Hi Bill - As always, on the mark! Thanks for calling attention to the efforts of Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) at Talking Points Memo. The article you linked to is gated but I was inspired enough to become a paid subscriber and I'm glad I did. We can't rely on free and corporate-funded media to tell us what's going on. That's why I subscribe to you on SubStack and now to TPM as well. We must ask every senate hopeful Dem who asks for our movement's support to commit to ending the filibuster. Our strategy should be: #winthemidterms, #endthefilibuster, #expandSCOTUS, #DCstatehood -- it's a big, bold agenda but I fear anything less will fail to restore our flailing democracy.
Yes! Too often there’s just a sense of defeat associated with policy decisions the public actually hates…. Also, I think there’s too much “navel-gazing” at how “this” could have happened, and not enough organizing around doing something about it now…with the assumption that this president and his administration will be no help….
Well organizing and aligning with organizations such as Sunrise or Third Way is certainly a good start. And then also recognizing that this Supreme Court is the result of decades of time and hundreds of millions of dollars in organizing and lobbying, which will be hard to match for any liberal organization.
I think the biggest change that needs to happen is the mindset of liberals who vote for the least worst option when they go to the polls. It's not enough to "restore normalcy" or to try and return to bipartisanship. The Democratic party as it exists would need to be broken and remade for any real change to happen. To make the party responsive to people again and not its biggest donors, that is the real challenge.
But that means overcoming our fear of Republicans and conservatives. As long as you are afraid of Republicans as an existential threat to democracy, you can be cowed into voting for compromised milquetoast politicians who will continue wringing their hands and doing nothing. It means getting people off mainstream media aligned with corporate interests which promote that fear (and into independent media like this!). It means recognizing that the Jan 6 committee's primary purpose is to promote and stoke that same fear.
In short a sea-change in attitude and perceptions towards our major media and political institutions which have lead us to this place. Independent media like this along with independent and uncompromising politicians and organizations are our best hope.
Hi Bill - As always, on the mark! Thanks for calling attention to the efforts of Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) at Talking Points Memo. The article you linked to is gated but I was inspired enough to become a paid subscriber and I'm glad I did. We can't rely on free and corporate-funded media to tell us what's going on. That's why I subscribe to you on SubStack and now to TPM as well. We must ask every senate hopeful Dem who asks for our movement's support to commit to ending the filibuster. Our strategy should be: #winthemidterms, #endthefilibuster, #expandSCOTUS, #DCstatehood -- it's a big, bold agenda but I fear anything less will fail to restore our flailing democracy.
Yes! Too often there’s just a sense of defeat associated with policy decisions the public actually hates…. Also, I think there’s too much “navel-gazing” at how “this” could have happened, and not enough organizing around doing something about it now…with the assumption that this president and his administration will be no help….
Good analysis but unfortunate link to Josh Marshall, where you are invited to pay urban democrat prices for a subscription. ☹️
I think that if Democrats and their promises are our best hope of reversing these terrible decisions that despair is an appropriate response.
i'm open to alternatives
Well organizing and aligning with organizations such as Sunrise or Third Way is certainly a good start. And then also recognizing that this Supreme Court is the result of decades of time and hundreds of millions of dollars in organizing and lobbying, which will be hard to match for any liberal organization.
I think the biggest change that needs to happen is the mindset of liberals who vote for the least worst option when they go to the polls. It's not enough to "restore normalcy" or to try and return to bipartisanship. The Democratic party as it exists would need to be broken and remade for any real change to happen. To make the party responsive to people again and not its biggest donors, that is the real challenge.
But that means overcoming our fear of Republicans and conservatives. As long as you are afraid of Republicans as an existential threat to democracy, you can be cowed into voting for compromised milquetoast politicians who will continue wringing their hands and doing nothing. It means getting people off mainstream media aligned with corporate interests which promote that fear (and into independent media like this!). It means recognizing that the Jan 6 committee's primary purpose is to promote and stoke that same fear.
In short a sea-change in attitude and perceptions towards our major media and political institutions which have lead us to this place. Independent media like this along with independent and uncompromising politicians and organizations are our best hope.
Yes. We must get out the vote.