It is better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it. - Eugene V. Debs
The following was what what I was thinking every time David Plouffe opened his mouth on the most recent Jon Stewart podcast:
“After determining these beliefs, they then put on their Amateur Strategist hat and proceed to imagine why all of the things that they would like to see are not in fact possible (because of, you know, swing voters and such). Then they feed their actual beliefs into their own—purely imaginary!—Machine of Political Strategy, which spits out a blander and more watered down version of those beliefs, which they believe is more palatable, more politically possible. Then they start their fight with a goal that is half of the goal that they would actually like to achieve, in their hearts. Thus their initial political ask is less of what they want and more of what their enemies want. In the name of being savvy and strategic, they have successfully negotiated against themselves.”
It may be obvious, but not obvious enough for the left in all western countries to be doing this. Third way progressivism has done nothing but disempower our cause, and should be thrown in the trash.
We all need to start speaking up for what we want, and forget about branding.
Among Mamdani's many, MANY remarkable accomplishments is one that has for the most part bedeviled Democrats for decades: chronically low turnout among voters under 30.
Not this time. What Mamdani proved is that Gen Z CAN be far more incentivized to vote – assuming they can choose a candidate seeking truly transformative change.
I can only hope the Democrats learn their lesson this time around, particularly given the appalling Islamophobia even Cuomo leaned into one he realized he'd be getting an ass-whooping from a non-elite half his age. Dismissing it as some sort of "outer-borough hipster one-off win" would be a grave error.
Yes, this calculus should ABSOLUTELY go into their thinking for 2028 presidential candidates.
Your focus on labor is how you practice what you preach. I share this passion, and thought to grow the group of voters who should consider work politics the bedrock of political influence to those who cannot engage in the blue collar union movement by calling ourselves the Paycheck Party. This started long before the Tea Party. Yet the Tea Party proved that such a self identification could make sense to people. Still, the intense and almost vitriolic rejection of the idea on the part of those I thought would be allies showed me that your appraisal of political junkies is absolutely correct. Nobody wanted to believe passionately in my approach to changing the political discourse from the never ending fighting over moral social issues like gun control, sexism, religious issues and other divisive topics to simple Paycheck needs like my idea to expand the minimum wage to include healthcare, pensions, vacations, severance pay, and protection from arbitrary dismissals of all kinds. Such concerns unite us! I cried. It’ll never happen. The wise men replied.
Yep. No politics but class politics. Until we build a working class (99%) coalition in sufficient size to scare the oligarchs, we’re pissing in the wind. But that coalition is out there, just waiting for the right spark.
I always appreciate the practical call to action that accompanies many of these posts. I haven’t been able to find the attribution, but I came across a quote awhile ago, something like, “The great revolutionary trait is not passion but endurance”
Thank you for tending the flame with continued exhortation and encouragement.
“The only kinds of fights worth fighting are those you are going to lose, because somebody has to fight them and lose and lose and lose until someday, somebody who believes as you do wins. In order for somebody to win an important, major fight 100 years hence, a lot of other people have got to be willing — for the sheer fun and joy of it — to go right ahead and fight, knowing you’re going to lose. You mustn’t feel like a martyr. You’ve got to enjoy it.” - I.F. Stone
This....The model of the 'Happy Warrior' is existentially essential...You cannot win a fight that is nothing but an endless miserable slog. Its all about human connection and working with other people.
I love this. Your simple message to "get off the fence, and drive to make your beliefs real in the world" is a balm to our current state of micro-analysis that ultimately guarantees stalemates. Very well put. Thanks!
This is so, so good, so well-reasoned and succinct. Wish I'd seen advice this clear many decades ago. Fortunately I am not dead yet, so it is not too late to apply it! Time to get it sorted and fight for it as I still can!
The internet used to be good for organizing. It still can be. But I do worry that the purity culture on social media has made people think they have to organize/protest "the right way." I'm guilty of this as well, both thinking it and perpetuating it.
Too many people are afraid to be wrong. More so than they're afraid to fail. That has to stop.
See if other orgs are organizing around what you are passionate about and find out how you can get involved. Or if there is nothing, see how you can build community.
A good organizer can distinguish good faith from bad faith. They can tell what is healthy tension that must be introduced and what is garbage that distracts from the goal. Find those people and learn from them.
Great piece. In fact, the writing practices the message.
I’m certain many other subscribers like me follow because Hamilton believes what he writes - he’s not avoiding any sort of reaction or softening the message to appeal to some mythical persona who doesn’t exist. It makes this blog one of my favorites to read and follow and worth paying for!
I tend to believe people seek out authenticity and it’s my hope that Mamdani is an exhibit. Sure, he may fail, but not trying is far worse than failing, and that’s true for all of us.
It is better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it. - Eugene V. Debs
The following was what what I was thinking every time David Plouffe opened his mouth on the most recent Jon Stewart podcast:
“After determining these beliefs, they then put on their Amateur Strategist hat and proceed to imagine why all of the things that they would like to see are not in fact possible (because of, you know, swing voters and such). Then they feed their actual beliefs into their own—purely imaginary!—Machine of Political Strategy, which spits out a blander and more watered down version of those beliefs, which they believe is more palatable, more politically possible. Then they start their fight with a goal that is half of the goal that they would actually like to achieve, in their hearts. Thus their initial political ask is less of what they want and more of what their enemies want. In the name of being savvy and strategic, they have successfully negotiated against themselves.”
