The endless “spectacle” as you say which I take to be lots of people listening to some people talk while carrying signs is no longer a calling for me. Back in the day we might see some tangible results. But the power situation, currently, is beyond skewed. The remaining value is to bring people together and offer an opportunity to feel less helpless and more engaged. Many hard-working orgs do that with strong hearts and brains. And the criminals in power count on this dynamic. Tactics need to shift. I do not have any tangible suggestions. Boycotts are powerful. Humor is powerful. Can all these warriors move beyond rote and change their minds? ☮️
I couldn’t agree more. Particularly about humor, and economic action. Strikes, Boycott and the like work. Take South Korea, the Pres. starts martial law, the union call a general strike within the hour. That is what wins, or can I’m no genius or fortune teller.
Unfortunately, the Dems are playing within the confines of the political process, while the Trump Administration and lackeys are thumbing their noses at us...
They are picking up the ball, throwing into the goal and celebrating, while the Dems are arguing to the referee... who can’t be bothered.
The following may sound familiar:
Changing a long-established union should not be considered for light and transient causes. But when continued ambivalence to progress, abuses, and moral injustices becomes normalized, and part of a pervasive design that empowers the branches of government to collude to its cause, and empowers citizens to wage class warfare, it is the peoples’ right and duty to abandon such a union.
We need to prepare NOW for this moment, not when it's too late.
Absolutely with you. The only change I would make is that the referee is a manequin. I do not believe that there is any institution currently that is up to the task. And the neccessary conditions are in place for permanent change. Unfortunately that means that the more cautious will also be obstacles as I know you know. So lets get to it.
Anything happening this weekend? Let me know if you hear anything - Looking to find some like-minded people who get it, and want to start - strength in numbers, one at a time.
I was heading to Providence afternoon tomorrow to see if there's anyone at the State House.
Not surprisingly, Mike A. cuts through the crap. Yes, there will be times we will all united together around an immediate demand or direction BUT in this precious, difficult time we have to think. How did we get here? How did we get into a place where working people are considered by the wealthy powers that be, as just another thing to be bought, sold, or thrown away? It was that system of individualized greed that brought us here. Was it not. So now, that time is short, think about what Mike writes. Demand specific relief and changes, but don't waste time on voting for liberals to feel better somehow, or just to "send a message" when nobody at the top is listening. And don't think only about voting. That is one weapon among many and is not always the most potent, in fact, Mike is right. It can often be a diversion. Find the actual decision-maker, and develop a strategy to force a change and make the ordinary folks stronger in the struggle at the same time. Listen, think, discuss, act . . . together.
It feels like Michael has an ax to grind. I think this is a time when many strategies will be thrown against the wall. I personally will disagree with most. Maybe Michael will too.
But I think this moment demands (a) grace for people who are searching for something to do, and (b) people who will actually do the things they say they believe in.
Michael should unite organizers and pull together action(s) that meet his definition of strategic action. When that happens, I hope he will receive the grace and support that this post seemed to lack.
No axes here. As you point out in (a) looking for something to do is fine. But the to do has to effective, lasting and true. And (b) that is my point. If you took the post to lack grace that is in the eye of the reader.
Hey Zack yes of course it is the duty of any and all electeds to act against fascism. That is a given. And of course there are things that can be done even at their vaunted place. And yeah that scrawny dude should be supported, that dude is doing a lot of work.
No where in what I wrote did I wrote that there is only one approach, but you know that. I did point out that pleading with electeds redirects effort, efforts likely to be better served in building in the ground power as working people, that is where our strength is, full stop. You know as well as I through experience that even when we get “our people” elected the pleading has to continue. It’s an inversion of power. Through the history of the last 30 years of rally and protest has not worked. Simply those attempts at giving power over for someone else has been a bait and switch and is in greater service to an elected. You also know this. I did not choose the accompanying photo, but it is appropriate.
I enumerated my criticism I believe clearly, you disagree that is fine. Obviously there is serious criticism of the Democratic Party but that belongs to members of the Democratic Party, not me. Their are lots of criticisms of the non profit industry and it grantor but that is for their boards, not me.
I appreciate you taking the time to thoughtfully reply however the ask I make is that the organizers of future events be strategic and be direct in expected outcome, otherwise I fully believe that working people are being used as instruments of power instead of the power themselves.
Michael, thank you for your post. I just want to make sure I understand your intent re: politicians. You seemed to indicate that we should not waste too much time on them, not waste phone calls on them, yet also make demands on them. So, in regards to our Senators, do you recommend phone calls to them specifically at this time? Thanks
Well no I’m not suggesting making demands to senators, whose on the ground power is minimal, and effectiveness is only present when they are the caucus in power. What I was trying to say is the demand has to be deliverable to people who can deliver. That where we find ourselves now is in crisis, and probably requires a more direct approach and radical change from what has been done. Otherwise it is reducing people to their utility and not best including their humanity.
Also nice to hear from you!!!
I’m back in Providence we should get coffee sometime.
Michael -- What then DO you suggest in terms of "making demands" to those who can get things done? I understand (tho do not agree with) your discounting the power of Senators -- would love to hear of something you see as nore effective. Hungry for ideas. Thank You
So right now, I don’t know I’m only me, but if I had to guess what I see as needed is, and it sounds so airy but I believe is direct conversations from the outside in to build durable and militant community. For instance ICE is carceral, and police (obviously), poverty is carceral, housing etc. in the expansion of this police power resistance to that. Trump and cronies have enormous power, and that power will devolve to the police who historically have been strong allies to reactionary movements. They will be and are the the one who will clear the homeless camps, snitch on people about status, continue to threaten Black life and make working class queer, and gender fluid life all but impossible. I believe it starts with self defense. Law won’t work when we live in lawless state. But most importantly these decisions have to be made in the community or coalesce around this. Sorry for the long response but, People have died of exposure already, soon kids will skip head start and be hungry. We would be dependent on federal or state solutions but those aren’t available right now.
At minimum, if one scrawny dude is blocking the doorway to the Department of Education or whatever, I think we should be encouraging behavior of electeds that pushes them out of the way. (As you say, we saw recently in SK.)
b) I think anyone who argues that one approach is best in this time is a red flag. We don't know what will work right now. Hopefully we will find new approaches. Certainly we will need *a variety* of approaches.
And I think this time demands specificity? It's a big thing to use a photo of the action from Saturday 2/8 and then say the below. Like, if you have problems with the strategy of Saturday or any other protesting happening, then I think "honing" the movement requires being direct about your criticisms and then organizing alternatives that demonstrate the perceived better path.
Like is this below about the Democratic Party overall? About Congresspeople? About national organizations like Move On, Indivisible, or WFP? About the organizers or speakers of the Saturday event or any other recent event? About the "They" is doing a lot of work here—
"Those who would take the time we could be building solidarity and harm elimination redirecting us to fruitless efforts that only lift up the name of the opportunist who is careful not to ruffle feathers. These ambitious individuals only see you the way the boss, landlord, and politician do, as instruments, not as individuals organized or a class with real power. They see you as tools in their opaque political games."
Hey Zack. One thing I am curious about -- since 1 Senator can put a blanket hold/block universal consent etc -- why only Brian Schatz? I mean we have Bernie, Elizabeth Warren, Chris Murphy , Merkley etc. Maybe you don't know either, but its stunning to me that some of our progressive champions are not being more tactical. Must be a reason -- but what?
a) They are reluctant to make their states bigger targets for retribution when the cuts come. I think that's a big piece of, say, Whitehouse's votes for some of Trump's nominees, like Burghum.
b) Some of them are doing more behind the scenes things, the legal strategy, I think Bernie and especially Warren have been in this category?
c) I do think Chris Murphy has been one of the most vocal about the, "Find a way to get in the way" line, so I'd put him more with Schatz, I think?
d) A huge segment of this busted, corrupted "opposition party" just believes that the strategy is appeasement and blind hope. Klobuchar was on the news just yesterday talking about how she expects her Republican colleagues will get fed up and just start voting against Trump. [Me: you've gotta be kidding me]
e) similarly, I think some of them are in the, "They won, let them wreak their havoc and show what the results of a truly Republican/(proto-)fascist administration would be. This to me is akin to MinL Jeffries recently saying basically, "They have all the tools, we have no power".
