Joining University "Democratic Socialists" - good idea or no?

[IllicitPopsicle]

Right, so. I'm a freshman in college now. I got my nice bourgeois journalism/mass communications major set up, with all my core classes enrolled in, etc. I'd like to join some student organization on campus, as I'd like the experience. We've been encouraged (as the freshman class on the whole) to join at least two organizations. Since I'm not rushing, I think I might join a club at least tangentially related to my major. But the other organization I'm kind of struggling with myself over.

They call themselves the campus "Democratic Socialists" and they describe themselves in the 2010 student organizations directory as: "...both an umbrella group and support group for various students who hope to leave America in better condition and as a classless society."

Obviously, I'm skeptical. After the summer's craziness involving Atlee and Chegitz, aligning myself with social democrats seems like it would be counterintuitive. On the other hand, this group appears to be the most radical on campus (the result of attending university in the center of the US); not even the local SPUSA chapter/ISO/etc. are present.

RevLeft's thoughts?

[GPDP]

Join it and see how you like it. If it's too liberal/social-democratic for your liking, leave it, but not before seeking out another alternative, preferably a non-political one.

I also joined an organization called Students for Peace, which was the second most radical organization on campus (the first being our local MEChA chapter, but I didn't like their politics for a variety of reasons). True, it had a bunch of social-democrats in it, but the president was just shy of being an outright Marxist, and hell, it beat joining the fucking Young Democrats.

[IllicitPopsicle]

Yeah, that's one thing I could never swallow, joining YD. I remember in high school attending a "debate" between the young democrats and the "young conservatives" and just cringing as the right wingers crushed the liberals. I participated in a debate once, as an "independent," and in an odd twist I seemed to have gotten the respect of more conservatives than democrats... Probably because I called one of the democrat kids out for their position on the war in Afghanistan, and when they tried to interrupt me I told em to stfu... Still... I was vair confuse for a while...

Anyway, I'm not in any rush to join an organization, it's still only the first week of classes and I missed my first day due to food poisoning, so joining DemSocs is kind of a lower priority right now.

[Chimurenga.]

Start a chapter of SDS or if there is an existing chapter, join that. That, in my opinion, would be a hell of a lot better than joining DSA.

[RadioRaheem84]

Yeah, that's one thing I could never swallow, joining YD. I remember in high school attending a "debate" between the young democrats and the "young conservatives" and just cringing as the right wingers crushed the liberals. I participated in a debate once, as an "independent," and in an odd twist I seemed to have gotten the respect of more conservatives than democrats... Probably because I called one of the democrat kids out for their position on the war in Afghanistan, and when they tried to interrupt me I told em to stfu... Still... I was vair confuse for a while...

Anyway, I'm not in any rush to join an organization, it's still only the first week of classes and I missed my first day due to food poisoning, so joining DemSocs is kind of a lower priority right now.

Conservative arguments are weak unless they wrap them around libertarian jargon. Usually right-libertarian type conservatives that know their stuff (without jumping into Hanniy-esque style arguing about nationalism) can really take down liberals. Liberals usually have hopelessly idealist and naive views that right libertarians can easily break down. I believe this is so because both liberals and conservative/libertarians accept the rational of the market, only the latter doesn't hide behind any guilt. So liberalism becomes a good yet futile attempt at helping out the poor (not from our end in class struggle) in a capitalist society.

As a Marxist, I've found myself thinking of liberals as the laughing stock between the left and right debate.

You might as well start you're own leftist anti-capitalist group, non-tendency and invite some dem socs. I hope to be doing that soon too.

[The Idler]

Better to be involved in whatever's available than not involved at all. If you think you can, then start your own group. Call the national HQ, they may be able to help you.

[leftace53]

Join it, see if they are as radical as you'd like, if not, leave and start your own.
I joined the campus NDP group, and the Green Party group, both were pretty liberal but I got free food. I've been thinking of starting a campus commies group, but the people at my school are lack luster to say the least.

[Zeus the Moose]

Right, so. I'm a freshman in college now. I got my nice bourgeois journalism/mass communications major set up, with all my core classes enrolled in, etc. I'd like to join some student organization on campus, as I'd like the experience. We've been encouraged (as the freshman class on the whole) to join at least two organizations. Since I'm not rushing, I think I might join a club at least tangentially related to my major. But the other organization I'm kind of struggling with myself over.

