|
East Bay DSA update: I'm going to the Media/Communications committee meeting on Sunday and I'm hoping we can create a beacon style of newsletter for emerging chapters with knowledge and wisdom passed down from some of the outstanding activists that have joined us. Silicon Valley DSA update: Had our first social after our organizing meeting at which I started a Facebook group and like page, and we have about 20 people so far. An East Bay DSA veteran told me about WashTech, which is a union for tech employees (especially temps and contractors) that was formed in Seattle and joined the CWA, so I'm going to try and see if I can find some people that are interested. This stuff is hard but I'm blessed to be surrounded with capable people. I've been kicking around the idea of "Service, Inclusion, Liberation," as a kind of anchor point of social organizing, just a random thought. Rah! posted:
I got "you're orange, you're gross, you lost the popular vote" started in the SF march 
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 02:50
|
|
|
|
| # ? Jun 5, 2024 09:23 |
|
|
So here's a story about trying to get involved in town stuff I shared on DPP's Discord. I been trying to figure out where my town Democrats meet. The town committee website is very old of date. I did find their Facebook which and it says join us at X every week at 10am on Fridays. Which you know isn't a great meeting time. I called the number listed on the Facebook to ask if there's any other place/time to meet, but number is disconnected. I had to go to the website of someone who run for state rep and call them to get information. Turns out the number is disconnected because the chairwoman's mother died recently and she resigned soon after and has moved out of state because her husband got a job in Washington state. So the real meeting is Feb 1st at 7pm. Where they'll elect new officers. I'm gonna go to that.
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 03:58
|
|
|
OhFunny posted:So the real meeting is Feb 1st at 7pm. Where they'll elect new officers. I'm gonna go to that. Good luck, OhFunny.
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 04:51
|
|
|
RiotGearEpsilon posted:Good luck, OhFunny. Thanks! This is what I wrote to Senators Hassan and Shaheen: quote:Senator,
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 06:21
|
|
|
https://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/inside-the-private-chat-rooms-trump-supporters-are-using-to?utm_term=.buWDleOLZ#.cjnmoZxKq This is one thing which is worrying me. I do feel that this kind of activism had a big hand during the US election, and could easily be effective in France by spreading hate and misinformation ("alternative facts"  ) How do you fight this? Facebook/Twitter are obviously going to do nothing about it.
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 13:14
|
|
|
What's the goon consensus on The Young Turks and Secular talk? I just saw this on The Washington Post.
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 14:29
|
|
|
One thing I've noticed as someone who would like to get involved in local progressive politics is that there are so many progressive groups it's difficult to really tell which ones are serious and worth putting effort into. They also all have slightly different politics. Rather than start new ones like mentioned in the post above it seems to me like the existing ones should coordinate better and present a unified front. It reminds me of that joke about competing standards in the computer field. You start with 14 competing standards and some group decides to create a new standard to unify them all. Now you have 15 competing standards. This probably seems naive, obvious, and already discussed to death to anyone familiar with how disjointed the left is in the US but it's an issue that is very important if you want to keep people engaged. 7of7 fucked around with this message at 14:43 on Jan 24, 2017 |
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 14:40
|
|
|
irlZaphod posted:https://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/inside-the-private-chat-rooms-trump-supporters-are-using-to?utm_term=.buWDleOLZ#.cjnmoZxKq Who's "you"? The sensible way to fight it would be for European governments to hold American companies accountable for spreading fascism. That obviously won't happen though, given that these are the same companies that can get away with not paying any taxes. I don't think this is a huge problem though. A bunch of american Nazis who don't speak french or know anything about non-american politics won't be able to do much more than post some memes. And while the internet played an important role in Trumps election, we shouldn't overstate the importance of pepe pictures, no matter how much 4chan wants to believe they were the deciding factor in this election.
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 15:54
|
|
|
7of7 posted:One thing I've noticed as someone who would like to get involved in local progressive politics is that there are so many progressive groups it's difficult to really tell which ones are serious and worth putting effort into. They also all have slightly different politics. Rather than start new ones like mentioned in the post above it seems to me like the existing ones should coordinate better and present a unified front. It reminds me of that joke about competing standards in the computer field. You start with 14 competing standards and some group decides to create a new standard to unify them all. Now you have 15 competing standards. I'm just getting into this stuff so what are the other groups vying to unify the left?
