André Vasquez, who was elected to Chicago’s City Council last year as a socialist, has voted in favor of the mayor’s budget. The Chicago DSA has censured him. This raises a big question: How can a socialist organization make its elected representatives accountable?
He has been called on to resign his membership with the DSA. If he doesn't resign he's likely getting expelled. The motion to censure and demand his resignation passed 107-2.
It's one thing to kick out members who don't follow the party line when the party line has already been established; it's another thing entirely to start purging people on the losing end of internal votes. The goal isn't to have unanimous consent on every party vote; the goal is to get your top-level politicians to act as a disciplined block that maximizes the influence of the party.
From what I can recall of the original threads that popped up when this became an issue a few days ago, the dissenters' best argument was that the party should have some form of punishment short of expulsion. Without knowing all the details of the situation, that's not an unreasonable point.
Not that I'm aware of. The full text of the statement is still available on their twitter and the Red Star (the news bulletin run by the CDSA mentions it) https://midwestsocialist.com/2020/12/01/red-star-bulletin-issue-19/
The site did get a redesign so that's probably why it 404s now. Last I heard of the issue was Alderwoman Rossana publicly saying Andre needs to be held accountable and needs to either resign or be expelled.
still waiting on that expulsion
https://www.chicagodsa.org/2020/11/24/chicago-democratic-socialists-censures-alderman-andre-vasquez/
He has been called on to resign his membership with the DSA. If he doesn't resign he's likely getting expelled. The motion to censure and demand his resignation passed 107-2.
the DSA has to purge him and two other people
It's one thing to kick out members who don't follow the party line when the party line has already been established; it's another thing entirely to start purging people on the losing end of internal votes. The goal isn't to have unanimous consent on every party vote; the goal is to get your top-level politicians to act as a disciplined block that maximizes the influence of the party.
From what I can recall of the original threads that popped up when this became an issue a few days ago, the dissenters' best argument was that the party should have some form of punishment short of expulsion. Without knowing all the details of the situation, that's not an unreasonable point.
Having them forfeit their salary would be a good start.
I wonder how ironclad you could make that sort of contract.
Finea might be a way to make that idea work.
Vanguard DSA
Vanguard DSA
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ek23b7gWMAQesiE.jpg
Off to the gulag with him!
this page is a 404 now. has anything else happened?
Not that I'm aware of. The full text of the statement is still available on their twitter and the Red Star (the news bulletin run by the CDSA mentions it) https://midwestsocialist.com/2020/12/01/red-star-bulletin-issue-19/
The site did get a redesign so that's probably why it 404s now. Last I heard of the issue was Alderwoman Rossana publicly saying Andre needs to be held accountable and needs to either resign or be expelled.
[laughs in democratic centralism]
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It hasn't even been a week.