Quote:
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Originally Posted by Knight Theamion
You do realize what Communism is?
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Do you?
Anyway, s|k, obviously trying new things is generally a positive step and if approached correctly this would help you as a human being on a number of levels. However, I would say that you will probably find the following if you did join any Communist Party :
1. A great many of them are obsessed with theory, not action.
2. Most are obsessed with navel gazing "the left" in general. The schisms between the various micro parties fills many pages of their publications. You know that bit in
Life of Brian where the "People's Front of Judea" are obsessed with the "Judean's People's Front"? That is the left. And it's not even an exaggeration.
3. Some of their politics has been unduly influenced by paranoia. It is true that far-left parties have faced near continual attacks from the 30's right up to the demise of the USSR. This is documented quite openly by bourgeoisie sources. However, the reaction has often been to stifle debate, have closed publications, limited internal democracy, etc. In other words, precisely the wrong response. Sometimes they will have ludicrous internal authoritarianism like "We don't really want comrades to see x or y particular film" which would be laughable if some didn't take it seriously.
4. They are obsessed with the past. Entire parties will be split over whether the USSR was a "state capitalist economy" or "degenerated workers state" or something else. While reflecting on these things is fairly important, does it
really matter at this point in history what terms we use?
5. Many of them have disproportionate amounts of cranks, weirdo's and crazies. This is true of any social movement on the outskirts, and has been worsened by the lack of external debate some of these people get. It's probably not as bad these days, but a lot of people on the far left have only had serious discussions with other people on the far left or trolls on alt.politics.socialism.trotsky (read that if you want some of the worst drivel ever written, if it still exists).
And I say all this as someone who would call himself a Communist.
You're probably better of joining a loose-knit community group, or green party or something like that. The official parties are still all a bit rubbish for now.