A
while back when we had primary elections I mentioned I'd share my
perspective on where my energy for political engagement goes. I
appreciate the analysis on power and perspective for the choices and
strengths or lack thereof among prevailing parties that S Claire
provides here and add some own thoughts that haven't changed
pre-pandemic.
Tl;Dr
I tend to focus on hyperlocal engagement. For most of us, our chances at seeing changes in municipal and state government + the odds of you being able to hold elected officials accountable are far higher assuming you actually have the energy, resources, and time to advocate.
If you're among the few people I know who actually work major campaigns/staff at the national level or for Super PACs, do a better job pf championing the authentic and often vocal grassroot priorities that are often raised by Bernie and even Trump supporters in the form of their basic needs and how their trust and voices were historically neglected, betrayed, or outright oppressed.
.......
I think there's something to be said about relevance and sense of connection among many of the disenchanted as the current candidates relate or fail to with them too.
When both candidates have a record of implementing and advocating for policy and causes that created real harm to your community, morality also speaks to proximity and there's a tipping point where it no longer ascribes to the larger impact calculus that comes with a Presidential election.
The most vocal Bernie left advocates tend to come from places where those harms are front and center. They are/were also typically already engaged in front-line advocacy/work that makes their capacity for building long-term power+relationships limited by nature of the crises they've been immersed in and entangled with.
Meanwhile more centrist/liberal/general progressives who tend to be in more comfortable positions for building power are either disconnected from the on-the-ground priorities, or the combative rhetoric and disposition for action among Bernie leftists makes it challenging if not offputting to see how they'll work together in spaces where stability, decorum, and composure might be viewed as key to building relationships and power.
So instead, a lot of folks turn toward hyper local politics or community work as the mutual gap seems too much to breach. At best, you might be able to find heart in swaying state and municipal/city politics.
But in a place like Detroit, people have been fighting for so long that they know the cards are often stacked against their favor unless there's a good personal connection who came from the neighborhoods and can cut through the bureaucratic dysfunction and favoritism that money and status often brings. While I still vote for the sake of recognizing the impacts and lack of accessible and substantive influence at the Federal level, most people wind up looking to their own place and find it more effective for what more or less is localized nationbuilding given the legacy of neglect to their community and people.
Tl;Dr
I tend to focus on hyperlocal engagement. For most of us, our chances at seeing changes in municipal and state government + the odds of you being able to hold elected officials accountable are far higher assuming you actually have the energy, resources, and time to advocate.
If you're among the few people I know who actually work major campaigns/staff at the national level or for Super PACs, do a better job pf championing the authentic and often vocal grassroot priorities that are often raised by Bernie and even Trump supporters in the form of their basic needs and how their trust and voices were historically neglected, betrayed, or outright oppressed.
.......
I think there's something to be said about relevance and sense of connection among many of the disenchanted as the current candidates relate or fail to with them too.
When both candidates have a record of implementing and advocating for policy and causes that created real harm to your community, morality also speaks to proximity and there's a tipping point where it no longer ascribes to the larger impact calculus that comes with a Presidential election.
The most vocal Bernie left advocates tend to come from places where those harms are front and center. They are/were also typically already engaged in front-line advocacy/work that makes their capacity for building long-term power+relationships limited by nature of the crises they've been immersed in and entangled with.
Meanwhile more centrist/liberal/general progressives who tend to be in more comfortable positions for building power are either disconnected from the on-the-ground priorities, or the combative rhetoric and disposition for action among Bernie leftists makes it challenging if not offputting to see how they'll work together in spaces where stability, decorum, and composure might be viewed as key to building relationships and power.
So instead, a lot of folks turn toward hyper local politics or community work as the mutual gap seems too much to breach. At best, you might be able to find heart in swaying state and municipal/city politics.
But in a place like Detroit, people have been fighting for so long that they know the cards are often stacked against their favor unless there's a good personal connection who came from the neighborhoods and can cut through the bureaucratic dysfunction and favoritism that money and status often brings. While I still vote for the sake of recognizing the impacts and lack of accessible and substantive influence at the Federal level, most people wind up looking to their own place and find it more effective for what more or less is localized nationbuilding given the legacy of neglect to their community and people.
No comments:
Post a Comment