Some folks seem to think the rift w/ a lot of leftists and D*A is bc of this force the vote issue.

Its foolish to assume this outcry stems from ONE issue that people are divided on.

There are a plethora of real issues with the org, that predate the current discourse.

Thread

Many leftists have grown disenchanted with D*A based on their experiences.

Every chapter is different,so the intention of this thread isn't to target any one specific chapter, or to generalize. It is to elucidate on REAL, counter-revolutionary issues within the org.

Buckle in.

#1: D*A still has anti-communist bylaws nationally, that could result in those of us who are further left than "social democrat" to be expelled from membership. In spite continous pleas to have the bylaw stricken, national has not done so. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/08/03/dsoc-a03.html

#2: D*A constantly asks membership to water down policies that are BASIC NEEDS for survival moving forward, literally for the comfort of liberals/moderates.

Many leftists believe that anyone who asks you to water down your basic needs is not your ally.

#3: D*A has a long & documented history of ignoring abuse within their organizing spaces, and for not holding abusers accountable.
They mishandle disclosure of abuse (for accused & accuser) frequently enough, that many ppl leave the DSA over abuse & never return.

#4: in spite being an org for 38 years, D*A has no official platform, or ethos.
Most chapters still call for capitalism lite, not for socialism. Socialists are anti-capitalists. This does not make sense, and for that reason, I don't feel comfortable calling them a socialist org.

#5: In my PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, many D*A chapters are willfully sexist, ableist, and overwhelmingly white. Disabled & BIPOC rarely make it into leadership roles, etc.

Many of my leftist friends who are outside the majority have expressed discomfort in these spaces/meetings.

#6: When met with good faith criticism, most of the time these D*A leadership sorts get defensive, and do not listen to the concerns of membership, and people who would be outside allies otherwise.

This leads to more distrust & animosity. That is telling af.

#7: Bernie Sanders isn't a member. Before 2016, D*A had about 10k members. They fixed their star to Sanders as he popularized socialist ideas with HIS platform, and now have over 100k DUES BASED members... and yet still have no cohesive vision or demands as a "socialist" org.

#8: Leadership attacks small socialist organizations, simply for existing.
They try & claim copyright over the ROSE, which has been a socialist symbol since well b4 D*A founded almost 40 years ago.

Their lack of socialist ideals or historical context becomes more & more obvious.

#9: D*A is not accessible to disabled people. Period. I said what I said.

#10: D*A had a mutual aid fund they did for pandemic assistance, which they gatekept behind ORG MEMBERSHIP.

Yeah.

In conclusion: I've censored their "S" in every post, because I truly believe with all my heart that they are not a socialist org for change, but rather a counter-revolutionary org that actively abuses & suppresses the good ppl who join bc they want to save the planet.

They have a lot of things to work on, that go well beyond this issue of forcing the vote or not.

Allowing them to say THIS ONE REASON is why people distrust them is unfair, & silencing the leftists with valid negative experiences & opinions, who've left the abusive relationship.

Again. This thread is speaking on the org, and generally on leadership. D*A members, by and large, seem to really be interested in change, and progress.

Sadly, I do not see the org changing any time soon.