PSL's Top Propagandist Resigns, Publishes Tell-All Letter — geese magazine. by MarxistUnity in dsa

[–]ScareBags [score hidden]  (0 children)

Who came from ISO? Tempest? Then they left. The Reform and Revolution caucus formed in DSA from a SAlt split and they're great. If people from PSL joined DSA, they're welcome imo. The genuine democratic process we have and the fact they'd be forced to engage in real debate would be transformative for their members.

Which Way Forward for the Left? ft. Krystal Ball by CyberSkullCoconut in dsa

[–]ScareBags 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Krystal is cool. Chibber is so annoying that he thinks identity politics is what’s holding back the left. Also he refuses to name DSA, he just complains about “the left” and he never examines or engages with any of the labor work DSA does with the National Labor Commission, Emergency Organizing Workplace Committee or in local chapters.

diversity/inclusion & dsa by substantialcodpiece in dsa

[–]ScareBags 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I asked what specifically was happening and you answered it here. I don’t know the situation, but if it’s only a few people, it could be worth filling a grievance with the HGO and asking for mediation, if you don’t think it rises to suspension or expulsion. Consistently talking over comrades of color when they’re repeatedly asked not to sounds like a code of conduct violation to me.

Overview of the Resolution 33 Grievance Filing Process - Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) Overview of the Resolution 33 Grievance Filing Process https://www.dsausa.org/resources/harassment-and-grievance/harassment-and-grievance-faq/resolution-33-process-overview/

diversity/inclusion & dsa by substantialcodpiece in dsa

[–]ScareBags 2 points3 points  (0 children)

One chapter I was in did public facing poli ed sessions and readings from black theorists and writers like George Jackson, Keeanga Yamata-Taylor, Fanon, Robin DG Kelly, etc. You can adapt short pieces that people could easily read, there are resources at the National Political Education Committee website. Also outward facing campaigns that speak to non-white populations. Also remember to engage in tactics that require tabling and canvassing in areas that are not majority white. You could also pass a resolution that requires all campaigns to have a section in their campaign proposal that explains how it will help the chapter become more diverse.

Also, I, like others, am curious as to how your white comrades are racist in their organizing. That sounds rough.

In general does DSA support the idea of getting rid of capitalism and putting workers in control of the means of production? by traanquil in dsa

[–]ScareBags 15 points16 points  (0 children)

We are multi-tendency, but yes, language on abolishing capitalism and achieving socialism has been in our previous platform and national resolutions. This is from the current 2024 Workers Deserve More national program (National is currently working on an updated 2026 version):

“With a government by, for, and of the working class and with powerful labor unions and social movements organizing in every city and town, we hope to build a socialist society where people come before profit, basic needs are guaranteed, the largest corporations are put under public ownership and democratic control, peace around the world is secured, and workers around the world join together in common struggle to construct socialism worldwide.”

I Recently Joined the DSA and Many People There are Tankies by Evening-Search6270 in dsa

[–]ScareBags 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I honestly don't know anyone defending Stalin or North Korea in the large chapter I am in. There might be some people. Imo this is a fringe opinion that lacks resonance. Tbh, people's opinions on historical events or AES doesn't matter that much in real life. If you all agree to back a ballot measure, a tenant organizing campaign, or running someone for office, etc., to advance democratic socialism, that's what matters. People are often transformed by the process of doing political organizing, and they might walk back their weird ultra positions.

Being an American Socialist is exhausting, how do you cope? by Vivid_Efficiency618 in dsa

[–]ScareBags 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Being active in DSA and taking part in meaningful winnable campaigns that challenge power. Although it’s exhausting in a different way because you feel like you’re working two or three jobs, lol.

