This author and blogger is proud to call himself a “progressive”, and has always admired political leaders who promote “liberal” values and ideas.
At the same time, this author and blogger has never believed in so called “Democratic Socialism” as an agenda, while at times, admiring individuals, such as Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, for his humanity and idealism.
But this author and blogger never believed Sanders was the proper person to lead the Democratic Party as a Presidential candidate.
But recently, with the victory of Zohran Mamdani as NYC Mayor, and a few congressional candidates being of the “Democratic Socialist” variety, the thought has been the issue of whether this movement within the Democratic Party was practical and realistic.
We have the possibility of Abdul El Sayed winning the Senate nomination in Michigan, and Francesca Hong winning the Wisconsin Gubernatorial nomination, in the coming few weeks.
But many are concerned that if these two candidates win, the Republicans will gain the edge to win in November, a fear that this author and blogger has.
And when one examines the platform of the DSA, it is clear that it is unrealistic and even dangerous to imagine an America governed by their philosophy.
The DSA is clearly not “Communism’ as Donald Trump and other Republicans are claiming, but their ideas are too extreme and unwise, and if adopted, would lead to massive destruction of the Democratic Party.
The DSA platform supports the following “crazy” ideas:
Abolish the US Senate
Abolish the Supreme Court
Abolish the Presidency as we know it, and the Electoral College
Allow the Congress (House of Representatives only) to govern and control the other branches of government
Defunding the Department of Defense, and withdrawing from all military bases around the world
Amnesty for all immigrants and abolition of ICE
Support For Palestinians and Hostility Toward Israel
32 hour work week, a living minimum wage, and paid family leave
Tuition free public education through college
Publicly Owned Housing and Universal Rent Control
Medicare For All and Universal Healthcare
Public Ownership of Corporations
Aggressive Wealth Taxes on the Rich and Corporations
Promotion of Labor Unions and Worker Rights
Environmental Green New Deal
While movement forward on the work week and labor unions; education; housing; health care; more taxes on the rich and corporations; and environmental reforms, can be promoted, the remainder of the ideas listed above are preposterous and unachievable.
Abolishing the government as we know it is not going to happen, and would require a new Constitutional Convention, that could lead, in theory, to a more right wing extremist government, instead of what is proposed.
The Department of Defense and ICE will continue, although the policies pursued need to be reformed so that there is the end of abuses now being perpetrated.
Also, the United States will continue to support the safety and survival of the state of Israel, while being able to be critical of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu and its policies toward the Palestinians.
The Founding Fathers created a form of government, that while not perfect, has overall done quite well in moving the nation forward “toward a more perfect union”, and the Presidency of Donald Trump is a short term derailment of their goals, but will, with public support, be overcome.