Posted on 05/25/2002 11:20:05 AM PDT by forest
As most readers of this newsletter know, we believe in calling things what they are, in plain English, and in such a way that there is no doubt in what we mean. So we haven't been using words like duplicitous, deceitful and devious when describing the Democrats in Congress. Instead, when they act like socialists (as do some Republicans), socialists is what we call them.
There is a very good reason for this socialist tag, too. We are far from being alone in this assessment. Specifically, we find the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in total agreement.
First, though, a little information on the DSA. Here's a few excerpts taken directly from the DSA(1) web page:
"The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is the largest socialist organization in the United States, and the principal U.S. affiliate of the Socialist International. DSA's members are building progressive movements for social change while establishing an openly socialist presence in American communities and politics.
"At the root of our socialism is a profound commitment to democracy, as means and end. We are activists committed not only to extending political democracy but to demanding democratic empowerment in the economy, in gender relations, and in culture. Democracy is not simply one of our political values but our means of restructuring society. Our vision is of a society in which people have a real voice in the choices and relationships that affect the entirety of our lives. We call this vision democratic socialism -- a vision of a more free, democratic and humane society." . . .
"We are socialists because we share a vision of a humane international social order based both on democratic planning and market mechanisms to achieve equitable distribution of resources, meaningful work, a healthy environment, sustainable growth, gender and racial equality, and non-oppressive relationships." . . .
"To advance the cause of socialism, DSA has established the Center for Democratic Values.(2) The Center for Democratic Values is a network of intellectuals committed to bringing progressive ideas on society, the economy, and government into mainstream discussions. CDV produces letters to the editor, op-eds, pamphlets, and books."
So there you have it. Social-democrats are "building progressive movements for social change" by "establishing an openly socialist presence in American communities and politics," and through supporting "democratic planning and market mechanisms to achieve equitable distribution of resources."
How does this fit in with Congress and the Democratic Party? Easy. The only outwardly avowed socialist in Congress is Representative Bernard Sanders of Vermont. However, Sanders was also the chairman of a Congressional group calling itself the Congressional Progressive Caucus.(3) The Progressive Caucus, incidentally, aligns itself with the Democratic Socialists of America. The Congressional Caucus membership list is posted for all to see.(4)
Meanwhile, back to the DSA web page: "The Progressive Caucus of the US House of Representatives is made up of 58 members of the House. The Caucus works to advance economic and social justice through sponsoring legislation that reflects its purpose. The Caucus also works with a coalition of organizations, called the Progressive Challenge(5), to bring new life to the progressive voice in US politics."
In truth, there are well over 150 Democrats in the House (and a few Republicans who act like it) who subscribe to all of these socialist world economy and world government programs -- those programs designed to allow the chosen elite complete control over the peasant-citizens.
What we see today as corruption in government was brought about simply because these people, as a group, feel that any means to their end is acceptable. This includes, of course, taking campaign funds from foreign Communists as well as passing some very obnoxious people- control laws.
These groups (and Members of Congress) are, in turn, politically aligned with Socialists International(6), which is based in London. "The Socialist International is the worldwide organization of socialist, social democratic and labour parties. It is the oldest and largest international political association in the world, currently comprising more than 120 parties and organizations from all continents.
"The Socialist International, whose origins go back to 1864, has existed in its present form since 1951 when it was re-established at the Frankfurt congress.
"The International provides its members with a forum for political action, policy discussion, dialogue and exchange. Its statements and decisions advise member organizations and the international community of consensus views within the global family of socialist, social democratic and labour parties and organizations."
Most of these groups may be publicly quiet, but they are very, very active in the political background. And, generally, they all support exactly the same agenda. That socialist agenda, by the way, has made up the bulk of the Democratic Party's official platform for nearly two decades.
Last but not least, for more information, on just how neatly the socialist's activities blend in with the U.S. Democratic Party (and the AFL-CIO), check the Social Democrats, USA web page.(7) That is also very enlightening -- albeit, like everything else socialist, their web site often does not work.
The leadership organization of these socialist groups is, of course, Socialist International. Readers interested in where the United Nations (and Congress) gets so many of its wacky socialist/communist ideas might want to check out the Socialist International web page.(6)
We Constitutionalists would do well to copy some of their organizational framework.
1. http://www.dsausa.org/dsa.html
2. http://www.igc.org/cdv/index.html
3. http://bernie.house.gov/pc/
4. http://bernie.house.gov/pc/members.asp
5. http://www.ips-dc.org/netprogress/
6. http://www.dsausa.org/si/si.html
7. http://www.socialdemocrats.org
The leadership organization of these socialist groups is, of course, Socialist International. Readers interested in where the United Nations (and Congress) gets so many of its wacky socialist/communist ideas might want to check out the Socialist International web page.
They are very well organized. We Constitutionalists would do well to copy some of their organizational framework.
Those of you who are not familiar with political terms may find a list of definitions handy at
Hey, I agree! That's why I call them and (many Republicans as well) TRAITORS!!
