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So, every once in a while by pure chance, one knows something about something in the news. Today that's me--it's about a guy named Brian Deese who is up for an econ job in the Biden administration. But it's a longish story.
I've spent most of my life living in rural America, much of it in a remote, poor, red, and exceptionally beautiful corner of upstate New York. Among other things, I taught Sunday School in the basement of the Methodist church in our town of 300
Four sisters were in that class, beginning when they were very small; my wife and I got to know them all well, and their parents. All four managed to make it out to college in Middlebury VT, which was exceptional for our community. (I followed them there some years later).
And one of them met a guy named Brian Deese there, and they fell in love, and so I performed their wedding in a cabin back in that small town with the snow falling outside. And then I didn't see them much--usually just Xmas Eve when they were home with her family
But I knew Brian had become an accomplished policy guy, and that he went to work for Obama early on, and that his first big task was the auto bailout, where he bargained to make sure that for their money Detroit agreed to 56 mpg cars. Which was a big win.
I didn't call him when he was in the White House, because I don't believe in that kind of access politics. I'm an outside person--to me it seems my job is to change the zeitgeist, and when that happens change flows in the right direction
(I highly value the lobbyists for good causes who do this kind of work--it's just not my work. And I value progressive elected officials, and good-hearted bureaucrats. Again, they're all pursuing different routes. That's okay; getting change *requires* different routes.)
But I did make one exception, at the end of the 2nd term, on the day when oil industry thugs sicced German shepherds on protesters at Standing Rock. I made sure Brian had the picture immediately, and that he knew it was a watershed moment
(I probably should have done it earlier. And I doubt it had any effect on Obama's decision to turn down DAPL--I was just a distant, shocked bystander to the whole mess, and obviously there was world-class organizing underway. But Brian did listen and understand its importance).
Then, post-Obama, he went to Blackrock , world's biggest box of money, to work on environmental stuff. I think he went there precisely because it was so big and hence worth trying to change. (And presumably it paid well).
As it happens, I was involved in a project that aimed pretty hard at Blackrock. You can read my critique of the company here. Again I didn't call him, because that's not what I do, and I pulled no punches https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/money-is-the-oxygen-on-which-the-fire-of-global-warming-burns
But last winter, after Blackrock began to make some changes, I did talk w/him. And I was not surprised to learn that he'd spent his time there pushing the company to change its climate policies. (And not surprised to learn that he understood it hadn't yet gone far enough)
So, now he's up for a Biden job. And some have critiqued him in various ways for his time at Blackrock, arguing that he's not progressive, doesn't care about climate change, etc. On Twitter one group said that he's a 'monster' bent on 'planetary destruction.' (Twitter, I know)
I don't think that's remotely correct--I know he cares a lot, and works hard on the issue. Not in the way I would--again, I'm on the outside pushing. I've spent much of the last decade going after Wall St., and helped organize the biggest protests of the Obama years, over KXL
And I completely respect some of the people critiquing him--they're my colleagues on the outside, the people I think are doing the most to change our world. It's fine for them to say no one from Wall St should get a job, or that it's time for other folks to have a turn
I've basically subcontracted my political opinions to the Sunrise Movement this past election season, and I think they've done a masterful job. I agree with their basic take on the world. (My New Yorker column this week is devoted to boosting AOC's public bank plan.)
Hell, I introduced Bernie the day he announced his first run for president. If it was up to me, I'd turn the whole economy over to him, Elizabeth Warren, Heather McGhee, Rev. Barber, and Rhiana Gunn-Wright. Naomi Klein has dual citizenship? Her too, then.
But since--because of pure chance--I know Brian to be both able and decent, and because I know he in fact does care about climate, it felt like I had to say something. (And I'm likely sensitive to this because I had the bitter experience of being incorrectly attacked this year)
At any rate, if he gets the job I'll not talk to him for a few more years. But I imagine he'll work steadfastly and competently and honorably, to the betterment of the world, and that he'll get a lot done. Will it be enough? It will not. No one thing is. But it will be useful.
I've married a few other couples, but none of them are headed to DC as far as I know, so don't expect any more missives like this. And happy Thanksgiving
