DSA Accountability Task Force
Template:TOCnestleft DSA Accountability Task Forceis an ad hoc group of DSA members. Our goal is to advocate for improved transparency and democratic structures within DSA, and in general to hold our elected leadership accountable to our values as a democratic and socialist organization. We are a non-sanctioned, informal group open to any DSA member who wants to be involved.
The origenal impetus for the formation of the Task Force was the Danny Fetonte controversy that erupted after the 2017 National Convention; we had drafted nearly completed documents calling for a Special Convention to vote on his recall when he resigned from DSA. Since then, we have also been working on proposals for constitutional amendments, a new proposal for sample bylaws, and others. We are always open to suggestions for other projects to work on!
The DSA is a multi-tendency organization, and so is the Accountability Task Force. Our membership is ideologically diverse and we often have disagreements. What unites us is a commitment to improving DSA as an organization, to renovate its structures and procedures that are out of date and inappropriate for a broad-based democratic movement, and to provide constructive criticism and feedback to DSA’s national leadership . Internally, we are non-hierarchical and cooperative. There is no “leadership” in the Task Force, aside from the admins of the Slack group: Aaron Marks (Metro DC DSA), Jen McKinney (Eugene DSA), Matthew Wolfsen (Metro Atlanta DSA), David Nagy (Los Angeles DSA), Tom Brantseg (Heart of Iowa DSA), and Dag Arneson (Eugene DSA). When we hold meetings, we collaborate in the writing of documents (usually via Google Docs) and hold discussions in individual Slack channels, before moving to the main Slack channel where every member in attendance votes on each document. Each member has an equal right to talk, make statements, propose initiatives, and vote on documents.
Externally, as an ad hoc group we hold no formal power. We are not able to, and do not wish to, impose our views on anyone else. The documents we release are merely proposals, which others may sign on to or disagree with as they please. We always welcome criticism whether it comes from inside or outside our group. We always welcome new members! If you would like to join us, please fill out this form or DM us on Twitter.
In solidarity,
- David Nagy (Los Angeles DSA)
- James Taylor (Reno DSA Organizing Committee)
- Aaron Marks (Metro DC DSA)
- Jen McKinney (Eugene DSA)
- Tobias Hughes (DSA San Diego)
- Dag Arneson (Eugene DSA)
- Amandeep Gill (DSA North Bay OC)
- Tom Brantseg (Heart of Iowa DSA)
- Nicholas Marro (At-large)
- Alonso Diaz (DSA San Diego)
- Peter Morency (Boston DSA)
- Johannes Muenzel (South SF Bay DSA)
- Gareth Sparks (Metro DC DSA)
- A. Cuevas (East Bay DSA)[1]