Wednesday, October 24, 2012

The Welfare State of America: A Progressive Manifesto



The Welfare State of America - In These Times
A manifesto for building social democracy in an age of austerity

Great article in In These Times by DSA activists PETER FRASE AND BHASKAR SUNKARA

DSA honorary co-chair Frances Fox Piven on the case for a progressive/left Social Democratic agenda to oppose the Right's Austerity agenda

For the Welfare of All


Friday, October 19, 2012

Coalition on Human Needs - SAVE for All Campaign

DSA Endorses the Coalition on Human Needs - SAVE for All Campaign


Strengthening America’s Values and Economy (SAVE) for All is a coalition of national, state and local advocacy groups, service providers, faith-based organizations, policy experts, labor and civil rights groups working to protect important services from harmful federal budget cuts and to save the federal capacity to spur economic recovery and progress for the benefit of all. Join the SAVE for All Campaign Group by visiting the Stay Connected page.

The campaign will develop materials that make the case for the involvement of federal resources, engage grassroots advocates, employ media strategies and contact members of Congress with messages consistent with the campaign's Statement of Principles of:
  • Protecting low- and moderate-income people in budget and deficit reduction proposals.
  • Preventing multi-year appropriations caps that force harsh reductions in domestic/human needs services and other beneficial programs.
  • Preventing restrictive structural changes to essential programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
  • Balancing spending cuts needed to address the debt with progressive sources of revenue.
Featured SAVE for All Pieces:
New SAVE for All Letter to Congress

More than 1,900 Groups Nationwide Want Federal Budget Plans to Protect Low-Income People, Create Jobs and Fund Services Responsibly

Read the Letter with Signers
Read the Press Release

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Certain Problems Need Socialist Solutions


Dissent Magazine - Online Features - Certain Problems Need Socialist Solutions -

The article is adapted from a talk delivered by DSA National Director Maria Svart at the fiftieth anniversary celebration of Michael Harrington’s The Other America, held on September 10, 2012 at the CUNY Graduate Center.

See more information visit Democratic Socialists of America's website

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Memphis Poverty: What Obama Didn't See


From the Commercial Appeal, a look at growing up poor in Memphis

AS I AM: » The Commercial Appeal


Chris Dean’s heart stopped when he was 2 1/2. He died and came back.
When Chris was 5, his father was killed in a gang shootout, hit more than 20 times by a barrage of bullets.
Chris survived the streets of South Memphis and distinguished himself at Booker T. Washington High School. At 18, in a charming, eloquent address at his high school graduation, Chris introduced the keynote speaker: President Obama. The spotlight from that event won Chris a college scholarship to Lane College.
Chris returned to the streets of South Memphis with filmmaker and Commercial Appeal photographer Alan Spearman, walking on foot for eight weeks to develop a series of observations that became the script of “AS I AM,” the short film below. With Chris as our guide, we float through this extraordinary young man’s landscape and encounter the characters who have helped shape his worldview.