No deals, build our own, the time is now

• Statement about: Jovanka Beckles and Gayle McLaughlin
• For these candidates: I oppose endorsing them.
• Summary: DSA East Bay has the people-power to win the next election cycle

Written by East Bay DSA member Kimo

I was impressed with all of the speakers last night, and really the only statements that i disagreed with were the cautious theme "we need to build slowly." One speaker even mentioned something about six years... at which point we may not even be having elections anymore. I think those sentiments are the result of a lifetime of losses and represent a mindset of permanent fringe political crankiness. I would like to suggest another approach.

Never in my lifetime have the "elites" been in such disarray. If we think small, we are going to get nothing, something we are all quite used to. I think we have an opportunity to make a tremendous impact on the next election cycle... as Democratic Socialists. Our efforts should be in building an election DSA Manifesto from the federal level down to the level of local dog-catcher and run a full slate of candidates. We can offer the voters real change... municipal fiber internet service, UK style NHS (f that single-payer bs), investment in public education and other policies that are untouchable by the existing political structure.

Last night I saw a group of people who want to be revolutionaries. Every individual at Humanist Hall was a potential candidate for the DSA East Bay slate. The time to act is now.

The statement above is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily represent the opinions of East Bay DSA, its local council, or its members.