Channels, Spring 2017

P age 68 Schwartz • Inspiration or Distraction? Conclusion: Contemporary Political Integration Eugene Debs failed to translate his labor connections, passionate oratory, and personal character into a sustainable Socialist movement in America during a favorable period of general progressivism. Nevertheless, American Socialism is currently experiencing a modest revival due to the strong showing of Bernie Sanders in the Democratic Presidential Party. Sanders’ relative current success can be more clearly distinguished and understood after a study of Debs’ relative failure. Unlike Debs, Sanders spent significant time holding office in both executive and legislative roles, allowing him to cultivate allies and gain a national reputation without correspondingly harming the Socialist cause. Eugene Debs became widely known for his role in the Great Pullman Strike, an event that brought the federal government in opposition to the labor movement, resulted in a loss of jobs for many workers, and therefore crippled funding for later Socialist programs. Bernie Sanders became well known for his opposition to the Iraq War, his criticism of tax cuts, and his admiration for Social Democracy, all positions that garner support without jeopardizing Sanders’ base of support. Further, during Sanders’ time in Congress, he caucused with the Democratic Party, allowing him to gain senior positions, influence policy, and soften the image of Socialism. Debs never sought to ally with the Democratic Party and was unable to escape outsider status as a result. Even though his ideological professions were passionate and backed by his own admirable character, the national centrist bulk usually rules the day, preventing Debs from ultimately doing much more than influence the political discussion. The willingness to compromise has provided Sanders with greater ability to affect the political process, but it also obscures the limited actual appeal of Socialism in America. Sanders is currently offering to provide free college education, a unique and distinctive policy proposal filling his rallies with American youth. If this position were adopted by the Democratic Party as a whole, Sanders’ reform socialism would lose its distinctiveness. Further, some of Sanders’ voters may simply feel alienated by Hillary Clinton’s scandals, familiarity, and entrenched frontrunner status. As her main challenger, he automatically collects such voters no matter how they feel about abolishing private property because he has not made ideological Socialism a key part of his campaign. This, then, is Sanders’ prime weakness. As Debs wrote, “No possible good can come from any kind of political alliance” with more mainstream groups because they “will only turn to it for use in some extremity,” keeping socialism marginalized as a useful tool for progressives or liberals against conservatives. 82 The unprecedented success of candidates who are seen for one reason or another as outsiders in this campaign, including Donald Trump, Ben Carson, and Bernie Sanders, indicates that many voters may simply be unhappy with the system as it exists. Eugene Debs never sought to gain such votes for socialism, writing, “Mere disgust with other parties is not accepted by Socialists as sufficient reason to vote the Socialist ticket.” 83 82 Eugene V. Debs, “Danger Ahead,” in Eugene V. Debs Speaks, ed. Jean Tussey (New York: Pathfinder Press, 1970), 181. 83 Eugene V. Debs, “The Socialist Party’s Appeal” in Eugene V. Debs Speaks, ed. Jean Tussey (New York: Pathfinder Press, 1970), 107.