Maybe no one will read this, but here goes...

[Critters2]

I'm a Socialist. A former member of the Socialist Party USA, current member of Democratic Socialists of America. I was in Madison yesterday for the labor rally. It was an amazing experience, watching the sleeping giant that is America's workers awake and take to the streets.

But something bothered me. Along the way, there were so many Socialist/Communist/Workers groups--the Socialist Party, the Communist Workers Party, the IWW, and others. Having moved from one Socialist org to another, I knew about this splintering, but yesterday I found myself wondering how much more powerful we might be if we were one organization, if we could move past the issues--some quite legitimate, I realize--which divide us. And now, with labor challenging the status quo and not finding support from the big two parties, seems like the time to do some important organizing.

So, do you think we on the far left can ever overcome our historical differences and divisions, and create one truly progressive party? And if so, doesn't this seem the time to begin that project?

I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts...if anyone's reading.

In Solidarity,
Critters

[amyrose2712]

1. I'm reading...

unfortunately, I am not knowledgeable about the subject to offer any insight. But I would certainly be interested in some.

[Critters2]

2. Thanks. Good to find someone else here in the Socialist Prog group.

I don't have much to add to what I posted. Just curious as to whether other leftists are bothered by our divisions, and think our time may be coming.

Are you Socialist?

[amyrose2712]

3. I hold no membership...

but I consider myself pretty far left. Actually, I think the splintering may be one of the reasons that I am not technically a registered Socialist.

[Critters2]

4. I'm a registered Democrat, because registering as a Socialist is not an option.

But I pay dues, and try to be as active as I can (not easy--no chapter really nearby) in the DSA. The Social Democrats, another Socialist splinter group, are actually a caucus of the Democratic Party. If you scroll down on this page, you'll see a description of their relationship with the Democratic Party:
http://www.socialdemocratsusa.org/

So, you can be both a Socialist and a Democrat. The splintering has to do with relationship to the International...and a silly argument about who the REAL Socialists are. That is what we need to get past.

[Sadena Meti]

5. A Social Democrat is not a real Socialist, but a Democratic Socialist is.

[No Elephants]

6. I'd settle for one left of center party. Now, we have far right and moderate right.

For the record: A signer of the 2003 PNAC memo and a co-founder of the DLC heads the Progressive Policy Institute. So, AFAICT, the term "progressive" either has no meaning or means "pretty damn right." I steer well clear of it.

[Jackpine Radical]

7. Calling the DLC "progressive" is like

claiming that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is democratic, run by popular vote, and a Republic.

The term "progressive" has great historical significance, and for many, including the left in Wisconsin, we recognize our roots in the Progressivism of a hundred years ago. We cling proudly to the title, and have a very specific notion of what it means.

[pnorman]

8. I just finished reading "The Other American, The Life Of Michael Harrington" on my Kindle

Among other things, it goes into great detail on the various groupings and personalities within the anti-Stalinist Left, in particular, SP,DSP, DSOC, and finally the DSA. I thought I knew much about all that. Perhaps I did but I now know so much more!

Seriously consider getting that book. You won't regret it! Here it is on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Other-American-Michael-Harrington-ebook/dp/B0031RG4CM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1306714605&sr=1-3

[amyrose2712]

9. Thanks. I will check it out.nt

[pnorman]

10. I just started rereading it, from the halfway point ("Socialists at War 1965-1972")

(I'll soon find out how well skim-reading works on a Kindle!) There was so much informative stuff on things I was only PARTLY aware of, so I'll make sure I missed nothing of import. That part about Max Shactman in his later days was a real eye-opener!

[Jack Sprat]

We need to organize the workers

into a cohesive, true left democratic party that can consolidate. The time is now. Workers have been decimated, all American workers, union and non union alike.

Can you believe how much territory we have surrendered over the last 30 years?

[Jack Sprat]

11. We need to organize the workers

into a cohesive, true left democratic party that can consolidate. The time is now. Workers have been decimated, all American workers, union and non union alike.

Can you believe how much territory we have surrendered over the last 30 years?

[Jack Sprat]

12. We need to organize the workers

into a cohesive, true left democratic party that can consolidate. The time is now. Workers have been decimated, all American workers, union and non union alike.

Can you believe how much territory we have surrendered over the last 30 years?