Election Analysis • Political Action

the magazine of the Democratic Socialists of America Vol. XLIV, No. 3, Winter 2016 www.dsausa.org RResistanceesistance RRisingising From the National Director Next Steps in the Political Revolution By Maria Svart

’m writing this column two the executive branch, and eventually the Supreme weeks after the election, and Court but may be vulnerable because his constitu- Ithe weight is only getting ents are unlikely to approve of gutting Medicare heavier on my shoulders. From and Social Security as the Republican establish- the moment I wake up until I go ment wants to do. to bed, my mind races. I worry 3. Build a stronger democratic socialist move- about my vulnerable loved ones. I ment, through growing our base of ordinary imagine my own future. I wonder people taking action for racial, gender, and how we can meet the challenges economic justice. Our base will need to mobilize of our times and emerge in a place of collective lib- in strategic ways, in and outside of formal electoral eration. politics, and in and outside of the Democratic Party. You, however, are my antidote. Two days after We on the left are the only ones willing to talk open- the election, when we held an emergency confer- ly about class and capitalism, about the ways white ence call for chapter leaders, more than 100 DSA supremacy is intertwined with it and used by the and YDSers crowded the phone lines, fi rst to mourn, ruling class to divide us. Talk about the fundamen- then to brainstorm about organizing. At this writ- tally opposing interests of the 1% and the rest of us ing, 2,800 additional people have joined DSA. And is talk that can motivate the close to 50% of voters everywhere, new chapters are sprouting from these who didn’t make it to the polls. Exploring why the seeds and established ones are growing. By the “white lash” occurred and who really benefi ts from time you read this column, and by the time Donald it, while engaging together in struggles to protect Trump takes the oath of offi ce, we will have a new health care, increase the minimum wage, and resist cohort of organizers already fi ghting back. the violent policing of poor people is experience that Our tasks right now are threefold: builds relationships. And taking the time to refl ect 1. Defend the most vulnerable in our commu- on the work, who the real enemies and allies are, nities. We must respond to the wave of hate crimes. and grappling with what it will take to win is intel- We cannot let , sexism, and become lectual practice that empowers and builds solidar- the new normal. Trump’s staff appointments to ity. The conversations will not always be easy. But date promise more of the same, which means that they are essential. we need to build solid relationships with every tar- As an organization with rural, suburban, and ur- geted community now for the struggles ahead. More ban chapters, in blue states and red states, and with on how to respond in the box on p. 9. every generation represented in local and national 2. Stay in the streets. Don’t give in to “demonstra- leadership, we can make important contributions to tion fatigue,” and do be creative about your pro- a powerful and independent multiracial movement tests. Trump’s white nationalist, anti-immigrant, for justice. The millennial generation has shown an and Islamophobic set of leadership appointments is openness to democratic socialism unseen in decades. a clear obedience test for the public, and we know We’ll need to be strategic about how we organize in he will move quickly to destroy the unions, which the Deep South vs. the Rust Belt, in the Southwest are currently the most effective organizations to vs. bright blue cities already declaring that they will build multiracial working-class solidarity. He will continued on page 9 have complete control of both branches of Congress, Contents DSA National Convention Mark your calendars for August 4 - 6, 2017, Fighting Faux Populism ...... 3 when we gather at the DSA national con- Militias and the “New Normal” ...... 6 Starting a Socialist Sunday School ...... 10 vention in Chicago for three days of work- Fighting for a Peace Agenda ...... 12 shops and trainings, discussion of organizing Populists, the Elites, and Us ...... 14 best practices, debate over political strat- egy, and putting the social in socialism! Cover art by Frank Reynoso page 2 • Democratic Left • Winter 2016 Fighting Faux Populism By Joseph M. Schwartz

rexit has come to the United States. For universal social welfare programs such as Social thirty years now, in Europe and the United Security and Medicare. States, a bipartisan neoliberal consensus has B Narrow Victory for Trump embraced the benefi ts of globalization and the rise of the “knowledge economy.” If only workers would We should not exaggerate the size of the Trump go back to school, retrain, and send their children to victory. Elections are often won on the margin. Clin- college, the good jobs that disappeared would some- ton won the popular vote by at least 2 million votes (or how return. But those good jobs did not arrive, and over one percent out of over 137 million votes cast), voters have opted for a faux populism that promises and if we didn’t have the Electoral College system to reverse globalization. The rise of mass parties of (created to give increased political weight to the slave the far right coincides with the failure of both con- states), she would be president of the United States. servative and neoliberal-led social democratic par- The deciding votes were approximately 97,000 or ties to offer a viable alternative to austerity for the just enough to fi ll a large stadium. Clinton lost Penn- many and unrestrained affl uence for the few. The sylvania by 68,000 votes, Michigan by 11,000, and same is true for Democratic Wisconsin by 18,000. None of these states had gone Party elites. Republican since 1988. But small margins can mask seis- The Need for a Class Politics mic shifts. Trump’s support What motivation did Hill- from white, college-educated ary Clinton’s campaign pro- voters dropped 10% from vide for working-class voters Romney’s 2012 total, while of all races to turn out? Her his non-college-educated ads stressed her “compe- white vote rose 10% higher tence, experience and exper- than Romney’s. Clinton’s pro- tise” and the deep character jected fi nal vote total of over fl aws of her opponent, includ- 65 million is about two mil- ing his horrifi c misogyny. lion below Obama’s popular No doubt misogyny played vote total of 2012 and about a role in Clinton’s defeat. fi ve million below his 2008 to- But, Clinton failed to em- tal. Trump’s vote rose slightly phasize her platform’s call above Romney’s total, with to raise the minimum wage an important uptick in small to $15 per hour, create jobs town and rural America, through public investment Frank Reynoso particularly in the Rust Belt in infrastructure and alter- (more among irregular voters native energy, and oppose “free trade agreements.” than Obama-Trump switchers). Clinton lost in part She never fully embraced the platform imposed on because she failed to energize the Democratic base, her by the forces behind her social democratic rival, particularly among working-class African Americans Bernie Sanders. Yet Sanders’s message did resonate and socially liberal white working-class voters, many with white working-class voters and millennials of of whom stayed home. all races. In addition, the symbolism of a woman As of this writing in mid-November, we still need running for president failed to win enough white to see actual electoral data, but exit polls indicate working-class or college-educated women. that Clinton probably lost whites without a college Many working-class-voters view the Democrats education by 70-30; and this ten-point swing away as the party of white, socially liberal, bicoastal elites from the 2012 Democratic total explains Trump’s who look down upon the non-college educated. Both margins in rural and small-town white America. Republican and neoliberal Democratic politicians Trump’s victory did not depend solely on the white have embraced a racial politics that attacks anti- working class, as a good chunk of non-college-ed- poverty programs as creating dependence, while ucated white voters are relatively affl uent small supporting with varying degrees of ambivalence business owners or contractors.

