Socialist Alliance USA

[Weidt]

Does anyone have first-hand knowledge of the Socialist Alliance UK? It looks very interesting and as a model from which to create a Socialist Alliance in the USA.

I have voiced this idea to some people, but am sure many on this forum will disagree with me, primarily due to oppositions to electoral politics in general.

A few of us have discussed the notion of bringing together socialist groups into a Socialist Alliance USA, with the aim of consolidating resources for the purpose of putting out SA candidates, staging events/rallies, and all social activities. Groups would join it, but maintain autonomy with the ability to operate as they do not, but now as an alliance. A fist is much stronger than the individual fingers that that fist.

The SA would have a committee based on proportionate representation (based on membership sizes of groups in the SA), and it would create a constitution and platform (at the founding convention perhaps). Any group may nominate candidates for offices and votes would take place, if passed, they would run as SA members (push for ballot access, and thus get on the ballot as SA).

Possible groups to join into this Socialist Alliance may be the following (though there may be more): SPUSA, CoC, Solidarity, Left Turn, FSP, CPUSA, Socialist Action, Workers' Party, ISO, SWP, DSA, Greens USA, etc.

We may begin a website and an informal committee with the aim of agitating for a Socialist Alliance by discussing it within the above groups.

What do people think about this idea?

[vox]

I think it's a great idea. I've thought before that there should be an umbrella group for Leftist parties in the US. However, given the history of these parties, I suspect that it wouldn't work. Still, I think it's worth a try.

I would add the Socialist Labor Party to the list, though it isn't too friendly to other groups. Given that it's almost bankrupt, however, it may conseider cooperation a good thing at this stage.

vox

[Valkyrie]

It sounds like a good idea to me too. A socialist alliance would be a powerful force in American politics.

I was reading the SPUSA's platform. I still don't get why it hasn't caught on to any mainstream degree - it is very orientated to the needs of the majority of people living and working in the United States.

[Valkyrie]

By the way Weidt, How are their two journals: The Socialists and Arise? What kind of articles do they write? Current news events? Positive action?

[Weidt]

The Socialist can be downloaded from the website in PDF form, which it is a mix of articles written by SP members. I have not seen Arise!, so no idea on it.

[Pinko]

The Socialist Alliance.

This is their website. (http://www.socialistalliance.net/)
This is their manifesto (http://www.socialistalliance.net/manifesto/)

The Socialist Worker (http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/) news paper is a good read and it is free for download (most of it is anyway, some pictures are not for copyright reasons).

Have fun.

[Weidt]

If you're interested in the prospects of a socialist alliance, I encourage you to join a mailing list I created for discussion on this topic, which at the moment includes members from the SPUSA, Solidarity, and the DSA.

To join, send a blank e-mail to:
[email protected]

or go to the website and join:
http://www.topica.com/lists/sausa/

[truthaddict11]

an alliance of the real left would make it so people would have to listen to us, there has been talk of uniting the green parties why not all the parties.
great idea i joined the list

[Valkyrie]

Thanks for the link to the Socialist.