I have only seen national DSA leadership oppose the idea or turn it into a personality contest with Jimmy Dore.

How is that democratic at all?! They are openly contradicting the democratically-decided party line…

What an absolutely shit organization.

Here's the quote:

2019 presents a unique opportunity for the Democratic Socialists for Medicare for All campaign: to be a key player in pushing HR 1384, the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, to a vote in the House of Representatives. DSA is not alone in this work. National Nurses United, along with nearly 30 other national and local unions and progressive organizations are coordinating to take advantage of this moment. Since Bernie Sanders’ presidential run in 2016, single-payer advocates have been successfully turning Medicare for All into a litmus test for politicians. A floor vote in the House will force representatives to finally reveal whether they’re on the side of healthcare profiteers or the side of the working class.

  • PhaseFour [he/him]
    4·
    4 years ago

    But you arent advocating for that

    ??? That is exactly what people are advocating for, M4A immediately. The vote is one tactic to that end.

    Forcing a failed vote makes sense in the context of a few things

    The most important factor is that it can demonstrate to more people that the existing bourgeois democracy is fundamentally incapable of addressing the contradictions in today's society. M4A needs to happen now, but it won't.

    We need to prove to the masses that it won't happen, and we need to replace our state with one that will.

    The rest of your post does a great job highlighting how easy it is to teach people the futility of this project. We need to work with the people and teach them this information.

    There is a faction of the progressive media pushing people into action. I have not seen this happen since the Bernie. That should not be opposed.

    • mrbigcheese [he/him]
      2·
      4 years ago

      Teaching people things is great, but like I said just saying "vote for m4a" isn't gonna make that happen when we dont have any way to exert power over politicians. If it does happen it could be good, but I just dont think it will happen, thats why i dont think this is all that important. I agree it shouldnt be opposed cause theres no reason to waste energy opposing something like this unless i'm really missing something that could potentially actually backfire and make things worse, but I dont see how that would happen, tho again im not fully familiar with how a vote or the whole actual process itself would work, but I just dont think the politicians will think its worthwhile. Maybe the whole FTV thing itself failing should demonstrate to people the futility of tying your movement building around just demanding things from politicians?

      • PhaseFour [he/him]
        4·
        4 years ago

        Teaching people things is great, but like I said just saying “vote for m4a” isn’t gonna make that happen when we dont have any way to exert power over politicians.

        The current effort is to exert power over progressive politicians over something they can achieve by themselves - a floor vote on M4A.

        If we cannot get progressive politicians to push for a political tactic in DSA's M4A strategy, that is important information for the socialist movement.

        Maybe the whole FTV thing itself failing should demonstrate to people the futility of tying your movement building around just demanding things from politicians?

        I am advocating this in every organizing space I can find on forcing the vote. Pressuring politicians is a tactic we can use right now. We must use it, and also discuss the next set of tactics once this tactic has run its course.