National Board Meeting January 12-13, 2002

"This meeting of our National Board takes place exactly a month before the next meeting of our National Committee. That meeting should take full measure of the present status and prospects of the struggle against the Bush administration's fierce offensive against the working class and people at home and abroad. It should also assess our Party's role in this struggle, including our efforts to enlarge our influence and size."

Any idea that there is no difference with right-wing control ignores the appointment of Ashcroft and Ridge and the assault on civil liberties, civil rights and labor rights; and ignores the failure to respond to needs of laid off workers; and the impact of the economic recession. The life threatening consequences are felt sharply in states, cities and towns across the country, as hunger and homelessness rises, healthcare becomes inaccessible, public education and social security are endangered and what remains of the safety net is decimated, leaving women and their children stranded, and hurting disproportionately communities of color.

In the recent period, we have made some important adjustments in our emphasis, our approach, to the question of how to build the Party. We've said that there are no magic solutions or quick fixes to the problem of small size and minimal growth. We've said that Party growth can't and shouldn't be separated from the growth and development of the mass movements, in which we should be immersed and playing a special role.