What is the difference between the Democratic Socialists Party and the Democratic Party?

[kentuck]

I have thought seriously of joining the Democratic Socialists. They appear to be a more distinct opposing Party to the Republican Conservatives. At times, I have thought that our present Democratic Party was too closely allied with a lot of the conservatives. For example, when the EFCA goes down because of a few "conservative" Democrats, the feelings will be revived once again. And would there be a bigger majority of Democratic Socialists that would vote for the EFCA than there would be in our Democratic Party in Washington? Bernie Sanders is the best known Democratic Socialist and he votes almost Party line with the Democrats. Would it help our Party swing more to the left if more of us joined the Democratic Socialists Party? I wonder?

This is not directed toward our President in any manner. He is doing as great a job as can be done under the circumstances, in my opinion. But it is directed toward our Congress and Senate. If they had shown just a bit more backbone in the last 6 or 8 years, we might not be where we are today? But, as Barack would say, there is nothing to gain by looking back. However, if someone robs a bank, we do not let them escape culpability because we do not want to look back. Justice requires us to look back. I'm sure the President understands this as well. But he is thinking like a chess game and most of us are thinking checkers, perhaps?

[tekisui]

1. It's the difference between Bernie Sanders and Chuck Schumer.

Bernie Sanders consistently supports people over profit. He stands for justice over power. I would vote for a Democratic Socialist if one were to run in my district.

[sandnsea]

2. That or the Greens

I wish somebody would get in gear and make the left the second party instead of the right.

[burning rain]

3. The Democratic Party is a capitalist party.

Too laissez-faire for my tastes, but still worth voting for most of the time. I'm out there in France Parti Socialiste land in terms of my druthers, but I'm pretty pragmatic -- or "jaded," if someone out there chooses to put it unkindly -- and generally don't see the sense in going for third parties. If a lefty can't win in a Democratic primary, after all, how the hell can they prevail in the general?

[bitchkitty]

7. One day, it will be.

The only good thing that has come out of the past 8 years, and the hard decade to come, is that people in general will be driven further and further left, and socialism will seem like more of a good idea than a dirty word. South America has been leading by example, and in spite of our shitty media, more and more people are seeing the positive things that can happen when people take control of their own government.

It's worth a hope to me, anyway! ;)

[dmallind]

4. Only one of them has any chance of exerting any real influence

The problem (from your point of view that is) would be that the more left-wing types leave the Democratic party, the less left the party will be, QED. Since it will take either many decades or a sudden change in how we vote (like instant run off) for any third party to gain even barely significant power, all it will do in the interim is keep the Democratic party more and more centrist in make up, and, if sufficiently successful, reduce the number of seats they hold by siphoning off left-wing votes.

And this is not influence for influence's sake remember. Minority parties in our system can't DO anything, so if you want anything at all to be done to suit the left-wing agenda, you have a much better hope trying to get more and more left wingers active in the party that can actually do something about it. If more left-leaners went through all the motions it takes to get on platform committees and selection committees, the platform and the candidates would be more left-leaning themselves.

The only problem there is where you live. While the likes of Shuler for example may not fit the left-wing agenda very much at all, they at least provide another caucus vote and count for committee makeup numbers and so on so the "better side" can do something at all that you like. If you run a far left candidate for that seat it goes Republican and we don't even get what little assistance Shuler provides. Your only chance to balance it up a bit is concentrate on very very blue districts and try to be as active as you can (collectively) on the local committees.

The US electoral system is locked into dualism mode. Anything that hurts the Dems helps only one party - and it's surely not the Dem Socialists.

[tekisui]

5. The Democrats would depend on the Dem Socialists to caucus

with them, just as they do with Bernie Sanders. If Sanders wasn't alone in the Senate, if he had one or two more, the Democrats would be forced to make concessions to bring them on board.

[dmallind]

6. You're assuming the Dem socialists would win any seats

There are very few places where that is even vaguely plausible. By far the more likely scenario is that the Reps win in a 47-45-8 three way race instead of lose in a 47-53 two way race.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. I am doing some research

I googled and found what appears to be an official website:

http://www.dsausa.org/dsa.html

They define themselves this way:

Democratic Socialists believe that both the economy and society should be run democratically—to meet public needs, not to make profits for a few. To achieve a more just society, many structures of our government and economy must be radically transformed through greater economic and social democracy so that ordinary Americans can participate in the many decisions that affect our lives.

There is a great Q&A page which I'm just exploring. This group says that since third parties don't do well here, until that changes they support Democratic candidates.

[underpants]

9. We need at least 5 parties

but they will never let that happen

by any name
Left wing
eh.. not so really that left wing
the middle
far right
God and Guns

oh and maybe right now a Susan Boyle party

[Davis_X_Machina]

10. DSA-USA isn't a party...

...it's an activist organization, as per their membership flyer (PDF file)

Democratic Socialists of America is an activist organization, not a political party

.Been a member myself since Michael Harrington/Irving Howe days.