American Socialist Voter

Late this summer the current office address will be closing. The new office for the SP will move about 20 blocks from its' current location. A new address will be posted after the move.

Socialist Party USA National Committee - Elected on October 10, 2009
  -

The method here will be inductive in placing directly the facts as seen and can be linked to directly.

A starting place of note will be the Statement of Principles at posted Sunday, 18 January 2009 with critique after each part, replies can be talked about in the ASV forums.

THE SOCIALIST PARTY strives to establish a radical democracy that places people's lives under their own control -- a non-racist, classless, feminist, socialist society in which people cooperate at work, at home, and in the community.

     Socialism is not mere government ownership, a welfare state, or a repressive bureaucracy. Socialism is a new social and economic order in which workers and consumers control production and community residents control their neighborhoods, homes, and schools. The production of society is used for the benefit of all humanity, not for the private profit of a few. Socialism produces a constantly renewed future by not plundering the resources of the earth.
     Under capitalist and "Communist" states, people have little control over fundamental areas of their lives. The capitalist system forces workers to sell their abilities and skills to the few who own the workplaces, profit from these workers' labor, and use the government to maintain their privileged position. Under "Communist" states, decisions are made by Communist Party officials, the bureaucracy and the military. The inevitable product of each system is a class society with gross inequality of privileges, a draining of the productive wealth and goods of the society into military purposes, environmental pollution, and war in which workers are compelled to fight other workers.
     People across the world need to cast off the systems which oppress them, and build a new world fit for all humanity. Democratic revolutions are needed to dissolve the power now exercised by the few who control great wealth and the government. By revolution we mean a radical and fundamental change in the structure and quality of economic, political, and personal relations. The building of socialism requires widespread understanding and participation, and will not be achieved by an elite working "on behalf of" the people. The working class is in a key and central position to fight back against the ruling capitalist class and its power. The working class is the major force worldwide that can lead the way to a socialist future – to a real radical democracy from below.

     Radical democracy is the cornerstone not only of our socialism, but also of our strategy. Here are the main features of each: 

The term "radical democracy" has never been defined nor has any attempt been made on the part of this organization to draw out the meaning of the term. The only wiki listing associated is 180 degrees out from what might be thought. Voters need more than a listing of, yet, more undefined, terminology like a cold slap in the face.

Again, what is socialism? In the first paragraph it reads as too broad without details. There is no plan or detail. No wonder the majority of voters have over many decades associated socialism with Utopian thinkers. An old American saying, "if it is too good to be true, than it usually is." There are those who don't even get involved in politics directly because they think all politicians lie. Many do. What might help here is to detail out how an elected comrade would deal with today's world at each level in the real world of events.

• If a socialist was elected to city hall what could that person hope to accomplish?
• What about a socialist on the county level?
• Without any socialists elected to the lower levels could they be effective on higher ground and how?
• Without massive grass roots support are socialists really doing flag waving?
• How many grass roots groups are associated with this party and why?

In the second paragraph there is the magic word "Communist." How can the actions here not meet the words? All one has to do is see who is claiming to be a member at Myspace.com to see all the pro-communist supporters that seem to belong to a socialist organization. Did not the Socialist Party of America expel all pro-communist elements in 1919 as told in history books? What has changed? Why do the words not meet the actions? Most of the talk and the two remaining tendencies are moving away from democratic socialism for democratic centralism as the social democrats have been suspended, censored, expelled.

The continuation goes on in doublespeak, "democratic revolution" as though this whole statement was not fully worked out. To the would be voter there is a sense in the mind of disingenuous behavior going on here without public input. What scares voters most are the follow up words, "By revolution we mean a radical and fundamental change in the structure and quality of economic, political, and personal relations." The unknown degree of radical and how fundamental (basic) sounds like there isn't a real plan but more a reactionary force and as history tells us, nothing good has come from people who shoot first and ask questions second. While many voters or activist are moved by their wallet they like diversity in their political options and at no time will Americans stand for any government involved in their personal relations. This one sentence is such a turn off to socialism that it could end reading of the rest at this point.

Education has long been access to the mind and then the will. The question here is to what is being taught as being true/actual socialism? Many socialists do not view Karl Marx or revolutionary writers thereafter as being socialists, but rather as communist and violent. If radical democracy is such a "cornerstone" it helps to define the words and make the actions match those words. For the "working class" to join they must know the words are the truth. It is clear they do not see either words or actions as such in this organization or that worldwide movement would happen overnight. 

Explaining what a Socialist world might look like without complete details of balance.

