Also let’s be honest here theres a good chance if they did do something beyond a couple statements against this shit they’d probably find some way to piss everyone off, probably by rolling out Chuck Schumer to say some stupid insane shit.
I mean, what you are describing to me is an insane level of capitulation, to the point I read it as consent. If this is going to be what the Democratic party represents, they don’t deserve voters and no one should vote for them. The strategy you are outlining is a blind alley strategy, in that there is no way back from it other then to reverse course entirely. Its deeply cynical, ineffective, and acts against Democrats ability to build back power long term. We can’t ignore the fact that both a) you are right in the sense that rolling over and showing their bellies is the strategy that Democrats have taken, and that b) this has been an utter and complete disaster and has only served to entrench and empower fascism.
And we see that this strategy has also been deeeply unpopular with voters. We only need to look as far as Mamdani and the DNC primaries to see everything about how mainstream Democrats have conducted themselves is very unpopular with their base. Democrats like Schumer are the least popular they’ve ever been, and if this:
now we are in a situation where we are waiting for the Reaper to do his good work.
Is the degree of political strategy you can come up in this moment, you probably shouldnt be in the work of politics.
Totally agree and understand.
Agree but I think “rationalizing” this is missing why its effective.
Same. I’ve worked as an organizer for decades and can’t stand these things. I’m very much so from the anarchist/ direct action tradition and have always and will always just prefer taking actions to address the issues we identify. If people are hungry, feed them; if people are unhoused, house them: you do not need to ask for permission.
However, I guess I don’t see the connection between visibility politics and your broader thesis. I mean its not like Schumer is avoiding visibility politics (which I think is you’re suggesting to be the reason why Mamdani has been effective?). Schumer is doing a form of visibility politics, but one which entirely misses the issue. What is winning or moving the ball down the field is resistance politics, which you seem to be advocating against at a national level, because your argument is that the Schumer’s of the world aren’t competent at it, so they shouldnt try.