Constructive Criticism: A Handbook Speaking & Listening More Effectively in Personal Relations, Groups, & Political Activities By Vicki Legion (Gracie Lyons), 1976
Constructive Criticism is a wonderful example of the blending of valuable and powerful socialist theory with a practical, down-to-earth pragmatism. The result is an extremely useful manual for people who work together for positive social change. Putting Gracie Lyon’s suggestions into practice will increase the power of people’s work as well as their personal sense of well being and satisfaction.
eBook: https://www.marxists.org/history/erol/ncm-3/constructive-criticism.html
PDF: https://frauenkultur.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Constructive-Criticism.pdf
Audiobook: https://youtu.be/rvTByQIQAxQ
Repost the image often! I’m not sure I agree with you every step along the chain there, it starts to sound like entryism to me which I do think is a failed project. But the wider accessibility and popularity of even succdem politics would be more fertile ground for organizing than a bunch of scared libs still reacting to the very whiff of red-scare triggers, so I do think it’s important to find patience and tolerance for those who, if nothing else, at least want good things for people. My critique of entryism or succdem politics is that it cannot succeed against motivated resistance from capital, and that entails more radical action will be necessary. Many people are going to have to see or experience that failure first hand before they get on board, though, so no sense in alienating them in the meantime.
Appreciate the constructive reply! From what you wrote I think we agree on many of the main points.
I would clarify by saying that I also reject entryism into wholly liberal institutions like the Democratic Party, however I think there is value in the growth of flawed organizations like the DSA. Like you said people need to see it fail, just like many of us watched Bernie go down in flames when he had all the momentum with him. Learning from theory is great, but learning from practice is even better.
For sure. All the Lenin posting on Chapo in the wake of Super Tuesday literally was watershed moment for me. I had to see it in real time for the message to sink in, for the theory to finally click and prove itself: the ruling class would rather have fascism than even the most sensible and mildest of succdem reforms.