Democratic socialism is a political and economic system with freedom and equality for all, so that people may develop to their fullest potential in harmony with others. The Socialist Party is committed to full freedom of speech, assembly, press, and religion, and to a multi-party system. We are dedicated to the abolition of male supremacy and class society, and to the elimination of all forms of oppression, including those based on race, national origin, age, sexual preferences, and disabling conditions.

If democratic socialism is about "freedom and equality for all" then why are there two organizations claiming the same ideology and actionable in two different ways? Where is the freedom of opinion and openness within the party with respect to the public and their trust? If there is such equality why have all the tendencies been destroyed that spoke about freedom for their equality? It seems this organization has devalued its own potential with loss of membership through personal attacks. There is no harmony with others who wish to freely express their views and when expressed censorship and dehumanizing (demonizing) takes place behind the accused back.

The list of terms that follows - ending - the statement have long been a source of the very problem. Each has little meaning without details or planning. In fact a complete understanding, say, a statement outlining each from the National Committee (dated) might help the public understand more.

In a socialist system the people own and control the means of production and distribution through democratically controlled public agencies, cooperatives, or other collective groups. The primary goal of economic activity is to provide the necessities of life, including food, shelter, health care, education, child care, cultural opportunities, and social services.
     These social services include care for the chronically ill, persons with mental disabilities, the infirm and the aging. Planning takes place at the community, regional, and national levels, and is determined democratically with the input of workers, consumers, and the public to be served.

In a socialist system it is not always the same system, but in a communistic world "the people own and control the means" and this is democratic centralist in dogma, not sociocracy or communitarian. Actual socialists who know themselves know the difference and are not fooled by communists. This section reeks of doubletalk where the words do not or if having a written plan will not match the true action of socialists. The harder left elements are pulling heart strings and giving lip service. Demand more and ask they next time this is revised they give respect or you will shower them off. 

Under welfare capitalism, a reserve pool of people is kept undereducated, under-skilled and unemployed, largely along racial and gender lines, to exert pressure on those who are employed and on organized labor. The employed pay for this knife that capitalism holds to their throats by being taxed to fund welfare programs to maintain the unemployed and their children. In this way the working class is divided against itself; those with jobs and those without are separated by resentment and fear. In socialism, full employment is realized for everyone who wants to work.

There are many current studies that could be used instead of inciting a bias or hate by abusing the words "racial" or "gender" to the point of becoming a quality of self-hate in order to be politically correct. Show the facts and cite the sources. Show opposing views and talk about why yours in the right one for the job. Stop with the blame game or rhetoric "capitalism" and offer real solutions. If this organization wants more members, voters, and activist it must stand out like a shining beacon and not a sore thumb.  

The employed do not have to be employed thus removing the knife metaphor. Each person in human fashion can negotiate contracts based on need and not want giving a realistic price for labor value or take the time to do what needs be done. Let us look at something small, two week paychecks. Are we bankers for the employer or risk taker (entrepreneur)?  More than likely we are not. Are we day labor? We could be and then hold that knife to the backs of employers for services. Is this a quality working relationship? No. If we have an option, take it to mind what they are. Make your best choice. Socialists can also be self-employed, which is what was being hinted. Why work inside a box when there is a world out there? Bureaucracy is why.

The Socialist Party of the United States of America never outlines details to address the bureaucracy of four million government workers that buffer the elected officials from the people in red tape so how does the party here plan to create full employment without the un-elected's consent? Then again, it was said, "that in St. Petersburg that they had the cleanest streets for all the people employed picking up their own cigarette butts" by the government.

Does the party hope to end welfare by cutting off benefits? Not everyone "wants" to work. Come up with a realistic plan that the people can believe in. Not everyone is employable either so what is the plan there?

Democracy in daily life is the core of our socialism. Public ownership becomes a fraud if decisions are made by distant bureaucrats or authoritarian managers. In socialist society power resides in worker-managed and cooperative enterprises. Community-based cooperatives help provide the flexibility and innovation required in a dynamic socialist economy. Workers have the right to form unions freely, and to strike and engage in other forms of job actions. Worker and community control make it possible to combine life at work, home and in the community into a meaningful whole for adults and children. Girls and boys are encouraged to grow up able to choose freely the shape of their lives and work without gender and racial stereotyping. Children are provided with the care, goods and services, and support that they need, and are protected from abuse.

If democracy is such a core value then why is the public and it's ownership kept out of viewing range of the inner workings of such an enlightening party? The doublespeak award might be placed here? Authoritarian and fraud are good words but not for those outside the current party. The National Action Committee aka Politburo must now look inward to be cooperative with one another first and respect the public it ask for support. If it values public ownership then there should not be exclusions to any words or persons yet this is not the case as membership falls to an all time low in 2009.

