Why Socialists Can't Wait for Bernie to Lose - POLITICO Magazine
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If you think Sanders's candidacy has divided the Democratic party, that's
nothing compared to what he's done to American socialists, a complex network
of rival fringe parties united by a belief in overturning the economic order,
but divided by almost everything else: strategy, personality, and what they
think of their suddenly famous associate.
The rise of Sanders has triggered an ideological argument - is Sanders
promoting bona fide socialism or, as Fredrik deBoer suggested in POLITICO
Magazine last year, is he nothing but a "Socialist In Name Only?" - but the
real divisions are tactical. In a presidential election year, even socialists
have to think about electoral strategy. And Bernie's rapid ascent means that
the political decisions of the far-far left have been complicated by an
unfamiliar surge of attention.
Some welcome it. Philip Locker, Seattle-based spokesman for the national
Socialist Alternative organization, is thrilled by Sanders phenomenon,
enthusing that "the political system is starting to be shaken" as Sanders "is
popularizing socialism to an audience of tens of millions."
To others, that's dangerous naiveté. Howie Hawkins, a Green Party co-founder
and member of the socialist group Solidarity, wrote an essay in May for the
ISO's Socialist Worker website attacking Sanders for "violating the first
principle of socialist politics: class independence," consorting with the
"billionaire class" by pledging to "support their candidate" if he loses the
Democratic primary.
Socialists don't usually enjoy much presidential ballot access; collectively,
their presidential candidates won a measly 86,528 votes in 2012. But there are
plenty of parties: the Socialist Party USA, Peace and Freedom, Socialism and
Liberation, Socialist Equality, Socialist Workers and Workers World. Some of
these are more focused on revolutions than elections; The Workers World Party
is running a presidential candidate even though "Our party does not aspire to
be in the White House," since "what matters is who is in the streets." Others
seem themselves as "democratic socialist," such as Socialist Party USA, which
can claim one of two municipally elected socialists in the country: Red Bank,
New Jersey school board member Pat Noble.
The largest and most established party in the socialist spectrum doesn't have
"socialist" in the name at all: It's the Green Party, with approximately 100
municipal office holders across the country, most concentrated in California.
The hardy leftists haven't made much national noise since its presidential
candidate Ralph Nader sent the 2000 election into overtime. This year, party
leaders are banking on Bernie to create an unparalleled recruitment
opportunity -as soon as he loses.
http ://www. politi co. com/magazine/story/20 1 6/02/why-soci ali
sts-cant-wait-for-b erni e-to-lo... 3/28/2016
