J’nene Louden’s car was vandalized in the parking lot of a local co-op in Oregon. She is very Progressive and had the political stickers of her Governor and Senator on her car. Vandals spray-painted her vehicle. She used the incident to give us a prescient message on strategic rage.
I interviewed Ms. Louden, a 10-year Coffee Party member, director, and colleague on the board, at our 2019 Coffee Party USA yearly board meeting. J’nene first pointed out what we have all noticed. While we have been polarized at different intensities many times in this country, it is likely that not since the civil war have we had this level.
“I had people talk to me about my bumper stickers before,” J’nene Louden said. “And I left them on my car because I thought it was a great way to start a conversation. Not everybody likes Governor Brown. Not everybody likes Senator Wyden. I’ve never had a problem discussing that with people until now.”
The wards of the plutocracy developed manufactured rage deliberately to polarize the country. The idea is that if people are fighting among each other, they are blind to the real problem, to the people and system that is causing them harm. Louden’s video is worth a listen or more.
J’nene Louden on strategic rage
So what is Coffee Party USA? It is neither a Progressive, Conservative, or Centrist organization by design. It is a place where people of all ideologies, parties, or anything in between can meet in an environment where everyone is offered a voice. It is not an easy task to ensure that people understand that we must communicate irrespective of differing beliefs. But that is part of our mission.
Strategic rage is a hindrance to everything Coffee Party USA represents. We provide the space and tools that are necessary to help those who join us to navigate these treacherous time. More importantly, our organization is a functioning example of ideologies coexisting.