A phrase I have been making use of when talking politics with friends is that I wish there were just two political parties – Democrats and Progressives.
I believe in good government, and too many Republicans, reinforced by Ronald Reagan, feel that government is the enemy. Hypocritically, since they spend so much money and energy to be part of what they profess to hate.
The reason I wouldn’t miss most Republicans is because, in my lifetime at least, Republicans have stood against things I am for, including: worker’s rights, human rights; world governance (such as the United Nations); separation of church and state; and the social safety net.
Probably the only times I would have thought about voting for a Republican were for NYC mayor John Lindsay and George Romney, once governor of Michigan.
So take Republicans off the table, and you are left with one side of a party that is for the gradual transformation into a just society, and another side that wants things to move a little more quickly.
Leaders like Bill Clinton and Obama are mainstream Democrats who believe that change moves incrementally in order to not be disruptive. Progressives like Bernie Sanders believe change is long overdue.
The good thing about both is that they listen and respect each other. Sanders understands that his hard work and integrity has put him in a position to effect the change he believes in, without being disruptive.
I would love to always be able to make a choice between candidates like Biden and Sanders, knowing that whoever wins would be a plus.
And guess what—since his first election, Sanders, who calls himself a socialist—has been very patient, being a progressive influence on the Democratic party, without seeking to tear it, and our institutions, down.
When people speak about European political parties as Democratic Socialists, I like that. It seems to me that it is a good mix of the best of Democrats and the best of Socialism, accepting of both in search of an ever more fair society.
But now I have been forced to take a deeper look at what at first glance I would take as the same as the European parties I like. Forced because, in case you weren’t aware, we in REd Hook are represented, not by Democrats, but by something called the DSA. If Aviles wins, all three of our local representatives are members.
I looked at the DSA-NYC website to find out what they are.
The first thing you see is this: “We’re NYC-DSA, the NYC chapter of the largest socialist organization in the U.S. We believe a better world is possible. We are building it right here in New York City.
New York is one of the most unequal cities in the country, but it doesn’t have to remain that way. As democratic socialists, we’re building working class power to challenge the dominance of the wealthy and the powerful in the five boroughs. Together, we aim to transform New York into a place where working people have the power in our democracy to ensure that everyone can live a dignified life.”
OK – it all sounds innocent enough. As Patti Smith sang ,People have the Power.
But then you go to another page and find this: “Our goal is not to reform the US capitalist economy, but to dismantle and move beyond it and—arm-in-arm with movements and working people across the world—to build a socialist world free of the domination of US imperialism. The realities of the climate crisis reinforce the critical and urgent need for societal transformation. We seek to build a truly democratic socialist society in the future, one that finally eliminates all racial, national, gender, and other oppressions. One where all people, regardless of sexuality, ability status, or line of work have the same rights. A world where our economy is managed democratically, its commanding heights are brought under social ownership and control, and we move towards a radical reduction of working time. Where human flourishing and ecological sustainability are harmonized, borders are opened up and eliminated, the prison system and police are abolished, and politics is truly democratized.”
I know that in theory, a number of you reading this will think it all sounds great.
But really, do you want your local city and state representative to use their power and position to “dismantle our capitalist economy?”
We already have a lot of socialism in our system. Social Security, all manners of insurance, bank bail-outs, public housing.
I believe it’s Democrats, even main-stream ones, that have been responsible for that.
Lets look at public housing in NY (NYCHA). In theory, public housing is meant to provide a decent place to live for individuals and families who do not earn enough money, for whatever reason. Starting with the Reagan tax cuts, local public housing degraded as federal funding was cut, part of the Republican party philosophy.
There are over 300 NYCHA properties.In socialist theory, whatever resources are available to maintain NYCHA ought to be shared in an equal and just way. However, local activists are demanding that the Gowanus Houses be treated separately, with more money simply because of a rezoning.
Not socialism.
I say forget the ideology, lets pick our leaders by their competence. So far, DSA people haven’t impressed me. I kind of miss Felix Ortiz, something I never thought I would say.
