The other side of Bernie or bust was 'we can pull Biden left'. This idea that it's ok to bide our time because eventually we can get things lined up better. I think there is some truth to it, I mean he freed Leonard Peltier, somebody must have gotten through to him. and who knows how much of the beneficial changes to labor policy came from activism from the left.
On some of the most important issues though, we couldn't pull him (or Congress, in more ways) left. we didn't get minimum wage increased, no major healthcare changes, COVID was memory holed instead of being solved. I think that line between hope and disengagement is valid, and we don't do ourselves any good to act like it isn't. If people no longer believe they can pull you left, they will not vote for you. At some point, the marginal benefits aren't enough for them. Gaza was that catalyst for a lot of people, they felt like they couldn't abide that, and they didn't have hope that their vote would encourage Biden to listen. If that's the sense that you're fostering in your base, you will lose. As a politician, you have to impress your voters somehow. You just have to.
=> More informations about this toot | View the thread | More toots from smitten@key.portend.place
text/geminiThis content has been proxied by September (3851b).