Submissions to YCL-LJC Convention Discussion Bulletin Contribution

1. Democracy vs. Bureaucracy: Cutting Red Tape or Taping Up Reds?

I think some of us have “democracy” and “bureaucracy” completely mixed-up.  More than one YCL leader has referred to additional procedures, meetings for making decisions, and committees as being “bureaucratic”, but nothing could be further from the truth.  This concept of bureaucracy is the bourgeois concept expressed by the sociologist Max Weber, who said bureaucrats are full-timers who just try to expand their functions.  In a progressive organization functionaries (staff) do work decided on by the membership, this is not the “bureaucracy” those who have mixed up democracy for bureaucracy are talking about though.

Maximizing collective discussion, the opportunity for members to say “wait a minute!  You're about to make a big mistake!”, and having someone designated as accountable and responsible (e.g. a chair) is NOT bureaucratic but democratic.  The democratic part of democratic centralism means the maximum discussion, this is the only legitimate basis for any decisions that we are centrally holding anyone accountable to.

On the other hand I have seen a real danger of bureaucracy, but this is the exact opposite of having more meetings, chairs, or procedures.  I have seen instances where meetings aren't held collectively but instead are one-on-one's with follow-ups in a group, or decisions are made beforehand by higher bodies before a lower body has exhausted discussion, or where in the name of saving time or getting things done decisions and even presentations are handed down from higher up and as a consequence those lower down don't develop, don't make their own mistakes and don't grow.  I was even in one provincial meeting where comrades were looking to the centre for action on a provincial matter, and I had to ask myself: are these Marxist-Leninists or Marxist-Mannequins?  I would much prefer we messed thing up but learned from it, then doing something perfectly but only be going through motions or mouthing words already scripted for us.

Pop quiz: what's the difference between a puppet and a mannequin?  A puppet at least moves when you pull the strings.

To loosely quote Fidel Castro from a speech to Havana University students on March 13, 1962, “In a yoke.  And that is not a revolution!  What becomes of the revolution?  A school for pets.  And that's not revolution!  What has to be the revolution?  The revolution has to be a school of revolutionaries ... must lead people to study, to think, to analyze, to take deep conviction, so deep that there is no need for those (bureaucratic) tricks...  We believe in revolutionary ideas, because we know that our people is revolutionary and we know that our people will be increasingly revolutionary because we believe in Marxism-Leninism, because we believe that Marxism-Leninism is an undeniable truth.”  To paraphrase Maurice Thorez, leader of the French CP, from his 1931 newspaper articles, “No mannequins in the YCL!”.  We should push for more taking-of-ownership by YCL bodies and members even if at first there are growing pains as we learn and struggle.

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2. Odds about our ends: Can the YCL influence the labour movement, “is” our members learning, leadership communication, and “bigging up” ourselves

Four short thoughts that aren't enough to make a separate contribution by themselves:

1. Labour: I have heard from some YCL leaders that that the labour movement's problems should be solved within the labour movement, but I think we as the YCL have a role even if many of us are outside of organized labour. 

There is a premium in having not just youth attendance but also a youth perspective, which young communists can give the best.  When we show up at strike pickets and labour movement events, with one exception I know of, we are welcome and make an impact in people's minds.  Communism is not just for old fogies, many sensible youth are young communists and we're here to stay.  Our presence as the YCL and our fight for more militancy will give courage to the pro-struggle anti-collaboration forces within organized labour.  It should be a standing club agenda item to organize picket support and build relationships with workplaces.

2. Education: Many members are impressed with classes at YCL schools, but I don't think we are being effective with actually changing and developing ideas.  We need to set the context for our classes in the political life our club members have confronted, and explicitly show how what is taught should change our way of thinking about the political fights we are involved in.  It is so rare that youth in general get to have an organized political discussion that people are happy just to be able to express their opinion, but we need to do more in our classes to actually change each others' opinions.

3. Leadership: As a CC and provincial executive member I am foremost guilty of this: executives and committees need to always send their minutes or a summary of meetings down to the club level.  Each member should be clued in on what the provincial and central leadership is working on.  These document can tend to become public so even something short like what was discussed and decided should be routinely e-mailed out.

4. Member development: Capitalism develops unevenly and our members have uneven development, some are much more experienced and developed than others.  This can be intimidating for those who are in a political discussion with someone who is quicker with facts and ideas.  But it would be a mistake to make a “little kids table” to accommodate people who feel uncomfortable, we want to bring newer people in deeper and so they should hold their heads high and take their rightful place at the “big kids table”.  Yes it's intimidating, but if you can't take on your fellow YCLer in a political discussion what chance do you stand in taking on capitalism, or the boss at work?  We need to “big up” ourselves and get right in there with the people who can quote Lenin and Marx at the drop of our hat, quote from your own life experience or even Big Bird if that's where your politics are coming from for now.  We need more new people, but we also need them to develop rapidly and bloom with a bang.