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by
Henry Lamb
Socialism
in America is alive, well, and growing. Aided by such
influential Congressmen as John Conyers, Ranking Member
of the House Judicial Committee, David Bonior, the pit-bull-dog
who successfully whipped Newt, Maxine Waters, the President's
outspoken defender in the impeachment debates, and nearly
60 other Representatives, socialism is advancing in
America behind the "Progressive" label. Here
are a few excerpts taken directly from the web page
of the Democratic Socialists of America.
___________________________
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is the largest
socialist organization in the United States, and the
principal U.S. affiliate of the Socialist International.
DSA's members are building progressive movements for
social change while establishing an openly socialist
presence in American communities and politics.
At
the root of our socialism is a profound commitment to
democracy as means and end. We are activists committed
not only to extending political democracy but to demanding
democratic empowerment in the economy, in gender relations,
and in culture. Democracy is not simply one of our political
values but our means of restructuring society. Our vision
is of a society in which people have a real voice in
the choices and relationships that affect the entirety
of our lives. We call this vision democratic socialism
-a vision of a more free, democratic and humane society.
We
are socialists because we reject an international economic
order sustained by private profit, alienated labor,
race and gender discrimination, environmental destruction,
and brutality and violence in defense of the status
quo.
We
are socialists because we share a vision of a humane
international social order based both on democratic
planning and market mechanisms to achieve equitable
distribution of resources, meaningful work. a healthy
environment, sustainable growth, gender and racial equality,
and non-oppressive relationships.
Here
is what "Liberty" looks like to a socialist:
A
democratic commitment to a vibrant pluralist life assumes
the need for a democratic, responsive, and representative
government to regulate the market, protect the environment,
and ensure a basic level of equality and equity for
each citizen. In the 21st century, such regulation will
increasingly occur through international, multilateral
action. But while a democratic state can protect individuals
from domination by inordinately powerful, undemocratic
transnational corporations, people develop the social
bonds that render life meaningful only through cooperative,
voluntary relationships. Promoting such bonds is the
responsibility of socialists and the government alike.
The
social welfare programs of government have been for
the most part positive, if partial, responses to the
genuine social needs of the great majority of Americans.
The dismantling of such programs by conservative and
corporate elites in the absence of any alternatives
will be disastrous. Abandoning schools, health care,
and housing, for example. to the control of an unregulated
free market magnifies the existing harsh realities of
inequality and injustice.
The
action agenda posted on the socialists' web site very
closely parallels Agenda 21, and the recommendations
of the President's Council on Sustainable Development.
The web site boasts the creation of the "Progressive
Caucus" in Congress, as well as the coalition that
is working to promote the socialist agenda in Congress.
Members
of the Progressive Caucus
Rep Earl Hilliard (AL-O7) -
Democrat
Rep
Eni Faleomavaega (AS-AL) -
Democrat
Rep
Ed Pastor (AZ-O2) - Democrat
Rep
Lynn C Woolsey (CA-O6) -
Democrat
Rep George Miller (CA-O7) -
Democrat
Rep Nancy Pelosi (CA-O8) -
Democrat
Rep
Fortney "Pete" Stark (CA-13) -
Democrat
Rep Henry A. Waxman (CA-29) -
Democrat
Rep Xavier Becerra (CA-3O) -
Democrat
Rep
Julian Co Dixon (CA-32) -
Democrat
Rep Esteban Edward Torres (CA-34) -
Democrat
Rep Maxine Waters (CA-35) -
Democrat
Rep
George E. Brown (CA-42) -
Democrat
Rep Bob Filner (CA-5O) -
Democrat
Rep
Diane DeGette (CO-0l) -
Democrat
Rep
Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL) -
Democrat
Rep
Corrine Brown (FL-O3) -
Democrat
Rep Carrie P o Meek (FL-17) -
Democrat
Rep Alcee Lo Hastings (FL-23) -
Democrat
Rep
Cynthia A. McKinney (GA-O4) -
Democrat
Rep John Lewis (GA-O5) -
Democrat
Rep
