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MS: I think 10,000 is both ambitious and achievable. We've got roughly 10,000,000 residents in Los Angeles County. I think that, once the full court press is in effect, 10,000 will appear all the more likely.
I don't know, historically, how much effort has been put into recruitment in Los Angeles County. I know that effort will be placed on recruitment in L.A. County.
MB: Fear of Socialism probably started when Wilson wouldn't support the Bolsheviks. Communism, which Americans were told was going on in Russia, began to be equated with Socialism. Then came Stalin and he was a scary dude. McCarthy took off on that. Khrushchev and Kennedy heightened the fear and, judging from the ridiculous ad campaign against universal health care, that fear of Socialism has been branded into the American brain. Do you think an unwarranted fear of "communism" is the biggest hurdle you have to overcome?
Or just the word Socialism?
MS: Maybe the perceived correlation between Socialism and Stalinism. However, the further removed the general public is from the Cold War, it would make sense that Socialism would be discussed in a context that has less and less to do with Stalinism. To be honest with you, what I find most shocking is those on the far left who continue to reiterate this problem. It seems to drive home the notion that such a problem exists. It may exist to Glen Beck and those who find him credible, but I think we're finding ourselves moving into a new era. It's becoming much more difficult for the mainstream media to sell the idea that Chávez and Morales are bogeymen, in my opinion.
We may never see the day where the majority of Fox viewers embrace Socialism, and that's okay.
We need to see the day where equality is a reality for the people of this country.
MB: More difficult to sell the idea?
MS: I think that, if we stop painting the possible embrace of Socialism as impossible, we've already crossed a major hurdle.
If you present the Party platform to people, they can, and often do, decide for themselves that this is an option that meets their basic needs.
I do believe that people are fed up with corporate politics. They're fed up, they're tired, and they're angry. We need to unify and fight. The time for concession is over. Fat cats have had fun at the expense of the working class for way too long and I think people will gradually become more amenable to what Socialism has to offer.
MB: A little while back, you mentioned that people on the left are actually heightening the fear of Socialism. I've read both the SPUSA and Green Party platforms. They're almost interchangeable. And there's strength in numbers. Have there been any overtures either way? It seems as if the Green Party name tends to make it appear to be a one issue party. Are they not really Socialists as well?
MS: People may think the Green Party is primarily focused on environmental issues, but like you said, their platform is pretty comprehensive. I think there are some Socialist ideals included in the Green Party platform. I don't know that they capture the demand for equality in quite the same way the Socialist Party does.
In my opinion, the time for concession has reached its conclusion.
MB: Really. It sounds as if it's been tried, then.
MS: I can't speak on behalf of the efforts of others. Personally, I admire many who've run on Green Party tickets, but I don't know how much effort has been placed on uniting the two parties.
