2024-11-06

Further random (and probably not well-organized) thoughts from today.

First...

Grieving. A lot of people have written about that - and they're probably right - so I'm not going to. Anger, depression, fear: same, same, same.

If Harris had won...

If Harris had won I would have felt a lot of relief.

"Hoo-ee, dodged that one! Coulda been so bad!"

So would a lot of other people. You know, like we did when Biden won:

"I'm so glad Biden won! Now we can just carry on because we have solved all the problems! The fascist insurrectionists will just slink away into the woodwork and we'll never have to think about them again!"

Uh... yeah. Not sure anyone actually said - or even thought - that but I think a lot of us acted that way. How did that work out?

I am absolutely NOT saying that it's a good thing that Harris lost so now we'll get serious about fixing our crap. No. I'm not saying that at all! Remember, he won in 2016 and we only fixed our crap well enough - just *barely** well enough* - to beat him in 2020.

What could I have done? Could I have done more?

Well, I voted. That's a start. I've long believed that my "identity" is not tied to a political party or movement. But I do willingly claim "voter" as a piece of my identity. I don't have records to prove it but I believe that I have voted in every election since I've been eligible. Regardless, I'm beginning to think that voting is the least I can do. And that's not good enough. Not to mention that some of the fascist's rhetoric, SCOTUS hard-maga swing, and some of Project 2025's plans lead me to believe that they'll be weakening the effect that voting can have as shown in Orban's Hungary.

Donate money? Tell me: How much would I have to give to have made a difference? I have a real problem with money in elections and money-as-free-speech but I'll save that for different SCOTUS rant.

Savior needed, apply within

Generally, I'm not a self-flagellating or self-guilt-tripping kind of person. I'm also not one to believe that the hero's quest is anything but an inspirational myth and fiction trope. I do know that the white savior complex is a thing, though.

Once we can purge the idea that a single person (traditionally a straight cis white dude) can totally beat the bad guy if only he believes in himself (and has a magic sword or prophecy or something), we'll be a step closer to realizing that networks of networks and communities of communities is our way toward a sustainable and egalitarian future.

What next?

As I pointed out in my prior post, the white demographic is where we need to focus our efforts. So let's not talk about how to get "the minorities" to vote harder for Democrats. Let's talk to white people about that.

Also, it's gotta be white people doing that talking. Can't offload that emotional labor and pain (and, frankly, danger) to black people, indigenous people, other people of color, immigrants, trans people, gay, lesbian, or bisexual people or any other marginalized and subjugated people not to mention all the intersections of the aforementioned.

That said, we do need to work on preventing voter suppression and racial gerrymandering. Unfortunately, SCOTUS made that a lot harder when they gutted the voting rights act in the Shelby case in 2013. And the christianist nationalists, white supremacists, and their billionaire backers capitalized on it.

What do I want?

I want a world-wide effort to solve problems and mitigate risks. The goals can't just be to win elections for "our people". It needs to be bigger than that. Here's my rough and off-the-cuff thoughts:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• End fossil fuel prospecting and mining
• Find replacements for major GHG-producing industries (cement, steel, etc.)
• Distribute power generation, transmission, and storage with low or no GHG
• Eradicate capitalism - no one gets to be a billionaire
• End corporate "personhood"
• Eradicate poverty for everyone: sufficient drinking water, food, health care, clothing, and housing for every human being
• Eradicate state violence
• Build climate change resilience for everyone

First, note that these are not national goals, they are world-wide goals. These are not in priority order - that would lead to fruitless arguments. I think these - and ones I haven't thought of yet - all have to be done by the people that are most passionate about them. Pick the ones you're passionate about and do them while supporting others who are working on their priorities. After all, they - and we - are all interconnected.

Resources will always be in short supply. Share them.

Be willing to learn that you've been wrong about things. You likely have been.

Learn about harms you can and have caused. Work to not repeat them and seek to repair the harms. (This is one of my biggest challenges.)

Are these goals "reasonable"? Realistic? Achievable? I think these questions serve the status quo, not the goals we're trying to achieve. They serve the plutocrats holed up in their bunkers holding onto the power that lets them rule the world.