Democratic Left • Winter 2016 • page 3 Clinton won the votes of the one-third of the elec- public education and to repeal the twenty-year ban torate making under $50,000 a year by about 12 on bilingual education. points; Obama won that cohort by well over 20%. How Can the Left Fight Back? (Close to half of voters making $50,000 or less are voters of color.) If the Democrats are to make gains What is the left to do in the face of far-right Re- against the Republicans in the 2018 and crucial publican control of the executive, legislative, and 2020 elections (which will determine reapportion- (soon) judicial branches of the federal government? ment), they have to make decreasing social inequal- We must exploit the contradictions between Trump’s ity the centerpiece of their political appeal. faux pro–working-class populism and traditional The left and labor must redress the hole in the Republican support of free trade, hostility to pub- U.S. electorate caused by the class divide in voter lic safety-net programs, and opposition to workers’ participation. Only 35% of eligible voters who earn rights. Democrats in the Senate must fi libuster far- below the median family income vote in presiden- right judicial appointments as vigorously as the tial elections, whereas over two-thirds of individu- right delayed and denied ’s federal als earning above the median income do. Overall, court appointments. Although Trump wants to de- only 50% of people eligible to vote participate in port millions of immigrants, Republican elites know presidential elections (only 30% in non-presidential that agribusiness, the food and meat processing in- congressional year elections). Elites in both parties dustry, construction, fast food, and child and elder collude to prevent the less wealthy from voting via care rely on the exploitation of millions of undocu- onerous registration requirements and by keeping mented workers. The defense of sanctuary cities and Election Day on a weekday rather than on a week- the creation of sanctuary religious networks and end or national holiday. Republicans are more ag- safe campuses should be a crucial immediate task gressive suppressors of voting by people of color. for the left. If registration of Muslims is ordered, we Voter suppression defi nitely cost Clinton Wiscon- must organize all people of good will to register as sin and most probably Michigan. In Wisconsin, more Muslims. In addition, anti-Trump forces must unite than 300,000 registered voters were dropped from to demand that white nationalist promoter Stephen the rolls for not having adequate forms of identifi ca- Bannon be fi red as chief White House counselor and tion or for not having voted in recent elections. Af- that the Democrats in the Senate fi libuster the ap- rican American turnout in Milwaukee County and pointment of racist Senator (R-AL) as in Wayne County (Detroit) was down far more than attorney general. the national 10% drop in African American turnout Trump will go after worker rights and appoint from 2012. And the closing of scores of early polling reactionaries to the National Labor Relations Board stations in North Carolina undoubtedly cost Clin- and Department of Labor, as well as back Republican ton tens, perhaps hundreds, of thousands of African legislative plans for a federal right-to-work bill. The American votes. As it is, 13% of African American labor movement must engage in aggressive forms of men cannot vote because of felony exclusion; 25% in democratic, bottom-up organizing (increasingly out- Florida. Thus, the movement against voter suppres- side the framework of the hobbled National Labor sion remains central to the struggle for equal rights. Relations Act) and stop supporting those Democrats Still, there was some good news on Election Day. who are not true friends of unions. Trump will fail The increasing participation of Latino voters means to deliver “jobs, jobs, jobs” to economically deprived that Georgia, Arizona, and Texas will soon be com- communities, because the Republicans will oppose petitive states. Voters in Maricopa County, Arizona, any major public investment in alternative energy defeated the racist incumbent sheriff, Joe Arpaio, and mass transit. Even if he could bring back basic and progressive black district attorneys were elect- steel production from South Korea, China, Brazil, ed in Cleveland and Chicago. Latinos, particularly and elsewhere, massive increases in productivity in union activists, are the leaders of progressive poli- that industry and in coal mining mean that most of tics in California, Nevada, Arizona, and soon Texas. those jobs are gone forever. And that’s not even con- Voters in Arizona, Colorado, Maine, and Washington sidering the disastrous environmental costs of dereg- voted to raise their minimum wages, and Arizona ulating pollution controls on coal-fi red power plants. and Colorado approved measures to require busi- The Republican caucus will likely oppose any nesses to provide employees with paid sick leave. renegotiation of past free trade deals and will op- Thanks to the deep organizing of the Richmond pose Trump’s protectionism. The Democrats should Progressive Alliance, Richmond, California, passed lay down guidelines for future fair trade deals that signifi cant rent-control initiatives. And California have vigorous enforcement provisions for labor and voters approved measures to extend the current in- human rights and environmental protection and come tax surcharge on wealthy residents to pay for that eliminate the pro-corporate investor dispute page 4 • Democratic Left • Winter 2016 resolution courts that trample on a state’s right to ministration will come from the xenophobic, homo- regulate corporate behavior. phobic, and racist executive orders he may make the Major infrastructure investment might bring day he assumes offi ce. He could well place #Black- some jobs to depressed areas, but Trump’s and the LivesMatter on the domestic terrorist watch list. Republicans’ desire for massive tax giveaways to His attorney general is likely to accelerate mass in- the rich and corporations will deplete the federal carceration and defend racial profi ling by police. As coffers. The Democrats should fi libuster any in- the DSA NPC statement emphasizes, the fi rst task frastructure proposal that calls for tax credits for of the left is to defend the rights of those threatened corporations to repair infrastructure and then take by deportation, by , and by repression private ownership of it. Trump’s promise of “jobs, against those fi ghting for racial and economic jus- jobs, jobs” is a repackaged version of the failed mili- tice. The movement that opposed U.S. intervention tary Keynesianism of past Republican administra- in Central America created a “pledge of resistance” tions. He would create massive stimulatory defi cits to protect the rights of undocumented refugees by mammoth tax cuts to the rich and corporations who came to the United States. We must create a while boosting government new “pledge of resistance” expenditure on useless, but against all racist, Islamo- somewhat job-producing phobic, anti-Semitic, anti- military hardware. If the immigrant, and misogynist left can link opposition to acts inspired by . tax cuts to his climate-de- The Sanders campaign nying environmental policy demonstrated that work- through mass opposition in ing-class people of all races the streets, Trump might can be drawn to a demo- be forced to opt for less ex- cratic socialist politics that treme policies. speaks to their needs. In the We must be wary of a 2018 and 2020 elections we return to bipartisan neo- must work not only to de- liberal attacks on Social feat Republicans, but also Security and Medicare. neoliberal Democrats. The The Reagan and Bush II most pragmatic way of ac- tax cuts each deprived the complishing the latter task federal coffers of 2.1% gross would be to run insurgent domestic product. Thus, left primary candidates (in- today the federal govern- cluding avowed democratic ment has more than $700 socialists) against main- billion dollars (or nearly stream Democrats, though 20% of the federal budget) in some places independent less to spend on basic hu- candidates may be possible. man needs. The proposed Only if the left builds mul- Trump tax cuts would deny tiracial independent politi- the federal government an- cal capacity to punish pro- other 3% or more of GDP corporate Democrats can in revenues, accentuating we build an electoral force pressure for massive cuts to that can defeat Trumpism. Social Security and Medi- Metro DC DSA member Hannah Walker holds sign at a DC At this writing, a week af- anti-Trump rally. Photo by Merrill Miller care (which Republicans ter the election, more than and many neoliberal Democrats want to privatize). 2,800 new people have joined DSA. As we build Trump’s faux populism provides the left with an op- mass resistance to Trump, we also have to build a portunity to rally around Bernie Sanders’s plan to socialist organization capable of transforming the increase Social Security funding by removing the political conversation in the United States.  cap on incomes subject to the Social Security tax. Joseph Schwartz teaches politics at Temple Only by enacting Sanders’s plan for massive pub- University and is a vice chair of DSA. For more lic investment in infrastructure, alternative energy, in-depth analysis and an outline of DSA’s plans and mass transit can productive jobs be brought to to resist Trumpism see the DSA National Political the deindustrialized heartland and our inner cities. Committee’s statement at http://tinyurl.com/ But the most immediate threat of a Trump ad- hsghw76

