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John Reimann wrote
"Today, the leadership of DSA banned a discussion on building a working
class political party. As explained in this video, I was to make a
presentation to the delegates to the upcoming national convention on
this issue, but just before that subject came up I was bounced off the
video conference call. I’m being told it was because I “left” it but
that is untrue."
Read the full story and see the video of what I would have said here
<https://oaklandsocialist.com/2017/07/16/banned-from-dsa-discussion-on-building-a-working-class-party/>
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The DSA has that reputation, a faction aligned with the Democratic
Party, and to the extent that they are controlled by a leadership that
won't discuss the option you describe that reputation is deserved, if
so, if all that you say is true, and if this local leadership is
representative of the national leadership, it shows that they are simply
leading a growing number of people searching for an alternative into a
blind alley, a graveyard, for that's as we know what the Democratic
Party is. It is more and more apparent that the Bernie movement
represents, as he rejects an alternative party option and goes about
being chairperson of "outreach" for the the powerful Clintonian faction
in the party - the entrenched faction that has brought us welfare
"reform," Romney-type health care neglect, the carceral state, licensing
of Wall Street predation and brutal imprisonment and expulsion of
immigrants. I admit to having for a time placed hope in Bernie the
self-described "socialist" Democratic Party caucus member to break in
the direction of a third party and having been jolted awake again.
If you have no opportunity for dialogue with these people, then I'd go
elsewhere. This is an old pattern in politics, to which we're all
vulnerable in our efforts, and I have to wonder about the class base of
this kind of organization.
And then at the other end is the Trump movement, where as you say in
your video 1/3 of working class people for various reasons troubled
themselves to vote and selected a right wing option. Trump may get a
program going for massive rehabilitation of an infrastructure that has
been badly neglected for at least the past 20 years, and that may result
in millions re-employed, for a time, and that is contingent on getting
the Democrats and at least a plurality of tight-fisted fiscal
Republicans to fund it. What he will not and cannot do is bring back
jobs lost to automation and artificial intelligence, and those jobs
leaving the US for cheaper labor in poorer regions. That is the larger
picture, on which return of a vibrant, productive economy would depend
and over which neither Trump nor anyone else has any control. Certainly
that also includes the environmental disaster we seem to be facing.
Least of all does he have options in dealing with the rest of the globe,
in an increasingly connected and polar context. And In many ways, isn't
Trump a news-hogging diversion while the bondholders ravage the commons?
So there's disorder at the border but while the authoritarian,
nationalist right wing, takes over they offer no panaceas with staying
power. What it does offer is the prospect of inadvertent larger war
amidst growing nationalism, toxic tariffs and trade barriers. And if the
result is a repressive, militarized state, that won't get them far,
particularly in a country with at least the trappings of a history of
democratic traditions and a large but atrophying so-called middle class.
It's a stick ultimately without a carrot as the saying goes, operating
in the context of dwindling opportunity and growing alienation, not just
at the parties but at the whole system. If I weren't persuaded as to
that, and if I felt that acting in one's own interest in any and all
contexts means to most people forever acting alone and not together, I'd
feel there's no hope left, for the left or anyone else. Watch for
movement to prevent the cities from further "urban renewal," where much
of the funding for infrastructure rehabilitation would go (and where the
opportunities for shutting down entire urban complexes are greatest
with the chance that displacement of the poor can coalesce with other
interests, including Walmart-type working class resentment, in and out
of jobs.
So, John, keep the faith and keep your hackles up but if possible your
voice from getting too shrill.
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