"Let one hundred local socialist parties bloom"
"Let one hundred local socialist parties bloom"
As of today, your local "progressive" libs are ready to hear that the Democrats are going to take them nowhere but loserville. If they care about protecting vulnerable populations like they say they do (most are genuine), then it's time to get serious about other options. We have 4 years to draw something up and it starts today.
Surely they already know you as something of a politics nerd if you post here. They are probably looking to you for an indication if you weren't too smug about "I'm not voting cause it doesn't matter" for the last 6 weeks (not advised). The existing socialist parties are somewhere between problematic and just too much for your well-meaning friends to sign up for (are you even a member yourself, liberal?).
One way to kick things off is to demonstrate some Democratic Centralism.
- Find 2 people you have very few fundamental disagreements with. Especially if they can be like "yeah, socialism, lets make our community more like Sweden".
- "We are now the socialist party of [Libtown, USA], consisting of three members, somebody design us a T-shirt or something".
- Then you start working through it. Write down a few bylaws, but be clear about your commitment to your comrades. "I'll vote for Kamala Harris 100x if that's what the party decides democratically, but also I really, really, don't think we should do that".
- This is all a great opportunity to educate, discuss politics, study/teach theory, and build bonds with political allies.
- Hopefully you get past being a 4 person book club and do some volunteering with your growing squad of 10 members.
- The endgame is that your mini-party will eventually be mature enough to vote to merge or have an official relationship with an actual substantial political party. Could be a merger with PSL or something, could be a merger with the dozen folks doing the same thing over in [Libville], the next town over.
This is organizing, this is praxis. It starts off as some nerd shit over a round of drinks, but it's at least an attempt to wield a bit of political power while also bringing more people into the fold. Your position is strong right now.
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Another, more anarchist approach you could take is as your group grows, doing direct, organized mutual aid in your community. Just start feeding people and talk about your radical bookclub/movie nights as you do so. You would be shocked by how many people (especially chuds) can be radacalized this way. As you grow your mutual aid networks start doing other things to help people directly; begin building dual power. Once you hit a dozen or so members and plenty of connections with other radical orgs (socialist rifle association, PSL, black rose federation[?]) you could think about federating with a national org such as the symbiosis federation. I highly recommend everyone look into Cooperation Jackson, and their book "Jackson Rising" for an example of a successful anarchist adjacent movement that is truly helping people. They have inspired other "Cooperations" in Tulsa, Denton and others.
Comrades, we must get organized now and radicalize as many as we can. While the libs may well forget about it and go back to brunch soon, oppressed people across the country will be in need of alternatives for the next four years.
Excellent suggestions, thank you comrade!
