Quad Cities Democratic Socialists of America (QCDSA) is a local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, the largest socialist political organization in the United States, with tens of thousands of members in all 50 states. We believe that working people should run both the economy and society democratically to meet human needs, not to make profits for a few.

Get Involved!

If you’re looking for ways to get involved in progressive politics, we welcome you! We’re looking for people to join our working groups to advance our fight for social, economic and racial justice both nationally and locally in Iowa & Illinois.

Join us!

Welcome to the Quad Cities Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is a national organization committed to creating a more equitable and just society. Our mission is to empower individuals, strengthen communities, and challenge systems of inequality.

Join us at our next meeting

Our meetings are open to the public and welcome to anyone interested in learning more about the Democratic Socialists of America. Join us for our next meeting to learn more about what our working groups are doing within our community to make a difference. Visit our Events page to come to our meetings and get involved.

On the 2024 Presidential Election

Over the last few days, people in our community have reached out to us for our assessment of the election. Many people are scared right now. They want to know that tomorrow will be safe. They fear for themselves, but more often they fear for the lives of their loved...

How to Sprout

by Josh L A friend and comrade asked me to write about why I joined DSA. Looking back on it, my motives were slight and small, a fragile seedling, really. I was searching for something but I couldn’t articulate for what very effectively. I might have said that I was...

Workers and Political Power

by B. Maloney The current structures of power and wealth that shape our society ensures workers bear the public costs of private profits. Workers only receive a portion of the value their labor power creates. The labor force is the backbone of business profits....

Opposite Sides of the Same Coin

The Management of Power by Leaders of Both Movement and Business Unions by See Double Union membership has statistically been shown to raise wages, increase benefits and make lives better for the people that vote “Union Yes.” However, the inner workings of a union are...

Why I Joined DSA

Hear from our members on why they joined DSA! “I joined the Democratic Socialists of America because I believe it is morally correct to expand democracy into all aspects of life, including the economic sphere. Today, unless you're a capitalist, you have no control...

Book Review: The Traitor Baru Cormorant

by Meagan R It is a truth universally acknowledged that a reader delving into a fantasy novel must be in want of a few things: rich worldbuilding (by which I mean a map at the start of the book), sexual tension you could cut with a knife (bonus points if it’s queer),...

Mutual Aid Canvassing

by Josh L. Hello! My name is Josh L. and I’m currently one of the co-chairs of the Quad Cities DSA’s Mutual Aid Working Group. I wanted to take a bit of time to discuss our canvassing efforts concerning the profusion of little, free pantries throughout the Quad...

Great Today, Maybe Not Tomorrow

by Jenna I. it’s not you, it’s CAPITALI$M: why it’s time to break up and how to move on by Malaika Jabali delivers a clear and easy to understand message, capitalism is failing us in the USA and it is time for something different. That something different is...

The revolution will not have 501(c)3 status.

By Sarah E. WORKING FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE AND FINDING OUT MOST THE ORG DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE PART THAT IS SAVING LIVES is like funhouse mirrors of ideology, confusingly straight forward platitudes. On paper it makes sense. We do the work, we...

What is Capitalism?

By Andrew D The word capitalism is familiar, but poorly described, in our society. You can’t talk about socialism without first talking about capitalism. Capitalism is an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production. The means of...