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Pauls' Revere
07-21-2018, 12:53 PM
https://apnews.com/a1770fd620d94bf58d0ff1035d3e0eea



PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A week ago, Maine Democrat Zak Ringelstein wasn’t quite ready to consider himself a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, even if he appreciated the organization’s values and endorsement in his bid to become a U.S. senator.

Three days later, he told The Associated Press it was time to join up. He’s now the only major-party Senate candidate in the nation to be a dues-paying democratic socialist.

Ringelstein’s leap is the latest evidence of a nationwide surge in the strength and popularity of an organization that, until recently, operated on the fringes of the liberal movement’s farthest left flank. As Donald Trump’s presidency stretches into its second year, democratic socialism has become a significant force in Democratic politics. Its rise comes as Democrats debate whether moving too far left will turn off voters.

“I stand with the democratic socialists, and I have decided to become a dues-paying member,” Ringelstein told AP. “It’s time to do what’s right, even if it’s not easy.”

There are 42 people running for offices at the federal, state and local levels this year with the formal endorsement of the Democratic Socialists of America, the organization says. They span 20 states, including Florida, Hawaii, Kansas and Michigan.

The most ambitious Democrats in Washington have been reluctant to embrace the label, even as they embrace the policies defining modern-day democratic socialism: Medicare for all, a $15 minimum wage, free college tuition and the abolition of the federal department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Congress’ only self-identified democratic socialist, campaigned Friday with the movement’s newest star, New York City congressional candidate Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old former bartender who defeated one of the most powerful House Democrats last month.

Her victory fed a flame that was already beginning to burn brighter. The DSA’s paid membership has hovered around 6,000 in the years before Trump’s election, said Allie Cohn, a member of the group’s national political team.

Last week, its paid membership hit 45,000 nationwide.

There is little distinction made between the terms “democratic socialism” and “socialism” in the group’s literature. While Ringelstein and other DSA-backed candidates promote a “big-tent” philosophy, the group’s constitution describes its members as socialists who “reject an economic order based on private profit” and “share a vision of a humane social order based on popular control of resources and production, economic planning, equitable distribution, feminism, racial equality and non-oppressive relationships.”

Members during public meetings often refer to each other “comrades,” wear clothing featuring socialist symbols like the rose and promote authors such as Karl Marx.

The common association with the failed Soviet Union has made it difficult for sympathetic liberals to explain their connection.

“I don’t like the term socialist, because people do associate that with bad things in history,” said Kansas congressional candidate James Thompson, who is endorsed by the DSA and campaigned alongside Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, but is not a dues-paying democratic socialist. “There’s definitely a lot of their policies that closely align with mine.”


"- So, Even though history proves its failings he marches onward off the cliff. - Pauls' Revere."



Thompson, an Army veteran turned civil rights attorney, is running again after narrowly losing a special election last year to fill the seat vacated by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Even in deep-red Kansas, he embraces policies like “Medicare for all” and is openly critical of capitalism.

In Hawaii, 29-year-old state Rep. Kaniela Ing isn’t shy about promoting his status as a democratic socialist in his bid for Congress. He said he was encouraged to run for higher office by the same activist who recruited Ocasio-Cortez.

“We figured just lean in hard,” Ing told the AP of the democratic socialist label. He acknowledged some baby boomers may be scared away, but said the policies democratic socialists promote — like free health care and economic equality — aren’t extreme.

Republicans, meanwhile, are encouraged by the rise of democratic socialism — for a far different reason. They have seized on what they view as a leftward lurch by Democrats they predict will alienate voters this fall and in the 2020 presidential race.

The Republican National Committee eagerly notes that Sanders’ plan to provide free government-sponsored health care for all Americans had no co-sponsors in 2013. Today, more than one-third of Senate Democrats and two-thirds of House Democrats have signed onto the proposal, which by one estimate could cost taxpayers as much as $32 trillion.

The co-sponsors include some 2020 presidential prospects, such as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and California Sen. Kamala Harris.

Those senators aren’t calling themselves democratic socialists but also not disassociating themselves from the movement’s priorities.

Most support the push to abolish ICE, which enforces immigration laws and led the Trump administration’s recent push to separate immigrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Of the group, only Booker hasn’t called for ICE to be abolished, replaced or rebuilt. Yet Booker’s office notes that he’s among the few senators backing a plan to guarantee government-backed jobs to unemployed adults in high-unemployment communities across America.

“Embracing socialist policies like government-run health care, a guaranteed jobs program and open borders will only make Democrats more out of touch,” RNC Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel said.

