.TodaytheemployedworkingforceinCanadaisabout17

million.2%

employed

in

agriculture,

60%

in

service

and

the

remainder

in

the

productive

value

added sector broken down in heavy industry, manufacturing, transportation,

communications,utilities,resourcesectorincludingenergy,miningandforestryetc.

Goods are produced dependent on the level of development of the productive forces

constituting themodernmeans of production and by people equippedwith production

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experience and habits of work. Historical materialism is the study of the relations of

productionateachstageinthedevelopmentofhumansociety.

We live in the eraof the final stage of capitalism, imperialism defined as the era of the

dominanceof finance capitalormonopoly.Finance capitalandmonopoly inour timeare

mergedwith the state.While the state andmonopolyarenot the same, theyoperate in

practice asone organism.We live in the period of statemonopoly capitalism that Lenin

definedasimperialism.ImperialismisthelaststageofcapitalismbeyondwhichasLeninsaid

therearenoother rungs in the ladder.Beyond imperialism there is socialism.There isno

super imperialism, hybrid imperialism, ultraimperialism and certainly no ecofriendly

imperialismtobeobservedorconceived.

Asthe

productive

forces

develop

to

the

stage

as

they

have

today,

in

contradiction

to

the

existing relations of production i.e. the way producers, workers and farmers, stand in

relationtothemeansofproduction,aninsolublecontradictionprevailsuntiltherelationsof

production are brought into correspondence, or harmony with the productive forces

Marxism101.

Whendoes thathappen?When thecontradiction reaches thepointwhere theproductive

forces cannot develop further without a change in the relations of production, the

contradictioncanonlyberesolved ineitheradestructionoftheexistingproductiveforces

ora

revolutionary

change

in

the

relations

of

production

permitting

further

progressive

developmentoftheproductiveforces Revolution101.

Communists are not interested in, nor dowe support, the destructionof theproductive

forcesasananswertothequestionofdevelopment.Capitalism is inthemidstof itsmost

seriouscrisisofdevelopmentsincetheDirtyThirties. It is incapableoffurtherprogressive

development. It cannot reinvent itself to ensure its furtherprogressive development.All

expansionof capitalism cannowonlyoccurat theexpenseof theworking classand the

productiveoutputoffarmers,bythe intensificationoftheir labour,by loweringwagesand

farmincomes,byamonopolyriseinprices,andbytheactiveinterventionofthestatewith

monopolytodivertthefederaltreasurytothecauseoftheprofitsystem.

The political parties of capitalism are lying to the people that their future interests

correspondwithafinancecapitalistrenewalofthecapitalistsystem.Itisnotthetaskofthe

workingclasstosavethesystemofcapitalism,buttooverthrow it inordertorebuild itas

socialism.Leninadvisedthatinsuchaperiodasours,itwasthetaskoftheCommunists,to

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seize upon the demands that workers and farmers themselves are placing upon the

capitalists,tochampionthosedemandssupportthemandproclaimthem inprogramsthat

whenfought

for,

constitute

what

he

called

approaches

to

the

revolution.

Suchanapproachdemands,inourtime,thenationalizationofenergy,therebuildingofthe

productive capacity of the country, the preservation of the public health system, the

abrogationofNAFTA thewithdrawal fromNORAD andNATO, thedefenceof theWheat

Board,upholding the sovereigntyof the countryand itsunity in the causeofpeace, and

resolvingallunsatisfiedand lingeringdemands for selfdeterminationand freedom forall

oppressed First nations and aboriginal peoples and the people of Quebec; the duty to

defend andprovide for thepeaceandhappinessof children and youth, forwomens full

emancipationandtherightsoflabour.Theforegoingisapartiallistofsuchapproaches.

The approach to revolution also involves the defence of the productive capacity of the

country that isafterall the resultof the labour,pastandpresentofmillionsofCanadian

workers. That is why we defend the auto sector, protect the plants, and oppose the

dismantlingofequipmentand itstransportto lowwageareasoftheUSA. Thisprocess is

occurringinAlbertanowasUSoilcompaniesarebuyingupdrillingequipmentatdiscounted

prices due to currencydifferences and shipping it south to theUS. That iswhywe also,

defendtheproductivecapacityoftheenergysectorincludingitsinfrastructureandcapacity

toextract,process,refineand transportenergy tomarket firstofall tosatisfytheenergy

needsof

our

own

country.

Communistsmustgetpastthatquestionandbegintodiscusshowtheproductivecapacity

of the country is tobedefended in the interestsof theworking class, its futureand the

needsofallof thepeopleof thecountry inneedofgoods toensurea risingstandardof

living,andtoproduceforexportanexpandingrangeofgoodsneededbythewholeworld.

