> (tho I thought DSA still was sticking with the Dems--can't keep up).
DSA, of which I'm a member, began its life with sort of a "burrowing from within" strategy, but in recent years has been more flexible. Dem party politics are just one tactic among many. Whether or not to use a given tactic depends on the circumstances. The DSA statements on the 2000 election spell out the organization's position. They're still up on the web at
<http://www.dsausa.org/news/2kvote.html>
Some excerpts:
The National Political Committee consciously chose not to endorse any major party presidential candidates. While understanding that for pragmatic reasons many progressive trade unionists, environmentalists, and African-American and Latino activists have chosen to support Al Gore, DSA’s elected representatives believe that Gore, like the now defeated Bill Bradley, represents a centrist, neo-liberal politics which does not advocate the radical structural reforms — such as progressive taxation, major defense cuts, and real universal health and child care — necessary to move national politics in a genuinely democratic direction.
<snip>
Some DSAers may support Ralph Nader for president, if he appears on the ballot in their state. Others may support our Socialist Party comrade David McReynolds. Nader’s campaign is likely to appear on more state ballots and it has the potential to harness the energy of the protests in Seattle and Washington against the WTO and IMF. This time around, DL hopes he runs a serious campaign and does not again dismiss issues of racism and sexism as “divisive” or “gonadal” politics.
It is inaccurate to describe DSA as primarily working within the “left-wing” of the Democratic Party.” The 1993 DSA convention in fact resolved “that the imperative task for the democratic Left is to build anti-corporate social movements which are capable of winning reforms which empower people. In so far as such social movements and coalitions wish to influence state policy they will, at times, intervene in electoral politics. The fundamental question for DSA is not what form that electoral intervention takes, whether it be through Democratic primary races, non-partisan local elections, or third party efforts. Rather, our electoral work aims at building majoritarian coalitions capable of not only electing public officials, but capable of holding them accountable after they are elected.”
<snip>
DSA is no more loyal to the Democratic Party – which barely exists as a grassroots institution – than are individuals or social movements which upon occasion use its ballot line or vote for its candidates.
more...
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Jacob Conrad