Random Observations: DSA
With all of the FTV drama, I started to wonder how DSA actually works. (Hint: I'm more confused now than I was before I looked.)
It’s January 7th, 2021.
We’re in the middle of a pandemic, and someone’s wondering whether they’ll have to pay their phone bill or pay for their medication. You’d think in a time like this, every single politician endorsed by the DSA, along with the DSA itself, would be behind the viral #ForceTheVote movement. After all, one of the main tenents of the DSA platform is M4A. As I mentioned before, DSA’s Health Worker’s Collective met on Monday to discuss how to handle FTV. For a group with such substantial numbers and funding—I was really surprised at the lack of planning and communication from the national DSA leaders to the local chapters. Then I got to thinking—if their own members have a hard time understanding how the organization works, how the heck are the rest of us supposed to know? Some of their members seemed so frustrated with the lack of action on FTV—so I wanted to better understand what goes on, how decisions are made, and what the overall goals and planning structures are in the national DSA movement.
Disclaimer: This is NOT intended to attack any DSA member or local chapter. We see you out there doing the work—thank you. If anything, take this is as a call to the leaders of the DSA to improve how they communicate with, represent, and treat their own members who pay dues.
So how does the DSA structure even work?
DSA’s foundation is WITHIN the Democratic Party, always.
Talk to members & prospects like they’re five.
Didn’t they say Biden was the best bet to achieve their goals? Seems a bit difficult…but okay.
DSA’s official M4A “talking points”:
DSA M4A Strategy for 2021 must include:
First set of goals are all geared towards an anti-racist message:
Second goal list includes statewide campaigns:
Third set of goals cover Essential Workers:
Membership Fees Structure…
(Hint: Join the “low-income” plan for $5)
But, hey, you get a complimentary PDF.
Are we confused yet? Just wait until my next article. I’m being slightly facetious, but for an organization so complex, it’s no wonder they aren’t backing our version of FTV directly. It doesn’t fit the framework. Why not just say so?