NEIL KINNOCK'S excuse for Marxists from the Labour Party is that they do not defend democracy. could scarcely be on a weaker political terrain.
So much so in fact that rather than running our usual editorial we thought it useful to turn it over to Lenin who rather comprehensively dealt with everything Neil Kinnock has to say on the subject — as anyone who has ever read State and Revolution will realise.
The passage is from Lenin's The Tasks of the Russian Social Democrat' being sense to the one it has today. We think it should also be taken to heart by those of Marxism Today who believe that the way to defend, and extend, democracy is in alliance with the bourgeoisie rather than in a struggle against it.
'THE PROLETARIAT alone can be the vanguard fighter for political liberty and for democratic institutions. because political tyranny bears most heavily upon the proletariat.
Secondly, the proletariat alone is capable of bringing about the complete democratisation of the political and social system, since this would place the system in the hands of the workers.
That is why the merging of the democratic activities of the working class with the democratic aspirations of other classes and groups would weaken the democratic movement, would weaken the political struggle, would make it less determined, less consistent, more likely to compromise.
On the other nand. if the workine class stands out as the vanguard fighter for democratic institutions, this will strengthen the democratic movement, will strengthen the struggle for political liberty, because the working class will spur on all the other democratic and demand. will push political radicals, will push the radicals towards an irrevocable rupture with the whole of the political and social structure of present society. that all socialists in Russia should become Marxists. We now add: all democrats in Russia should become marxists.
We will illustrate what we mean by quoting the following example. bureaucracy, as representing a special category of persons who specialise in the work of administration and occupy a privileged position as compared with the people. We everywhere, from autocratic and semi-asiatic Russia to cultured, free and civilised England, as an essential organ of bourgeois society. The complete lack of rights of the people in relation to government officials and the complete absence of control over the privileged bureaucracy correspond to the backwardness of Russia and to its absolutism.
In England, powerful popular control is exercised over the administration, but even there that control is far bureaucracy retains not a fèw of its privileges, and not infrequently is the master and not the servant of the people.
Even in England we see that powerful social groups support the bureaucracy and hinder the complete democratisation of that institution. Why? Because it is in the interests of the proletariat alone to democratise it completely; the bourgeoisie defend certain bureaucracy and are opposed to the election of all officials, electoral qualifications, ficials directly responsible to the people, because linese rata resise that the preter till take advantage or such compiele democrausanon in order to use it against the bourgeoisie.
This is the case in Russia too. Many and most diverse strata of the Russian people are opposed to the omnipotent, irresponsible, corrupt, savage, ignorant and parasitic Russian bureaucracy. But except for the would agree to the complete democratisation of the bureaucracy, because (bourgeoisie, petty bourgeoisie, the 'intelligentsia' in general have some ties with the bureaucracy, because all these strata are kith and kin of the Russian bureaucracy.' expelling Neil Kinnock Democrats 'Social used in a very different Firstly, this is political opposition the liberals towards the We said true consistent Take the civil service, the see this institution complete, even there the privileged position of the most progressive strata of the perogatives of the opposed to the complete abolition of opposed to making ofproletariat, not one of these strata all these strata A PiESE THE Isn't it wonder.
ful?! Mr. Kinnock is visiting Ireland!
I'm sure he'll want to hear everyone's viewpoint...
And as a lifelong member of the h Trace Union Movement I am sure that my views will be of great interest!,
for Labour to win at the next election. It is the twen• ty fifth safest Tory seat in the country. But neverParty stands today in electoral terms.
After realitora is revival, the reality that Labour's present level t suppor quite indoco winning LN er next general election. The fory vote continues to er. rode even from the low level of 42 per cent it gained at the last election, but that vote not automatically moving to SOUTHGATE is not exactly a constituency it is vital theless the result of the Southgate election, together with the recent local government results, and the opinion polls, shows very clearly where the Labour Regular as clockwork the is nOW gaining. 30-35 per cent of the vote in every by-election which comes along. In certain areas of the countrv it is the Conservative vote which disintegrating towards the Alliance. Socialist Action 21 December 1984 wing local councils such as London, Sheffield Liverpool. These are nos threatened with laws that wolld completely bIca, their ability to defend jobs, services thel local communities. John Cunnigham. backed Kinnock, has made it clear the parliamentary leadership will oppose Labour Council breaking ine law despite the op posite position being passea oy Labour rarty conference.
In short at each point Kinnock attempts to block any struggle which would shift the relation of forces in favour of the working