IMO, if you're trying to dogmatically copy the Bolsheviks (or anyone else) then you aren't even a leninist. Lenin was all about creating the organizational forms that corresponded to the main political tasks of the time. His earliest writings were basically "let's not blindly copy the SPD because it doesn't make sense in our conditions", but over the past 100+ years we've often made that same mistake. Fortunately I think we're starting to make some good progress on this, and that applies to the entire left, certainly not exclusive to MLs.
Compared to 10 or 20 or 30 years ago? Massive progress. Not enough, but now we have things like 1) a few left orgs in basically every city 2) popular media projects with broad reach 3) high-profile elected officials 4) more coordination and less sectarianism between tendencies, among other improvements.
We're not where we need to be, and all of those points have their flaws or limitations, but this is the strongest the left has been in the US in at least 40 years. That says more about how bleak that past was than how great things are now, but it is real and significant progress that we shouldn't dismiss.
Not enough, but at least we're getting the message out and starting to build consciousness and organization on a large scale. IMO those are the necessary first steps before doing anything else, so it's good to see definite progress in those areas.
Ok, well what do you think needs to be done? And do you think that the progress that I've described, even if not sufficient, is helpful in achieving that? And if not what do you propose?
I'm not trying to be argumentative, these are exactly the things we should be thinking through and that should guide our organizing efforts.
IMO, if you're trying to dogmatically copy the Bolsheviks (or anyone else) then you aren't even a leninist. Lenin was all about creating the organizational forms that corresponded to the main political tasks of the time. His earliest writings were basically "let's not blindly copy the SPD because it doesn't make sense in our conditions", but over the past 100+ years we've often made that same mistake. Fortunately I think we're starting to make some good progress on this, and that applies to the entire left, certainly not exclusive to MLs.
What's the progress you speak of?
Compared to 10 or 20 or 30 years ago? Massive progress. Not enough, but now we have things like 1) a few left orgs in basically every city 2) popular media projects with broad reach 3) high-profile elected officials 4) more coordination and less sectarianism between tendencies, among other improvements.
We're not where we need to be, and all of those points have their flaws or limitations, but this is the strongest the left has been in the US in at least 40 years. That says more about how bleak that past was than how great things are now, but it is real and significant progress that we shouldn't dismiss.
And what are we doing do with leftist orgs and Sam Seder youtubes and AOC?
Not enough, but at least we're getting the message out and starting to build consciousness and organization on a large scale. IMO those are the necessary first steps before doing anything else, so it's good to see definite progress in those areas.
Ok and how many divisions have we got? Good vibes don't count.
Ok, well what do you think needs to be done? And do you think that the progress that I've described, even if not sufficient, is helpful in achieving that? And if not what do you propose?
I'm not trying to be argumentative, these are exactly the things we should be thinking through and that should guide our organizing efforts.