I agree with this 100%. In my opinion part of the reason our Democratic "leaders" have become so supine is because they are so safe. The party as a whole is run by and for aged incumbents (Pelosi is 82 after all), and an army of consultants who do know how to ask for money, and not much more. For them the activity that gets the most attention with the least effort is always right because they are trained to think about quarterly funding hauls more than policy outcomes or actual support (Harris spent 3x Trump and they assumed that guaranteed victory). Meanwhile people like Schumer or Jeffries are so *safe* and surrounded that they will workshop clever nicknames for Trump because nothing bad will ever really happen to them. The rest of us however, live close to the bone.
"Posting is politics" is perfect! And don't worry, I don't think my post here is politics. It's just a response. While real action and in-person interaction from individuals are far more likely to achieve results than posting, I fear that the likelihood is still infinitesimally small. I called my Republican congressperson's office about the suffering caused by the freeze on USAID, but it was hardly a real conversation. The aide did not respond to any of the points or requests I made, rather just recited talking points about money being siphoned off into bloated overheard formulas and NGOs spending more on executive salaries than on helping the needy. In other words, no dialog with my concerns, just someone changing the subject with whataboutism and playbook responses. But, perhaps, as you say, it is no longer time to try to interact or persuade. Action must be directed toward impeding and shutting down. Like back in the 60's!
Hi Patrick! Please read The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff if you haven't.
I agree with this 100%. In my opinion part of the reason our Democratic "leaders" have become so supine is because they are so safe. The party as a whole is run by and for aged incumbents (Pelosi is 82 after all), and an army of consultants who do know how to ask for money, and not much more. For them the activity that gets the most attention with the least effort is always right because they are trained to think about quarterly funding hauls more than policy outcomes or actual support (Harris spent 3x Trump and they assumed that guaranteed victory). Meanwhile people like Schumer or Jeffries are so *safe* and surrounded that they will workshop clever nicknames for Trump because nothing bad will ever really happen to them. The rest of us however, live close to the bone.
https://publis324843.substack.com/p/the-democratic-party-is-not-working?r=7av8t
"Posting is politics" is perfect! And don't worry, I don't think my post here is politics. It's just a response. While real action and in-person interaction from individuals are far more likely to achieve results than posting, I fear that the likelihood is still infinitesimally small. I called my Republican congressperson's office about the suffering caused by the freeze on USAID, but it was hardly a real conversation. The aide did not respond to any of the points or requests I made, rather just recited talking points about money being siphoned off into bloated overheard formulas and NGOs spending more on executive salaries than on helping the needy. In other words, no dialog with my concerns, just someone changing the subject with whataboutism and playbook responses. But, perhaps, as you say, it is no longer time to try to interact or persuade. Action must be directed toward impeding and shutting down. Like back in the 60's!