Democratic Left • Winter 2016 • page 5 Militias and the ‘New Normal’ By Abby Scher

onald Trump’s presidential campaign brought With Trump’s appointment of Stephen Bannon the menace of the “Patriot” movement from as his “Karl Rove” fi gure, no one can pretend that Dthe margins to the center of national politics, the white supremacists who presented themselves and there is no reason to think the militiaization of as “white nationalists” won’t maintain their place our politics will now fade into the background. at the center of news feeds, as they did riding the Will we all have to learn the Rural Organizing Trump phenomenon. Project’s tips for those facing off with the Patriot During the 2007 election campaign, right-wing movement in Oregon (see box on p. 7)? Will we need talk radio, Fox News and websites gave a platform to take security more seriously when holding meet- to “birthers” who claimed Barack Obama was born ings and somehow fi nd the courage to be visible in Kenya and was a secret Muslim aiming to take even when our political over the United States. opponents carry guns? Instead of subsiding af- As readers of Demo- ter the election, the con- cratic Left know all too spiracism grew. well, Trump’s bullying of This time around, Mexican Americans, oth- the conspiracism built er immigrants of color, on the years when the and Muslims translated mainstream Republi- immediately into his can Party and its media supporters’ harassing allies insinuated that people from those com- blacks engage in “voter munities on the streets fraud.” The constant and in schools. On a New investigations by con- York City bus ride, a gressional committees middle-aged white cou- fed the McCarthyite feel ple shouted at a young that there is something Bangladeshi American sinister to investigate. woman to take off her I agree with my for- hijab before the white mer colleague Chip woman tried to pull it off Berlet that we are wit- her head, saying it wasn’t nessing right-wing allowed anymore. Fellow Portion of an “Alt-Right” website homepage. populism—Trump and bus riders yelled at her many of his followers to stop but the Muslim woman was left in tears. scorn “elites,” including Wall Street and the Belt- Along with the prospect of the permanent main- way regulars of the GOP, while scapegoating immi- streaming into our lives of such street harassment grants, Muslims, and the less powerful. The Trump and armed, white, fatigue-wearing right-wingers, supporter chanting “Jew-S-A” to the corralled press I fear the astounding appeal of the bullying, male corps at an Arizona rally refl ected corrosive anti- supremacist, racist authoritarianism of Trump. We Semitic attacks on the news media, suggesting they saw it in the thrill of his famous call for “Second can’t be trusted because they are controlled by a Amendment people” to take care of Hillary Clin- Jewish cabal. Among populists left and right there ton, presumably by shooting her; in the joy of the is a widespread loathing of smug insiders of both crowds when he said he would jail her were he to be major parties who craft trade deals that destroy liv- elected president; in his having his security guards ing-wage jobs and ignore the growing fear of those muscle out a black supporter from a North Carolina in the middle that they too will tumble into the eco- rally because he mistook the man’s enthusiasm for nomic abyss. “The Great Risk Shift” described by a challenge. It was there when he rejected the pros- political scientist Jacob Hacker, with corporations pect of being judged by a U.S.-born Mexican Ameri- and government cutting safety nets and shifting the can in court. We heard it in his ultimate con, that risks of the economy on to individuals, has only got- only he could bring jobs back to the United States. ten worse with the gig economy. page 6 • Democratic Left • Winter 2016 Fascism is a type of right-wing populism that an armed political culture. His appeal as the strong seeks a one-party state and a subversion of democ- man who can fi x everything builds on a weakened racy itself. Whether Trump tipped into a fascist party system hollowed out by big money in politics. style during the last weeks of the campaign is up “The people” have been ignored in Washington. for debate. I’d say his vow to throw “crooked Hill- In this, at least, he is not wrong. Lawrence Bar- ary” in jail and his disdain for the courts and legis- tels tracked the disparity between the corporate lature—the other parts of government besides the politics that congressional representatives voted executive—are at least fascist in style. This echoes to support and what opinion polls revealed their Nazi theorist Carl Schmitt’s notion of “decisionism,” constituents actually wanted. This was true for that the person who is able to use extra-legal means both Democrats and Republicans. Bernie Sand- to assert a new normal is the sovereign power. ers’s amazing run revealed that more was possible There can be no debate that Trump’s attacks on within the party system than many leftists ever our weak democracy feed into the implied threat of imagined. It will be interesting to see whether the