WeCommunistsarenotmoderndayLudditesthatapplaudthedismantlingofonesectorof

the economy while demanding it remain intact in another. The economy is a single

integrated system of production and dismantling one sector weakens all sectors. We

Communistsdefend

all

workers

and

all

sectors

of

the

economy.

ShouldCommunistssupportnationalization?Nationalization isastatecapitalistreformand

isnotsocialism.Itsprogressivenessdependsonwhatclassisdemandingnationalizationand

in whose interests it will be used and under what conditions will it be implemented.

Nationalizationevenasastatecapitalistreformthatprimarilyisofbenefittocapital,maybe

supportableifitservestoconserveandprotecttheproductivecapacityofthecountrysoit

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canbeused tobuildsocialism.Suchasituation isalwaysconcreteand requiresdefinition

andshouldnotbesetaside in frustrationas inconsequentialwhendecidingshould labour

supportstate

capitalist

nationalization.

Workers have a right to demand that nationalizationbe used in their interestson terms

definedby labour and at the expenseof capital. That ispartof the struggle togive any

reformaprogressivecontent.Asworkerswedonotleavethatquestiontothecapitalistto

decideforus.Wefighttohaveanoutcomethat is inour interestsandthe interestsofthe

countryasawhole.ThatiswhatTimBuckmeantwhenatanothertimehecoinedtheterm

LabourMustLeadtheNation.

Financecapitalhasanotherpurposetoday insocallednationalizationofGMand theauto

sector.It

seeks

to

co

opt

unions

into

collaboration

with

corporate

power

in

schemes

to

temporarilyenactformsofnationalizationdesignedtoperpetuatetheprofitsystemandto

subverttheinterestsoflabourwhichinthefinalanalysisisconcernedwiththemaintenance

and expansion of jobs. The Big Threewant to drive downwages and escape from their

pensionobligations.Theywantareducedworkforcewiththesameorhigherproductivity.

The reality is thatorganized labourundercapitalism isnever independentofthecapitalist

class and is linked to it in hundreds of ways. To condemn it for existing in a state of

dependenceoncapitalisridiculous.Theworkingclasshasnochoiceandthestruggleforits

relativeindependence

is

always

progressive.

To

be

free

of

capital

requires

its

overthrow,

and replacementwith collective ownership of themeans of production. To wiggle and

dance around that fundamental questionwhen discussing capitalist nationalizationwith

workersisinexcusable.

Demandsposedbyworkers forstatecontrolof theauto industry,or theenergy industry,

that includesademand forpresenceat the table that is,ademand tohavea sayover

protectingitsvitalinterestsinthecouncilsofstatemonopolycapitalneedcarefulattention.

Sometimesitworksandmoreoftenittiesthehandsoflabour.Itisalwaysaconcreteissue

andshouldnotbeelevatedtoaprincipleunlessitbecomesanabjectformofcapitulationto

capital. If labour goes to the table it can leave the table. The issue is not to become a

prisonerofsomesortofcorporatelabourcabinetsolidarity.Solongascapitalismexiststhat

contradictionofthemutualdependenceofcapitaland labourwillexist.Tocharacterize its

objective character as class collaboration is not supportable. Class collaboration is the

consciousvoluntaryactofgivinguplaboursindependentclasspositioninfavourofcapital.

Ithappensinthecourseofstruggleanditalwaysleadstodefeat.

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Communists are concernedwith struggles that alterpower relationshipsbetween labour

andcapital that result inanexpansionofproduction in labours interests,thatdefendthe

rightto

work

or

sustain

income

through

EI,

and

that

are

achieved

through

independent

class

politicalactionandstruggle.Suchstrugglesarefullysupportable,and infactare inevitable

andcanbeastepintheprocessofworkerscomingtorealizethattheymustnotonlyhavea

sayovertheindustrybutownershipandpoweroverindustryandthestate.Inthisperiodof

thelaststagesofcapitalismitisdifficultforcapitaltoevadedemandsbythepeopletocurb

itspower.Thecapitalistsfearsuchdemandsandthataloneisreasontoposethem.Thatis

what theCommunistPartyhasmeant fordecadesby itsdemand toputmonopolyunder

control.ItisademandthatfulfillsLeninsadviceonfindingtheapproachestotherevolution

toatee.

Itisintheposingofthatquestionandinthestruggleforitthatworkersandfarmersbegin

tounderstandwhattheyalreadysuspect,thatnoneoftheirvital interests,andallofthose

ofsocietyasawholeincludingenvironmentaldegradation,canonlyberealizedifthesystem

itselfischangedandtheybytheirorganizedactionsbringaboutthatchange.

