If you look at the history of labor movement throughout history, the capitalist class is afraid because the organized labor unions have actual means to shutdown critical infrastructure and networks in the cities, ones that would force the capitalist class to at least be willing to negotiate.

I do not believe Mamdani commands such force. I do not believe the DSA has such grassroots infiltration that allows them to control key municipal infrastructures that Mamdani can leverage (maybe they have been secretly planning this behind the scene and may surprise us, but I highly doubt it). If he has no leverage, he will be eaten alive. The city is built on more than a century of corruption. It will not yield to a new mayor that easily.

Adding that he will also have to deal with the media and journalists, who will certainly be on a power trip to paint a specific narratives to be propagated about him if he does not stay in his lane. And we all know that the establishment controls the media.

[–] MizuTama@hexbear.net 7 points 2 days ago

No I get those points. But assuming Mamdani and all of NYC-DSA also understand those points (as I'm very confident they don't have that level of infiltration) and the nominal Marxist lines much of the DSA claims to be in (though I know many have accused NYC-DSA of having a reformist bent, even within DSA, and other orgs here accuse DSA of being reformist and opportunist in general) they should have seen the same coming ahead of time.

If we're assuming some degree of competency, which I think is fair considering even the most baby leftists here know we have a strong lack of militancy, and assuming the Mamdani campaign didn't know this would be assuming they are stupid, they would have been able to foresee that in such conditions, Mamdani would be forced into a position of capitulation. I've talked to people who seem to think the NYC DSA is involved in the capitulation, or are even leading it. Even if that isn't the case, it means they let Mamdani's idealism lead themselves into a pit. Thus, from the beginning, they should have known this was a difficulty they would face. Mamdani is not a single actor. And, from my understanding has done these capitulations with either the approval or at the behest of NYC DSA, and has done some of them after consultation with other parts of DSA. This was a campaign done with the understanding that such a force can't be commanded, and dozens, if not hundreds, have had some degree of oversight for these issues.

I understand that he's being put in the fire without the gear to protect himself, but all indicators I've seen indicates him and those that back him (in the NYC DSA) should have been able to foresee this, including what I've heard from others in DSA both here and IRL.

[–] quarrk@hexbear.net 6 points 2 days ago

It’s easy for me to say, but if this is the real situation for him, then he should already be expecting failure for all of his stated goals, and instead work toward agitation and spreading class consciousness by demonstrating that reality to the people of New York. By staying quiet about it and adopting a concessionary line, he’s working against his own beliefs.