All those together, in some mega venn diagram, averages out to a feckless opposition party. I don't think they even see themselves as an "Opposition Party", but still just as a career vehicle whose work is put on hold for a few years while this Trump "phase" metabolizes through the American body.
So none of those scenarios and quotes from electeds are acceptable in the least. My letter is have an clear analysis of where the power lies and not to waste time on who cannot deliver. You just indicated a party in disarray. That being the case opposition to fascism must come from a place of organization not chaos. I also think by this reply you made you make clear your personal opinion on what is not effective, we are in alignment here.
Thanks Zack -- helpful to know what Bernie and Warren are up to. I kind of trust them, still if even just the two of them started standing speaking up about tactics perhaps it would get some attention, and more would follow -- or be put on the line
Yeah, appeasement -- such a smart strategy. As opposed to, "we are all in this together", "solidarity" . So Sheldon thinks voting for a nominee will spare RI the cuts? Zero sum game.
AS pathetic as the GOP, which would never be caught saying "we have no power."
I left such messages with our delegation yesterday. Is anyone listening? Hope so...
The endless “spectacle” as you say which I take to be lots of people listening to some people talk while carrying signs is no longer a calling for me. Back in the day we might see some tangible results. But the power situation, currently, is beyond skewed. The remaining value is to bring people together and offer an opportunity to feel less helpless and more engaged. Many hard-working orgs do that with strong hearts and brains. And the criminals in power count on this dynamic. Tactics need to shift. I do not have any tangible suggestions. Boycotts are powerful. Humor is powerful. Can all these warriors move beyond rote and change their minds? ☮️
I couldn’t agree more. Particularly about humor, and economic action. Strikes, Boycott and the like work. Take South Korea, the Pres. starts martial law, the union call a general strike within the hour. That is what wins, or can I’m no genius or fortune teller.
Just saying Hi Sally and glad you are still You! Are you still in Edgewood? Rich S
Michael, I'm with you.
Unfortunately, the Dems are playing within the confines of the political process, while the Trump Administration and lackeys are thumbing their noses at us...
They are picking up the ball, throwing into the goal and celebrating, while the Dems are arguing to the referee... who can’t be bothered.
The following may sound familiar:
Changing a long-established union should not be considered for light and transient causes. But when continued ambivalence to progress, abuses, and moral injustices becomes normalized, and part of a pervasive design that empowers the branches of government to collude to its cause, and empowers citizens to wage class warfare, it is the peoples’ right and duty to abandon such a union.
We need to prepare NOW for this moment, not when it's too late.
Absolutely with you. The only change I would make is that the referee is a manequin. I do not believe that there is any institution currently that is up to the task. And the neccessary conditions are in place for permanent change. Unfortunately that means that the more cautious will also be obstacles as I know you know. So lets get to it.
Anything happening this weekend? Let me know if you hear anything - Looking to find some like-minded people who get it, and want to start - strength in numbers, one at a time.
I was heading to Providence afternoon tomorrow to see if there's anyone at the State House.
