Real Change for a Change?

The title of the 2010 Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) Conference is: Democratic Socialism: Real Change for a Change.

Whether this conference will spur, amongst us young folk, real change for a change, time will only tell. Nonetheless, the YDSA Conference started out with two great speakers.

The first plenary session opened with Steve Max, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) Vice-Chair and longtime activist, who co-authored the Midwest Academy Manual, Organizing for Social Change (now in its fourth edition). And then Frances Fox Piven, the renowned sociologist and author (e.g. Piven and Cloward’s 1966 article in The Nation entitled:“The Weight of the Poor. A Strategy to End Poverty”).

Steve Max began the night and the conference, reminiscent of the late Howard Zinn, with socialist history ‘that rarely gets told.’ A hero, so to speak, of this segment of Max’s speech was Franz Sigel (1824-1902). Franz, born in Baden, Germany (where he was inspired by the socialist movement and a leader of revolutionary forces in Baden), became a Union General in the American Civil War. In Saint Louis, Missouri, Franz Sigel developed his own militia, to counter that of Missouri’s secessionist governor. Consequently, Sigel helped keep Missouri in the Union and thus, access to the Mississippi River.

Max also talked about one of the great dilemmas of democratic socialist work. How many hours does one try to improve things under capitalism versus speaking out on socialist principles? This, he said, distinguishes democratic socialists from liberals, who do not discriminate or criticize; and from quote-un-quote socialists, who do not want to make anything better under capitalism. And urged us to spend more time discussing what is socialism and that alternatives to liberalism do not just equal socialism. ‘For if this is not made clear, liberal initiatives will never pass,’ said Max.

But ‘disappointment with the Obama administration is beside the point’, said Piven. And that to make a movement we must apply pressure. Piven’s main point for the night (which resurfaced a lot during the Q&A), was that the left cannot win with a strategy that empowers communication much more over mobilization (e.g. labor strikes; civil rights movement). She went on to tell us, that ‘the lesson is that popular power rests with ordinary people to threaten government that breaks rules to ensure their cooperation. More importantly, Piven asserted that mobilization does not have to be about making noise, but about the fundamental ability of the people to shut it down; for talking about socialism by itself, she said, without mass popular action will not get us there.

However, it was in the question and answer session, amidst great questions (the young people do speak!), where the eloquence of the night flowed. Some notable paraphrased quotes are:

‘Activists can make a difference. Giving people courage and confidence and defiance is not something to be ashamed of, but something the country needs (Piven).’

[In response to how to go against the active right-wing parties] ‘The right got to them first because we are not doing it (Max).’

‘It is not our job to solve the problem, but to create the demand that it be solved. [The government] will solve it (Max).’

[On the role of cultural production] ‘There are so many exposes of U.S. imperialism, but often the message just evaporates; and it is just another kind of entertainment (Piven).’ Furthermore, Steve Max said as ‘all politics are local (i.e. community organizing), then the [media mainstream] level of Fox News in a community is not required.’

In closing, as Piven remarked at one point in the evening, ‘you did not join YDS because you thought it would be an easy role did you?’

And so, it is on that note that the rest of the Young Democratic Socialists of America Conference awaits us speaking young folk.