Concessions from the ruling capitalist class are not gotten by pleading, pressuring, voting and rallying together with representatives of the ruling class. Class collaboration does not bring concessions, but defeat, for it demonstrates the unreadiness of the masses for serious struggle. Concessions are the by-product and result of class struggle. Concessions are most likely when the ruling capitalist class fears a potential for its overthrow, for revolution.
The anti-war movement, as it is currently constituted, is marked by class collaboration. We call for introducing class struggle into the anti-war movement. We call for transforming the anti-war movement into an anti-imperialist movement, opposed to all wings of the ruling class. We call on all organizations and individuals who recognize the need for fighting bourgeois influence within the anti-war movement to discuss means for resisting this influence, to work out a plan of action toward that end.
The October 26 demonstration organized by ANSWER / Workers World Party featured as speakers, representatives of the ruling capitalist class. The list included former Democratic Party candidate for president Jesse Jackson, Cynthia McKinney Democratic Party congressmember, Democratic Party celebrity supporers, Susan Sarandon and Patti Smith, and liberal capitalist Ben Cohen.
The opposition to the war drive by a section of the Democratic Party is more formal than real. That is why they do not mobilize their own machine, their support in the labor unions etc. in opposition to the war. Yet they seek to capitalize on anti-war sentiments, to translate such sentiments into votes for the Democrats, and above all, to ensure that they remain in a position of leadership within the movement, to ensure that it remains within the bounds of capitalist politics.
The “anit-war” Democrats resolve this conflict by using ANSWER / Workers World Party as a appendage of itself. ANSWER / WWP does the leg work, saving the Democratic Party from mobilizing its own forces, yet provides a vast audience for the Democratic Party speakers to promote Democratic Party politics and push for Democratic Party votes.
To move the anti-war movement forward, to make it an anti-imperialist movement, we must drive the representatives of the capitalist class from all positions of prominence!
If you agree with the perspectives in this leaflet, we would like to talk to you. You may contact us at: