Pre-Convention Discussion
This page features an index of all the main contributions to the discussion period leading up to the 29th National Convention of the Communist Party USA.
Discusssion Guidelines
Well-prepared contrbutions that meet the guidelines for discssion can be sent to discussion2010@cpusa.org.
This list, however, is not comprehensive. Much of the discsussion is happeneing in community meetings, party clubs and districts, in online forums and on other websites that are official venues of the discussion. We have tried to link here to all the major contributions.
The Communist Party takes no responsibility for the opinions expressed during the Convention Discussion period. Those views do not necessarily reflect the views of the Communist Party, its leading bodies or staff members. The CPUSA Constitution, Program, and all its existing policies remain in effect during the Convention discussion period and during the Convention.
Full rules and guidelines for the discussion • Guía para la discusión en español
Main Discussion Documents
The following four documents were approved by the National Committee of the Communist Party to get the discussion rolling.
U.S. Politics at a Transition Point
International Issues & U.S. Foreign Policy
The Party Program in a Period of Transition
New Opportunities to Grow the Communist PartyEn español:
La Política en un Punto de Transición
Cuestiones Internacionales y Política Exterior de los EEUU
El Programa del Partido en un Periodo de Transición
Nuevas Oportunidades de Crecer el Partido Comunista
Special Contributions
The National Board of the Communist Party solicited the following two special discussion documents to discuss key racially and nationally oppressed peoples in the U.S.
Special Report: Mexican American Equality PDF version coming soon!
Special Report: African American Equality PDF version coming soon!
Contributions to the discussion
Thoughts on some issues before us by a Philadelphia member
End the wars to fund jobs and human needs by CPUSA Peace & Solidarity Commission
Full employment and international livable wage by Peggy Dobbins
On criticizing Obama by Emile Schepers
The Struggle in Greece – Marxism vs Liberalism by Wadi’h Halabi
What defines the Communist Party? by Wadi’h Halabi
For a revitalized International Publishers! By Dennis Laumann
To Build Our Party – Rebuild Left and Intermediate Forms by Angelo D’Angelo & Ed Wlody
In answer to “Moving towards a leadership criteria” by E.E.W. Clay
2010 Elections, redistricting and census by Susan Stein
The Path To Socialism, and its “Marxist-Leninist” critics by John Case
The Party and May Day in New York… by John Pietaro
Electing the Communist Party national leadership — politics matter! by Dan Margolis & Judith Le Blanc
Revolution as the only solution? By Erwin Marquit
Summary of Party Building discussion by North Texas Club CPUSA
The need for better coordination of our Cuba solidarity work by Emile Schepers
Summary of club discussion by Yale Workers Club CPUSA
Superiority by Dee Myles
Recruiting and building the membership by Shelby Richardson
Connecticut CPUSA convention summary by Joelle Fishman
Organizational report to the Connecticut state convention 2010 by Rocco Scavetta
The economic crisis in CT and the challenge for grass roots unity by Joelle Fishman
The Ligachev story – a tale for our time by Roger Keeran
Free the Cuban Five by John Stanford
Build the party – toward a labor balance sheet by Chris Butters
Strengthening our class and parties worldwide by Wadi’h Halabi
The crisis in education and the fight to save it by CPUSA Working Committee on Public Education
For a CPUSA that honors the Soviet experience by Angelo D’Angelo
Moving towards a leadership criteria by Tony Pecinovsky
Let’s stick to the facts by Chester Steorra
Some disagreements on international document by Chris Butters
Reading Gramsci by Gary Bono
An open letter to delegates by Lawrence Albright
Summary of Eastern PA Membership Discussion by Eastern PA & DE District CPUSA
The Communist Party and the Visceral Weapon of Culture by John Pietaro
Zionism is a form of racism, and racism has no place in our Communist Party! by Gary Hicks
Report to Southern California Convention Discussion by Rossana Cambron
For a return to the CPUSA’s antiwar principles by Mark Anderson
Report to Northern California Convention Discussion by Juan Lopez
Unity, Coalition and Tax the Rich by the Alert Senior Club (New Haven, CT), CPUSA
For Marxism by Joseph Hancock
Pre-Convention Comment by Al Markowitz
Summary of Pre-Convention Discussion by the Central Indiana Club, CPUSA
By Their Fruits You Shall Know Them by Thomas Kenny
Summary of Oregon CP Discussion by Oregon District, CPUSA
Religion in the Current Period by Religion Commission, CPUSA
Building Labor/People’s Electoral Power by Political Action Commission, CPUSA
The CPUSA and the LGBT Community by Daniel Elash
Summary of club discussion by the North Texas Club
A Cadre Party Now More Than Ever! by Frank Redfield
New York’s Road to the Future by the New York State Committee
Working Class Leadership by the Winchester Club (New Haven, CT)
For an Organization Rooted in Our Traditional Values by C. J. Atkins
Summary of club discussion by Fair Haven club (New Haven, CT)
Kicking it up a notch… means adding the Communist Plus! by Michael Scheinberg
Thoughts On “A Call for United Action” by Eric Brooks
On Party Democracy by District Committee, Eastern PA & DE CPUSA
The Main Immediate Task of the CPUSA by Sharon Rose & Gary Hicks
More thoughts for the Party Convention by Norman Markowitz
The struggle for socialism surrounds us by Eric Brooks
Tailing the Democrats and forsaking struggle by Thomas Kenny
Summary of Connecticut CP Membership Discussion by Connecticut Communist Party USA
Moving from anti-ultra-right to anti-monopoly by David Bester
Against the Anti-Communist Impulse: Getting our History Right by Nicholas Hewko
CPUSA at the crossroads by the Houston Club, CPUSA
Communists in the Mass Movements by David Bell
What’s the difference between the CPUSA and progressive Democrats? by Dan Margolis
Critique of CPUSA Statement on International Affairs by W. T. Whitney
Imperialism enters the 21st Century: Latin America by Emile Schepers
The movement needs to kick it up a notch by John Rummel
Summary of membership discussion by Northern California Communist Party
U.S. politics in transition by Frank Valdez
For truth and reconciliation by Ari Goldman
The ‘old bug’ of opportunism returns by Mark Anderson
Some observations by Emil Shaw
What should be done? by Josh Morris
What is our inspiration? by Erica Smiley
Some Thoughts for the Party Convention by Norman Markowitz
It’s Time for Anti-Capitalism by David Bester
The Ultra-Right has Not Been Decisively Defeated by Joel Wendland
Progressive Tax Policy Needed by Beatrice Lumpkin
The Communist Plus and Plan of Work by David Bell
Experiences with the newer technology by Jim Lane
A View from a new member by Ron Gray
A reply to “A Time to Grow” by Dan Margolis
What can we learn from the movement for healthcare reform? by David Bell
Build the Party!: a Response to “Save the Party”
Religion in the current period by the CPUSA Religious Commission