What exactly is a Democratic Socialist, and why is Organizing Important?
If you’re reading this, that probably means you have at least a passing interest in learning more about Socialism. Maybe you’ve even dipped your toe into individual acts of resistance, like boycotting a company, attending one of the No Kings protests, or contributing mutual aid. Or maybe you want to know what exactly Fox News’ favorite bogeymen are really up to.
Well, those pundits are right about one thing: we don’t like the current state of affairs in the US very much. And for many of the same reasons as everyone else. Everything is too expensive, from healthcare to food to rent, and wages remain stagnant; neither ruling party has raised the federal minimum wage in 19 years! People’s freedoms are being taken away by the government, and even those ostensibly not being targeted are still getting caught in the crossfire. It’s unsettling, confusing, and makes you angry.
We’re angry, too. Most people can see the flaws in the current system. However, when people propose new solutions to its problems you might not have heard before, the establishment frames them as impossible or infeasible. One example would be Medicare For All. But is that really the case? If you talk to your neighbors, instead of just listening to news anchors, you’ll find that support for these ideas is actually widespread. But because these policies take wealth away from the ruling class (CEOs, landlords, shareholders, etc.), they use their power and influence to try and convince you of the opposite.
We in the Democratic Socialists of America won’t let them. The DSA is a longstanding grassroots movement of people who don’t like the trajectory America is on right now, one of rising inequality, fascist policies, and environmental destruction. By meeting regularly, sharing our struggles, and being open to the community, we develop an understanding of the root causes of these issues and work to address them one step at a time. Everyone’s voice is heard in our discussions. We do this not just because true democracy is the backbone of Socialism, but because the best way to make change is from the bottom up in local movements, in person, or within your community. We don’t try to co-opt the vast, bureaucratic nightmare that’s already firmly in the grip of the ruling class. Instead, we try to do something different; make something different.
Anything changed within the bounds of the existing economic system can easily be undone later, as we’ve seen with Roe v Wade. Socialists have long understood this. Instead of calling our reps in a vain attempt to get them to listen to us instead of their corporate donors, we can demand and enact change ourselves, together. This means not only ensuring our say in government by casting aside lobbyists, but also our workplaces. The former might mean getting DSA candidates into local office, applying pressure with protests, or continuing to educate the public. The latter might mean ensuring every workplace has a union and implementing a maximum wage to eliminate billionaires. While this doesn’t fully tackle private control, these would be great first steps. Whatever the method, our end goal is always the same: bringing about a future where inequality and injustice are both things of the past. Socialism, at its core, means the people, not the oligarchs, have the power.
If all this Socialism and DSA stuff sounds overwhelming or too lofty to pursue, don’t worry! It really isn’t. The Lakefront chapter only holds general meetings once a month. You don’t need to spend every waking moment you have to spare fighting for change, nobody can! Contributing a bit here and there is enough. Even just hanging out with new people will expand your perspective and fight the social alienation Capitalism relies on to make you feel powerless.
Any community you participate in that isn’t centered around letting some boss take the fruits of your labor is inherently an act of resistance. When kept alone, there’s much less we can do. But you aren’t alone in this. The DSA has over 95,000 members nationwide, and we’d be happy to have you, too. If not, maybe another organization in Lake County committed to class consciousness and worker empowerment appeals to you more strongly. You could also join or start a union, whether that be a labor union, trade union, or even a tenant’s union in your apartment complex. Getting organized with other people - building real solidarity - is the important part!