I am currently in Menden, Sauerland.  Maybe I will check out the SPD.  Although I have to confess that I think Sarah Wagenknecht is absolutely hot!  Last year I taught literature at Uni-Dortmund and I will probably enroll in Uni-Bochum's Theaterwissenshaft program in the spring for a second MA degree while I conduct my research for my Doctorsarbeit on Brecht.  Since you are from the Ruhrgebiet, I must say that I was very impressed by the Steinwache prison museum in Dortmund, indeed, this area is the heartland for the German left.  I'll call the SPD tomorrow and find out when is the next meeting.  I'm 39 so I can't be a young socialist - but I am sure that I will surprise them by being an Ami-Socialist!  Thanks for your suggestion, it gives me a little hope in the SPD.

"Schiller sprach zu Goethe, Steck in dem Arsch die Flöte! Goethe sagte zu Schiller, Mein Arsch ist kein Triller!"