Safety Tips for Events Adapted from Up in Arms: A Guide to Oregon’s Patriot Movement by the Rural Organizing Project and Political Research Associates. Event Framing Be clear in all publicity that your event is meant to be peaceful. Call local law enforcement and let them know about the action. If possible, communicate with any law enforcement that you have a previous or good relationship with. Ask for a direct number to call if there are any confrontations. Assign one person to be in charge of this phone number. That person is to call the number if • protesters are obstructing your event or movement to or within the event • protesters surround or block anyone at the event • protesters verbally or physically threaten anyone Build your local security team. Recruit security folks who are calm, good at de-escalation, and committed to keeping everyone calm and safe. These people should not be the event organizers or play any other role in the event. Set up a security meeting ahead of time. Come up with your plan, talk through roles and scenarios, and exchange cell phone numbers so that you can reach each other before, during, and after the event. Here are some roles and considerations: • Have at least two people who can focus on keeping eyes open at all times for any right-wing protesters or any- one lurking about. These people should visibly move between the protesters and your event, never turning away from protesters, even if it means their backs are to the event. Stay at least a yard away from any threatening people. Keep your hands up in a ready, but nonthreatening way. Do not argue or debate. Do have a few catch- phrases pre-programmed, such as, “I think I understand how you feel, but this is not the place,” and “We are just going to keep things peaceful here.” • Have a few people who are obviously providing security and a few others, who are less obvious, in the group. • You may be followed after an event. If you are able, designate a public meet-up spot after your event, like a restaurant. Have a few security team members plan to be there for an hour afterward. Let people know this location and that they can go there if they think they are being followed. • Have one person assigned to photograph protesters and their vehicle license plates in an unobtrusive way. During the Event Have security people and/or the MC tell everyone to absolutely not engage with protesters or people looking for a confrontation. Do not talk to them. Do not shout at them. If they try to talk to you, just walk away or say, “I will not engage. Please stop talking to me.” Stay focused on your own event. If your rally or vigil features speakers, coach them ahead of time not to stop if protesters are trying to disrupt or interrupt. Otherwise, the disrupters are rewarded and will continue. This is a situation where security’s role of keeping the protesters separated from the event is key. After the Event Debrief with your security team. What went well? What could be done better? If your event went without a hitch, congratulations! But do not think your security preparations were too elaborate. The presence of visible security can deter the protesters.

Democratic Left • Winter 2016 • page 7 Berniecrats committed to running for local offi ce can turn “Our Revolution” into something new DSA Welcomes New Offi ce Staff within the Democratic Party’s shell. Trumpism now leads the GOP alliance of the fos- During a surge in membership because sil fuel industry, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, of Bernie Sanders’s campaign, DSA hired the Christian right, and white “middle” Americans. new staff who were in place when the Conservative soul-searching during the campaign wave of new members joined after the ended with the election, as did the need for racist presidential election. By freeing the national dog whistles as they submitted to Bannon, normal- director of administrative tasks, they allow izing a white supremacist in the White House. program staff to be in the fi eld and respond What will we do? Along with political battles, not more quickly to organizing opportunities. least around climate change, we are creating soli- Eileen Casterline is the administrative darity circles, signing up to “accompany our neigh- and offi ce coordinator in the national New bor” who fears being harassed, and fi guring out York City offi ce. ways to widen the circles of compassion. This is the She sends new fi rst order of work. We must challenge the distrust member packets, Trumpism generates among us. As my friend Ro- swag, Democratic bina Niaz, an activist and social worker, told me, Left and Red Let- “There are more people reaching out to us, friends ter, and prepares and allies, than are trying to harm us, and we have other in-offi ce mail- to remember that.” ings; she oversees Conspiracism—and the racism it builds on— in-offi ce volun- seems to me the greatest long-term threat that we teers, including the “wonderful people need to tackle from the far right, as much as any au- who stuff all those thoritarianism coming from Trump’s government. mailings and make During the election, fear of those tendencies led buttons”; and an- some to support “popular front”-style politics ally- swers the phones ing leftists and liberals in multi-ethnic organizing. and responds to many questions sent to Moving forward, we must support news media we [email protected]. She keeps our information can trust and enlarge their reach into local commu- and systems up to date and functional. Her nities. We need to build local voices and local visibil- background is in theater (mostly drama- ity. And we need to do it without the party bashing turgy and set design), and she has worked (or navel gazing) that is a turnoff to the growing in nonprofi t fundraising. number of people who don’t identify with parties or Claudia Cahill is in charge of member even politics as we know it. engagement and grassroots fundraising. We’ve been working on that for years, but the This includes fragmentation of social media platforms now seems writing and more of a setback than an opportunity. Face to face, editing rapid community by community, we need to nurture a liv- response emails, connecting ing, growing consensus among the new power bases new members emerging—in #BlackLivesMatter, Hispanic advocacy, to existing DSA and labor both inside unions and beyond—and build chapters, and media that go with it. We need to keep digging new helping DSA trenches of consciousness from the ground up. We establish the have no choice.  fi nancial sta- bility needed Abby Scher is a sociologist and for long-term journalist who writes frequently organizing. Her background in theater, about the U.S. right and economic cultural anthropology, and teaching has justice. been enormously helpful, as has her previ- ous work in LGBT ministry in the Catholic Church, anti-war activism, and cat rescue. Books by DSA Authors (Yes, cat rescue. As she notes, “In hard Once a year we list recent books published times, we all need some comfort. Also, by DSA members. Send us the title and knowing how to herd cats is a useful skill on ordering information by February 1, 2017. the left!”)

page 8 • Democratic Left • Winter 2016 NEXT STEPS/continued from page 2 offer sanctuary for the undocumented. And we plan to be strategic, as we embark on a 50-state organiz- ing drive in the wake of the election. As socialists, we know that acting in solidarity and mutual inter- est with each other across lines of difference is the only way to build power. I have great hope, despite the dark times. 