Despite Ocasio-Cortez’s recent success, most DSA-endorsed candidates have struggled.

Gayle McLaughlin finished eighth in last month’s Democratic primary to become California’s lieutenant governor, earning just 4 percent of the vote. All three endorsed candidates for Maryland’s Montgomery County Council lost last month as well. And Ryan Fenwick was blown out by 58 points in his run to become mayor of Louisville, Kentucky.

Ringelstein, a 32-year-old political neophyte, is expected to struggle in his campaign to unseat Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats. He is refusing to accept donations from lobbyists or corporate political action committees, which has made fundraising a grind. At the end of June, King’s campaign reported $2.4 million cash on hand while Ringelstein had just $23,000.

He has tapped into the party’s national progressive movement and the southern Maine chapter of the DSA for the kind of grassroots support that fueled Ocasio-Cortez’s victory. As he has done almost every month this year, Ringelstein attended the group’s monthly meeting at Portland’s city hall last Monday.

More than 60 people packed into the room. The group’s chairman, 25-year-old union organizer Meg Reilly, wore a T-shirt featuring three roses.

She cheered the “comrades” softball team’s recent season before moving to an agenda that touched on climate change legislation, a book share program “to further your socialist education,” and an exchange program that lets community members swap favors such as jewelry repair, pet sitting or cooking.

Near the end of the two-hour gathering, Ringelstein thanked the group for “standing shoulder to shoulder with us throughout this entire campaign.”

“We could win a U.S. Senate seat!” he said. “I want to say that over and over. We could win a U.S. Senate seat! So, let’s do this.”

Zippyjuan
07-21-2018, 01:28 PM
Last week, its paid membership hit 45,000 nationwide.

45,000 members! In a country of only 330 million!

phill4paul
07-21-2018, 01:34 PM
45,000 members! In a country of only 330 million!

We're talking socialists here. For every one that pays there are 1000 that do not. ;)

Zippyjuan
07-21-2018, 01:41 PM
We're talking socialists here. For every one that pays there are 1000 that do not. ;)

True. Paid membership for the Libertarian party is only about 15,000 but there are over half a million registered as Libertarian voters and about 4.5 million voted for Gary Johnson in the last election. https://reason.com/blog/2017/09/15/the-libertarian-partys-paid-membership-n

phill4paul
07-21-2018, 01:55 PM
True. Paid membership for the Libertarian party is only about 15,000 but there are over half a million registered as Libertarian voters and about 4.5 million voted for Gary Johnson in the last election. https://reason.com/blog/2017/09/15/the-libertarian-partys-paid-membership-n

How many of those that Voted Johnson were independent? Obviously 4 million. The Libertarian party does a shitty job of branding and selling itself. And stocking itself with whack-a-doodles. True Socialism might just be the next wave. Bigger even than the Blue wave that was forecast. Liberty and freedom are a tough sell against free shit.

Zippyjuan
07-21-2018, 02:03 PM
How many of those that Voted Johnson were independent? Obviously 4 million. The Libertarian party does a $#@!ty job of branding and selling itself. And stocking itself with whack-a-doodles. True Socialism might just be the next wave. Bigger even than the Blue wave that was forecast. Liberty and freedom are a tough sell against free $#@!.

Unaffiliated is where the action is. Registered Democrats will vote Democratic and registered Republicans will vote Republican 99% of the time- even when they do stupid things. And the block of "unaffiliated" is growing-- now outnumbering those registered to either of the two main parties. To be successful, a party must win them over- not pander to those who will vote for them no matter what.

https://www.npr.org/2016/02/28/467961962/sick-of-political-parties-unaffiliated-voters-are-changing-politics


Turned off by the partisan wars in Washington, 39 percent of voters now identify themselves as independent rather than affiliated with one of the two major political parties, according to a 2014 analysis by the Pew Research Center. Self-identified Democrats accounted for 32 percent of the electorate, Republicans 23 percent.

oyarde
07-21-2018, 02:09 PM
45,000 members! In a country of only 330 million!

The other 168.3 million are waiting for someone else to pay .

Anti Federalist
07-21-2018, 02:34 PM
How many of those that Voted Johnson were independent? Obviously 4 million. The Libertarian party does a shitty job of branding and selling itself. And stocking itself with whack-a-doodles. True Socialism might just be the next wave. Bigger even than the Blue wave that was forecast. Liberty and freedom are a tough sell against free shit.

Yup, that it is.

Damn near impossible in fact, given basic human nature.

