DSA and The Socialist International

[BayCityProgressive]

I was considering joining the DSA Democratic Socialists of America..I assumed some members may be on this board...it is the nations largest socialist organization and has many popular members such as John Sweeney, The author of Nickeled and Dimed, Noam Chompsky, and others. They support the progressive caucus and many progressive Democrats. They have a local here in Michigan. They are also a member of the Socialist International..a body of the worlds Socialist, Social Democratic, and Labor parties. What do you guys think of both of these organizations and is it anything worth joining?

[The Zanti Regent]

1. DSA is OK, but STAY AWAY from Social Democrats, USA

Social Democrats USA was the incubator of the Neocons. They are a bunch of Regain Democrats like Jeanne Kirkpatrick, Penn Kemble, Josh Muravchik, and their ilk, you know, thje ones who want us at wear with Iran and Syria now.

DSA is the sane alternative!

[foo_bar]

3. We're the People's Front of Judea

Judean People's Front, ha!

[IndianaGreen]

2. Try the Socialist Party USA or the Socialist Equality Party

A fellow DUer is the chair of the Detroit SP-USA (SP-USA was Eugene Debs's party).

Perhaps you should consider the Debs Tendency of the Sp-USA:

ANNOUNCEMENT: DEBS TENDENCY OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY USA

January 10, 2004

Comrades, brothers and sisters,

We are in a powerful and dynamic time. On the one hand, we have seen the rise of a far-right movement within the ruling capitalist class, which seeks to once and for all break all resistance to its agenda of unrestricted exploitation and control of the world. On the other hand, we have seen the growth of mass movements around the world in opposition to war, imperialism and repression. That great contradiction was best seen over the last year, when the U.S. invaded and occupied Iraq, while confronted by the largest worldwide movement against war in history.

The period ahead looks to be even sharper in its contradictions and conflicts. Regardless of the intentions of the main political parties of capital, the 2004 elections, and the debates that will swirl around them, will center on what kind of country and world we want and believe possible. The ongoing, endless “war on terror,” the attacks on basic democratic rights and living standards, and the very meaning of freedom will be discussed among friends, family, co-workers and neighbors. Now more than ever, a viable Socialist alternative must be raised, in order to point a way out of the mess that capitalism has made of the world.

However, in the midst of this great convergence of events, the Socialist Party stands at a crossroads. Years of existence as a small political party, especially during the turbulent 1990s, has led sections of the Party to feel that there is little, if anything, we can do to influence events and build ourselves as a key force in the existing movements for social justice and change. This impasse in the work and development of the Socialist Party has led to an inward-looking perspective, where internal divisions are endlessly debated in sterility, instead of being turned outward and subjected to the test of history and the class struggle.

The 2003 Socialist National Convention was a wake-up call for the Socialist Party and its members. The hotly contested issues and narrow votes, including the selection of the Party’s candidate for President, told a story of division and dissent. Far from being the unifying force a National Convention should be, the 2003 SNC yielded a Party more politically divided than in previous years, and a membership asking more questions and making more demands than has been seen in quite a while.

http://www.debstendency.org/aboutus.html

[JustinF]

5. I support the SEP

While I support the Greens and other progressive/left parties, the SEP is the party that best represents my views.

[IndianaGreen]

6. Same here!

I just donated money to their campaign for democratic elections (against those that want to keep candidates from parties outside the duopoly off the ballot).

[cprise]

4. Society exists

...but is ultimately a product of, and dependant on, the environment.

The Green Party USA has goals and values that are social-democratic, with perhaps somewhat different priorities than older center-Left traditions.