I agree it’s a fantasy that four DSAers in Congress will make a substantive difference on policy. The Democratic Party will not allow it, especially under Biden with such a slim majority. Something is clearly wrong with the DSA strategy when Josh Hawley makes a better partner on economic policy ($2k relief checks) than Joe Manchin (and West Virginia is in the top five states by poverty level!).
But I think DSA deserves credit for one thing, despite their misguided idea of moving the DP to the left and despite selling out to Biden: they have helped bring the word socialism back into the mainstream. Socialism is now “in the ether.” Curious individuals like myself, either not knowing what socialism is or (incorrectly) thinking they know what it is but wanting to know more, may decide to go out and learn about this word they keep hearing. I think this is the real contribution of Sanders and DSA (although some may argue that this is more about the present material conditions being ripe for socialism than the actions of any individual or party). One danger, though, is that people only get a very shallow understanding of socialism and begin to conflate it with social democracy, and think that is what they should be fighting for. I don’t see anyone in elected office doing much to dissuade this line of thinking. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#5467): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/5467 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/79622984/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/8674936/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
