Communists work in a large number of organizations other than their own. We work in these organizations to achieve the stated aims of these organizations--we do not seek to make them into "Junior Communist Parties." We strive to achieve the goals of these organizations by offering relevant program and activity. We seek to expend the membership, and to democratize the structure of these organizations. We also work to raise the consciousness o people in these organizations as to who their allies and who their opponents are, as a clear perspective facilitates social struggle. We will be found in almost any organization for peace, for jobs, or for freedom. Naturally we do not join subversive organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan or the John Birch Society. We join with people in their everyday and long-rang struggle for a better life.

Among youth today, one of the major struggles is for genuine democracy in all aspects of their life. By democracy we do not mean merely the limited right of voting once a year, but rather, the right to participate and contribute to all decision-making processes that affect our lives. the program of our Party is nothing less than the completion of the democratic revolution begun in this country in 1776 and continued with Reconstruction in 1865. We are working to make the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence a reality to all today--to the Negro, to the poor, to those being dehumanized in the machine of modern monopoly society. Out of such struggles will come the struggle for democracy in economic life--the struggle for socialism; the two struggles are intertwined and cannot be separated. Thus, a Marxist party is necessary not only for leadership and initiative during the struggle for socialism itself, but also to give direction to more limited struggle for democracy.

In our work among "left' or "radical" youth organizations, we are aiming to build a united "radical" youth organizations, we are aiming to build a united radical youth movement. Such a movement will be an integral part of a movement for socialism in America. It will involve students and young workers, and be an important source of allies for the working class. Radical youth movements of this sort are found in every major country in the world except South Africa, Spain, Portugal, and other fascist countries. In these countries, the youth movements are underground. In our country, the movement is in its infancy.

Civil Rights

In the struggle for civil rights, we do not write off any organization working for the end to discrimination. We feel every such organization has a distinct role to play, and a distinct contribution to make. We recognize that this is a "multi-class struggle" integral to the fight for democracy in this country. While it is true all these organizations will not go beyond the fight for immediate goals, each of them has its particular place at this stage of struggle. Major victories can be won against discrimination before socialism is achieved. Moreover, the fight to end Jim Crow will produce some very fundamental changes in this society. If the vote becomes a reality to the Southern Negro, for example, it would destroy the Dixiecrat-Republican conservative coalition that dominates Congress, and allow the passage of key legislation (such as genuine home rule for Washington, D.C., repeal of section 14B of the Taft-Hartley law, and so fourth). However, for the Negro, as for the white worker, full economic freedom and security can only be achieved under socialism.

We are disturbed that the saying "Michael Harrington discovered poverty, and Lyndon Johnson bought it" seems to be coming true. We are for a real war on poverty. It is true that capitalism, will not make poor people rich, or even comfortable and that the only real answer to the problems of poverty (sweat shops, lack of skills, technological unemployment, etc.) is a socialist society where the resources are used in the interest of all, not just of a small capitalist class. Nevertheless, the war on poverty is important in our immediate struggles.

We feel that the idea of the poor as a separate class is a fabrication. Facts show that the majority of the poor are simply unemployed or very low salaried workers. As they are one of the most exploited elements of the employee relationship, we fight for their immediate as well as long range goals. If we can get the war on poverty funds to be actually used for helping poor people (instead of being used for big salaries for professionals), and if we can also win the fight for the right of poor people to control such programs, we will have successfully created a basis for advanced political action as well as won important gains for those affected. We do not reject anti-poverty programs out of hand, but rather, try to create.