"There is a direct connection between our greater societal ills and the strategies I recommend here. It is time to practice a better kind of politics, one that genuinely works because it is grounded in the well-known universals of the human condition. Fascism is fed by loneliness and isolation. We heal ourselves and win back power by taking the fight off the Internet and out into the real world, by giving people what they lack and desperately need: hope, human connection, community belonging, and the power of collective agency. Everybody needs something positive to be a part of: a meaningful and constructive role in their society."
We cannot chase every rabbit that runs across the road. I am 80, and a retired software executive horrified by the current crop of techbro oligarchs vying to pull T’s strings and capture the followon MAGA base…. I will spend whatever time I have left ignoring the distractions of the “flood of shit,” to use Steve Bannons words, to 1 identify what is truly important and significant 2 oppose what must be opposed 3 modify what can be adjusted to forge the common good 4 support democratic institutions and processes 5 focus relentlessly on facts and vigorously reject lies and “alternative facts” I hope we who believe in protecting democracy, the rule of law, and working together for the common good will mobilize and prevail. But we must do it strategically, and not dissipate our energy and effect.
I live in a 65% conservative town loaded with VFW’s, churches, American Legions, bars guys drink at and gather and more. Liberals tend to bike ride and such. I have often wanted to open a liberal hang out space but it takes money and time. Many would fear retaliation for even being there. It’s an uphill climb just to do basic things. I’ve mentioned I host a coffee club at public market meeting space where a 15 or 20 might show up weekly. But that’s in a county of 500k.
I agree it takes meeting and talking to people but they have other interests. People are hiding from the bad news. They don’t want to know and believe it will change in 4 years. The major media is all right leaning now. I want hope but it is getting tough to be realistic about this.
Well, I do not think a Resistance 2.0 will do the trick, we were actually very lucky in 2020. In fact, I don't recommend we even use the word. It sounds nice, but this isn't Spain under Franco or France during WWII. And it sounds like we are now the one's who won't accept the election results.
Were it not for Seed the Vote and Working Families Party working in Georgia and Warnock and Ossoff both being on the ballot there, 2000 could have turned out different. I agree the problems seem to be societal and when moderates and progressive blame it on resurgent racism and sexism, well, can they both be right? And even if they are, what do we do about it. Well, read the current issue of Dissent including the pieces by Wendy Brown and by Kazin and others. We need to continue to do analysis not just jump into action and risk more Trump Derangement Syndrome, which is self and movement demobilizing. How about Real Medicare and Pediacare for All, not Bernie's latest plug for his own bill. How about free community college in all states, not just near free in 36 states? How about national short-term disability not just in 6 states (with the labor movement winning it in at the bargaining table for employeeds of large organizations, but this didn't help workers and employers and supervisors in secondary labor market jobs who are in my view disproportionally MAGA oriented). I'm still working on my own analysis and a review of Wendy Brown's Nihilistic Times. https://michaelalandover.substack.com/p/2024-election-analysis
Building community has been my hobby horse for years now! Other than bug people about it, I didn't do a lot to solve the problem until I became the chair of my Democratic club last April. One of my goals for the club is to have more events that aren't club meetings. The meetings are great but they truly are business meetings. We are doing more social events in between meetings to give people a chance to get to know each other better and hopefully foster a willingness to do the work of talking to voters when the time comes (hopefully in the next couple of months).
Separate but I think related - I have been trying to figure out how much time and effort we should be putting into social media platforms. At our meeting last night we had 10 people who have found the club since November. I sent around a survey asking how they found out about the club. Not a single person found us through social media. They all found us through either a Google search, the county party website, word of mouth, or a booth at our local summer carnival. That was really eye opening to me and really is having me start to rethink about where we put our time and energy.
It often feels like the "political debate" is taking place online, but that mostly means that activists on both sides preach to the converted or argue with each other.
We lost this election due to those who don't follow politics. We have to get out there in the real world where they can't help but trip over us!
To your point, I believe there are a lot of people, busy parents in particular, who do not spend all day online!
Seeing how people found us was really interesting. Even though I totally agree that most people don't spend their days online, I definitely expected to see that people were finding our club and events through Facebook and Instagram. These companies have made us feel like they are indispensable, but for something like a small, local organization, I don't know that they are even helping us a lot! I want the club to be very in-person community oriented, so it feels good to know that we're on the right track.
No more capitulation
No more condemnation.
No more high toned wonk.
Simple English.
"A President is not a King."
( in any sense of the word or name)
This is wise and beautiful.