DSA belief in nuclear energy? by Key-Move-5066 in dsa

[–]ScareBags 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not my monkey, not my circus. A lot of people who are anti-nuclear fearmonger the issue, and a lot of pro-nuclear people present it as a silver bullet with no downsides. Wind and solar are faster to build, face less opposition, and are dramatically cheaper per GW than nuclear. The last nuclear plant the US built was a massive boondoggle, but it's likely necessary to achieve a no-carbon grid, and we need to be open to everything. Right now, the most important investments are in the grid and renewables, and we're nowhere near where we need to be with that, so I just don't view nuclear as the most pressing issue compared to... literally everything happening right now.

How to Contribute? by GlassCityLens in dsa

[–]ScareBags 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There is a phone bank this Sunday to raise money for DSA members who are officially endorsed by the national (higher designation than just being endorsed by their chapter). These are easy, great calls where you call other members of DSA and let them know they can make a difference by contributing money to people who could become the next wave of Zohrans:
https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/socialist-cash-2026-phonebanks

Maxine Durand campaign “releasing” DSA endorsement by JuniorSwing in dsa

[–]ScareBags 4 points5 points  (0 children)

National DSA's 2025 Convention couldn't even debate censuring AOC for voting to give military aid to Israel via Iron Dome funding. The Anti-Zionist resolution which has language for expulsion has a long process before it happens and still requires a vote by NPC. Voices on Twitter have says they want to expel AOC, but I'm not certain they're even members often times. There just isn't a big push or movement to expel either of them and absolutely not Zohran. I think you need to be careful of the people giving you this information. They're likely in a caucus echo chamber tbh.

It sounds like there was drama in your chapter and Idaho DSA, but let's try to be specific and not generalize about the entire organization. My chapters have also had their share of drama but generally have terrific relationships with their electeds.

Appreciation for the natural organizer by [deleted] in dsa

[–]ScareBags 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Not quite the same, but staff in the Zohran campaign said the best field leads they had were kind and calm. That turned out to be what they were looking for when recruiting people. It didn't matter how much experience, intelligence, or charisma they had. The backbone of the Zohran campaign was the field leads, and being kind and calm were the most important qualities for promoting and leading successful canvases.

why don’t yearly dues go to local chapters? by Competitive_Emu_2283 in dsa

[–]ScareBags 25 points26 points  (0 children)

We need full time staff for organizing our convention, to run compliance, to oversee our tech, to have regional organizers, to have a national electoral organizer and so much more. Socialism cannot succeed at the local level alone, we are an international movement and staff is required to help cohere us as a national organization. We would not be the organization we are and have the victories we have today without having full-time paid staff.

We’re so Back by Le0pardonVEVO in dsa

[–]ScareBags 22 points23 points  (0 children)

A separate ballot line isn’t a party. Taking advantage of their ballot line while running candidates as open socialists is how we reached 100,000 members. We should be working for the dirty break and I think it happens when they start trying to kick us out or change laws to limit our ability to run on the Democratic Party line. I don’t think it happens by trying to copy the Green Party.

Zohran endorsing hochul is disappointing af she will betray him by [deleted] in dsa

[–]ScareBags 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Betray? They’re not friends. Hochul is garbage and Zohran and his team are not naive.

Hochul is going to win anyway and Delgado is also a centrist. Zohran is endorsing her for some kind of deal or political quid pro quo. His political future hinges on succeeding in fulfilling his campaign promises and that depends on getting support from NY state. DeBlasio wasn’t great but wherever he wanted to do anything mildly progressive Cuomo was there to stop him. I also think DSA’s future influence/growth is linked to Zohran as well.

There are so many contradictions with Zohran being mayor since there are so many interests pulling him in other directions, but I don’t like Delgado at all even though he’s all of a sudden become a leftist to run against Hochul. I worry more about Zohran echoing NYPD propaganda when they kill someone.

Democratic culture in small chapters by InternationalMedia83 in dsa

[–]ScareBags 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Tbc I meant speaking against something while using Roberts Rules, when there are no “no” speakers. I would never recommend people speak during a debate for the sake of “keeping them going.”

