Portside

We asked thinkers on the left—and a couple of outliers—to describe their vision for a re-imagined American economy. Just a decade ago, “socialism” was a dirty word in American politics. Not anymore.

Since Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s victory, there has been a renewed interest in the Democratic Socialists of America. This has also been a banner year for high-school organizing. Their activism is not new - some are now calling themselves socialists.

Mainstream outlets can’t stop writing about how the DSA’s endorsement of Cynthia Nixon was a model of democracy in action, unlike the Democratic Party.

“The left wing of the possible” is how Ocasio-Cortez practices politics. Her agenda is in line with Sanders: single-payer universal health care, equal rights for women, ethnic and sexual minorities, a $15 minimum wage, guaranteed employment.

Midwesterners aren't scared of socialism — they're hungry for it. Some members of the Democratic establishment argue that bold, left-wing platforms can't win elections. They're wrong.

Kinnucan, Brooklyn DSAer tells about building the ground campaign, the need for socialist campaigns and coalition electoral efforts. Yee, Democratic State Committeeman analyzes the district, the candidate. Svart says, DSA is just getting started.

They signed up three times their average on the day of Wayne LaPierre’s remarks.

Democratic socialism needs to become a mass presence in US society. Fighting for "Non-Reformist Reforms"; Building a Majority. Until then, The Power of a Minority.

Portside anticipated that the DSA convention would be a watershed event for the left. Just before it was called to order, membership surpassed 25,000. The group was making a leap from minor to major, and we welcomed that. We contacted some DSAers we know who were present, to bring you their views on what the meeting meant for DSA and the left.