Reply #384: Becoming skilled at focus [View All]

[PATRICK]

Back in 2000 even Zell Miller was important to crafting some bulwark against the horrors since unleashed. Despair and defeat freed many to want to take those miserable impure heads but that did not help the focus of the problem at all. In fact it "freed" Miller to fully join the Dark Side.

Although whether we lose by two or twenty-two votes seems irrelevant, part of building for the future means using what you have today. Our focus for real activism should be new grass roots and new leaders and a new political landscape while remembering it is a crime situation we are dealing with as much as a "hearts and minds" political discussion. If the old chaff seems ripe for burning it is also irrelevant and harmful to do recklessly. The real focus is rightly on the grass roots so that when Rep. X or Sen. So and so imperiously descends to be renominated there is no blank check or assured renomination meekly waiting for them, no cringing before name recognition and money. Gradually better and more fit representation can be raised. Other than revenge or fear of progressive weakness what can be gained by trashing the remnants of the DLC retreat?

In fact, examining the voting records and basic sincerity and competence of Dems in general one must reluctantly(even fearfully) admit that most of our worst are qualitatively light years ahead of their "best", at least when the votes are counted on critical measures.
In this instance one can quickly see that it is the system failure that counts, not dressing up the good guys in shinier white that counts. Historically infighting is more vicious than attacking one's real enemies and is incredibly self-defeating.

Here at DU, ultimately, the masses are becoming better at getting to the best focus and self-criticism. It is the only way to counter the delusions fluttering around our eyes and is the best building stone for democracy. As for other arguments, they are becoming superseded by crises that will not await long term rebuilding and scorched earth idealism.