Neil Abercrombie (HI-0l) -
Democrat
Rep Patsy Mink (HI-O2) -
Democrat
Rep
Jesse Jackson (IL-O2) -
Democrat
Rep Luis Gutierrez (IL-O4 ) -
Democrat
Rep Danny Davis (IL-O7) -
Democrat
Rep
Lane Evans (IL-17) - Democrat
Rep
Julia Carson (IN-IO) -
Democrat
Rep
John Olver (MA-0l) - Democrat
Rep Jim McGovern (MA-O3) -
Democrat
Rep Barney Frank (MA-04) -
Democrat
Rep
John Tierney (MA-06) -
Democrat
Rep
David Bonior (MI-lO) -
Democrat
Rep Lynn N. Rivers (MI-13) -
Democrat
Rep John Conyers (MI-14) -
Democrat
Rep
Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02) -
Democrat
Rep
Melvin L. Watt (NC-12) -
Democrat
Rep
Donald Payne (NJ-10) -
Democrat
Rep
Jerrold Nadler (NY -08) -
Democrat
Rep Major Owens (NY-11) -
Democrat
Rep Nydia M. Velazquez (NY-12) -
Democrat
Rep
Charles Rangel (NY -15) -
Democrat
Rep Maurice Hinchey (NY -26) -
Democrat
Rep John LaFalce (NY -29) -
Democrat
Rep
Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) -
Democrat
Rep Dennis Kucinich (OH-IO) -
Democrat
Rep Louis Stokes (OH-11) -
Democrat
Rep
Sherrod Brown (OH-13) -
Democrat
Rep
Elizabeth Furse (OR-01) -
Democrat
Rep Peter A. DeFazio (OR-04) -
Democrat
Rep
Chaka Fattah (PA-02) -
Democrat
Rep William Coyne (PA-14) -
Democrat
Rep
Carlos A. Romero-Barcelo (PR-AL) -
Democrat
Rep
Robert C. Scott (V A-03) -
Democrat
Rep
Bernard Sanders (VT -AL) -
Democrat
Rep
James A. McDermott (W A-07) -
Democrat
Progressive
Coalition supporting socialist agenda
Americans
for Democratic Action
Campaign for America's Future
Campaign for New Priorities
Center for the Advancement of Public Policy
Center of Concern
Coalition on Human Needs
Demilitarization for Democracy
Development GAP
50 Years is Enough Network
Friends of the Earth
Fund for New Priorities in America
Institute for Policy Studies
Institute for Women's Policy Research
International Labor Rights Fund
National Jobs for All Coalition
National Organization for Women
National Priorities Project
NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Peace Action
Preamble Center for Public Policy
Public Citizen, email: Public Citizen
Stakeholders Alliance
United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America
United for a Fair Economy
Washington Chapter Alliance for Democracy
Working Assets
Women, Law and Development
National Council of La Raza
The Campaign for Health Security
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Center for Defense Information
Council for a Livable World
Citizens for Tax Justice
U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
Americans for a Sustainable Economy
National Education Association
USA Network for Habitat II
Catholic Charities
National Council of Negro Women
Center for Law and Social Policy
Witness for Peace
Children's Defense Fund
Child Welfare League
National Black Child Development Institute
Urban League
Economic Policy Institute
Brookings Institute
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
National Committee to Preserve Social Security and
Medicare
Defenders of Wildlife
Veterans for Peace
National Rainbow Coalition
AFL-CIO
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
UNITE
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
National Association of Public Hospitals
National Council of Senior Citizens
Long-Term Care Campaign
Consumer's Union
Center for Responsive Politics
Latin American Working Group
Public Campaign
This particular coalition consists of social organizations
that work hand-in-hand with other coalitions such as
BIONET, CITNET, ECONET, PEACENET, the Climate Action
Network (CAN), and others. All are connected through
IGC-A PC (Institute for Global Communications, and the
Association of Progressive Communications). Virtually
all of these organizations, including the Democratic
Socialists of America, have web sites hosted by IGC-APC.
The
policy gains that have been made in recent years on
both the international and domestic fronts are largely
the result of the communications capability of these
organizations. Freedom.org was conceived more than five
years ago to provide similar communications capability
to organizations that are not socialists. The Property
Rights Congress will be pioneering that new capability.
Non-socialist organizations are far behind, and have
much catching-up to do.
HENRY
LAMB
eco·logic Magazine, spring, 1999
Henry is on the advisory board of Restoring America
Visit him at: www.freedom.org
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