TO: Entire Organization
FROM: Co-Chairs
August 23, 1990
This is the fourth packet of papers in preparation for the Congress. District feedback indicates that most discussions are proceeding well, with people airing their views and opinions, and raising their ideas, proposals and concerns. While there have been some instances of factional or divisive activity, which have been criticized, we feel the overwhelming majority of members have taken a constructive and responsible approach and have contributed to broadening and deepening the process.
The Co-Chairs have discussed with members of the minority and we have reached agreement on the situation at this time and on how we should proceed in this next period.
The Congress: In regard to the Congress, there is agreement that this Congress is totally unlike previous ones in that the minority is not going to be subordinate to the majority. Individuals will be free to do what they believe in. It is clear that there are differences, and people may choose to put their time and efforts into one proposal or another, or both, as they see fit.
We are taking the attitude that neither side is betraying or turning its back on the working class, but that we simply have different views toward accomplishing our goals of fundamental change. The differences that exist are not resolvable through debate. Therefore we should all take a tolerant view, make our own decisions about what each of us thinks is best, and over time let our ideas be tested in practice.
As for the Congress itself, we are facing financial limitations (we were able to raise only a fraction of the $20,000 we needed to raise for the original ratio of delegates to attend). Therefore, we must scale down the size of the Congress considerably, based on funds actually available for airfare.
This means that most districts will have 1-3 delegates in addition to any CC members in the district, proportionately allocated based on size. However, some small districts that have a CC member will not receive an additional district delegate. One suggestion is that districts that have already elected delegates from units based on the initial ratio of 1:7 could hold an elected delegates meeting and elect from amongst them the new delegate(s). Or, districts that have not yet held unit elections can consider holding a district conference with a 1:4 ratio for greater representation to elect the designated Congress delegate(s), or at the district plebescite meeting (see next section). It is up to the District Committees to decide the best way to elect their designated number of delegates. Alternate delegates should also be elected, so that one or more alternates could be added if more funds are raised by the time we need to buy the tickets. (Your district will be notified if this is the case, as any additional delegates will need to be allocated in proportion to the size of the districts.)
Pre-Congress Plebescite: Because the Congress will be much smaller, we are calling for a “plebescite” throughout the organization so that a democratic mandate from the entire membership can be established before the Congress meets. Districts should organize a meeting for all members no later than Friday, August 31.
These meetings should include any further presentation of positions, questions and discussion. Then there should be a plebescite, one person-one vote, by secret ballot. The plebescite shall be on the general outline of the CC majority proposal (yes or no), with the understanding that the program will be drafted during the transition period and concrete plans, etc. will be worked out in the future.
If the majority proposal is voted for, the Congress will proceed on September 8-9 weekend. If the majority proposal is voted down, the majority group on the CC will step aside and turn the process over to the CC minority, who can proceed with the Congress or change the process as they deem appropriate.
At the Congress: If the majority proposal is voted for in the plebescite, the September 8 Congress itself will be a short, straightforward session to carry out the democratic mandate of the plebescite. There will be no need for debate at this point. The remainder of the weekend can be utilized for people to reconvene as the organizing committee for the new organization, as proposed by the CC majority.
As we stated in the proposal initiated by a majority of the co-chairs in the last packet, we respect the view of those in the minority opinion who want to retain an M-L organization basically like what we have now with some modifications.
At the same time, it is the unanimous opinion of all 6 co-chairs, including the co-chair who co-signed the minority proposal for the League and upholds the M-L framework, that there is a viable basis for people to achieve a principled unity and move into the future together as one organization. There are those in the minority who uphold M-L but who want to be part of the new organization as proposed by the CC majority, because they want to unite around and preserve our common practice and together build an organization that can fight for the masses. It has been stated previously that individuals who uphold M-L are welcome in the new organization. It will no longer be an M-L organization nor based on the M-L framework. However, within this ideological context, we do believe it is important to find a way to accommodate M-L’s. The “dissolution statement” can be revised to state that the majority (or vast majority, if that is the case) no longer upholds M-L and rejects the three concepts and explains why, as in the current draft. The difference is in clarifying that it is the view of a majority, and not every single member.
Secondly, we want to clarify that the issue of whether or not we should identify the new organization explicitly as socialist is not a point of principle. At this time, we recognize that it is difficult to explain what socialism is, and there are also diverse opinions as to what it is or should be. There is a need for more discussion as a part of the process of forming the new organisation, and even in a year or so, we can re-discuss this question. In the meantime, we think the new organization should start off with an affirmative statement of what we believe in, and see that it will be a process to sharpen our definition of the key features of an alternative social system to capitalism. Our program should affirm the general outlines of the new society we seek to build, and should address the issues which have arisen in the historical motion of socialism, and acknowledge that we have a role to play in the ongoing discussion of how to create an alternative to capitalism that is more just and equitable – a discussion that revolutionaries are having the world over.
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There is one more packet scheduled to be issued on August 29. This will be the final packet before the Congress. It will contain any last individual papers that are submitted, as well as a more detailed proposal for the transition process for the new organization proposed by the CC majority, and the agenda for the Congress.