Some recent critiques levied at DSA's organizational strategies peddle in an aesthetic-radicalism that risks distracting the working-class from organizing itself into a disciplined political force.
I think many of these newly minted “ultra leftists” operate in good faith but have really OD’d on the zeal of the convert.
People discover that views to the left of Bernie/AOC/etc exist, immediately take those positions without reading much about them, then just constantly bag anyone they deem “not left enough” (including many people who they were to the right of not long ago). If you were a Warren Democrat or a libertarian or something three years ago and now you’re talking about how AOC is a deep cover Pelosi sellout, maybe it’s best to just kind of listen more or get more involved with politics offline.
I don’t want to reopen old wounds but I feel like a lot of the Force the Vote discourse came from this perspective. It’s easy to punch left without realizing you’re punching left.
I think many of these newly minted “ultra leftists” operate in good faith but have really OD’d on the zeal of the convert.
People discover that views to the left of Bernie/AOC/etc exist, immediately take those positions without reading much about them, then just constantly bag anyone they deem “not left enough” (including many people who they were to the right of not long ago). If you were a Warren Democrat or a libertarian or something three years ago and now you’re talking about how AOC is a deep cover Pelosi sellout, maybe it’s best to just kind of listen more or get more involved with politics offline.
I don’t want to reopen old wounds but I feel like a lot of the Force the Vote discourse came from this perspective. It’s easy to punch left without realizing you’re punching left.