WHAT LESSONS CAN BE LEARNED FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF THE LARGEST THIRD-PARTY MOVEMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY?

Once upon a time the vaunted US two-party system included a huge third-party which was the "big tent" for nearly every progressive, reform and radical movement in American society. At its height in the early 20th century it had upwards of 100,000 members and polled a million votes for its presidential candidate in 1912 and 1920. It was able to win millions of Americans to the idea of democratic public ownership and governance of the economy--in other words, SOCIALISM -- which is tabooed today as a dirty word in US politics.

Besides projecting a radical vision, the Socialist Party pushed for immediate reforms -- against child labor, for workers compensation, social security, women's rights, government regulation of corporations, etc. -- which later became part of New Deal-era and other liberal legislation. Yet this party fell victim to external and internal pressures which brought about its decline into a small left party which nevertheless still runs candidates and whose members are active in a wide range of reform and antiwar movements today.

Whether or not there are third party campaigns in 2004 which seriously impact American politics (as in 1912, 1920 or 2000), the question of whether or not to push for a progressive third party to the left of the Democrats will remain hotly contested in the years ahead. Join us for a discussion of "The Rise & Decline of the Socialist Party USA" on:

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 7pm at the ACME ART BUILDING, 1741 N Western Ave (2 blocks south of the Western Ave stop on the Blue Line - ample on-street free parking).

Participants: Prof. William Pelz, History Department, Elgin Community College, SP International Secretary and Secretary of its Chicago branch; and Mark Weinberg, Political Education Director of the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America.

This is part of a series on "The American Two-Party System and the Impact of Independent Political Movements" which meets on alternate Wednesdays and will also be covering the Robert La Follette 1924 presidential campaign and Upton Sinclair's End-Poverty-In-California socialist gubernatorial campaign of 1934 (April 7th), the Roosevelt 1930s New Deal era and the Henry Wallace Progressive Party campaign of 1948 (April 27th), the rise of alternative parties since the Vietnam War (May 5th), and the relevance of third parties today (May 19th).

$5 donation asked, nobody turned away. For more information, call the Open University of the Left at 773-329-7379 or 773-384-5797 or email oulchicago (at) yahoo.com.

Co-sponsored by the Open University of the Left in Chicago, Socialist Party USA Chicago branch, Democratic Socialists of America Chicago chapter, League of Revolutionaries for a New America, and Networking For Democracy.