FILM TALK Join us for discussions of two fi lms/videos. Check dsausa.org/calendar for details: January 30: The Price We Pay February, date TBD: Salt of the Earth (1954) What You Can Do Now! 1. Combat hate crimes. Reach out to organiza- The mainstream media are normalizing his be- tions based in communities that are under attack havior, and moderate Democrats are refusing to and ask what you can do to help. Do so especially take bold action. Finally, too many left of center if you yourself are part of a vulnerable commu- are fi ghting over whether race or class explains nity—we must band together. These include the results (hint: it’s both, as outlined in the DSA • Immigrant rights groups / churches, and so on, post-election statement at www.dsausa.org). because the Obama deportation machine is al- 3. Attend anti-Trump rallies and build co- ready in place and would be easy to accelerate alitions. Solidarity is more important than ever. • Mosques and Muslim community groups For example, one DSA chapter reached out to im- • Synagogues migrant rights and legal aid organizations and • Black churches / BlackLivesMatter is setting up direct action trainings for DSAers • LGBTQ centers or activist groups to be ready to intervene in deportations. Just be- • Planned Parenthood/ abortion clinics cause your community is not being targeted today Some things you can do are helping with doesn’t mean that it is exempt. An injury to one physical protection such as community patrols or truly is an injury to all. guarding offi ces and houses of worship, assisting with logistics for rallies, scheduling escorts for 4. Order DSA pro-refugee, feminist, and community members, whatever is needed. other buttons from the national website and You can also get together and practice what wear them everywhere to signal that you are un- you would do if you witnessed someone being ha- afraid and join with others in the struggle. Give rassed. Many people freeze up in a horrible situ- them to your friends to wear, too, and ask them to ation, but if you role-play in advance, it is easier join DSA! to respond quickly in real life. There are memes 5. Strengthen organizations you are already and videos on the Web with step-by-step advice in, or organize informal meetings with for nonviolent de-escalation. friends, with the theme of “What does this mean DSA chapters across the country are develop- for us?” You may be able to form a DSA local or ing “rapid response mobilization plans,” whether recruit more people to an existing one. Regard- using phone trees, texting groups, or other tech- less, you can nology that can be activated quickly. • create space for people to talk about how they 2. Speak out. Intervene in the public discussion feel and then help move them to action by speaking credibly as a member of your local • watch an online video about preventing ha- community through opinion editorials (op-eds), rassment and then discuss and practice letters to the editor, and calls into radio shows. • discuss the DSA National Political Commit- Trump’s leadership team is composed of white tee statement on the election, available on our nationalists, homophobes, creationists, and cor- website porate lobbyists. He has already moved to deni- • decide to do solidarity work together grate public protest and control the free press.

Democratic Left • Winter 2016 • page 9 Starting a Socialist Sunday School Hae-Lin Choi speaks to Maxine Phillips

Too often, when DSA members have children, they an email list and set up a Facebook group. We decid- drop out of activities because the locals do not have ed not to make a membership with DSA a require- meetings at convenient times for parents or are not ment but an option. consistent in providing child care. In addition, mem- We decided to have SSS every other Sunday from bers would like to provide places for their children to 10 a.m.-12 noon and came up with the following learn socialist values and to meet other young people structure: from 10-10:30 a.m., families arrive; class whose parents share those values. Socialist groups is from 10:30-11:30 a.m. for the young people; from and parties in other countries have strong programs 11:30-noon, we share snacks and clean up. Most of for young people, and in the past, U.S. groups did, the kids still take afternoon naps, and Saturdays too. Maxine Phillips talked to NYC DSA member are fi lled with other activities. We understand that Hae-Lin Choi about Choi’s experience in starting a Sunday morning scheduling is a barrier to families young people’s program in Brooklyn.—Ed. who attend religious services, but for the moment, MP: What gave you the idea for a socialist this is the best we can do. Sunday school? This is the outline we came up with for the class: HC: I grew up going to 1. Start with a brief medi- a Korean church in Ger- tation to calm everybody many, learning all about down kindness, sharing, and 2. Hello and introductions helping each other in a 3. Sing a movement song wonderfully warm, com- like “Union Maid,” “Soli- munal, and nourishing darity Forever,” etc. space. That really had a 4. Read a book about a positive impact on me (in specifi c topic, followed by addition to my socialist discussion parents!). But now that 5. Do an art activity con- I am not religious any- nected to the book more, I wondered where 6. Learn a new song I could fi nd that kind of 7. Recap, thank yous and community and value- snacks and clean up. infused learning for my Because most kids kids, who are four and were ages two to six, we three. wanted to keep the struc- When I joined DSA ture simple and engaging. earlier this year, I real- We picked a few topics for ized that DSA would be the upcoming sessions, a perfect place to jump- such as Strike, Saving the start something like a Environment, Peace, Di- socialist Sunday school versity and (Self-) Accep- (SSS). tance, and Activism and MP: How did you had parents volunteer as fi nd other parents and class teachers. why did you choose Members of the socialist Sunday school prepare for an anti-Trump At the fi rst meeting, we rally. the time you did? Are had 49 little and big peo- all the parents DSA members? ple! Because it was our I reached out to a few like-minded families, we very fi rst meeting, we focused on getting to know scheduled a planning meeting with about ten fami- each other and each other’s children. lies, and we came up with an organizing structure MP: What are some of the books you’ve used and an outline for the classes. We were lucky to fi nd and how has SSS developed? a cheap space to rent for our meetings. We started HC: Over the next couple of meetings, we had an page 10 • Democratic Left • Winter 2016 average of 10-15 children per session and we began Hae-Lin Choi is a to develop a sense of community. We had great con- campaign director at the versations with the kids about why corporate greed Communications Workers is bad for the environment (reading The Lorax out- of America and a member side in the park), about why it’s important to orga- of the DSA NYC labor nize and fi ght against unfairness (¡Sí, Se Puede! Yes, branch and the racial We Can! Janitor Strike in L.A.), or about what they justice committee of DSA. like about each other and themselves. Several par- For a list of material used ents told me that SSS really resonated with their in the socialist Sunday kids and led to discussions at home. school, go to http:// After two successful meetings, we decided to socialistsundayschool. have a guided discussion among parents. Up un- tumblr.com/resources til then, we’d just had general political discussion, mostly about the presidential election. It was the summer, when in a matter of a few days three black men, Delrawn Small, Alton Sterling, and Philando Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation Publication Title, “DEMOCRATIC LEFT” 2. Publication Number, 701960 ISSN, 1643207 3. Filing Castile were shot by the police, and we were at a Date, 9/30/2016 4. Issue Frequency, quarterly 5. Number of Issues Published Annually, 4 6. Annual Subscription Price, $10.00 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Offi ce of Publication, 75 MAIDEN loss about how to talk to our kids about this. We had LANE, ROOM 702, NEW YORK, NY 10038-4630 8. Contact Person, Ms. MARIA SVART Telephone, a good discussion, shared resources, and also agreed (212) 727-8610 9. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Offi ce of Publisher, 75 MAIDEN LANE, ROOM 702, NEW YORK, NY 10038-4630, Publisher Maria Svart, DSA to try to make SSS more diverse. 75 Maiden Lane, Room 702, New York, NY 10038-4630, Editor Maria Svart, DSA 75 Maiden Lane, Room 702, New York, NY 10038-4630, Managing Editor Maria Svart, DSA 75 Maiden Lane, Room We took a break in August, and in September we 702, New York, NY 10038-4630. 10. Owner, Democratic Socialists of America Inc., 75 Maiden Lane, Room 702, New York, NY 10038-4630 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgages, Other Security Holders, struggled to pick things up again when folks were None 12. Tax Status, Has not changed during preceding 12 months. dealing with the start of school. A few of us met in Publication Title, DEMOCRATIC LEFT Issue Date for Circulation Data Below, Fall 2016 October to discuss how to move forward, but then Extent and Nature of Circulation Average No. Copies two subsequent meetings did not get organized, and No. of of Single I started to think that maybe SSS had failed. Copies Issue Each Issue, Published Then, Donald Trump was elected president, and During Nearest Preceding to Filing I realized that it was even more important to talk 12 Months Date to our kids about love and kindness, about the im- a.Total Number of Copies (net press run) 8733 10,300 portance of activism, about respect, support, and b.Paid Circulation (By Mail and Outside the Mail) (1) Mailed 6066 7009 solidarity. And I also felt a desperate need for com- Outside County Paid Subscriptions State on PS Form 3541 munity. I invited all the parents for a meeting to be b.(2) Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions States on PS 182 196 together and make signs with the kids for upcom- Form 3541 ing anti-Trump protests. Ten families responded, b.(3) Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales 00 Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter and eight families came. We made signs and did our Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS

