Political Crossfire Forums

Comrade Dave · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 1315

I'm completely new to Political Crossfire and after being on several other different forums I'm not sure how you guys "do" things around here. However it's troublesome to see minor parties like the Libertarians and the Green Party get their own sub-forum and not Democratic Socialists. The Radical HQ in place just doesn't really fit, mainly because of the taboo name. 'Radical' connotates violent overthrow, coups, and revolutions, something most socialists (certainly democratic socialists) don't believe in.

Furthermore, the Democratic Socialist movement is one of the biggest minor parties in the U.S., with the Socialist Party U.S.A. even putting a Presidential Candidate on nation-wide ballots every year. The Democratic Socialists of America pride themselves with having the largest member base of any U.S. socialist party (over 10,000 members and rising).

Perhaps my request is impractical but can someone tell me why we don't have such a sub-forum?

Shady · Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 7412 Location: VA

Comrade Dave wrote: I'm completely new to Political Crossfire and after being on several other different forums I'm not sure how you guys "do" things around here. However it's troublesome to see minor parties like the Libertarians and the Green Party get their own sub-forum and not Democratic Socialists. The Radical HQ in place just doesn't really fit, mainly because of the taboo name. 'Radical' connotates violent overthrow, coups, and revolutions, something most socialists (certainly democratic socialists) don't believe in.

Furthermore, the Democratic Socialist movement is one of the biggest minor parties in the U.S., with the Socialist Party U.S.A. even putting a Presidential Candidate on nation-wide ballots every year. The Democratic Socialists of America pride themselves with having the largest member base of any U.S. socialist party (over 10,000 members and rising).

Perhaps my request is impractical but can someone tell me why we don't have such a sub-forum?

The Libertarian is THE largest 3rd party. Which is why it has a forum.

cap'n queasy · Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 34968

Get thee hence to the radical forum. Where ye belong.

Comrade Dave · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 1315

But Democratic Socialists aren't really radicals. We're the biggest Marxist movement in the U.S. and formally recognized by the U.S. government as a minor party (Socialist Party USA). We deserve an HQ.

Shady · Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 7412 Location: VA

Comrade Dave wrote: But Democratic Socialists aren't really radicals. We're the biggest Marxist movement in the U.S. and formally recognized by the U.S. government as a minor party (Socialist Party USA). We deserve an HQ.

The Green Party is basically socialist. Otherwises you can join the Radical HQ which is mostly socialists as well (from what I understand). You'd have to get a large group of people agititating for a new HQ to get one.

Comrade Dave · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 1315

Thanks for the information. I'll see what I can do.

skinn · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 425 Location: beirut

Shady wrote: Comrade Dave wrote: But Democratic Socialists aren't really radicals. We're the biggest Marxist movement in the U.S. and formally recognized by the U.S. government as a minor party (Socialist Party USA). We deserve an HQ.

The Green Party is basically socialist. Otherwises you can join the Radical HQ which is mostly socialists as well (from what I understand). You'd have to get a large group of people agititating for a new HQ to get one.

I am socialist, and would join the socialist HQ when created. (i am not radical, i am not green)

Shady · Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 7412 Location: VA

skinn wrote: Shady wrote: Comrade Dave wrote: But Democratic Socialists aren't really radicals. We're the biggest Marxist movement in the U.S. and formally recognized by the U.S. government as a minor party (Socialist Party USA). We deserve an HQ.

The Green Party is basically socialist. Otherwises you can join the Radical HQ which is mostly socialists as well (from what I understand). You'd have to get a large group of people agititating for a new HQ to get one.

I am socialist, and would join the socialist HQ when created. (i am not radical, i am not green)

Well you will be waiting some time. The socialist presence on this forum is not strong at all.

