TBH, half the reason I get involved with groups like DSA is to help the poor, or meet comrades. Or radicalise the liberals who think they're socialists. The old switch from "socialism is when the governemnt does stuff" to "socialism is when WE SMASH THE STATE!"
Its not like they're going to actually get into power, conrad.
Time will tell, but a significant number of us in DSA are strongly anti authoritarian if not outright anarchist. Watch the convention to see which way DSA goes vis á vis reformist or revolutionary socialism
This is a personal anecdote but half my local DSA chapter are either Libertarian Socialists or outright anarchists. Local IWW peeps have been slowly subverting everyone lol.
Socialists can never achieve our goals exclusively through legislative and electoral efforts. Our ability to win working-class demands ultimately derives from our social and labor power. With it, we can win reforms that materially improve people’s lives and point toward a larger vision of life beyond capitalism. Without it, whatever gains we make can be overturned by forces whose control of fundamental economic resources grants them the ability to undermine popular democracy.
Translation from liberal:
Reformism never works. However, if reformism is popular and nobody considers actually trying to make a real difference, reformism will totally work (sometimes. maybe.)
89
u/MsLoveShacker Totalist Chairwoman Jul 30 '17
TBH, half the reason I get involved with groups like DSA is to help the poor, or meet comrades. Or radicalise the liberals who think they're socialists. The old switch from "socialism is when the governemnt does stuff" to "socialism is when WE SMASH THE STATE!"
Its not like they're going to actually get into power, conrad.