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The way I see it with Biden, he's either spouting naive, tin-eared moderate pablum because it's a tactic (wide appeal, differentiating from Trump's divisiveness, &c) or it's how he feels.
One is obviously less appealing than the other. But.
One is obviously less appealing than the other. But.
That means if he wins we:
a) get surprised by more progressive language/cabinet members later; or
b) get 4 years of milquetoast wheel spinning.
(B) sucks. But either option is better than where we're at now. And MUCH better than where we'll be with another Trump term.
a) get surprised by more progressive language/cabinet members later; or
b) get 4 years of milquetoast wheel spinning.
(B) sucks. But either option is better than where we're at now. And MUCH better than where we'll be with another Trump term.
I know, I know: we can't afford 4 years of milquetoast wheel spinning with a lot of these problems. I 100% agree. But the Left also needs a victory, more time, and more control.
It's literally the choice between living to fight another day or suffering irreparable losses.
It's literally the choice between living to fight another day or suffering irreparable losses.
Think of it this way:
Trump dug us into a pit. Moderate Biden will try to fill that hole and get us back to 0. Progressives will be able to build from there.
More Trump means more hole. It means we'll be starting even further back whenever we finally get control again.
Trump dug us into a pit. Moderate Biden will try to fill that hole and get us back to 0. Progressives will be able to build from there.
More Trump means more hole. It means we'll be starting even further back whenever we finally get control again.
It's maybe tempting to say, "Progressive solutions will be what's necessary to get us out of that deeper hole! People will be so desperate they'll finally see that!"
Maybe. But that's a hell of a risk. It's really no different than the UK's proposed herd immunity COVID solution.
Maybe. But that's a hell of a risk. It's really no different than the UK's proposed herd immunity COVID solution.
It's saying, "We just need to inflict SO MUCH pain that it'll finally wake people up to our common sense solutions. Intense but short term pain for long term gains."
And it only works if the Republicans and Fox News literally implode. Which I pray for, but *cannot* imagine.
And it only works if the Republicans and Fox News literally implode. Which I pray for, but *cannot* imagine.
There's an equally real chance that another Trump term(s??) makes things so bad that the country becomes even more illiberal, even less likely to embrace progressivism, even more likely to scapegoat good-but-complicated solutions. At least for several precious years.
See, the biggest problem with progressive ideas is WE know they work, but a huge, important, fundamental, disproportionately powerful percentage of the population reflexively doesn't trust us.
Understand that.
The more we *explain* our ideas, the less they like them.
Understand that.
The more we *explain* our ideas, the less they like them.
Even though we have receipts. Even though these ideas will benefit THEM maybe more than anybody.
They. Hate. Us. Personally.
So the unfortunate fact of the matter of this dynamic is we have to find ways to trick them into seeing past their bias.
They. Hate. Us. Personally.
So the unfortunate fact of the matter of this dynamic is we have to find ways to trick them into seeing past their bias.
I don't KNOW if this is what Biden is doing with his "we can all get along" shtick. Hell, most days I suspect it's not.
But that's okay if it works. That's okay if it helps make the necessary number of voters to end the Trump Presidency think Biden is safe and refreshing.
But that's okay if it works. That's okay if it helps make the necessary number of voters to end the Trump Presidency think Biden is safe and refreshing.
Because I do know this: the walls of resistance against progressivism might be high and Biden might be an empty vessel, but so were the walls of Troy and so was the Trojan Horse.
This has been another installment of A Progressive Who Is Very Unenthusiastic about Biden But Very Clear-Eyed about the Need to End Republican Rule and So Is Looking for Optimism and Inspiration Wherever Possible.
