I have been pretty amicable to the DSA and Mamdani as an idea, but my off-ramp was like 2-3 “gaffs” ago. I don’t think you people doing this kind of thing is as dire as others make it out to be. I do not think the current day US is anywhere close to 1903 Russia or 1848 Europe or even 1830s Europe. So whatever entryism or class collaboration you’re going to do, at least be ready for stuff like this. I’m going to assume the DSA hasn’t placed a giant ACME piano above Mamdani’s head? So if he wins in a month and then lies about rent control, then what? If you’re going to do reformism, you eventually should have a plan to enforce reforms.
When/if these other NY seats become available and this is tried again, have a plan to destroy these people if they suddenly become dishonest in the 11th hour. If people in the DSA aren’t okay with that idea, then it’s time for new members or a different org.
I agree the situation isn’t that dire historically speaking, but you’d still like to see some more spine when the stakes are pretty low, all things considered. The election looks like a wrap already, so just stick to your guns even if it costs a percent or two. I think the main political calculus there is holding a strong enough lead that it stops Cuomo or Sliwa from dropping out because they see a realistic chance of consolidating the anti-Mamdani vote while he’s weak.
That being said, DSA’s most important role at this point imo is being a highly visible org (but yes, imperfect) that is a tool to help deprogram decades of American anti-socialist propaganda. Given the direction things are going internally with Marxist, it could be an incubator for an actual socialist party some time in the future after overcoming the internal contradictions that divide it right now.
I have been pretty amicable to the DSA and Mamdani as an idea, but my off-ramp was like 2-3 “gaffs” ago. I don’t think you people doing this kind of thing is as dire as others make it out to be. I do not think the current day US is anywhere close to 1903 Russia or 1848 Europe or even 1830s Europe. So whatever entryism or class collaboration you’re going to do, at least be ready for stuff like this. I’m going to assume the DSA hasn’t placed a giant ACME piano above Mamdani’s head? So if he wins in a month and then lies about rent control, then what? If you’re going to do reformism, you eventually should have a plan to enforce reforms.
When/if these other NY seats become available and this is tried again, have a plan to destroy these people if they suddenly become dishonest in the 11th hour. If people in the DSA aren’t okay with that idea, then it’s time for new members or a different org.
Not a gaffe. It’s ideological commitment to liberalism
I agree the situation isn’t that dire historically speaking, but you’d still like to see some more spine when the stakes are pretty low, all things considered. The election looks like a wrap already, so just stick to your guns even if it costs a percent or two. I think the main political calculus there is holding a strong enough lead that it stops Cuomo or Sliwa from dropping out because they see a realistic chance of consolidating the anti-Mamdani vote while he’s weak.
That being said, DSA’s most important role at this point imo is being a highly visible org (but yes, imperfect) that is a tool to help deprogram decades of American anti-socialist propaganda. Given the direction things are going internally with Marxist, it could be an incubator for an actual socialist party some time in the future after overcoming the internal contradictions that divide it right now.