"There is a direct connection between our greater societal ills and the strategies I recommend here. It is time to practice a better kind of politics, one that genuinely works because it is grounded in the well-known universals of the human condition. Fascism is fed by loneliness and isolation. We heal ourselves and win back power by taking the fight off the Internet and out into the real world, by giving people what they lack and desperately need: hope, human connection, community belonging, and the power of collective agency. Everybody needs something positive to be a part of: a meaningful and constructive role in their society."
Thank you!
Superior!
We cannot chase every rabbit that runs across the road. I am 80, and a retired software executive horrified by the current crop of techbro oligarchs vying to pull T’s strings and capture the followon MAGA base…. I will spend whatever time I have left ignoring the distractions of the “flood of shit,” to use Steve Bannons words, to 1 identify what is truly important and significant 2 oppose what must be opposed 3 modify what can be adjusted to forge the common good 4 support democratic institutions and processes 5 focus relentlessly on facts and vigorously reject lies and “alternative facts” I hope we who believe in protecting democracy, the rule of law, and working together for the common good will mobilize and prevail. But we must do it strategically, and not dissipate our energy and effect.
Well said!
I live in a 65% conservative town loaded with VFW’s, churches, American Legions, bars guys drink at and gather and more. Liberals tend to bike ride and such. I have often wanted to open a liberal hang out space but it takes money and time. Many would fear retaliation for even being there. It’s an uphill climb just to do basic things. I’ve mentioned I host a coffee club at public market meeting space where a 15 or 20 might show up weekly. But that’s in a county of 500k.
I agree it takes meeting and talking to people but they have other interests. People are hiding from the bad news. They don’t want to know and believe it will change in 4 years. The major media is all right leaning now. I want hope but it is getting tough to be realistic about this.
OK, this is on of only two analyses I've read that help me make sense of what happened. Thank you.
Well, I do not think a Resistance 2.0 will do the trick, we were actually very lucky in 2020. In fact, I don't recommend we even use the word. It sounds nice, but this isn't Spain under Franco or France during WWII. And it sounds like we are now the one's who won't accept the election results.
Were it not for Seed the Vote and Working Families Party working in Georgia and Warnock and Ossoff both being on the ballot there, 2000 could have turned out different. I agree the problems seem to be societal and when moderates and progressive blame it on resurgent racism and sexism, well, can they both be right? And even if they are, what do we do about it. Well, read the current issue of Dissent including the pieces by Wendy Brown and by Kazin and others. We need to continue to do analysis not just jump into action and risk more Trump Derangement Syndrome, which is self and movement demobilizing. How about Real Medicare and Pediacare for All, not Bernie's latest plug for his own bill. How about free community college in all states, not just near free in 36 states? How about national short-term disability not just in 6 states (with the labor movement winning it in at the bargaining table for employeeds of large organizations, but this didn't help workers and employers and supervisors in secondary labor market jobs who are in my view disproportionally MAGA oriented). I'm still working on my own analysis and a review of Wendy Brown's Nihilistic Times. https://michaelalandover.substack.com/p/2024-election-analysis
Sharing this with everyone I know - thank you!
Excellent piece!
Could not have said it better myself (I know, because I've tried).
Restacking immediately. Well done. 👏
Building community has been my hobby horse for years now! Other than bug people about it, I didn't do a lot to solve the problem until I became the chair of my Democratic club last April. One of my goals for the club is to have more events that aren't club meetings. The meetings are great but they truly are business meetings. We are doing more social events in between meetings to give people a chance to get to know each other better and hopefully foster a willingness to do the work of talking to voters when the time comes (hopefully in the next couple of months).
Separate but I think related - I have been trying to figure out how much time and effort we should be putting into social media platforms. At our meeting last night we had 10 people who have found the club since November. I sent around a survey asking how they found out about the club. Not a single person found us through social media. They all found us through either a Google search, the county party website, word of mouth, or a booth at our local summer carnival. That was really eye opening to me and really is having me start to rethink about where we put our time and energy.
It often feels like the "political debate" is taking place online, but that mostly means that activists on both sides preach to the converted or argue with each other.
We lost this election due to those who don't follow politics. We have to get out there in the real world where they can't help but trip over us!
To your point, I believe there are a lot of people, busy parents in particular, who do not spend all day online!
Seeing how people found us was really interesting. Even though I totally agree that most people don't spend their days online, I definitely expected to see that people were finding our club and events through Facebook and Instagram. These companies have made us feel like they are indispensable, but for something like a small, local organization, I don't know that they are even helping us a lot! I want the club to be very in-person community oriented, so it feels good to know that we're on the right track.