fi rst SSS fi eld trip to the Make the Road New York b.(4) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through 497 110 anti-Trump rally. the USPS c.Total Paid Distribution 6745 8305 MP: What advice do you have for others d.Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (By Mail and Outside who want to provide such a program? the Mail)

A few things I learned: Keep it simple, no need to d.(1)Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies included 00 fi gure out a “curriculum” or have various commit- in PS Form 3541 tees. Parents are busy and have a hard time com- d.(2)Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included in 00 mitting to regular activities. Weekends are a heav- PS Form 3541 d.(3)Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes 1060 1450 ily contested time slot. Whoever shows up, shows Through the USPS (e.g. First-Class Mail) up and someone is always able to read a book and d.(4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail 183 100 draw pictures with the kids. Start with meeting in (Carriers or other means) people’s homes before committing to rent a space. e.Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution 1243 1550

Although we have a few teachers in our group, no f.Total Distribution 7988 9855 one had ever taught a socialist Sunday school, so we g.Copies Not Distributed 745 445 are all fi guring this out together. The community we are creating is wonderful and h.Total 8733 10,300 powerful and the fact that we are consciously rais- i.Percent Paid 84.43% 84.27% ing the next generation of activists along the way is 16. Publication of Statement of Ownership, Publication of this statement will be printed in the Winter more important than ever.  2015 edition of this publication. 17. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner, [email protected] (MARIA SVART) Date 9/30/2016.

Democratic Left • Winter 2016 • page 11 Demanding a Peace Agenda By Lawrence Wittner

