DSA Convention 2003


	PRIORITIES RESOLUTION Preamble DSA meets at its fall 2003 national convention at a time of right-wing dominance in United States domestic and foreign policy. The Bush administration’s doctrine of “pre-emptive” wars involves unilateral United States intervention around the globe in an arrogant and violent manner not witnessed since the Vietnam War and the covert/proxy wars of the 70’s and 80’s. In addition, Bush’s tax give-away to the rich and radical expansion of military spending has created a structural deficit that will place downward pressure on public spending for generations to come. The Bush administration has cynically used the ‘war on terrorism’ to justify an assault on already weakened civil rights and civil liberties, and to justify a massive increase in military spending and a gutting of funding for even its own public policy initiatives, such as “The Global War on AIDS” and “The Leave No Child Behind” educational act. There is no doubt that this is the most reactionary administration in at least a century, especially given its control of all three branches of government. Moreover right wing administrations are less constrained and more vicious during a second term than in their first since they no longer have to be concerned with reelection. The danger posed by a second term is real. A re-election of the rogue Bush regime would further a unilateral foreign policy that threatens global peace and threaten the destruction of our already minimalist public sector, particularly Medicare, Social Security, and public education. But, the reelection of this President is not certain. There is wide spread popular concern about the economy and foreign policy that has surfaced in the polls and is evident in the strength of the anti-war candidates for the Democratic nomination. The Bush administration’s foreign policy overreach has given rise to a quagmire in Iraq and its failure to aid state budgets has accentuated the costs of the economic downturn. The uneven economic ‘recovery’ has benefited only the affluent, while placing tremendous social welfare burdens on state and local governments. Thus, the challenge facing the broad democratic left – which includes DSA – is to defeat the Bush administration in the 2004 elections, while also strengthening a coalition of progressive forces that would pressure whatever administration that replaces the Bush regime to implement more humane and democratic foreign and domestic policies. We have no illusion about the centrist character of most of the feasible alternatives to Bush; but politicians necessarily respond to popular pressure from below. How many social gains can be derived from Bush’s defeat will depend on how much the labor, civil rights, environmental, and feminist movements strengthen themselves through this popular resistance to Bush. As socialists, our participation in an anti-Bush campaign will not be simply as builders of someone else’s election. We will proceed with an eye to promoting campaign strategies that can help grow the many social movements we support. The outcome of the 2004 elections will be the single biggest factor determining the shape of political work in the near future, but regardless of the outcome, we commit ourselves to continue our challenge to America’s low-wage economy and its structural underpinnings. In engaging in the political and organizational priorities, this convention reiterates the 2001 convention’s commitment that all of DSA’s politics will be guided by a demand for social and economic justice for all. In pursuit of justice, multi-racial coalition building and an anti-racist politics must be an ongoing, integral part of all our projects and activism. We must also consistently look for opportunities to work side-by-side with activists in communities of color. To move forward towards the goals mentioned above, DSA adopts the following four main priorities at this convention: I. To participate actively in a Dump Bush movement. This includes: 1) encouraging DSA members to participate actively in the primary campaign of the candidate of their choice; 2) organizing DSA members who are delegates to the convention, providing testimony at platform hearings on our issues, organizing DSA events at the Democratic National Convention and elsewhere, and working to unify the efforts of progressive delegates at the convention; 3) building a sufficiently strong left coalition that it can pressure the campaign to engage in genuine grass-roots mobilizations and put heat on any new administration to adopt the most progressive policies possible. II. To strengthen DSA’s organizational capacities. DSA must engage in more internal and public education as to the relevance of democratic socialist vision and program for building a more humane world as an alternative to capitalism in the twenty-first century. In particular, the organization must reinvigorate its tradition of educating young people to this politics, particularly – but not exclusively – by rebuilding a DSA/YDS presence on college and university campuses. III. We must build upon the increased organizational focus and coordinated activism that the “Low Wage Justice” campaign, initiated at the 2001 DSA convention, has brought to the organization. The DSA NPC and national office will continue to provide resources and information to aid locals in living wage campaigns, immigrant justice activism, single payer advocacy, and labor support work. The national leadership and staff will also work to bring together religious, labor, student, environmental and community activists to build a national campaign to achieve justice for Wal-Mart workers as well as reforms in Wal-Mart’s business practices. We cannot envision victory in our efforts against the low-wage economy without achieving significant and lasting change at Wal-Mart. IV. With our international connections we will work to develop a project around a public dialogue between progressive elected officials in the United States and other countries. The dialogue would attempt to develop several points. 1) The importance of a genuine multilateral approach to international crises and the need for international leadership on human rights and peace issues from outside the United States. 2) Opposition to American jingoism, anti-Europe bashing, simplistic unilateralist or phony multilateral foreign policy programs, and contempt for international law. Educating the public as to the superior structure of the economic and social welfare systems of other advanced industrial nations. 3) International solidarity to meet human needs and further popular aspirations while opposing corporate-driven globalization. This convention commits the national staff and NPC to: Strengthening the relationship between YDS and DSA The locals and the national will endeavor to provide whatever aid will help YDS re-establish a presence on college campuses (and high schools) around the nation. Improving the effectiveness of our communication and outreach We must continue to improve the editorial quality and timeliness of Democratic Left, the DSA web site, and the organization’s listserve. Regular coverage of local activities shall continue to be part of the mission of Democratic Left and the website. We must continue to implement the 2001 Convention Resolution on Internet Enabling DSA, including providing an internet discussion list and making minutes available. We should routinely collect email addresses. In order to expand the pool of members, activists, and contributors (and thus increase our staff and resource capacity), DSA will attempt to return to its practice of mailing 50-100,000 pieces of direct mail recruitment letters each year. Conferences This convention also endorses continuing the practice of substituting regional activist conferences for a single, non-convention-year, national activist conference. Regional conferences and National Conventions should devote more time to democratic discussion and decision-making. Development Committees To enhance the relationship between the national office and leadership and our local activists, the NPC will appoint a Local Development Committee consisting of NPC and non-NPC members. This committee will maintain regular communication between locals and organizing committees and the national organization; revise and update a Local Development Plan and work on carrying it out; make recommendations to the national organization in the interest of the health of locals; stimulate discussion about the concerns expressed by locals and the regional activist conferences; and research best practices of DSA locals and how they might learn to do better, and disseminate this information. Similarly, the NPC will, if possible, appoint an At-Large Development Committee concerned with at-large members.