6 Comments

It is utterly impossible to definitively categorize New York City politics. The unique level of nuance and complexity found within each community as well as the propensity of politicians who tend to suffer ideological shifts from election cycle to election cycle are just a few factors that make this so. However, this is an incredible analysis of New York City politics, Michael. Truly impressive and I appreciate the time you took to put this together. As a veteran of the both the Bloomberg and de Blasio administration--holding leadership positions in both--this was a fascinating read.

Expand full comment

Good piece! Fave me a lot to chew on.

a few nits: AOC was not the first socialist elected to Congress from NYC in 100 years. Jerry Nadler and Major Owens were open members of DSOC/DSA when elected and for years after, working with us on various things.

Also, your typology doesn’t acknowledge the overlaps between groups. Lots of alphabet left activists, leaders and electeds are also Dem Soc. And the distinction between the Alphabet Left and the otger group on which you put Robert Jackson and Zellnor Myrie seems a bit strained.

It would be interesting at some point to look at the old lefties that have bevome somewhat more centtist, such as Nadler and Gale Brewer. How much have their views changed? How much are they shifting with their districts? How much has the left changed, leaving them behind?

Expand full comment

To further nitpick, Vito Marcantonio was also a socialist. Still, it’s a fascinating read on the nation’s most fascinating and complex metropolis.

Expand full comment

Michael, I want to give you this new information because I have working on the ground to identify the World Wide factions and their correspondence here in the United States. I am sharing this with you. If you can help me identify the one I am missing.

Nationalists: https://www.idgroup.eu - US: https://conservativepartyusa.org

Democrat Union: https://www.idu.org - US: https://gop.com

International Alliance of Libertarian Parties: https://ialp.com - US: https://lp.org

Centrist Democrat: https://www.idc-cdi.com - <Still Loooking>

Liberals and centrists: https://liberal-international.org - US: https://cnliberalism.org

Progressive Alliance: https://progressive-alliance.info - US: https://pdamerica.org

Social democrats and Socialists: https://socialistinternational.org - US: https://socialists.us

Greens and regionalists: https://globalgreens.org - US: https://www.gp.org

Progressive International: https://progressive.international - US: https://www.dsausa.org

Communists and Workers' parties: http://www.solidnet.org - US: https://www.cpusa.org

Socialists Alternative: https://internationalsocialist.net - US: https://www.socialistalternative.org

International People's Assembly: https://ipa-aip.org - US: https://pslweb.org

Pirates: https://pp-international.net - US: https://uspirates.org

Expand full comment

Socialism is the political /economic system that supports the ownership and central control of the means-of-production and investment, whether by self-appointed elites or democratically elected.

Making up one's own definition of Socialism does not make one a Socialist. Bernie and AOC are not Socialists.

Social Democracy vs. Democratic Socialism - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/r0uUG8kM0zY

Understanding... Socialism in the U.S. - https://www.studioatao.org/socialism

The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Socialism - https://iep.utm.edu/socialis/

https://www.reddit.com/r/SocialDemocracy/comments/g6lyog/on_socialism_social_democracy_and_democratic/

Expand full comment

You are invited tomorrow https://www.meetup.com/socialists/events/289338785

I would love if you could get the others factions to put a table next to mine: https://theochino.medium.com/its-called-realignment-95506c086ec2 (I have reached out to a few based on the international: https://www.repmyblock.org/web/exp/toplinks/about)

Take some time to watch this documentary: https://www.repmyblock.org/web/exp/register/movie

Expand full comment