Bernard Sanders-VT,Chair, Cynthia A. McKinney-GA, Co-Chair, Peter DeFazio-OR, Co-Chair, Maurice Hinchey-NY,Co-Chair, Major Owens-NY.Co-Chair, Nydia M. Velazquez-NY, Lane Evans-IL, Maxine Waters-CA, Earl Hilliard-AL, Ed Pastor-AZ, Lynn C. Woolsey-CA, George Miller-CA, Nancy Pelosi-CA, Fortney "Pete" Stark-CA, Henry A. Waxman-CA, Xavier Becerra-CA, Julian C. Dixon-CA, Esteban Edward Torres-CA, George E. Brown-CA, Bob Filner-CA, Diane DeGette-CO, Corrine Brown-FL, Carrie P. Meek-FL, Alcee L. Hastings-FL, John Lewis-GA, Neil Abercrombie-HI, Patsy Mink-HI, Luis Gutierrez-IL, Danny Davis-IL, Julia Carson-IN, John Olver-MA, Jim McGovern-MA, Barney Frank-MA, John Tierney-MA, David Bonior-MI, Lynn N. Rivers-MI, John Conyers-MI, Bennie G. Thompson-MS, Melvin L. Watt-NC, Donald Payne-NJ, Jerrold Nadler-NY, Charles Rangel-NY, Jose E. Serrano-NY, John LaFalce-NY, Marcy Kaptur-OH, Dennis Kucinich-OH, Stephanie-Tubbs-Jones-OH, Sherrod Brown-OH, Elizabeth Furse-OR, Chaka Fattah-PA, William Coyne-PA, Carlos A. Romero-Barcelo-PR, Robert C. Scott-VA, James A. McDermott-WA.
I've compiled my own list, which I got from a couple different sources. I checked out all these Congressmen's Gov't Web Sites. Most of them do not list membership in the Progressive Caucus on their official gov't site, which I find odd and down right deceptive. A small percentage do though and Jesse Jackson Jr goes so far as to have a link to the Dem Socialists of America website. I listed a couple who were either deceased or retired just for general info purposes.
Alabama
I apologize for the length of the list- an HTML whiz I aint but I found it easier (for me at least) to read it that way. If your congress critter isn't on here, you can pat yourself on the back. If anybody knows one that needs to be on here or if I listed someone that is no longer in office- please let me know.
You don't tear their arguments apart by screaming "COMMUNIST!!!!" at them. That is like yelling Jesus Freak at a proud born again. You tear their arguments apart by systematically showing how they cannot practically manage the means of production for a large economy. You show the logical falacy of relying on the will of the people for what is right. You point out how capitalism is hated by the elite and you make them ask how only 2 capitalist nations, the US and Japan with a population of less than 400,000,000 can out produce all of Europe combined which has a total population IIRC of almost 600,000,000 and is almost entirely Socialist. How is it that capitalism is able to exploit socialist nations if Socialism is really for the people? Shouldn't Socialism systematically defeat capitalism?
And, more than half are black. Not making a value statement. Just making an observation.
Ah, my former rep until I moved out of city limits.
I participated in some online debates with some who called themselves democratic socialists. Once pressed they can admit to some bizarre theories.
The folks I debated argued that socialism did not succeed because it had never been tried. They claimed that every country that called itself socialistic wasn't really since they were dominated by an elite that governed for their own interests rather than the interests of the people. Their utopia would, of course, be different.
They sidestepped one of your objections, the lack of a useful algorthm, by postulating a government that would place the questions of allocating resources to a vote. If for example, a town had unemployed workers, then that town would vote on the type of capital investments to put these unemployed to work, ie, build a shoe factory or a communal farm. At this point they began to get bizarre admitting that most people really wouldn't want to be concerned with subjects such as this so they probably would prefer letting an elite make these types of decisions.
The most bizarre of their theories was that by a correct allocation of resources to real needs, no one would need to work more than 20 or so hours per week. They accomplished this by riding the world of capitalism and marketing since they felt that these only made the workers think they needed some things. That once this artificially created desires were purged from the world, most folks would be quite happy living in a high rise apartment building where the typical family lived in only a few hundred square feet. No need for cars either since we would all ride mass transit to our government appointed jobs.
The bottom line is that the government would tell what you wanted, when you wanted it, and how much of it you wanted. The education system would be geared to convincing you that living on less was best. While they maintained that all of this would be achieved democratically, they also maintained that there would be, at least temporarily, the need for force just in case your education wasn't truely effective in convincing you that the plans of the elites were notthe best.
Thanks for the link. It is most informative.The site gives you a photograph, web site address and E-mail address. I am wondering, is there a site that gives a more complete dossier. Say a site that lists their home address (D.C. and state of origin), their favorite vacation spot, maybe their favorite restaurants or nightclubs? Would the posting of such information be crossing some kind of legal line? I know that laws exist against giving out such information about judges and policemen.Do these laws extend to cover the ruling class?
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