I actually don’t know what if anything is going on tomorrow but might be nice to catch up if you’re around
Not surprisingly, Mike A. cuts through the crap. Yes, there will be times we will all united together around an immediate demand or direction BUT in this precious, difficult time we have to think. How did we get here? How did we get into a place where working people are considered by the wealthy powers that be, as just another thing to be bought, sold, or thrown away? It was that system of individualized greed that brought us here. Was it not. So now, that time is short, think about what Mike writes. Demand specific relief and changes, but don't waste time on voting for liberals to feel better somehow, or just to "send a message" when nobody at the top is listening. And don't think only about voting. That is one weapon among many and is not always the most potent, in fact, Mike is right. It can often be a diversion. Find the actual decision-maker, and develop a strategy to force a change and make the ordinary folks stronger in the struggle at the same time. Listen, think, discuss, act . . . together.
It feels like Michael has an ax to grind. I think this is a time when many strategies will be thrown against the wall. I personally will disagree with most. Maybe Michael will too.
But I think this moment demands (a) grace for people who are searching for something to do, and (b) people who will actually do the things they say they believe in.
Michael should unite organizers and pull together action(s) that meet his definition of strategic action. When that happens, I hope he will receive the grace and support that this post seemed to lack.
No axes here. As you point out in (a) looking for something to do is fine. But the to do has to effective, lasting and true. And (b) that is my point. If you took the post to lack grace that is in the eye of the reader.
Hey Zack yes of course it is the duty of any and all electeds to act against fascism. That is a given. And of course there are things that can be done even at their vaunted place. And yeah that scrawny dude should be supported, that dude is doing a lot of work.
No where in what I wrote did I wrote that there is only one approach, but you know that. I did point out that pleading with electeds redirects effort, efforts likely to be better served in building in the ground power as working people, that is where our strength is, full stop. You know as well as I through experience that even when we get “our people” elected the pleading has to continue. It’s an inversion of power. Through the history of the last 30 years of rally and protest has not worked. Simply those attempts at giving power over for someone else has been a bait and switch and is in greater service to an elected. You also know this. I did not choose the accompanying photo, but it is appropriate.
I enumerated my criticism I believe clearly, you disagree that is fine. Obviously there is serious criticism of the Democratic Party but that belongs to members of the Democratic Party, not me. Their are lots of criticisms of the non profit industry and it grantor but that is for their boards, not me.
I appreciate you taking the time to thoughtfully reply however the ask I make is that the organizers of future events be strategic and be direct in expected outcome, otherwise I fully believe that working people are being used as instruments of power instead of the power themselves.
Yours in Solidarity
All Power To The People
Mike
Michael, thank you for your post. I just want to make sure I understand your intent re: politicians. You seemed to indicate that we should not waste too much time on them, not waste phone calls on them, yet also make demands on them. So, in regards to our Senators, do you recommend phone calls to them specifically at this time? Thanks
Well no I’m not suggesting making demands to senators, whose on the ground power is minimal, and effectiveness is only present when they are the caucus in power. What I was trying to say is the demand has to be deliverable to people who can deliver. That where we find ourselves now is in crisis, and probably requires a more direct approach and radical change from what has been done. Otherwise it is reducing people to their utility and not best including their humanity.
Also nice to hear from you!!!
I’m back in Providence we should get coffee sometime.
Michael -- What then DO you suggest in terms of "making demands" to those who can get things done? I understand (tho do not agree with) your discounting the power of Senators -- would love to hear of something you see as nore effective. Hungry for ideas. Thank You
So right now, I don’t know I’m only me, but if I had to guess what I see as needed is, and it sounds so airy but I believe is direct conversations from the outside in to build durable and militant community. For instance ICE is carceral, and police (obviously), poverty is carceral, housing etc. in the expansion of this police power resistance to that. Trump and cronies have enormous power, and that power will devolve to the police who historically have been strong allies to reactionary movements. They will be and are the the one who will clear the homeless camps, snitch on people about status, continue to threaten Black life and make working class queer, and gender fluid life all but impossible. I believe it starts with self defense. Law won’t work when we live in lawless state. But most importantly these decisions have to be made in the community or coalesce around this. Sorry for the long response but, People have died of exposure already, soon kids will skip head start and be hungry. We would be dependent on federal or state solutions but those aren’t available right now.
