I’m much persuaded by this Sherrod Brown piece in the latest New Republic. I didn’t want to be a soft audience. My initial thought was, if this stuff was so good, why couldn’t you win reelection? Why isn’t Bernie the president? Sure, the Bernie thing is a stretch, since the party establishment would not permit an open contest; they ganged up for Hillary, then Kamala. But the more salient answer resonated: the “Democrat” brand has been dragging everybody down since Bill Clinton’s betrayal on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). People believe what they like and choose their own preferred facts. This I like.
MAGA is the socialism of fools. The only distinction between it and classic antisemitism is that MAGA replaces "Jew" with "(((elite)))." I would argue that this is a distinction without a difference, but ymmv.
The point is, most voters are already socialists, of a stripe. Which means that there are plenty of potential stripe-changers, if some political party wants to educate them. The parties of the far right have done a good job of education. The Le Pen devotees in France grew out of the demise of the French Communist Party. The #2 party in Eastern Germany, is die Linke.
It's time for some counter-programming: the enemy is richies, not (((elites.))) And yes, even if Carl Schmitt said it, some degree of emnity is essential in politics.
Max, If you are interested in "class warfare" -- which class. Working class? The union working class? How well do you think a "class warfare" effort would play out in the non-urban areas of Minnesota (where I am from and where I have been activists); South Dakota, Iowa, or Nebraska? For the last 20 years, the Democrats have defined themselves as a urban (wealthy suburban) party most every one else has been jumping ship. Once they have gone overboard, I don't think you will get them back on board. If you think otherwise, then explain how this might happen.
Well, I've already admitted I don't understand people, or how they think. I suspect Brown, who has been winning elections for a while in a difficult area, has a better grip on that than most people. So I'll go with his story until I hear a better one.
Word. Let me try to condense it.
MAGA is the socialism of fools. The only distinction between it and classic antisemitism is that MAGA replaces "Jew" with "(((elite)))." I would argue that this is a distinction without a difference, but ymmv.
The point is, most voters are already socialists, of a stripe. Which means that there are plenty of potential stripe-changers, if some political party wants to educate them. The parties of the far right have done a good job of education. The Le Pen devotees in France grew out of the demise of the French Communist Party. The #2 party in Eastern Germany, is die Linke.
It's time for some counter-programming: the enemy is richies, not (((elites.))) And yes, even if Carl Schmitt said it, some degree of emnity is essential in politics.
Great roll out
Class struggle drives progress
Caveat
Avoid nostalgia
Brown lost last year
Franken ?
Avoid constipated progressives
Like dear Al
Stuck in the tube
By their own process scruples
Fresh meat must rise
Amen. You should post this to NS, Max.
Thanks. I did, this morning.
Max, If you are interested in "class warfare" -- which class. Working class? The union working class? How well do you think a "class warfare" effort would play out in the non-urban areas of Minnesota (where I am from and where I have been activists); South Dakota, Iowa, or Nebraska? For the last 20 years, the Democrats have defined themselves as a urban (wealthy suburban) party most every one else has been jumping ship. Once they have gone overboard, I don't think you will get them back on board. If you think otherwise, then explain how this might happen.
Perhaps Ziggy can help here.
Well, I've already admitted I don't understand people, or how they think. I suspect Brown, who has been winning elections for a while in a difficult area, has a better grip on that than most people. So I'll go with his story until I hear a better one.