DSA 2003 National Convention

RESOLUTIONS ON ELECTORAL POLITICS

RESOLUTION REGARDING DSA ORGANIZING AROUND THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
Whereas the Democratic Party will be holding it's 2004 Presidential nominating convention in Boston, and,

Whereas we as socialists seek to support our allies in the labor, racial and ethnic minority, feminist and peace movements within the Democratic Party, and,

Whereas it is important that socialists seek to influence the debate within the Democratic Party and articulate a democratic socialist vision for American politics, and,

Whereas it is vital that Democratic Socialists of America increase it's visibility and provide public forums for socialist ideas, and,

Whereas the Boston local is one of the largest local organizations in DSA,

Therefore be it resolved that the national organization of DSA and the Boston local shall jointly organize a public socialist event at or concurrent with the Democratic Party’s national convention in Boston in July of 2004.


RESOLUTION ON POLITICS

WHEREAS, DSA does not automatically assume that a Democratic President, even with a Democratic House and Senate, or any lesser Democratic officeholder at any level, will automatically be a progressive, or move in a progressive direction;

THEREFORE, be it resolved that DSA recognizes that left pressure will still need to be applied when Democrats are elected or re-elected at any level; and

THEREFORE, DSA will actively work to apply such pressure through itself and through left and progressive coalitions, at the national, state and local level, through all agencies available – progressive and grassroots organizations, trade unions and Jobs with Justice chapters, organizations of women and minorities, educational forums, and, just as important, through demonstrations and protests in the streets.


RESOLUTION ON ELECTORAL REFORM

DSA reaffirms its support for constitutional and electoral reforms to create a more democratic and representative political system in the United States, including:

• Public funding for electoral campaigns.

• Equitable access of candidates to mass media and the elimination of privately purchased campaign ads.

• Limits on the size of individual campaign contributions and on total campaign spending.

• The abolition of corporate PACs.

• Same-day voter registration, and 24-hour voting on weekends or a national holiday for Election Day.

• The elimination of the undemocratic Electoral College.

• Experiments with proportional representation, electoral “fusion," and single-transferable ballot and "instant runoff" voting, so that people may vote for what they believe in without fearing that their votes will be wasted.

• Equitable financing and provision of crucial public goods: not only standardized, high-quality machinery but also a voter-verifiable permanent audit trail. Any voting technology should allow preferential voting, including instant runoff and proportional representation.

• Restoration of full voting rights to convicted felons.

DSA supports efforts to defend the right to vote, and we condemn the racist programs of the Republican Party and others to deny ballot access to minority voters, such as in Florida in 2000.