And the name means...?

In 1910, members of the Socialist Party of America (SPA) won the city council elections in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The new local government, led by the first socialist mayor in American history, Emil Seidel, set about improving the day-to-day life of Milwaukee’s working people. Though they had ups and downs in their campaigns to drastically improve the quality of life for folks in their city, the sewer socialists managed to make a major difference by focusing on quality of life issues for everyday workers. In total, Milwaukee elected three socialist mayors who advanced important issues for working people.

They got their name when Morris Hillquit, a founder of the SPA, had to endure their constant bragging at the 1932 SPA convention, held in Milwaukee. Obsessive over how well their sewers functioned, Hillquit gave them their name as an insult, but it stuck.

“Sewer socialism” now refers to left-wing local politics that focuses on quality of life issues and ensures that regular folks have access to important services that more business-minded local administrations forget about. In their quests to attract capital, build landmarks, hold increasingly expensive events of public spectacle, and brand their cities as the most favourable places for investment, run-of-the-mill local governments fail to recognize that a strong, democratic, and healthy society starts when we have our needs met and can focus on caring for one another.

I call this Substack newsletter “The Sewer Socialists” because I believe we need to look at practical results for people, focus on quality-of-life issues, and work to improve our communities in meaningful, democratic, people-centered ways. The left-wingers elected in Milwaukee sought to do good things with an eye to facts and justice. I hope to do the same.