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You know, I don't actually love the "how did Democratic manage not to thrash Trump" line, because it ignores how alluring fascism can be, despite its absurdities.
The real question is, how do Dems manage again and again to refuse to present a compelling counter-narrative.
The real question is, how do Dems manage again and again to refuse to present a compelling counter-narrative.
Like, honestly, that's the question those of us disgusted with the Democratic establishment need to be asking ourselves.
And honestly, the answer is, the left has not collectively done a great job of creatively imagining a better future and what it looks like.
And honestly, the answer is, the left has not collectively done a great job of creatively imagining a better future and what it looks like.
We're very good at coming up with policies, and with naming what's wrong with capitalism and with the Democratic establishment (and each other).
When it comes to presenting a tangible vision of what our world could look like, though, we fall down.
When it comes to presenting a tangible vision of what our world could look like, though, we fall down.
I'm for sure not trying to let the establishment Dems or capitalism off the hook, but they are what they are.
The Democratic establishment will be craven bureaucrats until they are a) replaced or b) effectively pressured to do things differently.
The Democratic establishment will be craven bureaucrats until they are a) replaced or b) effectively pressured to do things differently.
And to do that, we need to imagine what a better world would look like.
We need tangible vision.
That's how we beat fascist visions of restoring an imagined 1950's utopia, and also establishment Dems' vision of restoring an imagined 1990's utopia.
We need tangible vision.
That's how we beat fascist visions of restoring an imagined 1950's utopia, and also establishment Dems' vision of restoring an imagined 1990's utopia.
It takes daring to imagine like that, because imagining publicly means being vulnerable and risking appearing overly sincere/corny and also exposing our blindered spots, which liberation lessons we have yet to internalize.
At the same time, it's overdue, necessary work, work we have to do not only to beat the Dem establishment, but to beat a tide of fascism that is very much present and obviously very appealing to a wide swath of our country, whether or not Trump succeeds in stealing this election.
