by Central Florida DSA
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is the largest socialist organization in the US. It is an educational organization, not a political party, with more than 22,000 members nationwide and over 120 local groups, one in nearly every state in the U.S.
Members are activists committed to democracy as not simply one of our political values but as a means of restructuring our society to make it more free, participatory, and humane.
DSA does not have a blueprint for the perfect society; it has not determined the minutiae of exactly how society will function. Instead, democratic socialists believe that as more people participate in creating democracy and as more democratic changes take place, the possibilities for a fully participatory society will reveal themselves.
Democratic Socialists believe that both the economy and society should be run democratically to meet human needs, not to make profits for a few.
In a capitalist system, working people will always fall short of justice when it comes to wages, since the basic logic of the system dictates that a small group of owners appropriates the wealth generated by a company, which then reluctantly hands over a small portion of that wealth to the workers who created it.
Under capitalism, ownership of resources resides with the few, who create laws that allow for the abuse of those resources without consequence. Under democratic socialism, ownership of resources resides with the people, and the people determine both how the resources are to be allocated and used, as well as what the consequences should be for abuses.
Workers should not have to check their democratic rights every time they enter the workplace. That which touches all should be governed by all.
Institutional policy should be developed and written by the people and groups affected by those institutions. Privatization of any service removes it from public accountability. All work should be valued and compensated on an equal basis, including all of the work currently done by women without compensation.
An all-embracing moral vision based on the premise that an injustice to one is an injustice to all.
DSA is working locally to develop multiracial coalitions and campaigns to challenge neoliberal, pro-corporate policies.
We encourage you to join us in Gainesville at the next General Meeting of Central FL DSA, always open to the public. Meetings are held in the Alachua County Downtown Library, on the fourth Monday of every month, from 6:45-8:15 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there! #Solidarity