◆ SpookStack

m protest to radical politics"~ this problem, lated by Lee Webb and Paul Booth of SDS dulle”~ ower @ year ago, is a burning issue “rar ,guth today. Sooner or later almosi wly radicalized youth must decide upon {tical ‘perspective which goes beyond mere issue protest. Such a perspective, which of ity musthave socialism as ite ultimate goal, - ing its tactics, take a realistic view ces and institutions of this country me time must be based on a princi- vmnd that cannot be co-opted by the ng and their bearing on the future Restion of which road to political jore important one for every TL youth. key to loping @ meaningful program depender@@mmitical action Is understanding sture of Giijvo-party aystem and especially mor ty, which Is considered by many A-i: progressive. The Democratic party ~~ very existence to the large numbers of 1B people, Negroes, and other oppressed Ges which vote for it on election day. Natu- in order to win their votes, the Democratic must appear to be what itis not—a party zommon people. . ‘ite Ite dependence upon the votes of the ag class and oppressed minorities, the Demo- party remains an instrument of the ruling iat class. In fact, it ke more than an instru- it 4s @ basic social institution of American * today. It is*contrdiled completely by the of this.country and chu no more be changed ¥ instrument of tha working people than Je present police f-rrfa. Dednee Tirartrient to macting of campaign workers, Its whole purpose is to carry out the foreign and domestic policy of U.S. imperialisin while giving the appearance of beings the party of prope ress, No better example exists than the Goldwater Johnson clection of 1964, Many people who could not rwallow Goldwater's crass talk of war were willing to aceept Johnson, who talked of pence, but represented the same basic Imperiniist policy. Even sincere reformers who hoped to change society while working: within the Democratic purty sdon find themselves unuble to achieve their goals. There is not a single example of a social prote: movement that has achieved its aims by depeo- dence upon Democratic politicians. The Democratic party is not an organization of the oppreased, but only a machine to capture thelr votes. ‘The Democratic party is not lke a trade volon or civil rights organization which holds membership meetings and in which voters tale an actlve part. It ts nol an organization controlled by Mts members and devoted to further the interests of the working clase. * * * Protest actions— picket lines, rallies nnd demon- atrations, and prass roots oranizins are pe litical actions, for they are ognized for polities ends, The black power movement, the ariti-Vietnorn- war protects, and strikes against geverna cute Imposed wage guidelines are all examples of In- dependent political activity. ‘These movements are Independent of the institutions of the raliny, elas. They are basically oriented towards 9 tiiffersnt social force--the working: lias en protest mover ta palities, whos de te oe protest action raover oui the ne : nt ne ore ot paatleat ACHON Must ent svorking class political fore be heb: mh The Black Parser party in Lowades County, Alabama is a peed exomple of independent politi- cal action, itis om ceample ef the struggle for Mack power in the electoral arvana, The Black Tanther party is organiced by and for the black people of Lownd-a, I is totally independent of the institutions of white oppression, especially the party, laced or national The Black party has recta in the real struggles of the black peo le of Lewndes and has no need for Copendencs upon y ate liberals, Thus the binek worktoy peopte of Lowndes have a pelienL instrrmcat of their own class which is beth politieally principled and socially meaning- fal. "Vheir example of © dependent political action shovld he follawed hy the entire American work- ing class, black sand ite, by forming a labor party fe put polities ona eles basis. example of independent poi F sesion i ruasuch as thos by the st camp: t Workers like the carp sina yor- ampaipps in Nerkelyy and nf ‘These cunpaigne are ant cerile exercises by fetoric. ‘The eect Gon bt nie abwaya ait ge nad ih @ move talist cam) signs is to «tunities for» fou dis- 4 rig pants in the iaber, « meaty. ‘The parpess ulilize the inereaend oy use on dee ings ete te There ctarp rire wher a paint out bg impor- tan the warkioe cha and Neyo wile en- Kn In polities actos in pddition ® protest activity. Tn addition, they also explain the alt cojmicra ag the solution to the “Lracism, Inale ne ry parents Sel Conorsinntions the ques: fied of Voor dye vill begin to breame finpertoni. Pie pee den ata FP protest to pelle ties cot be face phx sad viel in the movement. Pinel vertyteet “Yt astee to field same ver- kion of a Ko port by the wet an a ent would derail it Suto Rberal Denes nr pe ee The Joboofion. vont ie 4 expeae the PereNamairy pene a Seger s-Case hago nl : . tera oni Lie hee ns ie to pe’ Leal ' fie hor oe restnovard gel TO cee, witch IF tupe ay i i i | !