I just think, "whose on the ground power is minimal, and effectiveness is only present when they are the caucus in power" is:
a) deeply not true, see some to-dos here:
https://indivisible.org/resource/explainer-how-senate-democrats-can-delay-defy-trumps-agenda-procedural-hardball
At minimum, if one scrawny dude is blocking the doorway to the Department of Education or whatever, I think we should be encouraging behavior of electeds that pushes them out of the way. (As you say, we saw recently in SK.)
b) I think anyone who argues that one approach is best in this time is a red flag. We don't know what will work right now. Hopefully we will find new approaches. Certainly we will need *a variety* of approaches.
And I think this time demands specificity? It's a big thing to use a photo of the action from Saturday 2/8 and then say the below. Like, if you have problems with the strategy of Saturday or any other protesting happening, then I think "honing" the movement requires being direct about your criticisms and then organizing alternatives that demonstrate the perceived better path.
Like is this below about the Democratic Party overall? About Congresspeople? About national organizations like Move On, Indivisible, or WFP? About the organizers or speakers of the Saturday event or any other recent event? About the "They" is doing a lot of work here—
"Those who would take the time we could be building solidarity and harm elimination redirecting us to fruitless efforts that only lift up the name of the opportunist who is careful not to ruffle feathers. These ambitious individuals only see you the way the boss, landlord, and politician do, as instruments, not as individuals organized or a class with real power. They see you as tools in their opaque political games."
Hey Zack. One thing I am curious about -- since 1 Senator can put a blanket hold/block universal consent etc -- why only Brian Schatz? I mean we have Bernie, Elizabeth Warren, Chris Murphy , Merkley etc. Maybe you don't know either, but its stunning to me that some of our progressive champions are not being more tactical. Must be a reason -- but what?
My understanding is:
a) They are reluctant to make their states bigger targets for retribution when the cuts come. I think that's a big piece of, say, Whitehouse's votes for some of Trump's nominees, like Burghum.
b) Some of them are doing more behind the scenes things, the legal strategy, I think Bernie and especially Warren have been in this category?
c) I do think Chris Murphy has been one of the most vocal about the, "Find a way to get in the way" line, so I'd put him more with Schatz, I think?
d) A huge segment of this busted, corrupted "opposition party" just believes that the strategy is appeasement and blind hope. Klobuchar was on the news just yesterday talking about how she expects her Republican colleagues will get fed up and just start voting against Trump. [Me: you've gotta be kidding me]
e) similarly, I think some of them are in the, "They won, let them wreak their havoc and show what the results of a truly Republican/(proto-)fascist administration would be. This to me is akin to MinL Jeffries recently saying basically, "They have all the tools, we have no power".
All those together, in some mega venn diagram, averages out to a feckless opposition party. I don't think they even see themselves as an "Opposition Party", but still just as a career vehicle whose work is put on hold for a few years while this Trump "phase" metabolizes through the American body.
Which, to be clear, i think is pathetic.
apologies for the typos
So none of those scenarios and quotes from electeds are acceptable in the least. My letter is have an clear analysis of where the power lies and not to waste time on who cannot deliver. You just indicated a party in disarray. That being the case opposition to fascism must come from a place of organization not chaos. I also think by this reply you made you make clear your personal opinion on what is not effective, we are in alignment here.
Thanks Zack -- helpful to know what Bernie and Warren are up to. I kind of trust them, still if even just the two of them started standing speaking up about tactics perhaps it would get some attention, and more would follow -- or be put on the line
Yeah, appeasement -- such a smart strategy. As opposed to, "we are all in this together", "solidarity" . So Sheldon thinks voting for a nominee will spare RI the cuts? Zero sum game.
AS pathetic as the GOP, which would never be caught saying "we have no power."
I left such messages with our delegation yesterday. Is anyone listening? Hope so...