askchapo

Because it involves a central structure for disciplining members and branches?

Absolutely. The DSA is a big tent and closing the tent risks splitting the organization. DSA is only relevant because its so big which is directly because it is a big tent. We have anarchists, socdems, leftcoms, trots, MLs etc from all across a huge nation sharing the same organization. People are legitimately afraid that if the DSA went fully demcent it completely fracture because there isn't much of an ideological consensus other than "are you a socialist?"

That said the tent should absolutely be closed to Zionists. Most people have come around to enforcing some sort of political line upon national elected officials. But they really don't want national telling them their priorities.

What is the central DSA for if not that? Is it just an advertising agency?

Facilitating, training, intercommunication and providing resources between chapters. The vast majority of DSA local organizers aren't interested in any sort of electoralism and want to focus on direct action and base building. And they're right to think that should be the priority. Even the PSL agrees on that.

Just for clarity: the DSA is absolutely not a party in any sense and no one is considering turning it into a party. DSA resolved eventual make a political party but that would be a separate organization.

IMO only the most deluded electoralist thinks the DSA will lead us through any sort of socialist revolution. But it is laying the groundwork to make that possible. No vanguard party can ever hope to be nationally relevant without that groundwork.