NP: Trotsky: last known photograph?

[gp]

I certainly hold no illusions that I would enjoy a country run by
Trotsky.  I think what interests me is the extreme nature of his views
and the direct tact he took in attempting to realize them.  Then again
I'm not very familiar with Kropotkin so perhaps my opinion could
change re: most interesting figure.

And Otto, thanks for the pic!  Perfect.

On 10/8/06, mikebailey at speakeasy.net <mikebailey at speakeasy.net> wrote:
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: gp [mailto:wescac at gmail.com]
> >.... I have very mixed feelings about Trotsky.
>
> ...
>
> > He seems to me to be the most interesting
> > figure in Russia during his lifetime, however. If Stalin had lost
> > that power struggle I'm not sure what I would think. Perhaps I'm a
> > sucker for the underdog.
>
>
> I find Kropotkin more interesting.  His ideas on mutual aid and the
> rejection of the State form part of a philosophy that seems a lot more
> reasonable to me.  He was an accomplished scientist and writer.  His
> rejection of his princehood shows an independent and ethical mind.  However,
> Kropotkin falls short of complete non-violence and slides down the slippery
> slope of approving the murder of the Czar; which causes an imbalance in the
> Force and left him vulnerable to the Dark Side.
>
> I would definitely rather hang with Kropotkin, though, than Trotsky.
> "permanent revolution" and "vanguard party" - the elephant in the room on
> that is the fact that these guys become the new ruling class...
>
> obvious to me but some very capable people have ignored it over the years