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 16:49
|
|
|
4chan posters did not win the election for Trump
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 17:20
|
|
|
Travic posted:What's the goon consensus on The Young Turks and Secular talk? Personally, I like The Young Turks, but make sure you keep a critical mind. I disagree with some of their reporters on certain specific issues. Jordan Charlton dismisses possible Russian influence as "whiny Hillary supporters" and "Hey the CIA was wrong about WMDs in Iraq, so they're wrong about this." Cenk is an anti-free trade hardliner, but there other stuff is good. They do some good reporting like the DAPL coverage and their coverage of the Texas pipeline. Cenk was also one of the few people who said Trump can win. Their enthusiasm is infectious to me and makes me want to get involved. That's just me though. Results may vary. Some people on here think they're blowhards, etc. Here's Cenk on ABC getting laughed at because he thought Trump could win. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBWz8kIZZL0
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 17:36
|
|
|
volts5000 posted:Personally, I like The Young Turks, but make sure you keep a critical mind. I disagree with some of their reporters on certain specific issues. Jordan Charlton dismisses possible Russian influence as "whiny Hillary supporters" and "Hey the CIA was wrong about WMDs in Iraq, so they're wrong about this." Cenk is an anti-free trade hardliner, but there other stuff is good. They do some good reporting like the DAPL coverage and their coverage of the Texas pipeline. Cenk was also one of the few people who said Trump can win. Their enthusiasm is infectious to me and makes me want to get involved. That's just me though. Results may vary. Some people on here think they're blowhards, etc. Anti-free trade hardlining is a common left position, Cenk's actual issue is he used to be a holocaust denier who named his talk show after genocide he addressed and recanted tho so he cool
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 17:37
|
|
|
Spangly A posted:Anti-free trade hardlining is a common left position, Cenk's actual issue is he used to be a holocaust denier who named his talk show after genocide I know about Cenk's past about the Armenian Genocide. He has recanted. I used to believe stupid poo poo, too. I used to be a supply-side loving, "Israel can do no wrong", "gun control is tyranny", "affirmative action is reverse racism" Republican. I've grown up a lot since then and am now a progressive liberal. I'm from NC and have seen, first-hand, the horrible poo poo conservatives want to do when given complete control. Now, I'm scared shitless that were going to see the same happen on the national stage. So, if somebody can instill a little enthusiasm over progressive ideals, let them. Don't go around calling them a holocaust denier. That's not what his show's about. Besides, "Young Turk" nowadays means "a progressive upstart; someone who rocks the boat for change." Cenk is Turkish. Perfect name for his show.
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 18:29
|
|
|
So the Democratic Socialists of America have more than doubled in membership size. From 6,500 in May 2016 to over 14,000 as of now. http://inthesetimes.com/article/19795/socialisms-trump-bump-democratic-socialists-america
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 21:30
|
|
|
OhFunny posted:So the Democratic Socialists of America have more than doubled in membership size. There's a casual tidbit near the end about the new leadership of the Nebraska Dems being allied with the DSA. That's really cool and hopefully we'll see more of that happening in the states that Bernie had a large presence in
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 21:42
|
|
|
OhFunny posted:So the Democratic Socialists of America have more than doubled in membership size. That's encouraging. I looked up their chapters in my area and there are none in Denver. One in Boulder but the last posting was from before the election. 
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 21:46
|
|
|
There is an international community of Democrats living abroad at http://www.democratsabroad.org/. Just joined the one for Canada, though I don't know how active they are. Seems like a good resource and their news is up to date.
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 21:51
|
|
|
Internet Explorer posted:That's encouraging. I looked up their chapters in my area and there are none in Denver. One in Boulder but the last posting was from before the election. start one if there isn't one where you are. you need 5 people to form an organizing committee and get to work.
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 22:13
|
|
|
Internet Explorer posted:That's encouraging. I looked up their chapters in my area and there are none in Denver. One in Boulder but the last posting was from before the election. The last post on their fb page was a week ago? They have an event scheduled for Feb 11th on the website and it says they meet every 3rd Thursday of the month. Have you tried contacting them?
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 22:33
|
|
|
OhFunny posted:The last post on their fb page was a week ago? I don't have a Facebook account so I didn't think to check there. I saw that they meet every 3rd Thursday, but did not see the event on their calendar. I had been burnt in the past with the Dem scheduling a reoccurring meeting that they don't do anymore. I haven't reached out, was just looking since people were talking about the DSA gaining ground.
