I'm sorry you're in a pessimistic place, and God knows you've got plenty of reason and you're entitled. But consider what's been happening elsewhere in the world. The UK just voted the Conservative party out of power for the first time in 14 years—and they're the party of austerity and Brexit. Macron called a snap election in France in a big roll of the dice to brush back the hard right, and the leftists formed a coalition and fucking won. Everybody thought Macron was nuts. And, while we're at it, India dealt Modi a setback a month ago. They didn't put him out of power, but they denied him a majority and left him hobbled a bit. Iran elected the most moderate candidate out the mullah-approved batch. Put that together with the 2022 "red wave" that wasn't and the off-year upsets that defied polls, and, you know, there's hope. I like to believe there are lot of wives who don't talk about Roe v. Wade in front of their husbands, but are planning revenge in the privacy of the voting booth. Folks who aren't on board with Christian Nationalism, but aren't open about it because their circle is on board. Sometimes people, writ large, are better and more empathetic than they appear.
You're not wrong. France was tremendously encouraging and Modi's fall from power maybe even moreso. I hope we're seeing a swing away from all this madness -- the EU election has me worried, and the UK far right gained quite a bit of ground (though with great overall results!)
My leftist son sometimes questions why I raised him to be an old fashioned patriot, the kind you are. If he wasn't, he'd leave and start over somewhere else, rather than staying and fighting the encroaching evil. It's disheartening to think that the lesser narcissism of Joe Biden will deliver the country to the greater narcissism of Donald Trump.
I'm enough of an optimist to think the promise of America can be brought back, even after a Trump victory. The ideals in the Declaration of Independence are still universal, even if they have never been fulfilled. Most people will go about their business and learn to live with the new masters, but there will always be a few who can't abide the new feudalism. They will organize and fight for a rebirth of real democracy. I have faith that eventually the oligarchs will fall. Unfortunately, the time required for a rebirth of democracy will be measured in generations, not election cycles.
There has been some good news for democracy this year. Here’s hoping it continues. However, despite the good result in France, I don’t think it is what Macron had in mind.
France is incredibly encouraging, though I agree this is NOT what Macron would prefer. I'm very curious whether any kind of coalition will form, and if it does, who will be allying with whom...
I'm sorry you're in a pessimistic place, and God knows you've got plenty of reason and you're entitled. But consider what's been happening elsewhere in the world. The UK just voted the Conservative party out of power for the first time in 14 years—and they're the party of austerity and Brexit. Macron called a snap election in France in a big roll of the dice to brush back the hard right, and the leftists formed a coalition and fucking won. Everybody thought Macron was nuts. And, while we're at it, India dealt Modi a setback a month ago. They didn't put him out of power, but they denied him a majority and left him hobbled a bit. Iran elected the most moderate candidate out the mullah-approved batch. Put that together with the 2022 "red wave" that wasn't and the off-year upsets that defied polls, and, you know, there's hope. I like to believe there are lot of wives who don't talk about Roe v. Wade in front of their husbands, but are planning revenge in the privacy of the voting booth. Folks who aren't on board with Christian Nationalism, but aren't open about it because their circle is on board. Sometimes people, writ large, are better and more empathetic than they appear.
You're not wrong. France was tremendously encouraging and Modi's fall from power maybe even moreso. I hope we're seeing a swing away from all this madness -- the EU election has me worried, and the UK far right gained quite a bit of ground (though with great overall results!)
Fingers crossed
My leftist son sometimes questions why I raised him to be an old fashioned patriot, the kind you are. If he wasn't, he'd leave and start over somewhere else, rather than staying and fighting the encroaching evil. It's disheartening to think that the lesser narcissism of Joe Biden will deliver the country to the greater narcissism of Donald Trump.
I'm enough of an optimist to think the promise of America can be brought back, even after a Trump victory. The ideals in the Declaration of Independence are still universal, even if they have never been fulfilled. Most people will go about their business and learn to live with the new masters, but there will always be a few who can't abide the new feudalism. They will organize and fight for a rebirth of real democracy. I have faith that eventually the oligarchs will fall. Unfortunately, the time required for a rebirth of democracy will be measured in generations, not election cycles.
There has been some good news for democracy this year. Here’s hoping it continues. However, despite the good result in France, I don’t think it is what Macron had in mind.
France is incredibly encouraging, though I agree this is NOT what Macron would prefer. I'm very curious whether any kind of coalition will form, and if it does, who will be allying with whom...