he looming advent of the right-wing Trump mon interest, such as countering terrorism, halting administration in Washington threatens to the international drug trade, and battling climate Tworsen an already deeply troubling interna- change. tional situation. Bitter wars are raging, tens of mil- It is not hard to imagine compromise settlements lions of refugees have taken fl ight, relations among of their recent confl icts. Behind the hard line Russia the great powers are deteriorating, and a new nu- has taken in Ukraine, including the annexation of clear arms race is underway. Resources that could Crimea and military meddling in what’s left of that be used to fi ght poverty, racism, sexism, unemploy- country, lies the North Atlantic Treaty Organiza- ment, and climate change are being lavished on the tion’s expansion eastward to Russia’s borders. Why military might of nations around the world—$1.7 not show a willingness to halt that expansion in ex- trillion in 2015 alone. change for an agreement to respect the sovereignty The United States accounts for 36% of that glob- of Ukraine and other nations in Russia’s vicinity? al total. Military spending represents 54% of the Resolving the U.S.-Russian confl ict in Syria ap- federal government’s discretionary budget, and the pears more problematic, given Russia’s military military’s share will surely rise as the U.S. govern- intervention to prop up the Assad government and ment implements its plan U.S. talk of a “no-fl y zone,” for spending $1 trillion a measure that seems over the next 30 years on likely to increase the risk “modernization” of the en- An estimated 2,000 of war with Russia. Even tire U.S. nuclear weapons so, why not abandon the complex. U.S. nuclear warheads are U.S. government’s de- Given this grim real- “ mand for the ouster of ity, it’s time for those who currently deployed and Assad, scrap plans for pro- would build a better world vocative U.S. military ac- to demand an alternative ready for action around tion, and demand support agenda from the new ad- for a UN-negotiated peace ministration in Washing- the world. deal for Syria? The U.S. ton—an agenda for peace. government’s growing dis- One key ingredient is pute with China over the improving U.S. relations future” of uninhabited islands in the South China with Russia and China. This is not an easy task, Sea also seems soluble, perhaps within a regional for these countries are governed by brutal regimes security framework. that seem to believe (much like many politicians The three nations could avoid a very dangerous in the United States) that a display of military arms race and, at the same time, cut their military force remains a useful way to deal with other na- costs substantially by agreeing to reduce their mili- tions. Furthermore, Russia’s recent sharp hostility tary expenditures by a fi xed percentage (for exam- toward the United States and the demonization of ple, 10%) per year for a fi xed period, such as three Vladimir Putin during the presidential campaign years. This “peace race” would allow them to retain make the restoration of Russian-American détente their current military balance and devote the sav- particularly diffi cult. ings to more useful items in their budgets. Even Even so, the U.S. government has worked out better, they could give the savings to a UN agency live-and-let-live relationships with the predecessors funding measures against climate change in impov- of the current Russian and Chinese regimes—some erished nations. of which were considerably more bellicose—and A second key ingredient in a peace agenda is should be able to do so again. After all, the three moving forward on nuclear arms control and dis- countries have much to gain by improving their armament. With more than 15,000 nuclear weap- relations. This includes not only avoiding a cata- ons in the arsenals of nine nations, including 7,300 strophic nuclear war but also reducing their spend- held by Russia and 7,100 by the United States, the ing on useless, vastly expensive weapons systems world is living on the edge of nuclear annihilation. and cooperating on issues in which they have a com- Although the Kremlin shows no interest at this page 12 • Democratic Left • Winter 2016 time in signing further nuclear disarmament agree- ments with Washington, progress could be made on other fronts. One step toward nuclear sanity is to push the U.S. Senate to ratify the 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Even if GOP senators block CTBT rati- fi cation, as seems likely, the new administration could take executive action to promote nuclear arms control and disarmament. For example, it could halt the $1 trillion nuclear “modernization” program, take U.S. nuclear weapons off alert, declare a “no fi rst use” policy for U.S. nuclear weapons, and make signifi cant reductions in the U.S. nuclear arsenal. An estimated 2,000 U.S. nuclear warheads are cur- rently deployed and ready for action around the world, but the Joint Chiefs of Staff have conclud- ed that only a thousand are necessary. Thus, even without negotiating a treaty, the administration could simply cut its deployed nuclear forces in half without any loss in much-vaunted “deterrence” ca- pability. The new administration could even engage in in- ternational negotiations for a treaty to ban nucle- humanity. It would provide an improvement over ar weapons. Peace and disarmament groups have the relatively ineffectual “blue helmets” who are pushed for the opening of such treaty negotiations usually dispatched by national governments in the for years, and, on October 27, 2016, the UN Gen- aftermath of a disastrous confl ict and, ultimately, eral Assembly rewarded their efforts by passing a are controlled by these governments. Action by this resolution to begin negotiations in 2017. Why not “UN Legion” would be authorized by the world com- participate in them? munity and, therefore, would presumably have a A third key ingredient in a peace agenda is draw- sounder basis and occur less frequently than mili- ing upon the United Nations to handle international tary intervention by individual nations. confl icts. The United Nations was founded in 1945 Of course, very few, if any, of these suggested ac- in the hope of ending the practice of powerful coun- tions are likely to materialize during a Trump pres- tries using their military might to bludgeon other idency without massive public pressure for them. countries into accepting what the powerful regard- Also, unfortunately, the American left seems divided ed as their national interests. National security was over the appropriate role for the U.S. government in to be replaced by international security, thereby re- Syria and over the potential of the United Nations ducing aggression and military intervention by in- in establishing international security. A peaceful dividual nations. Critics of the United Nations have world—like the Bernie Sanders campaign—will re- argued that it is weak and ineffectual along these quire very signifi cant popular mobilization in which lines and, therefore, should be abandoned—except, peace and social justice activists play an important perhaps, for its humanitarian programs. But, in- part.  stead of abandoning the United Nations, how about Lawrence Wittner is Professor strengthening it? of History Emeritus at There are many ways to increase the effective- SUNY/Albany, as well as the ness of the United Nations. These include eliminat- author of Confronting the ing the veto in the Security Council, establishing a Bomb (Stanford University weighted voting system in the General Assembly, Press) and co-chair of the giving General Assembly decisions the force of in- national board of Peace ternational law, and creating an independent fund- Action. ing mechanism (such as an international fi nancial transactions tax) for UN operations. Another idea, proposed in 1948 by the fi rst UN secretary-gen- eral, Trygve Lie, is to establish a permanent, all- volunteer UN rapid deployment force under UN jurisdiction that could act to prevent crimes against

Democratic Left • Winter 2016 • page 13 Populists, the Elites, and Us By Michael Hirsch

