Why doesn t everyone on the left (or all socialists), just put aside their differences and get together?
There are many organizations in the US that view themselves as socialist or communist, or based in some way on Marxism. Superficially, it might seem like we would have a stronger movement if they all joined together. However, these organizations have more differences than are obvious from a cursory look at their programs. In fact, our experience is that trying to force a unity among many small groups leads to endless debate, not to strengthening our ability to reach and organize our class. Marxism bases itself, in part, on the proposition that there needs to be unity between theory and practice, and that practice (in other words, real life) is primary. The test of differences over Marxist theory doesn t come from how many quotes any group can marshal, but from working with real people, in real struggles. If a strategy is wrong, real life will prove it, not endless debate. All too often, many left groupings distinguish themselves by working against real unity. We stand ready to work wit