That's why there must be a separation, or liberty, as we know it, will die...there is no common ground, no compromise, no appeal to the "betters angels of our nature" with people who are in favor of a governmental and economic system that reduces you down to eating zoo animals to survive.

phill4paul
07-21-2018, 02:44 PM
Unaffiliated is where the action is. Registered Democrats will vote Democratic and registered Republicans will vote Republican 99% of the time- even when they do stupid things. And the block of "unaffiliated" is growing-- now outnumbering those registered to either of the two main parties. To be successful, a party must win them over- not pander to those who will vote for them no matter what.

https://www.npr.org/2016/02/28/467961962/sick-of-political-parties-unaffiliated-voters-are-changing-politics

The problem remains the two-party system that has held sway for as long as it has. Neither wants to give up the strangle hold and both will fight tooth and nail to keep any other than Democrat or Republican off the ballot. They will gerrymander and retain their Fed Gov. matched campaign funds.

phill4paul
07-21-2018, 02:58 PM
Yup, that it is.

Damn near impossible in fact, given basic human nature.

That's why there must be a separation, or liberty, as we know it, will die...there is no common ground, no compromise, no appeal to the "betters angels of our nature" with people who are in favor of a governmental and economic system that reduces you down to eating zoo animals to survive.

Right there with you. But, barring a reset of the system, EMP, collapse of the dollar, etc., I don't see it happening. Too many people believe you and I need to foot the bill. Their bill. Perhaps if we vote a little harder?

Swordsmyth
07-21-2018, 03:59 PM
Yup, that it is.

Damn near impossible in fact, given basic human nature.

That's why there must be a separation, or liberty, as we know it, will die...there is no common ground, no compromise, no appeal to the "betters angels of our nature" with people who are in favor of a governmental and economic system that reduces you down to eating zoo animals to survive.

^^^THIS^^^

However it is good that the far left is coming out of the closet, it will drive anyone with two brain cells to the right.

Pauls' Revere
07-21-2018, 04:43 PM
45,000 members! In a country of only 330 million!

Known.

Pauls' Revere
07-21-2018, 04:47 PM
Right there with you. But, barring a reset of the system, EMP, collapse of the dollar, etc., I don't see it happening. Too many people believe you and I need to foot the bill. Their bill. Perhaps if we vote a little harder?

Perhaps a harder push left is the trigger we need?

timosman
07-21-2018, 04:51 PM
Yup, that it is.

Damn near impossible in fact, given basic human nature.

That's why there must be a separation, or liberty, as we know it, will die...there is no common ground, no compromise, no appeal to the "betters angels of our nature" with people who are in favor of a governmental and economic system that reduces you down to eating zoo animals to survive.

Ohhhh, shut up. How can you be so condescending towards your fellow humans. For many in the world it would be an improvement as many are not even eating currently. You've enjoyed your privilege long enough. We will return you back to reality so you can see how life on this planet really looks like. Nobody gives a fuck about your esoteric ideals. :monocle:

Anti Globalist
07-21-2018, 06:27 PM
The DSA might be rising now but eventually they'll fall.

timosman
08-01-2018, 07:32 PM
Can we send somebody to one of their meetings? - https://www.dsausa.org/chapters

Swordsmyth
08-01-2018, 07:41 PM
Can we send somebody to one of their meetings? - https://www.dsausa.org/chapters
Some of those who post here may already be members.

timosman
08-01-2018, 07:47 PM
I wonder if Suzanimal could make this one - Eat, Drink and be Marxist:

https://madsa.ga/event/eat-drink-be-marxist-3/

August 17 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm



https://i1.wp.com/madsa.ga/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/26233072_1822503337800758_8942833692911092975_o.jp g

Suzanimal
08-02-2018, 03:56 AM
I wonder if Suzanimal could make this one - Eat, Drink and be Marxist:

https://madsa.ga/event/eat-drink-be-marxist-3/

August 17 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm



https://i1.wp.com/madsa.ga/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/26233072_1822503337800758_8942833692911092975_o.jp g

I wonder if the beer is free.

The Gold Standard
08-02-2018, 07:21 AM
I wonder if the beer is free.

It should be. Nothing to eat though.

Swordsmyth
08-17-2018, 07:24 PM
The Democratic Socialists of America is endorsing Zak Ringelstein in his bid to unseat popular independent Sen. Angus King in Maine.
The public school teacher is the only major-party Senate candidate in the nation to be a dues-paying democratic socialist. And he's the first Senate candidate to earn a DSA endorsement this year.

More at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article216870535.html#storylink=rss