This reformist sentiment is how we got here with the Dems.
I could understand reform to an extent but holy fuck come on. They’ve demonstrated they really truly don’t give a fuck about the leftist ideals they carry around like a vestigial organ.
Kamala “Do Not Come” Harris Joe “Nothing will fundamentally change” Biden (Bonus) Joe “Strongest union president ever until it might impact the economy” Biden Nancy “Insider trading is cool when I do it” Pelosi
They exist as the last wall between more serious leftists and actual change.
They co-opt and absorb grassroots movements and then talk them down into a whimper. (e.g. BLM, defund the police, single-payer, etc.) Usually the discourse devolves into “well it might be hard and take some time, and it’s something we’re not used to, and some people might be mad too, and oh the economy and jobs or something” and that’s that. Dismissed until the next crisis, where we’ll rinse and repeat.
Notice the verbiage when they’re talking: “middle-class” this “middle-class” that. How often do they talk about the lower class? They usually don’t, because they primarily want to appeal to the affluent and educated. Meanwhile actual leftist organization meet people where they are on the regular - hungry, unsheltered, endangered - instead of sitting at galas and fundraisers sucking the big green dollary dick and feeling really sad and concerned about those people on the street. But hey maybe more spikes on a bench and more camp raids will solve the problem. After all, they’re making the place unsightly for their affluent, educated friends.
“When they go low we go high” is a hollow appeal to civility they use to say “aw shucks guys we tried real hard but then Republicans said no”. How many times have Republicans whipped out that “one simple trick” to leverage their position? How many times are Democrats gonna say “hey man that’s not cool” until they realize that honor or decorum are like boyscout merrit badges in the face of an opposition that demonstrates they don’t give a fuck about any of that?
Right or “left” or anything in between - any time there’s a labor dispute you can bet (and you’d be quite succesful) that within the first WEEK they’ll be drumming up distrust amongst the working class:
They tell their fellow workers through the media “these union workers are making your shit cost more. Here’s how much their asking for in wage increases.”
To ask “well, couldn’t the company just make a little bit less” is heresy. How could you suggest such a thing? They’re a business dummy, they have to make money! Line goes up! Line go down is bad! Jobs and yadda yadda.
They frame the majority of the conversation in terms of monetary or fringe benefits for the workers. They report very little on the safety and PTO/QOL demands of the union.
In the case of Biden and railroad workers, they say “hey just play along and let the rail companies strategize and undermine you for a few more years while we try really super megahard to get you what you want”. Newsflash if you didn’t know: the element of surprise (within a short time frame) is important for strikes. Now that the companies know the union is willing to take it to that level, the railroad companies being in a position of power and control are in an advantageous position with that knowledge. And by the way nothing was ever done about the safety concerns the rail workers had with PSR or lean operation (or the being on call constantly), and shortly after Biden put down that strike the East Palestine disaster happened. And yeah those people aren’t done with their suffering either. But hey at least you, out precious affluent, educated voter didn’t have to do anything to support your fellow workers or deal with any upset in your life.
And then there’s the laser-focus on identity issues. WHILE IMPORTANT, you know what most helps people in these groups fight for their rights? Better working conditions. Better benefits. Better healthcare. Better work-life balance. More time off to organize, more time off to participate in politics, or spend time with family, or do hobbies, or relax, or do anything that might give them solid footing against the ebbs and flows of capital and fight for themselves and their own rights and communities. Not that help from more advantaged people isn’t useful, but when that’s step one instead of step four or five it comes off as a “white man’s burden” approach. Give them the foundation that every working person deserves.
No one’s required to vote for your dog shit, milquetoast party and their old crusty ass kingmakers. And before you start coming at me with the usual stuff, I voted for Harris to buy more time for vulnerable people, leftists, and whatever semblance of free expression and journalism we have left. I sucked it up and put my opinions aside for a bit.
And wow what a fucking waste. How could that party fuck up so bad? Maybe they didn’t pay enough money to political consultants? Surely that’s the reason.
Remember when Trump won the first time and all that “lock her up” bullshit evaporated. He even said nice things about Hillary after he won. Pepperidge farm remembers.
They’re in the same class. They have no skin in the game. Their families and friends aren’t at risk of shit, except for the excruciating decision of what to do with all that privilege they’ve got knowing an ex-President. That golden parachute of the lecture tour and book deals and fundraisers is always gonna be there for any career politician. Biden “tried his best” guys and that’s good enough. Take solace in that as you’re carted off to the blacksite.
None of these fucks are your friends.