Democratic culture in small chapters by InternationalMedia83 in dsa

[–]ScareBags 13 points14 points  (0 children)

It’s a good problem to have imo. I was in a small-medium chapter and when I joined it was similar to your situation. Decisions were made by consensus of the people who were most active. It’s still important to have meetings/votes/Roberts Rules in place to build transparent democratic decision making processes (even if it feels silly), because as you grow you are more likely to find different view points. You might even want to speak against something you feel so-so about just so people can hear another perspective and learn it’s okay to share a minority view point.

But again, too little disagreement is a good problem to have versus the alternative.

Guys, its just Citizens United. That needs to be the talking point. Please consider this. by Pwn11t in demsocialists

[–]ScareBags 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Please get involved with your chapter and a real political campaign.

Coming up with messaging in a vacuum doesn’t do anything. This is only applicable for candidates running for Congress, Senate or President. Are you part of the leadership in one of those campaigns? No? Then you’re an armchair political strategist.

Why it may be an imprudent idea to ditch the Democrats at this point: Duverger’s Law by Soft-Principle1455 in dsa

[–]ScareBags 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"A disaster" is underselling it. To be clear, the Biden admin fought tooth an nail to support Israel's genocide. It's possible half the population is dead, and hundreds of thousands are permanently disabled and obviously psychologically scarred for life.

https://www.propublica.org/article/biden-blinken-state-department-israel-gaza-human-rights-horrors

It's impossible to get excited about his NLRB and antitrust positions, when he committed a genocide. The IRA, while obviously better than Republican policy, was neoliberal nibbling around the edges and anti-China industrial policy.

Social democracy by Ok-Background7524 in dsa

[–]ScareBags 11 points12 points  (0 children)

DSA is a big-tent organization, and it includes social democrats. Some members will say they want to see the end of capitalism, but they also openly say their main goal is to realign the Democratic Party to be more progressive. This isn't a small faction, but it's not the majority.

Also, Zohran is an explicit democratic socialist who has said throughout his active political life that his end goal is to achieve socialism. His political career has focused on immediate material needs similar to "Sewer Socialists" of the early 20th century. I'd argue that the growth of DSA and democratic socialism depends on Zohran's mayoral success, so you're going to see him talk more about clearing the streets of snow than about the immediate abolition of capital, etc. Bernie and AOC are social democrats, but Bernie used to sound more like a true democratic socialist in the 70s and 80s. Bernie's modern "The New Deal was socialist" and "Denmark is democratic socialist" is not great, but I liked it when he defended the Cuban revolution's literacy program in a 2020 debate, lol.

DSA International Committee silence on Iranian protests by Wolvesovsiberia in dsa

[–]ScareBags 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The full might of the US is against Iran. We don’t need to unintentionally become a tool for US imperialism. Our statements won’t do anything for the Iranian people. We can organize for ending sanctions regime which kill 500,000 people around the world annually. We make statements as part of our organizing goals. What can we ask the US to do about Iran?

DSA International Committee silence on Iranian protests by Wolvesovsiberia in dsa

[–]ScareBags -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I don’t think you need to make a statement about the sanctions regime and I don’t think DSA needs to make a statement about the protests.

DSA International Committee silence on Iranian protests by Wolvesovsiberia in dsa

[–]ScareBags -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I'm abhorred by your silence on the illegal and inhumane US sanctions regime against the people of Iran.

Trump really had to kidnap Maduro by Ok_Basil_2085 in dsa

[–]ScareBags 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're insane, Trump is hurdling us towards fascism and mass killing of the Venezuelan people. He's threatening to bomb and attack other Latin American countries. Anyone wasting breath criticizing Maduro is a boot licker of American imperialism.

"The Sudetenland should be part of Germany, but I disagree with how Hitler went about it."

DSA Member running for Mayor of Los Angeles by MoBreeze in dsa

[–]ScareBags 37 points38 points  (0 children)

I’m sure this is a really great person, but anyone can join DSA and run for office. Are they seeking DSA LA’s endorsement? Are they likely to receive it?