Watch: Forum on the Democratic Socialists of America

Last month, Voices for New Democracy hosted its latest monthly political forum discussing the rise of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and the work of its New York chapters.

The conversation, facilitated by NYC-DSA member Harrison Carpenter-Neuhaus in conversation with fellow member Danny Valdes, began with a presentation on the overall structure of the DSA and how chapters are organizing for a socialist future before shifting to dialogue about the successes and challenges that a new generation of socialist organizers in the DSA are experiencing. The conversation covered how NYC-DSA is navigating the challenges of wielding state power while preserving principles, the limits and possibilities of legislative and electoral campaign organizing, NYC-DSA’s efforts to support the labor movement, an analysis of the international situation, and the challenges of internal democracy in the country’s largest existing socialist organization.

Harrison and Danny encourage further discussion and dialogue via comments and questions on this post. Watch the full forum below.

Watch: Forum on Politics at the Local Level

This past Sunday, February 5th, Voices for New Democracy hosted our latest monthly political forum exploring the possibilities for progressive politics at the local level with former Oakland Mayor Jean Quan and former New York City Council Member Margaret Chin.

Recounting their personal histories of — and motivations for — running for office, Quan and Chin discussed the challenges they faced and the victories they secured in building more just and equitable local politics. The forum covered a wide range of experiences and insights, from Quan’s fight for police accountability and experience battling against well-funded and well-connected opposition in the halls of power and on social media, to Chin’s organizing and phone-banking electoral tactics, her fights for affordable housing, and her efforts to organize progressive BIPOC and women members of the City Council into a majority bloc.

Watch the full forum, including presentations and audience Q&A, below.

Watch: Forum on 2022 Elections and Meeting the Moment

Last Sunday, Voices for New Democracy hosted our latest monthly political forum discussing prospects for the upcoming 2022 elections with friend, contributor, and MIT professor Phil Thompson.

Following up on his recent writings in the New Labor Forum (‘Is Now the Time to Break with the Democrats?: A Debate‘ and ‘Democratizing the Knowledge Economy: Will Labor Accept the Challenge?‘), Thompson contends that today’s moment is the one the Left has been waiting for since the 1970s, and outlined some of the key (and sometimes contradictory) trends of today’s political moment:

• The rise of the far-right, anti-democratic radicalization among the conservative movement
• Right-wing attacks on immigrants, labor, climate, and other progressive priorities
• Timid union leadership hesitant to seize power
• Long-standing weaknesses and failures of the Democratic party
• Resurgence of labor organizing among service sector workers and strong public support for unions
• Left-wing radicalization among young people and certain legacy institutions
• Progressive movements expanding and pushing local government to the left in strongholds like New York
• The growth of the knowledge economy and the possibilities it presents for organizing and the role of consumers
• And much more

Watch the full forum below.

Watch: Forum on the Future of American Socialism

Last Sunday, Voices for New Democracy hosted our latest monthly political forum with a wide-ranging discussion on the future of American socialism.

The extensive conversation covered key themes in contemporary American political economy and the state of class struggle today. Steve Clark kicked the forum off with a presentation on his latest essay, outlining several important currents in the trajectory of American politics and society, and offered interpretations of how these currents may shape opportunities to build socialism in the United States over the coming years. Thomas Blanton carried the conversation forward, discussing the importance of theory and building partnerships with diverse movements (especially those of oppressed peoples) in advancing a more progressive future. Eric Gill also discussed his perspective on the trajectory of the American left, class formation, modern imperialism, and the contradictions of contemporary capitalism amid the shift to a service economy, drawing on his own experience as a leader of the hotel workers union in Hawai’i. Finally, the forum shifted to an open dialogue drawing out key themes from these presentations.

Watch the full forum below.

Watch: Monthly Political Forum on Labor and Reproductive Justice

In our latest monthly political forum, Jean Quan facilitated a discussion with Elise Bryant and Virginia Rodino of the Coalition of Labor Union Women on the role of women in the labor movement and the importance of centering reproductive justice in labor struggles.

Recounting their histories in the labor movement, the history of CLUW, and the evolving trends we’re seeing in the labor movement today, Elise and Virginia offered important reflections on why centering women and marginalized voices is key to strengthening the labor movement at large. And in the face of the right-wing attack to dismantle Roe v. Wade, they discussed how CLUW is launching new electoral efforts to build power at all levels of government to advance reproductive justice and worker power.

Watch the full forum below.