They call themselves the campus "Democratic Socialists" and they describe themselves in the 2010 student organizations directory as: "...both an umbrella group and support group for various students who hope to leave America in better condition and as a classless society."

Obviously, I'm skeptical. After the summer's craziness involving Atlee and Chegitz, aligning myself with social democrats seems like it would be counterintuitive. On the other hand, this group appears to be the most radical on campus (the result of attending university in the center of the US); not even the local SPUSA chapter/ISO/etc. are present.

RevLeft's thoughts?

On an individual level, there are a number of YDSers which are more radical than their parent organisation. I've noticed this in their William Paterson University group in NJ, and it also seems like there are a number of folks at least nominally affiliated to YDS in the Lehigh Valley that support the Greens rather than the Democrats. Still not revolutionaries, but there is some more variation than might otherwise be apparent.

My suggestion would be to check it out at least (after getting over the food poisoning!), and try to talk politics with them.

[Prairie Fire]

Well, I don't know what your other options are. Also it is not my call to make whether or not it would be productive to start up something new.

That said, in a generalized sense, "Democratic Socialist" is a label used by social dems and wavering elements in the US ( Angela Davis, Cornel West, etc.). What you are describing sounds like the youth wing of the social dems in my country (NDYA), which are more radical in rhetoric than their parent organization, and are convinced that their party is advocating a completely seperate socio-economic system than capitalism (when it isn't).

I would recommend that you check these types out, see what they are doing, what stands they are taking, maybe try and sway/influence them, not in an academic way but in a practical way with specific stances on specific issues.

If worse comes to worse, maybe try and start something new. I would recommend that you contact the APL if you reach that point.

[KurtFF8]

YDS is an interesting organization. It's not revolutionary or Marxist, and they do tend to want to pressure Democrats a bit much (although I'd argue that they are further Left than CPUSA, but that doesn't take much).

They do some decent work though (DSA is involved with Jobs with Justice for example I believe, although so is CPUSA) but if there are better options I'd go for them.

Who knows, maybe there are some revolutionaries involved who would be down for an SDS.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Just do it, I joined the liberal club at my high school a while ago because that was the closest thing I identified with and tried to get people to change their mind about capitalism. I hope that didn't make me "reactionary" or whatever.

[black magick hustla]

it depends on the yds chapter. i was a member of yds. it wasnt terrible mainly because most people there didnt have any idea and probably half of them calleod themselves anarchists. i wrote a lot ofstuff in their blog and then some national yds top guy called to our place so that i get expelled. needless to say i walked out but i made many good friends. the dsa is a disgusting organization though and its full of fucking zionists

[Stephen Colbert]

Start a chapter of SDS or if there is an existing chapter, join that. That, in my opinion, would be a hell of a lot better than joining DSA.

This is what I did. :D First meeting on September 3rd

[Tablo]

I also joined SDS. Tuscaloosa has the BEST chapter! :D

[IllicitPopsicle]

On second thought, I'm maybe not so keen on joining the DemSocs. After a weird encounter with a member of the club today, I feel gaining experience in organizing would be better served in, say, the local NOW or even a student government-type deal.

Or, as some of you have mentioned, I may just start my own chapter of an organization. One focused more on practical issues, rather than "intellectual" or "educational" gimmicks.

[Die Rote Fahne]

Right, so. I'm a freshman in college now. I got my nice bourgeois journalism/mass communications major set up, with all my core classes enrolled in, etc. I'd like to join some student organization on campus, as I'd like the experience. We've been encouraged (as the freshman class on the whole) to join at least two organizations. Since I'm not rushing, I think I might join a club at least tangentially related to my major. But the other organization I'm kind of struggling with myself over.

They call themselves the campus "Democratic Socialists" and they describe themselves in the 2010 student organizations directory as: "...both an umbrella group and support group for various students who hope to leave America in better condition and as a classless society."

Obviously, I'm skeptical. After the summer's craziness involving Atlee and Chegitz, aligning myself with social democrats seems like it would be counterintuitive. On the other hand, this group appears to be the most radical on campus (the result of attending university in the center of the US); not even the local SPUSA chapter/ISO/etc. are present.

RevLeft's thoughts?

Join and see what it's all about. If you don't like it, but wish to be in a group more aligned with your thought, create it from within them.