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As unbearably cringe as the hunt for a "leftist Joe Rogan" is, it is (to use a shopworn phrase), "directionally correct." Democrats suck at getting their message out, and that exacts a high electoral cost.

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If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

pluralistic.net/2024/12/12/the

1/

@pluralistic

The Democrats' message these days is "uhhh we're not as terrible as Trump".

Biden endorsed and furthered Trump's original tariffs, extended Trump's previous EO's, and basically did a 'softer version of Trump'. The China hate still reigns, with Tiktok ban still happening any day now. Palestine is still an ongoing genocide, paid for by US weaponry.

And Harris shows up last minute and goes "lol nothing is different with me".

The leftists I know (myself included) look at the democratic party as elitist sycophants that will actively harm real positive change for the masses. Not only that, but "Democrats" are some of the most undemocratic in their organization and structure.

First-passed-the-post voting means we're basically stuck with them. Or, with Republicans winning, just the worse option.

Glad I don't have children. I wouldn't want to raise them in this world.

Preston Is Not My Real Name

@crankylinuxuser @pluralistic "Not only that, but "Democrats" are some of the most undemocratic in their organization and structure. "

I keep hearing this and it confuses the shit out of me. Aren't most political parties in most countries 100% undemocratic? Frankly the idea of primaries baffles me and I can only understand it in light of the two-party system - and neither of the major parties is responsible for inventing FPTP, as it's enshrined in the Constitution.

@prestontumber @pluralistic

It's crazy, but here's some things of recent note that I say the Democratic party is undemocratic:

  1. Superdelagates (rich person votes)
  2. 2015 Hillary Clinton vs Bernie Sanders debacle
  3. Non-nomination of Harris for 2024

And this is a long form account from someone who turned anarchist after volunteering for the Nevada state Democratic party. post-goldfish.ghost.io/i-becam

"Having a physical separation (of Democratic HQ professionals), by around a 15-minute drive, is a perfect metaphor for how the professional class of the Democratic Party sees themselves compared to the ordinary people of the field staff. We weren’t let in on any strategy discussions, we weren’t told any inside information (because they were certain we’d leak it), we weren’t even allowed to physically be around them."

post goldfish · i became an anarchist while working for the nevada state democratic partyThere are three places in Las Vegas I truly liked: two of them were bars, and the third was Writer’s Block, a wonderful bookstore shaped like a literal block. It was here, a couple days into a job with the Nevada State Democratic Party, that I picked up Chomsky’

@crankylinuxuser @prestontumber @pluralistic Much like the Bible made me an atheist, Democrats made me an anarchist. I was an Indiana state delegate in 08, and was invited to the White House by the Obama administration in 2011. Setting up close how politics actually works opened my eyes.

@crankylinuxuser @prestontumber @pluralistic
Thank you for sharing this. I think it makes a lot of really great (and sometimes infuriating) points.

I only want to add this idea: Electioneering is a billion dollar industry that works best when people are actively engaged with their hearts and wallets, and people will engage the hardest when they're fearful of something. I don't think the political division of America happened on accident, i think it is intentionally fostered for profit and political control.

@RnDanger @crankylinuxuser @pluralistic I don't think conspiracy theories are the right way to handle the complexity of the world - and if any group was actually both competent enough and powerful enough to coordinate such a thing for their own ends, frankly, they deserve to rule, as we obviously can't stop them.

@RnDanger @crankylinuxuser @pluralistic Sure, and conspiracy theories are a well-documented defect in human reasoning and attempts to deal with the complexity of the world.

@RnDanger @crankylinuxuser @pluralistic I wonder how reality-based your definition of that word is.

@prestontumber @crankylinuxuser @pluralistic
Sorry for sarcasm. It assumed too much here.

I believe capitalism has real and often terrible effects, and its operating principles are generally unsound.
I feel like every complaint you've lodged against conspiracy mindedness would apply just as well to capitalism mindedness.

@RnDanger @crankylinuxuser @pluralistic What is "capitalism mindedness"? I know lots of people who "believe in capitalism" in the sense that they think it's good and also believe in conspiracy theories (if that's what you mean?)

I don't think they're all that contradictory. Arguably, the precarity it creates in the absence of a robust welfare state would create more of a reason to want to believe in conspiratorial forces.

@prestontumber @crankylinuxuser @pluralistic
"Arguably, the precarity it creates in the absence of a robust welfare state would create more of a reason to want to believe in conspiratorial forces."
This is a great observation i hadn't noticed before. I think the evidence bears it out.

@prestontumber @crankylinuxuser @pluralistic
Capital-mindedness:
I think capitalism induces a "defect in human reasoning and attempts to deal with the complexity of the world." It frequently reduces problems to a number with no regard for a complicated reality.

@crankylinuxuser @pluralistic Ok, I see my confusion - it was the phrasing "the most undemocratic in their organization and structure". I thought you were making a comparison, and since most political parties worldwide are way less internally democratic than the Democrats AFAIK, couldn't follow your point.