LostSoul3412 · Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 7657

Socialism already has the Radical HQ. The reason an Anarchist HQ was created was to establish an anti-state HQ, while the Radical HQ is already anti-capitalism.

skinn · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 425 Location: beirut

LostSoul3412 wrote: Socialism already has the Radical HQ. The reason an Anarchist HQ was created was to establish an anti-state HQ, while the Radical HQ is already anti-capitalism.

i am not radical, i am just between liberal and socialist, but leaning more to socialism.

LostSoul3412 · Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 7657

skinn wrote: i am not radical, i am just between liberal and socialist, but leaning more to socialism.

But the point is anti-capitalism. The Radical HQ isn't really established for "Radicals" (otherwise an Anarchist HQ would be unnecessary); it is an HQ for anyone who opposed Capitalism.

Demonic Spoon · Joined: 20 Sep 2004 Posts: 6757 Location: Ohio

Exactly. The term "radical" meaning very very far from the norm, e.g. anti capitalism. The name "Radical HQ" was specifically requested by the person who requested the forum be created in the first place. This person was also a socialist.

Æ · Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 3:58 pm Post subject:

They should just call them Anti-Capitalism and Anti-Government HQs respectively. The terms of anarchist and radical applied to people are often seen in a negative light by others.

thefranzkafkafront

Shady wrote: Comrade Dave wrote: I'm completely new to Political Crossfire and after being on several other different forums I'm not sure how you guys "do" things around here. However it's troublesome to see minor parties like the Libertarians and the Green Party get their own sub-forum and not Democratic Socialists. The Radical HQ in place just doesn't really fit, mainly because of the taboo name. 'Radical' connotates violent overthrow, coups, and revolutions, something most socialists (certainly democratic socialists) don't believe in.

Furthermore, the Democratic Socialist movement is one of the biggest minor parties in the U.S., with the Socialist Party U.S.A. even putting a Presidential Candidate on nation-wide ballots every year. The Democratic Socialists of America pride themselves with having the largest member base of any U.S. socialist party (over 10,000 members and rising).

Perhaps my request is impractical but can someone tell me why we don't have such a sub-forum?

The Libertarian is THE largest 3rd party. Which is why it has a forum.

Probally the fastest growing ideology in the west, socialism and marxism are old hat.

Infinite911911 · Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 5:49 pm Post subject:

skinn wrote:

I am socialist

I'm sorry to hear that.

Comrade Dave · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 1315

Most socialists aren't really that radical by any standards. We just call for the abolishment of capitalism. Honestly, a simple name change for the Radical HQ would satisfy me. Perhaps we could call it, as one suggested, "The Anti-Capitalist HQ". I would even be more content as part of a "Communit HQ" or "Marxist HQ" but the term radical connotates violent revolution.

skinn · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 425 Location: beirut

Infinite911911 wrote: skinn wrote:

I am socialist

I'm sorry to hear that.

:rotf: coming from a republican...

skinn · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 425 Location: beirut

radical could mean anti-democratic.
i support democracy, and i don't support radical socialism or communism.

LostSoul3412 · Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 7657

Comrade Dave wrote: Most socialists aren't really that radical by any standards. We just call for the abolishment of capitalism. Honestly, a simple name change for the Radical HQ would satisfy me. Perhaps we could call it, as one suggested, "The Anti-Capitalist HQ". I would even be more content as part of a "Communit HQ" or "Marxist HQ" but the term radical connotates violent revolution.

rad-i-cal [rad-i-kuhl] (adjective):

"favoring drastic political, economic, or social reforms"

I believe that the abolition of Capitalism fits those requirements...

And it doesn't connotate revolution by any means. "Revolutionary HQ" would connotate revolution, but a Radical HQ is comprised of anti-capitalists; at least on these forums. Anyone that bothers to read the party description would understand that, and anyone that doesn't isn't worth your time anyone...

The name isn't really what's important; the philosophies behind it are.

Comrade Dave · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 1315

I suppose I can live with that. It just seems as though the Anarchists have now been given better treatment than the Marxists and Socialists on PCF.