Nailed it.
Thanks for this important post, Hamilton.
It may be obvious, but not obvious enough for the left in all western countries to be doing this. Third way progressivism has done nothing but disempower our cause, and should be thrown in the trash.
We all need to start speaking up for what we want, and forget about branding.
Among Mamdani's many, MANY remarkable accomplishments is one that has for the most part bedeviled Democrats for decades: chronically low turnout among voters under 30.
Not this time. What Mamdani proved is that Gen Z CAN be far more incentivized to vote – assuming they can choose a candidate seeking truly transformative change.
I can only hope the Democrats learn their lesson this time around, particularly given the appalling Islamophobia even Cuomo leaned into one he realized he'd be getting an ass-whooping from a non-elite half his age. Dismissing it as some sort of "outer-borough hipster one-off win" would be a grave error.
Yes, this calculus should ABSOLUTELY go into their thinking for 2028 presidential candidates.
The fresh air of authenticity is invigorating, while the stale air of triangulation makes the eyes heavy. Thanks for another excellent article.
Brilliant! You always inspire me to hope and want to push forward to a better future
Your focus on labor is how you practice what you preach. I share this passion, and thought to grow the group of voters who should consider work politics the bedrock of political influence to those who cannot engage in the blue collar union movement by calling ourselves the Paycheck Party. This started long before the Tea Party. Yet the Tea Party proved that such a self identification could make sense to people. Still, the intense and almost vitriolic rejection of the idea on the part of those I thought would be allies showed me that your appraisal of political junkies is absolutely correct. Nobody wanted to believe passionately in my approach to changing the political discourse from the never ending fighting over moral social issues like gun control, sexism, religious issues and other divisive topics to simple Paycheck needs like my idea to expand the minimum wage to include healthcare, pensions, vacations, severance pay, and protection from arbitrary dismissals of all kinds. Such concerns unite us! I cried. It’ll never happen. The wise men replied.
Yep. No politics but class politics. Until we build a working class (99%) coalition in sufficient size to scare the oligarchs, we’re pissing in the wind. But that coalition is out there, just waiting for the right spark.
“In the name of being savvy and strategic, they have successfully negotiated against themselves.”
Precisely!
I always appreciate the practical call to action that accompanies many of these posts. I haven’t been able to find the attribution, but I came across a quote awhile ago, something like, “The great revolutionary trait is not passion but endurance”
Thank you for tending the flame with continued exhortation and encouragement.
On the subject of endurance:
“The only kinds of fights worth fighting are those you are going to lose, because somebody has to fight them and lose and lose and lose until someday, somebody who believes as you do wins. In order for somebody to win an important, major fight 100 years hence, a lot of other people have got to be willing — for the sheer fun and joy of it — to go right ahead and fight, knowing you’re going to lose. You mustn’t feel like a martyr. You’ve got to enjoy it.” - I.F. Stone
This....The model of the 'Happy Warrior' is existentially essential...You cannot win a fight that is nothing but an endless miserable slog. Its all about human connection and working with other people.
I love this. Your simple message to "get off the fence, and drive to make your beliefs real in the world" is a balm to our current state of micro-analysis that ultimately guarantees stalemates. Very well put. Thanks!
This is so, so good, so well-reasoned and succinct. Wish I'd seen advice this clear many decades ago. Fortunately I am not dead yet, so it is not too late to apply it! Time to get it sorted and fight for it as I still can!
I love this so much.
The internet used to be good for organizing. It still can be. But I do worry that the purity culture on social media has made people think they have to organize/protest "the right way." I'm guilty of this as well, both thinking it and perpetuating it.
Too many people are afraid to be wrong. More so than they're afraid to fail. That has to stop.
See if other orgs are organizing around what you are passionate about and find out how you can get involved. Or if there is nothing, see how you can build community.
A good organizer can distinguish good faith from bad faith. They can tell what is healthy tension that must be introduced and what is garbage that distracts from the goal. Find those people and learn from them.
I hope you can somehow get this message in front of Chuck Schumer.
:-)
As ever, I am so grateful for your writing HamNo. This was exhilarating and centering to read.
Hamilton Nolan continues to get it. Something is right with the world. +1
Dang HamNo, between this blog, In These Times, and your other freelance endeavors, take a dang break!
Note this does not apply to Jaguars Junction.
No one who ascends past, like, level one in Democratic politics believes in anything... so this one is over before it started, I'm afraid.
Great piece. In fact, the writing practices the message.
I’m certain many other subscribers like me follow because Hamilton believes what he writes - he’s not avoiding any sort of reaction or softening the message to appeal to some mythical persona who doesn’t exist. It makes this blog one of my favorites to read and follow and worth paying for!
I tend to believe people seek out authenticity and it’s my hope that Mamdani is an exhibit. Sure, he may fail, but not trying is far worse than failing, and that’s true for all of us.