End with the name calling and labellings... they are dividers even from within and most surely from the outside.

A socialist society carefully plans its way of life and technology to be a harmonious part of our natural environment. This planning takes place on regional, national, and international levels and covers the production of energy, the use of scarce resources, land-use planning, the prevention of pollution and the preservation of wildlife. The cleanup of the contaminated environment and the creation of a nuclear-free world are among the first tasks of a socialist society.

add text, images, video, widgets, etc...

How will this connect with the above in actual planning? Will this be enough to win voters? Or will it have to come to miliant actions, and how?

Socialist feminism confronts the common root of sexism, racism and classism: the determination of a life of oppression or privilege based on accidents of birth or circumstances. Socialist feminism is an inclusive way of creating social change. We value synthesis and cooperation rather than conflict and competition.
    We work against the exploitation and oppression of women who live with lower wages, inferior working conditions and subordination in the home, in society and in politics. Socialists struggle for the full freedom of women and men to control their own bodies and reproductive systems and to determine their own sexual orientation.  We stand for the right of women to choose to have a safe and legal abortion, at no cost, regardless of age, race, or circumstance.
    Women’s independent organizations and caucuses are essential to full liberation, both before and after the transformation to socialism. Women will define their own liberation.

add text, images, video, widgets, etc...

Bigotry and discrimination help the ruling class divide, exploit, and abuse workers here and in the Third World. The Socialist Party works to eliminate prejudice and discrimination in all its forms. We recognize the right of self-defense in the face of attacks; we also support non-violent direct action in combating oppression. We fully support strong and expanded affirmative action programs to help combat the entrenched inertia of a racist and sexist system which profits from discrimination and social division.
     People of color, lesbians and gays, and other oppressed groups need independent organization to fight oppression. Racism will not be eliminated merely by eliminating capitalism.

add text, images, video, widgets, etc...

People around the world have more in common with each other than with their rulers. We condemn war, preparation for war, and the militaristic culture because they play havoc with people's lives and divert resources from constructive social projects. Militarism also concentrates even greater power in the hands of the few, the powerful and the violent. We align with no nation, but only with working people throughout the world.

The SP of the USA has disavowed any future contact or attempts to join with the Socialist International and has to date unsuccessfully attempted to find unity with more "revolutionary" factions having communistic and anarchist natures. What they have discovered is more infighting and whining among the youth that have taken over a party without a clear guidance. This is why they refuse to be open for all the world to know. Many would like to see a clear and enumerated demographics page and open multi-tendencies once more. Freedom to debate and follow ones possibilities that could lead to actual socialism without tyranny.

Now that the number of activist within the party has dropped to an all time low there is wonder as to what the next step will be without an international or any unity clause even within the USA itself with other center-left parties.

The spusa-international listserver is closed off from any public contact, overview and fails to list any international organization it is willing to join in the future.

Socialism and democracy are one and indivisible. The Socialist Party is democratic, with its structure and practices visible and accessible to all members. We reject dogma and promote internal debate. The Socialist Party is a "multi-tendency" organization. We orient ourselves around our principles and develop a common program, but our members have various underlying philosophies and views of the world. Solidarity within the party comes from the ability of those with divergent views on some issues to engage in a collective struggle towards social revolution. We strive to develop feminist practice within the party.

Many who wrote the first sentence are now gone from the SP of the USA. We now find that what is claimed as "socialism" is not but is instead democratic centralism (communism) and lacking any real democracy, limited to the few. What we find is an elite Politburo self-elected during national conventions by the exploitations of those who cannot travel. Even the locations where these state and national meetings are held tend towards those few elite.

In the second part, "its structure and practices visible and accessible to all members" is not true.

• Where are all the resolutions ever passed?
• Is there an index of all happenings?
• Is there a sunset clause so that resolutions and policies can be reviewed and updated or left to die?
• One tendency of the party is closed off from the others and vice versa, this is not openness.
• Why should the public trust a party they cannot see or interact with?
• Who represents who on the National Committee?
• Why are their (National Committee members) names not email linked for direct and open contact?
• Why does Greg Pason hold three offices and is the only contact in an "accessible" party?

Art is an integral part of daily life. It should not be treated as just a commodity produced by the activity of an elite group. Socialists work to create opportunities for participation in art and cultural activities. We work for the restoration and preservation of the history and culture of working people, women, and oppressed minorities.

add text, images, video, widgets, etc...

Living under domination and struggling against it exact a personal toll. Socialists regard the distortion of personal life and interpersonal relations under capitalism as a political matter. Socialism must ultimately improve life; this cannot be accomplished by demanding that personal lives be sacrificed for the movement. We cherish the right of personal privacy and the enrichment of culture through diversity.

add text, images, video, widgets, etc...

