>What is it about some leftists that they have to excommunicate as many
>people as possible in order to feel righteous in their own politics?
>
>During his campaign for the AFL-CIO Presidency, Sweeney rather publicly took
>out a membership card in the Democratic Socialists of America as one of the
>marks of his break with the past. Since Samuel Gompers left his socialist
>origins back in the 19th century, no President of the AFL had been a member
>of a socialist party or organization. This was a relatively dramatic
>gesture, especially against many of the old-line anti-communist leadership
>in the union federation.
You may recall that I've defended the AFL-CIO against claims that it's a gang of hopelessly complicit reactionaries. But what, aside from holding up this card, has Sweeney done to show that he's a socialist? Endorsing Gore? Going before a business audience and begging to be their junior partner? Supporting the IMF refunding?
>DSA is the largest socialist organization in the United States, the main
>affiliate of the Socialist International, and have more labor leaders and
>social activists in its membership that any other socialist-named
>organization. You may disagree with its strategy (as do many of its
>members), but if Sweeney embraces DSA and DSA embraces Sweeney as a member,
>why would you argue Sweeney is not a socialist?
>
>If being a card-carrying member of a socialist organization does not make
>you a socialist, what does?
Fighting capital, not begging to be its junior partner.
Sweeney is a trade unionist within capitalism. Capitalism with unions is better than capitalism without unions. But he ain't no socialist until he starts acting like one.
Doug