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 22:38
|
|
|
Internet Explorer posted:I don't have a Facebook account so I didn't think to check there. I saw that they meet every 3rd Thursday, but did not see the event on their calendar. I had been burnt in the past with the Dem scheduling a reoccurring meeting that they don't do anymore. I haven't reached out, was just looking since people were talking about the DSA gaining ground. http://www.dsa-colorado.org/contact/
|
|
#
?
Jan 24, 2017 22:43
|
|
|
Just gonna bring this back since it seems relevant again. If you are worried about the environment please join 350.org and consider setting up a monthly donation if you have the funds. Check to see if there's a local 350 near you so you can attend meetings and stuff, my next one is coming in February, I think. Also we're going to die.
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 03:30
|
|
|
If you're in California check out https://healthycaliforniacampaign.org/ - a coalition pushing for single-payer healthcare in CA. Thanks to the election throwing everyone into high gear, you'll be hearing BIG NEWS within a month, so this is a good time to get in on the ground floor! (If you're a member of a DSA chapter in CA your chapter leadership should have some info about this campaign they can share with you.)
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 07:05
|
|
|
Crossposting this, because I never see this talked about very much amongst americans, and I'd love your thoughts on it.quote:Speaking from the perspective of an outsider, y'all need to start organizing outside of the democratic party. This seems the thread to ask for views on grassroots/workers unions organization.
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 09:33
|
|
|
Nice piece of fish posted:Crossposting this, because I never see this talked about very much amongst americans, and I'd love your thoughts on it. One Big Union. That sounds like a good idea to me!
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 09:51
|
|
|
Dr. Arbitrary posted:One Big Union. That sounds like a good idea to me! Well, to be totally serious that's pretty much what created those scandinavian social democratic countries left-thinking americans keep dreaming about. And I do mean direct cause and effect.
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 09:54
|
|
|
Nice piece of fish posted:Well, to be totally serious that's pretty much what created those scandinavian social democratic countries left-thinking americans keep dreaming about. And I do mean direct cause and effect. I'm not even really trying to talk poo poo. I guess if they'd been more successful in the US, we'd have a very different world today.
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 09:55
|
|
|
Dr. Arbitrary posted:I'm not even really trying to talk poo poo. I guess if they'd been more successful in the US, we'd have a very different world today. I agree. This is your problem, right here:  That's it. That is in my opinion and arguing from historical presedence how you steer your country leftwards, as permanently and effectively as possible. How to do this in a modern context though, should definitiely be an item for discussion, because obvioiusly times have changed. People, however, haven't. They still want the same things, but they lack direction and organization, they are fragmented, isolated, scared for their jobs and the consequences of organizing. The right in america have done a marvellous job shattering the unions and public opinion of unions, and that's where the fight is. They've even co-opted a lot of the central talking points and ideas of such a Big Union, many of the same I've heard spoken from Bernie Sanders, who I firmly believe would have actually tried to implement some of it. I would anticipate incredibly, possibly violent pushback from right-wing america to the idea of a big worker's union demanding better conditions. They know very well that this is the greatest danger to a right-wing hegemony in the US, and I think Bernie Sanders demonstrated a couple of very important things that gives them good cause for concern: The word "socialist" is no longer electoral poison, and the idea of solidarity, welfare, healthcare, a proper wage and rights for workers can unite people very quickly and in a big way.
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 10:09
|
|
|
Dr. Arbitrary posted:One Big Union. That sounds like a good idea to me! (POLISHES IWW BADGE, GRINS.)
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 15:25
|
|
|
If anyone in this thread is from NC, we can really use your help. Because of our racially gerrymandered districts, the federal court has forced us to redraw the lines and hold special elections this year for State House and State Senate offices. The 2017 special elections have been put on hold by the Supreme Court. We were suppose to know if they were back on on the 19th, but they haven't made any announcement. Just in case, if anyone wants to get involved, the NCDP has a page for their Pipeline Project. The Pipeline Project's mission is to recruit and train people to run for office as quickly as possible for 2017 and 2018. Since the GOP in NC has a majority in the House and supermajority in the Senate, we desperately need people on the bench. http://www.ncdp.org/pipeline-project/
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 15:30
|
|
|
Considering how Gerrymandered NC is, how difficult would it be to join the Republican party and run in their districts, assuming you're a cis white Christian male? If you run unopposed, you win. If you run against a Democrat, either you win and bring leftist change from within the GOP, or you depress GOP turnout enough that a Democrat wins for the first time since the Dixiecrats. Surely you can just tell the base what they want to hear in the primary, then vote against the party line once you're elected. Could this one weird trick that conservatives hate transform the state?
