The presidential primary is probably the wrong place to start, unfortunately. Because of its scope, it’s hugely expensive in terms of both money and power to get a successful candidacy there. In order for there to be a Bernie on the debate stage 2016 and 2020, you need a couple dozen progressives in the House, a few progressive Senators, a handful of progressive governors, and a metric boatload of progressive state and municipal legislators. For international affairs, the dominant force there is going to be the House Reps and Senators because the other offices won’t have much leverage on that issue. It’s hard to campaign on an issue that splits the big tent and triggers foreign spending against your campaign. The fact that there has been no inkling of an indication that Congress would have the prospective candidate’s back makes it basically nonviable at the national level, as much as that stings. Airing a campaign message of “we will cease a betting thenIsraeli government in their war crimes” beside lower level candidates going out with messaging of “we need to strengthen our relations with our allies in the Middle East” is a disaster waiting to happen, and that is a message that won many a House Rep Democratic primary. It’s an unbearably slow process to drum up a response to a system that is murdering children by the day, and the only solace is that every success makes the next win easier. But it is the system we have, and the only way to change/reform that system short of violence is through a series of small, hard-fought victories. It’s how liberals/progressives were able to get the extent of LGBT rights that we do have, it’s how direct military intervention and corporate bailouts are becoming, if not fully frowned upon, a policy that carries some shame and embarrassment for its advocate. It’s also how abortion rights have been eroded by the regressives, and it’s how transphobic policies are becoming a nationwide phenomenon
I agree. I’m an activist, though what I do is non-electoral (direct action aimed to help people and prevent death or severe harm). It’s exhausting, and everyone is like “why don’t you do things” when they sit on their ass watching TV and I spend hours doing activism that keeps people alive. It takes an absurd amount of work to make minimal changes, and even as someone who doesn’t have a very positive view of electoral politics, I have massive respect for the progressive activists who try and make a difference.
Whether or not a system that murders so many people, and makes it impossible to stop the most horrific crimes against humanity is legitimate is another story. Stopping a genocide is mandatory under international law, but the immovable systems don’t care, and don’t do anything but fuel it. And as a queer person, a system that forces me to argue that I matter and deserve rights isn’t exactly one that lives up to the liberal values the system says it is founded on.
While I like the hopeful mood of things getting easier over time, that’s not a hard and fast rule. Im willing to bet that due to modern social media and the way that these impenetrable echo chambers have formed, it will be easier to be racist, and queer phobic, and eventually, the politicians will be insulated from bad press.
It is very exhausting to do activism with such a small group surrounded by a larger oppressive system. Ironically, the best thing is to make sure you are still taking care of your own needs and rest. Not only because it will make sure you don’t burnout and can continue to help in the long term, but because by setting that example for other people to see it is possible to help without being overwhelmed.
In my opinion, the initial challenge to get people involved is to have them witness for themselves what is going on and what they can do to contribute. Once they see the need and a path to help then they are more likely to do so. But they also have to see that helping does not have to include giving up all their time with their loved ones and being destitute.
I’ve joined existing orgs that have a clear path, and I’ve started one/resurrected a dead one, and I can say the moment the path to action is visible, people have an easier time getting moving and things begin to fall in place. Once the groups have enough core members, it’s easy for folks to pick up work when others need to take time for themselves.
It’s beautiful to see :)
On a completely unrelated note, all of the activist chats I’m in have blown up following the election. Some of the groups have even started receiving donations from new people, and others have received tons of new members. Even with those horrible circumstances, it brings me some hope for the next four years.
The presidential primary is probably the wrong place to start, unfortunately. Because of its scope, it’s hugely expensive in terms of both money and power to get a successful candidacy there. In order for there to be a Bernie on the debate stage 2016 and 2020, you need a couple dozen progressives in the House, a few progressive Senators, a handful of progressive governors, and a metric boatload of progressive state and municipal legislators. For international affairs, the dominant force there is going to be the House Reps and Senators because the other offices won’t have much leverage on that issue. It’s hard to campaign on an issue that splits the big tent and triggers foreign spending against your campaign. The fact that there has been no inkling of an indication that Congress would have the prospective candidate’s back makes it basically nonviable at the national level, as much as that stings. Airing a campaign message of “we will cease a betting thenIsraeli government in their war crimes” beside lower level candidates going out with messaging of “we need to strengthen our relations with our allies in the Middle East” is a disaster waiting to happen, and that is a message that won many a House Rep Democratic primary. It’s an unbearably slow process to drum up a response to a system that is murdering children by the day, and the only solace is that every success makes the next win easier. But it is the system we have, and the only way to change/reform that system short of violence is through a series of small, hard-fought victories. It’s how liberals/progressives were able to get the extent of LGBT rights that we do have, it’s how direct military intervention and corporate bailouts are becoming, if not fully frowned upon, a policy that carries some shame and embarrassment for its advocate. It’s also how abortion rights have been eroded by the regressives, and it’s how transphobic policies are becoming a nationwide phenomenon
I agree. I’m an activist, though what I do is non-electoral (direct action aimed to help people and prevent death or severe harm). It’s exhausting, and everyone is like “why don’t you do things” when they sit on their ass watching TV and I spend hours doing activism that keeps people alive. It takes an absurd amount of work to make minimal changes, and even as someone who doesn’t have a very positive view of electoral politics, I have massive respect for the progressive activists who try and make a difference.
Whether or not a system that murders so many people, and makes it impossible to stop the most horrific crimes against humanity is legitimate is another story. Stopping a genocide is mandatory under international law, but the immovable systems don’t care, and don’t do anything but fuel it. And as a queer person, a system that forces me to argue that I matter and deserve rights isn’t exactly one that lives up to the liberal values the system says it is founded on.
While I like the hopeful mood of things getting easier over time, that’s not a hard and fast rule. Im willing to bet that due to modern social media and the way that these impenetrable echo chambers have formed, it will be easier to be racist, and queer phobic, and eventually, the politicians will be insulated from bad press.
It is very exhausting to do activism with such a small group surrounded by a larger oppressive system. Ironically, the best thing is to make sure you are still taking care of your own needs and rest. Not only because it will make sure you don’t burnout and can continue to help in the long term, but because by setting that example for other people to see it is possible to help without being overwhelmed.
In my opinion, the initial challenge to get people involved is to have them witness for themselves what is going on and what they can do to contribute. Once they see the need and a path to help then they are more likely to do so. But they also have to see that helping does not have to include giving up all their time with their loved ones and being destitute.
I’ve joined existing orgs that have a clear path, and I’ve started one/resurrected a dead one, and I can say the moment the path to action is visible, people have an easier time getting moving and things begin to fall in place. Once the groups have enough core members, it’s easy for folks to pick up work when others need to take time for themselves. It’s beautiful to see :)
On a completely unrelated note, all of the activist chats I’m in have blown up following the election. Some of the groups have even started receiving donations from new people, and others have received tons of new members. Even with those horrible circumstances, it brings me some hope for the next four years.