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Socialist Alternative is right about the significance of the growth of DSA. But I don't agree with what they call for. They call for a new mass socialist party, or something of the sort. Instead, they should be explaining that all parties are based on one class or another and what's needed is a mass working class party in the US. (They should also be explaining that the Democratic Party - the ENTIRE party - not just its "establishment" - is a party of the owners of capital - the capitalist class.) That leads to how such a party could be born. One possibility is through a series of independent, working class candidates for public office. As such a tendency developed, it would tend to come together to coordinate and further their efforts. That would mean the beginnings of a working class party - one that should and probably would have socialist policies of some sort or another. I also very strongly disagree with their call on DSA to form some sort of federated socialist party where the different socialist groups would affiliate but in their own federations. On the one hand that sounds too much like the approach of many anarchists of organizing coalitions based on different "affinity groups". The end result is that the coalition never really comes together as a whole. In the case of what S. Alt. is calling for, it would mean an absolute zoo, a form of organizing that would encourage a situation where every little socialist group would fit in as that "socialist party" of, by and for itself. Madly fighting for their particular "line" to be adopted and competing with every other little group to scoop up whatever recruits there are to be had. It would be paralyzed by this sectarian infighting. By the way, I've noticed that quite a few Socialist Alternative members have left S. Alt. and have joined DSA. And why not? After all, what is the principled difference in practice between them? The DSA leadership supports the Democrats and so does S. Alt. Nor does either have any real differences with the union leadership. The main difference is a matter of degrees, so if you're going to go in for that sort of politics, why not join the bigger group? John Reimann -- "No one is going to give you the education you need to overthrow them." Asata Shakur Check out:https:http://oaklandsocialist.com and // www.facebook.com/WorkersIntlNetwork?ref=stream _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