My Turn: Hillary Clinton Targets the Presidency others appear to have returned those favors with By Doug Henwood, OR Books, 2016 massive contributions to her family’s ostensibly philanthropic nonprofi t Clinton Foundation. Trump Unveiled: Exposing the Bigoted Billionaire Although many of us would have breathed a By John K. Wilson, OR Books, 2016 little more easily if Donald Trump had been de- feated, the actual benefi ts of a Clinton administra- hat an election! First, shock and bore tion—with the not inconsequential exceptions of a throughout; then, fright night. During the decent Supreme Court majority and National La- Wcourse of the tortuous presidential cam- bor Relations Board—would not have been great. paign, Hillary Clinton and the feral Donald Trump Could there have been even a modest increase in both had large, tub-thumping support sections and the federal minimum wage or Social Security ben- ample rubbishers. With the outcome now history, is efi ts if the Sanders-Warren wing of the Democratic there any reason to reopen the trash bin? I think Party could not prevail? Adam Nagourney, writing yes, because two books released during the cam- in the New York Times about her 2000 Senate race, paign elaborate on far more than its detritus. They reminded readers that “she went out of her way to warn not only that the struggle against far-right note her support for the death penalty, welfare re- nativism and neoliberal austerity continues but strictions and a balanced budget.” also that the political center is cracked. And then, there’s John K. Wilson’s encyclopedic Let’s start with Doug Henwood’s My Turn: Hill- Trump Unveiled: Exposing the Bigoted Billionaire. ary Clinton Targets the Presidency, a masterly expo- Wilson’s is a scorch- sé of a politician who ingly fi erce and fi rst- talks a populist game rate piece of oppo- but who throughout sition research, ex- her career has acted haustive in its profi le as a neoliberal war- of Trump as a grifter rior-cum-austerity- and misogynistic po- freak. Feeding off cor- seur. His comment porate money, she is at the Las Vegas de- certainly not a liberal, bate that “we have no a progressive, or a left country if we have no populist. border” ranks among Henwood charts in the worst sort of na- painful detail Clin- tivist toxins. ton’s rise from “the George Orwell got Rose law fi rm, which it right, in “The Lion represented the mon- and the Unicorn,” eyed interests of Arkansas,” to her defense of her when he said, “One cannot see the modern world husband’s welfare “reform” initiatives, which gutted as it is unless one recognizes the overwhelming public assistance to the poor. Her economic record strength of patriotism, national loyalty…..Christi- includes embracing (until recently) free trade over anity and internationalism are as weak as straw in fair trade. Her vote for the Iraq War in the Sen- comparison to it.” The evangelicals who fl ocked to ate and her role in the Obama administration as Trump’s side proved the point. the most vociferous opponent of reversing the coup Readers of Democratic Left know this and more against Honduran president Manuel Zelaya and about Trump. But Wilson’s book is worth reading, to her leading the charge to overthrow Libya’s Muam- remind us what a bad actor like Trump can do. mar Gaddafi mark her clearly as a hawk. What Wilson doesn’t deal with, though, is why The circumstantial evidence that she used her Trump is idolized by so many who would be his vic- position for what she loftily called “economic state- tims. Why is this mad clown popular? The book does craft”—aiding corporations with fi nancial deals not offer a broad enough context. As Joan Walsh abroad—is compelling. Microsoft, Boeing, GE and said in the Nation, “Donald Trump didn’t invent page 14 • Democratic Left • Winter 2016 this nativist, racist, paranoid appeal; he just dialed candidate had the capacity and program to accom- it to 11.” plish anything that would help them. The media Maybe the greatest crime of the Democrats is mostly treated its campaign coverage as a sporting that they gave Trump a free ideological ride instead event if not a video game, without any sense of un- of taking the fi ght for ideas to the GOP—something derstanding the game or the stakes. And now, with Bernie Sanders at least offered the ideological frame the appointment of Stephen Bannon—former exec- for doing—by bringing into the arena class issues utive chair of the oxymoron that is such as jobs, inequality, free public higher educa- and head of Trump’s campaign operations at the tion, and reining in the fi nancial industry pirates. end—as Trump’s consiglieri, the line between fact Neither Clinton nor Trump hinted at opposition and fi ction may be completely erased. to the core principles of neoliberalism. Would the And fi nally, although we want to blame the capi- response to a Clinton presidency by the left have talists, who certainly have more power than we, been a resurgence of opposition or continued efforts the left has not yet been able to present a plausible to fl atten the social movements in the interests of program or an ideological vision that goes beyond electoral viability? Will Democrats be able to at hope or “horizontalism.” We might have had slightly least win the 2018 state legislative elections and more space to maneuver with Clinton as president, redesign congressional and state district lines pre- but we cannot lose sight of the fact that the center paratory to ending the right’s hammerlock on state can be as harmful to our cause as the right.  governments? Michael Hirsch is on the editorial boards of New The election campaign points to a real weakness Politics and Democratic Left. Longer versions of in news reporting. When interviewing potential reviews of these books appeared in New Politics voters, the media rarely asked deep questions that online October 27, 2016, and the online and print went beyond a voter’s visceral dislike for Clinton or Indypendent of June 29, 2016. Trump to what at bottom the interviewee believed either could actually be accomplished or why their

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VISIONARIES Leo E. Casey Chris & Gillian Talwar Jules Bernstein Jack Clark Milton Tambor & Linda Lipsett David Elsila Lawrence S. Wittner Eugene Gabrych Paul Garver FIGHTERS Deborah Meier Barbara Geiger Anonymous Lee Halprin & BUILDERS Ron Daley Abby Rockefeller Anonymous (2) William Ferdinand Rev. A. Kempton Michael Bennett David Gil Haynes, Jr. David O. Knuttunen Daniel Hellerstein Thomas Hilliker & Linda Davidoff Henry Kahn Dennis A. Lee John Maher & Mickey Gillmor Richard Lipsitz Marshall Mayer Jessie Mannisto John Luckett & Bonnie Lambert Gustav & Hanna Papanek Albert Moore Maxine Phillips Jim Phillips Marjorie A. Norris & Dorothy Billings MOVERS Marcia Peters Andrew Porter Anonymous & David Karaus Mark Schaeffer Kenneth E. Basom Wallis Reid Roger D. Smith Robert Burns & William & Marie Rottschaefer Jeremy J. Stein Linda Nichols Herbert Shore

Democratic Left • Winter 2016 • page 15 Democratic Left (ISSN 1643207) is published quarterly at 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 702, New York, NY 10038. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY (Publication No. 701-960). Subscriptions: $10 regular; $15 institutional. Postmaster: Send address changes to 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 702, New York, NY 10038. Democratic Left is published by the Democratic Socialists of America, 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 702, New York, NY 10038. (212) 727-8610. Signed articles express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the organization. Executive Editor: Maria Svart Editor: Maxine Phillips Blog Editors: Duane Campbell, Dustin Guastella, Elizabeth Henderson, Simone Morgen, and Barbara Joye Editorial Committee: Michael Baker, Elizabeth Henderson, Michael Hirsch, Barbara Joye Editorial Advisory Committee: Duane Campbell, Jeffrey Gold, José Gutierrez, Frank Llewellyn, Simone Morgen, Mark Schaeffer, Jason Schulman, Joseph Schwartz, Jack Suria-Linares, Lawrence Ware Founding Editor: Michael Harrington (1928-1989) Production: Ed Hedemann Democratic Socialists of America share a vision of a humane international social order based on equitable distribution of resources, meaningful work, a healthy environment, sustainable growth, gender and racial equality, and non-oppressive relationships. Equality, solidarity, and democracy can only be achieved through international political and social cooperation aimed at ensuring that economic institutions benefi t all people. We are dedicated to building truly international social movements—of unionists, environmentalists, feminists, and people of color—which together can elevate global justice over brutalizing global competition.

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