Humans are not inherently evil. Have you ever noticed that accentuating the positive in someone many times lead that person to attempt to continue on that path? Personally, I can tell you that living up to the expectations of others is what made me a better person.
The converse is also true. I remember going to a movie that depicted a story where the new principal of Eastside High School, Joe Louis Clark, tore down all the “cages” in his high school. He said if you treat the kids like animals, that is the behavior one should expect from them. It left an indelible impression on me.
Externalities have a strong influence on all humans. Minds can be manipulated for good, evil, and just outright control. These externalities, well-honed by a few, control the minds and actions of most people today. The only way we are going to get out of it is if we give our minds a chance to go through alternate paths and not believe that because we learned about things as they are, that is how they should be, and will be going forward. We’d do better opening our minds to other possibilities, especially when reality seems so tenuous.
In that light, let me first lay out a polled fact. North of 60% of Americans (not just Democrats) support most of the policies articulated by The Squad (Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib). Sen. Elizabeth Warren gave an inspiring speech on this reality at Netroots Nation that everyone should listen to with an open mind.
Joe Biden currently has a lead in the Democratic and general presidential races. That is likely because of a false, psychologically manufactured narrative that implies he is the only one who can beat Trump. The thing is, most Democrats want someone else. The most recent DFA poll of progressives should be a wake-up call.
It is a fact that the establishment of both major political parties is funded by the same rich people, in the aggregate. Policies less amenable to the poor and middle class would continue with Biden or Trump in power. Biden comes without Trump’s theft and socio-ethical issues, but it is clear that Trump would do as articulated by Democratic operative Donny Deutsch.
When the former “owner of BET and black billionaire” accuses the Democratic Party of moving too far to the left, it should confirm that what we have is a class issue and all tools, including all the -isms, will be used to maintain class supremacy. And guess what: If white supremacy is the necessary tool, it is clear Kanye West and BET billionaire Robert Johnson have no problem with it.
Now, many Democrats are allowing both Republicans and the Democratic establishment to hate on The Squad. They fear that these four heroes (and yes, these young compatriots are my heroes), who are doing much of what is overdue, may cause us to lose the election. One must ask: Why would that be the case if, when polled specifically on policy positions, most Americans agree with them?
Americans are being hoodwinked. Once again we are asked to temper our wants as the plutocracy puts the fear in many to surrender. Maurice Mitchell, national director of the Working Families Party and senior fellow at Prism, said it best at Netroots Nation 2019.
“The intervention we need to make is around this question of electability,” Mitchell said. “Or what it takes to actually beat an ascendant white Christian identity movement that Trump rode to the White House.”
Mitchell went on to point out that many, attempt to describe centrism as nonideological. He made it clear that that is not the case. In fact, the centrist ideology is corporate ideology. He said that when the Establishment talks about unity what they really mean is the surrender of our Progressive values.
The WFP National Director further made it clear that Progressives can only win if they provide Americans with the forward-moving policies they want. That is what will have them discussing the election in their social institutions which will ultimately ferry them to the polls.
Hit Trump head on
Tim Wise hits the nail on the head in a recent Twitter thread.
1/ If the Dems blow this election it will not be because they were “too far left on policy” or because they “weren’t left enough.” It will have little to do with policy at all. They are making a mistake caused by traditional consultant theory that does not apply here…
2/ And by listening to influential pundits in liberal media who also don’t get the unique nature of Trumpism, relative to normal political movements & campaigns…this election is NOT going to be won by talking about all your “great plans” for health care, jobs, education, etc. …
26/ If anything, I would say crafting an argument that this is an existential crisis for the nation–and making it about Trump’s bigotry and who we want to be as a country, would be far more effective in inspiring them to make up their minds…
27/ And what I know for a FACT is that this message–that Trumpism is a threat to everything we care about and love about this country–is what will inspire the Dem base to vote…and THAT is what this election is about…
28/ I’m not saying the Dems don’t need policy ideas, but focusing on wonky, look-how-much-I’ve-thought about-this stuff is not going to move the needle in 2020…
29/ What the left never understands is: we need to stop approaching elections like the goddamned debate team, and start approaching it like the right does, like the cheerleading squad…
30/ The right knows psychology and we know public policy and sociology…great. The latter does not win elections…
31/ People who say the Dems should ignore Trump’s race baiting because its some genius political strategy calculated to distract us, are idiots. He is no genius. And if you downplay it you NORMALIZE him. If you make this about policy, you NORMALIZE him. He is a racist…
32/ He is a white nationalist. He is an authoritarian. He and his cult are a threat to the future of the nation and world because of their hatreds. His movement betrays the country’s promise. THAT is the message that will drive turnout. Not debates over marginal tax rates…
34/ Not to say the House shouldn’t impeach over that stuff. They should. But the 2020 candidates must craft a message that is not about that. Trumpism is the threat to America, more than Putin. And Putin didn’t birth Trumpism. Conservative White America did…
Wise puts less emphasis on policy, as he goes for the carnal. While that worked in Louisiana, a national scale with a more diverse populace both ethnically and socioeconomically may require a different balance to ensure everyone sees a reason to fight.
If Democrats campaign and educate from a position of strength instead of fear, we win. The missing link is a large percentage of middle-class and poor white people. Enlightened white people, who understand that Donald Trump and both political establishments are using fear of the other and white supremacy, should assuage the fears of their white friends and relatives instead of trying to moderate The Squad and their fairly large following. After all, white people as well as “the others” are hurt by the bad policies.
The Squad’s constituents have been screwed by all administrations as their favored policies are constantly disregarded, or they are asked to wait one more time. A second Trump term will hurt them much less than it will hurt everyone else. After all, they are used to being asked to wait incessantly for something that never seems to come, simply to appease a mythical voter. As they continue to see an upside that never comes, they simply abandon electoral politics. Welcome, Trump.
Winning in 2020 will require us to, once and for all, honor everyone’s humanity. It will require introspection, as we learn how to look through the eyes of others to understand their realities and experiences. Accepting these truths will provide us the spine and camaraderie necessary to collectively and unabashedly confront Trump’s racism, xenophobia, sexism, and misogyny.