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 16:16
|
|
|
They're dumb pack animals that turn on their own for not hating hard enough or in the right way. They'd know instantly that you're not one of them and ignore you. And you need tons of money and good networking to do a primary.
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 16:19
|
|
|
quote:Maybe get that Mike Rowe fellow on board as a figurehead, he seems pretty popular and deeply interested in labourers.  I definitely trust the analysis of someone who had this thought.
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 16:28
|
|
|
White Privilegist posted:Considering how Gerrymandered NC is, how difficult would it be to join the Republican party and run in their districts, assuming you're a cis white Christian male? If you run unopposed, you win. If you run against a Democrat, either you win and bring leftist change from within the GOP, or you depress GOP turnout enough that a Democrat wins for the first time since the Dixiecrats. Surely you can just tell the base what they want to hear in the primary, then vote against the party line once you're elected. Could this one weird trick that conservatives hate transform the state? Well, hopefully, maybe, crossing-my-fingers, when the courts tell us to redraw the lines, they won't be as gerrymandered and we have a shot.
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 16:45
|
|
|
yellowyams posted:
The person is pretty clearly from outside the US, so you can probably forgive the lack of knowledge there. The concept isn't exactly wrong. Dems need to do more to attract working class voters and having a spokesperson from that group of people would be a good thing.
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 16:51
|
|
|
To be fair, there's established political precedent in the US that playing a role in the movies is more desirable than actual real world experience in the role.
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 16:58
|
|
|
Part of the battle labor unions face in the US is that they have some pretty shady history. Yeah, unions are great in theory, but in practice, some of America's biggest ones have had ties to political corruption and organized crime, and that tends to damage public perception of labor unions in general. Of course some of the claims are corruption are false, but enough of them aren't to make the rest of them seem plausible. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Brotherhood_of_Teamsters#Influence_of_organized_crime
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 17:10
|
|
|
yellowyams posted:
That's what you get stuck on? Way to engage with the core of the issue. I don't care who you can call on, it's really not about a celebrity face. It's about how you organize and with who. Rowe seems to talk online about the trades and trade schools contantly, and hooking those people into a worker friendly political movement accomplishes both what I've previously mentioned AND steals votes directly from the republican base. Now, if Rowe is some sort of nutso libertarian or a staunch republican who hates the little guy, get someone else. I'm not telling you how, I'm asking how you'd do it from an american's perspective. Dr. Arbitrary posted:To be fair, there's established political precedent in the US that playing a role in the movies is more desirable than actual real world experience in the role. This is both funny and depressing.
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 17:13
|
|
|
Nice piece of fish posted:Rowe seems to talk online about the trades and trade schools contantly, and hooking those people into a worker friendly political movement accomplishes both what I've previously mentioned AND steals votes directly from the republican base. Now, if Rowe is some sort of nutso libertarian or a staunch republican who hates the little guy, get someone else. I'm not telling you how, I'm asking how you'd do it from an american's perspective. http://eaglerising.com/4630/mike-rowe-defends-wal-mart-unions/ pookel fucked around with this message at 17:28 on Jan 25, 2017 |
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 17:25
|
|
|
|
| # ? Jun 5, 2024 09:23 |
|
|
Internet Explorer posted:The person is pretty clearly from outside the US, so you can probably forgive the lack of knowledge there. The concept isn't exactly wrong. Dems need to do more to attract working class voters and having a spokesperson from that group of people would be a good thing. I don't disagree at all, but having our own labor party or a third party in general win will become a much more realistic goal when we have ballots using the cumulative voting system which isn't the norm right now. We still have a very large number of people who vote straight Dem without examining their representative's actual policies, and we have movements working towards cleaning out the lovely corporate Dems to replace them with people who will represent the working class, and a grassroots movement to bring back accountability and take power away from big corporate donors, combining those numbers as we face setbacks like massive voter suppression is our best chance for now imo. I will gladly topple the two party system once we have enough power to change the voting system though.
|
|
#
?
Jan 25, 2017 17:36
|
|