What those elements ofworking class power are, that Communist should be advancing

today, is becoming a crucial question for Marxist theorists and should be part of our

discussion. That involves thequestionof the relationshipof reforms to revolution in the

modernera.WhenweinCPSsaythattheworkingclassistotheleftofthepoliticiansitcan

alsobe

said

that

the

working

class

in

its

current

temperament,

beset

by

job

loss

and

the

abandonmentbythestateofitsvitalinterestsismovingtotheleftoftheleftandthatisa

seriousmatterforusall.TheCommunistshavesomecatchinguptodo.

The limitation of the environmentalmovement and all such reformmovements is their

stancesuggestingthatnecessaryreformstosavetheplanetcanbefoughtforandachieved

undercapitalismwithoutthe leadingroleof labour. Weagreewiththemthatsuchreform

mostdecidedlycanbe fought forundercapitalismandsomeameliorativechangesmade,

butthosechangesareonlyprofoundandlastingwhentheyarecombinedwiththepowerto

defendthem,

and

that

is

guaranteed

by

the

working

class

and

ultimately

occurs

under

socialism. Thatandthataloneformsthebasisofanenduringandprofoundunityontheleft.

DonCurrie,

Chair,CanadiansforPeaceandSocialism,

Editor,FocusOnSocialism

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OriginalMessages:Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2008 9:26 PMTo: JohnSubject: Re: FW: Economic Stimulus: Fierce Urgency of Now

Hi,

This constitutes a larger question- what would a communist's solution be toan industry that has bribed politicians and undermined policies which throughstruggle were made to 'protect the environment and people's health' withhigher gas mileage, all electric cars and lower emissions?

The NA auto industry is as backwards as their medical system, at 3rd worldlevel. Because of this they have lost market share big time and caused healthproblems for millions- who have no health care. Over the last century autoand oil have stopped real progress (like the AMA and drug companies havestopped health care for all not alone provide preventative health care forall) in fuel efficiency and regenerative electric trains and buses. Insteadthey have worked at brainwashing consumers into becoming ignorant armed SUVmaniacs ready to vent their self induced frustrations on fellow motorists.Hell, let us be honest, they made autos less efficient and tore up raillines!

The motivation for this vent is because of the note to PA readers'handwringing' over auto and thought prudent to read the auto article for

fairness. All it did was confirm why I quit subscribing to PA. He spends thefirst half of the article putting forward the anti-working class arguments!Then side steps the problems to solve with just "energy, and transportationpolicy [is] 40 years behind." The complete article is not about policy butabout how big auto works [don't all capitalists work that way] and itsworkers. Transportation policy is at least60 years behind where it should be, some argue that it got diverted over 100years ago.

His solution is shallow- since big auto is corrupt (along with thepoliticians) we must nationalize it to re-tool (doesn't say for what) andtreat labor fairly. Then we can sell it back to the capitalists who are moreefficient!

Newton's third law states: The forces of action and reaction betweencontacting bodies are equal in magnitude, opposite in direction andcollinear. Newton, as far as I am aware, did not apply this to economics, butI believe that we must. We must balance people's needs with the world's needsas neither can be developed [exploited] for long without reacting.

This is a much needed debate among 'progressives' that is long, long overdue.

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So you do not have to look up the article I have included it following the'original message.'

Paul

John wrote:

> [J1] >> -----Original Message-----> From: pa-readers@googlegroups.com [mailto:pa-readers@googlegroups.com]> On Behalf Of Political Affairs> Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 2:20 PM> To: pa-readers@googlegroups.com> Subject: Economic Stimulus: Fierce Urgency of Now>> Dear Reader,

>> As the economy worsens, Republicans have begun to play the> obstructionist role. Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt> Romney even callously stated that he hopes the auto companies do go> bankrupt, throwing thousands out of work. It's clear the ultra right> hasn't gone away and the fight has just begun.>> Support PoliticalAffairs.net> >>> Check out some links to the latest articles at PoliticalAffairs.net:>

> Unions Oppose New York State Budget Cuts> > Impact of the Financial Crisis> on 3rd> World Economies> Opinion: Economic News> and> Presidential Appointments> G20 Summit: Confirmation of the Need for Stronger Regulation of> Markets > Millions Will Be Devastated Unless Congress Passes Bridge Loan> > Economic Stimulus> : The> Fierce Urgency of Now> A Message of Unity and Hope for Change> Nationalization (Not Loans) Can Save US Auto

leview/7745/>

>

> Obama Reiterates Vow to Close Prison at Guantanamo Bay> > New Bush Admin. Rules Target Women, Workers>

http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7744/http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7744/http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/7744/

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> Dealing with a Bad Deal: Two Years of DR-CAFTA> in Central> America

>> Support PoliticalAffairs.net> >>> Additional resources:>> NEW PA podcast: The prospect for democracy in China> > Support the Employee Free Choice Act >> Thanks for reading,>> PA

>> --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~> To unsubscribe, send email to> pa-readers+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com