Socialists participate in the electoral process to present socialist alternatives. The Socialist Party does not divorce electoral politics from other strategies for basic change. While a minority, we fight for progressive changes compatible with a socialist future. When a majority we will rapidly introduce those changes, which constitute socialism, with priority to the elimination of the power of big business through public ownership and workers' control.
     By participating in local government, socialists can support movements of working people and make improvements that illustrate the potential of public ownership. We support electoral action independent of the capitalist-controlled two-party system.

add text, images, video, widgets, etc...

No oppressed group has ever been liberated except by its own organized efforts to overthrow its oppressors. A society based on radical democracy, with power exercised through people's organizations, requires a socialist transformation from below. People's organizations cannot be created by legislation, nor can they spring into being only on the eve of a revolution.
     They can grow only in the course of popular struggles, especially those of women, labor, and minority groups. The Socialist Party works to build these organizations democratically.
     The process of struggle profoundly shapes the ends achieved. Our tactics in the struggle for radical democratic change reflect our ultimate goal of a society founded on principles of egalitarian, non-exploitative and non-violent relations among all people and between all peoples.
     To be free we must create new patterns for our lives and live in new ways in the midst of a society that does not understand and is often hostile to new, better modes of life. Our aim is the creation of a new social order, a society in which the commanding value is the infinite preciousness of every woman, man and child.

add text, images, video, widgets, etc...

The Socialist Party USA is a multi-tendency organization which encourages discussion and debate amongst our members. We encourage all members to bring their ideas to their affiliates (local and state), commissions, committees and regional groups and take part in the decision making process. Members are also invited to attend National Committee meetings, conferences and conventions where they can bring up concerns or ideas.

Some members have organized unofficial groupings with other members, as a place where they can discuss and help build support for these ideas or issues. Groupings which meet the following National Committee adopted guidelines are listed below:
1) The grouping not be organized on democratic-centralist lines.
2) The grouping is to be composed only of Socialist Party USA members in good standing if it wishes to identify itself as affiliated with the Socialist Party USA in any way.
3) The grouping produce a statement describing its purpose, which shall not conflict with the Party's Statement of Principles.
4) The grouping shall elect a liaison and submit that name to the National Office.
5) The National Office or appropriate bodies must recognize the request of Party members to be identified as part of one or more of these groupings in Party publications as long as the grouping meets the above guidelines and any future guidelines adopted by the National Committee. If a member identifies her/himself as a member of a grouping that does not meet these guidelines, she/he must state that the grouping is not recognized by the Socialist Party USA.

Unchartered Groupings
Debs Tendency: "The Debs Tendency is a political tendency in the Socialist Party USA. The primary task of the DT is the development of the SPUSA as a revolutionary democratic socialist political party of the working class. The mission of such a party would be the defeat of capitalism and capitalist rule, the establishment of a
democratic workers' republic, the abolition of the old system, which rests on class antagonism and minority rule, and the foundation of a new society without classes and without the tyranny of capitalist private property."
points of unity
Liaison: Erik Toren


Grass Roots Tendency: "The Grass Roots Tendency is an organized political tendency (or caucus) within the Socialist Party USA, supporting a revolutionary socialist politics. Its main goals are maintaining the independence of the Socialist Party from the two-party system and preserving the SP's multi-tendency internal democracy."
points of unity
Liaison: Eric Chester

Citation page: http://socialistparty-usa.org/unoffgroups.html     Dated: Sunday, June 7, 2009

While the overall idea of a multi-tendency party is a great one and was well devised the recent expelling and censorship that has taken place leads directly to a leading problem, Communists and not Socialists have taken full control of what once was a diverse and lively party.

In rule number one we read in pink highlighter the term "democratic centralism" which is defined as being revolutionary in form and nature. Yet (in matching pink highlighter) we read it the two remaining tendencies they are both "revolutionary." Over 50% of the membership has left the SP of the USA since the 2000 elections all citing this one violation in one way or another before leaving.

In rule two, where is there a public list so we all know who belongs to what tendency... even within internal groups there is not a ready made list. What might be even more revealing is to as for the demographics of each group. One might find that the two remaining sides here are only a difference in age but of the same coinage. There is no longer any freedom of conversation or debate unless it is allowed by the Politburo masking itself as the National Action Committee.

Several tendencies have literally vanished from the SP of the USA. To the point, David Schaich of Wikipedia has redirected all former tendency pages to the SP of the USA page there at Wikipedia. It has become an embarrassment that communist doctrine of "we are now one, so why should we need another" (Stalin in his comment on once becoming "revolutionary" to the people) has come full circle.