FRSO seems good on most things, but supports "upholding past treaties" with native Americans, which is somewhat of a red flag. PSL seems good but I've heard claims that they're not that good on the settler colonial issue either and lack proper democratic centralist structure. I don't know much about the WWP, but their 15 point programm doesn't mention landback at all. I know next to nothing about the other socialist parties/orgs on the US, so I can't give my opinion on them
Where and what did you hear about the PSL's stances on settler-colonialism? I've learned to generally be cautious about any self-professed communist party in Seppoland, but my impression is that the PSL is one of the better parties yonder wrt Indigenous issues. It's really the CPUSA and "American Communist Party" that I've heard bad things about, while people generally seem to only praise the PSL in my experience.
As far as I can tell from an outsider viewpoint PSL is the org with the best lines and also has electric growth energy. The latter being incredibly important in terms of motivation of the membership and future prospects of the org.
It's doing something right to be an ML org actually seeing growth and popularity within the US.
PSL is not an explicitly ML org, although it seems like a lot of the membership is
is an ML org in every sense. We fully adhere to a Marxist-Leninist political line and organizing method. We identify as ML. We make candidates read Foundations of Leninism by Stalin.
I thought it was still at least nominally a Marcyite Trot org, but I'm happy to be corrected if that's not the case
I don't think it ever was. Marcyism in a Trot org was part of the path to a proper ML org for some of the founding members, that's all. Absolutely nobody considers them self a Trot in PSL.
That's good to hear. I heard conflicting takes on this when I was researching while trying to decide on an org
Psl is a ml org. They are based on democratic centralism and the leninist principals of the second Internationale.
PSL is an explicitly ML org as far as I'm aware. It's ML, upholds Stalin who is part of their required reading, and is dem cent in structure aside from a few adaptations to allow critical issues to bypass command structure to avoid local abuses.
Willing to hear otherwise but I've never heard members or former members say otherwise.
My experience with the PSL has been good as far as democracy goes, I feel like my ideas and the ideas of my comrades are taken into account and used to shape the overall structure which we work in and novel ideas are often celebrated internally, and while I want to say "this is just my experience with my branch" I've found the same experience when working with other branches in other geographic areas. However, as with all things, there's constant improvements that need to be made always, but this is recognized by almost everyone I work with.
In regards to indigenous issues however, these things are touched on in the party's book Socialist Reconstruction (available on your libgen instance of choice) in which it was openly recognized that much future indigenous policy would have to then be shaped by working with indigenous organizations and people. However I'd certainly not say from my experience that there's a colonist chauvanism character to the party or it's leadership, this has not been my experience.
Ultimately I joined the party because it's the most visible, largest, and most dynamic socialist party and organization in the United States; while like all things in reality admittedly imperfect. Since joining I've been nothing but impressed with the people I work with, with the like-mindedness, and the really productive work ethic and desire towards building a revolutionary consciousness in this country and a revolutionary party ready to confront the next crisis of capitalism the US faces. I shouldn't be taken at face value though, you should speak to others who're active in the PSL or a potential recruiter if you're interested by signing up at pslweb.org/join. If you find that it's not a good fit for you it's okay.
Can I DM you about my experience? Just kinda have a question.
"upholding past treaties" with native Americans, which is a red flag
Why is that? It would immediately be an enormous land back program
why would you think "upholding past treaties" is a red flag? all of them were broken by the US goverment to take land from indigenous people
WWP are good comrades with good principles, but the organization isn't quite there imo. I tried joining as a candidate, found out that their candidate classes were only on a day I was unavailable, and they were like "okay, that's no problem!" Which seems like pretty poor standards to me. Also they kept asking me if I could be a delegate on international trips, on very short notice, despite being a new candidate and not having a passport.
PSL seems to have standards for their members and are trying to form organizational infrastructure in the form Liberation Centers. Definitely strike me as a more serious party.
