Working with Democrats to Recall Republicans

[Ilyich]

As you may know, there is currently an effort to recall several Republican officials. Because of the bi-party dictatorship of the bourgeoisie in the United States, these officials would be replaced by Democrats. I have the chance to campaign to recall one of the worst Republicans (State Senator Alberta Darling, Co-Chair of the Joint Finance Committee) and replace her with a fairly progressive Democrat (Representative Sandy Pasch). Should I do it?

[Ilyich]

Also, does Chapter IV of the Communist Manifesto apply here?

[miltonwasfried...man]

I don't see why you shouldn't but beware, Democrats are just as bourgeoisie as the Republicans. We should work towards dismantling the government, instead of building it up.

[Kamos]

Most certainly.

[Crux]

As you may know, there is currently an effort to recall several Republican officials. Because of the bi-party dictatorship of the bourgeoisie in the United States, these officials would be replaced by Democrats. I have the chance to campaign to recall one of the worst Republicans (State Senator Alberta Darling, Co-Chair of the Joint Finance Committee) and replace her with a fairly progressive Democrat (Representative Sandy Pasch). Should I do it?
What does "fairly progressive" mean? To be honest I think, at this stage, much of the recall campaigns will act as possible diversions.
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Will the Recall be Enough?—We Need to Build a Mass Movement that Can Defeat Walker (http://www.socialistalternative.org/news/article10.php?id=1566)

[Jimmie Higgins]

As you may know, there is currently an effort to recall several Republican officials. Because of the bi-party dictatorship of the bourgeoisie in the United States, these officials would be replaced by Democrats. I have the chance to campaign to recall one of the worst Republicans (State Senator Alberta Darling, Co-Chair of the Joint Finance Committee) and replace her with a fairly progressive Democrat (Representative Sandy Pasch). Should I do it?Considering that here in California, it is the Democrats who are carrying out attacks on unions and union rights, I don't think this is the best strategy. People want to show their anger at these politicians and I understand that, but the Democrats and the union leadership loyal to them put the breaks on the protests in Madison, the recall walker campaign is a "safer" alternative to building up local union power by using the excitement of the protests by going on a unionization drive, building up rank and file leadership (as if the Dems and union bureaucrats would do this anyway) through job actions or protests or anything else that would help arm workers themselves rather than herd workers into a strategy of waiting and hoping the Democratic Party alternative might do something different.

I think a better use of your time would be working on an actual grassroots labor campaign - even getting some kind of job in a labor union today would be potentially much more political than a year ago and maybe you can network with radicalizing workers or, in this politicized atmosphere, convince some other low-level union organizers of the need for radical politics.

If the campaign position you are being offered, is a paid one - and better paid than other canvasing or similar work - then that's another matter and maybe the paycheck and some of the job experience will be worth it, but all else being equal, working for a political campaign for a Democrat will probably burn you out a little because you will be expected to put in 110% for something that maybe philosophically and politically you aren't behind.

Campaigns, irregardless of politics, are a meat grinder and for the big parties, they will take advantage of you and try and guilt you into doing extra work as if this was not a paid job. It might be different in different situations, particularly for a local campaign, but I read that people are trying to sue the contractor that hired people to work in the Democrat's campaign in 2008 because they would make people work 14 hour days and so on.