I think you're a bit confused about FRSO's line. It's extensively documented here: https://frso.org/main-documents/immediate-demands-for-u-s-colonies-indigenous-peoples-and-oppressed-nationalities/
We support the full sovereignty of all oppressed nations within the US
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Full Sovereignty and National Development for Indigenous Peoples! The United States is based on theft of land, genocide, and destruction of culture of the Alaskan Native, Native American, and Native Hawaiian peoples. Today indigenous peoples have the highest rates of poverty, the poorest health care and housing, and the least education in the United States. Stereotyping and commercialization of their culture and continued loss of land are commonplace. The FRSO supports:
Full sovereignty for Alaskan Natives, Native Americans, and Native Hawaiians. This includes upholding past treaties and abolishing the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the exercise of local political power. The right to national development. In the current period, this includes gaming and especially the return of indigenous peoples’ land and natural resources to make their sovereign areas economically viable. Protection for indigenous peoples’ traditions and culture, including full equality of languages, support for indigenous education, and an end to stereotyping and exploitation of their culture.
I recently wrote up my thoughts on FRSO as an org, if anyone is curious, here
Like most things with FRSO, this is extremely close to the PSL position:
The existing colonial relationships of the United States will be dissolved. The independence of Puerto Rico will be immediately recognized, with full reparations for colonial exploitation, and the right of free travel between the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands and Mariana Islands will be free to exercise their right to self-determination, up to and including independence, with reparations and the right to free travel between the former colonies and the U.S. mainland. Restitution, including the return of land stolen, will be provided for Native Nations. Further, the socialist government will reaffirm the right of Native Nations to self-determination, up to and including independence. It will honor more than 300 currently-existing treaties with Native nations that have been violated or ignored by the capitalist state — an important starting point for undoing the legacies of settler colonialism.
FRSO also views the US as having internal countries being (imperialised? Sorry my phrasing is bad,) the Black Belt south and Aztlán, which they advocate self determination for
Yes, but self-determination can encompass political autonomy
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If you mean a national org I guess PSL would be it. FRSO is mostly irrelevant and varies a lot chapter to chapter, some of which are even endorsing local lib politicians which at least PSL never does. WWP is also irrelevant and mostly boomers, albeit nice ones. DSA is a colonial project masquerading as leftist to trick newly radicalized people.
As far as upholding treaties goes, this is one of the most common and largest rallying cries of Indigenous people in the US today, so that position is probably taken up by orgs like FRSO because they do not have Indigenous people internally to rely on for this and it is what a lot of Indigenous people openly advocate for. It isn't revolutionary compared to the abolition of the US government entirely and return of all land to the formerly colonized subjects but it is revolutionary if you think about how the new democracy movement in china was revolutionary for the time.
Not aware of FRSO chapters endorsing lib politicians, but I'm also not well acquainted with the org outside my own chapter.
Yeah a good comrade joined their local chapter recently, found that out, and then dipped lol
I can only say that there is none of that shit going on where I am
I'll plug the IWW, I guess. Landback is a little out of scope, but we do try to address settler colonial issues, we've made some resolutions on that, and we have the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee which ends up doing a lot of work with empoc people (given the nature of the American prison system and all).
The IWW won't endorse lib politicians or campaign for them, which can be a concern for other socialist orgs. We have quite a few union shops, and even recently we've won actual material benefits for workers. And, of course, the IWW makes an explicit rejection of "a fair days wage for a fair days work", and calls for the abolition of the wage system (and capitalism).
The IWW doesn't have any issue with dual-carding or being a member of other socialist organizations (if I remember right, DSA doesn't allow PSL members, or something), it isn't trying to be a political party, but instead a labor union.
It's not without issues, of course, but those are mostly at the national level (and should hopefully be less of an issue next year). Major conduct violations (harassment, SA, etc.) pretty quickly lead to expulsion, but such violations aren't that frequent. There isn't screening to become a member, but joining an organizing unit (GMB, IU, etc.) generally requires an interview.