Great write-up! I am now subscribed to the stack! I think you're definitely onto something that I'm not seeing talked about much with the authenticity axis specifically being the trait that characterizes people's apathy towards the current democratic party. As much as I wish it was more about progressive politics, the reason we get AOC-Trump voters is probably more to do with the authenticity angle (while it's true that Biden could have done a lot more and a lot more boldly, he was still the most progressive president we've had in decades, especially early in his term).
One thing that I think is related to the competition for attention is the decades-long shrinking of the middle class through the neoliberal era (which I agree is closing/evolving now into something new). When more voters spend more of their time working multiple jobs and fretting about money, paying rent, etc, they have even less time to spend following the news/politics (probably a contributing factor as to why influencers/podcasters are so appealing - it's bite-sized news that is consumable within the time frame people have to invest into politics). I don't know how democrats combat this, but I agree it's not about needing a "Rogan on the left". The authenticity angle is perhaps a key component to this and sort of what you're getting at towards the end. Be bold, be genuine, and come across as a real human person rather than as a robotic representative of an old and perhaps dying form of politics.
I haven't read it yet, but you might be interested in a book that a colleague of mine through union organizing recently published at the end of his phd: "Make Your Own Job: How the Entrepreneurial Work Ethic Exhausted America" https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674293601
So I wrote like four different versions of this post before I published it, and the first one was called "The Authenticity Gap" haha. It's very important! But difficult to measure. It's a vibe, as they say. I definitely think AOC has a decent chance at being president someday, even though she's considered too left-leaning by many. She understands the power of authenticity and attention, even better than other Squad members or younger politicians.
Agreed to the shifting economy and class divisions. On top of that, email and cell phones have allowed work to creep into our personal lives. It creates time constraints, but also prevents us from truly unwinding.
...which also feeds into the cultural pressure to always be grinding, so that's an interesting book recommendation! That's something the internet has definitely supercharged too. I think it's funny how many "productivity" social media accounts give advice that basically only applies to being an internet influencer. It's almost a pyramid scheme, in that way. If I ever feel like writing a non-political post, that's definitely a topic I'd love to explore.
Well written. Another excellent summary of current political events. However, in 2016, the democrats should have realized two things: 1. Women may be elected to leadership roles, (VP,Senate), but many will never vote for a woman President. 2016, and 2024 examples. 2. Clearly 30% of the population are like trump and his maga . Don't be misled by polls, they are clearly his flock. Democrats needed, especially Pres. Biden to embrace the powers the Supremes gave to president,and used thewm. In this he failed, and we are where we are now. Mid terms may prove critical to whether we have a democracy, or just a dictator that has no rerspect for anything, or anyone.
For better or worse, I think the first female president is more likely to be a Republican than a Democrat. You're right, a lot of people simply won't vote for a woman (whether that's a conscious or unconscious bias). On top of that, there is an internal assumption with a lot of voters that "female candidate = more liberal."
Biden seemed to want to have it two ways. Let's move on from Trump and return to normal, but also, let the legal process slowly play out in the background and save democracy. If he truly wanted to convey the threat to the American people, he should have pushed for more swift legal action.
He was from a previous time in politics where doing the right thing was foremost, and politics second. From day one, he should have pushed his powers as far as necessary. Biden should have , by Ex Oder, enacted the border deal the maga gop left off the table.
We elected an African American, twice. We lost with a woman candidate , twice. Clear where the bias is. Democrats need to get tough, and play like the maga cult, or continue to lose elections.
It does seem like a lot of media figures are pushing Newsom. I'll grant that he's good on TV — I suppose the unspoken deal is, come on our show and we'll mention you as a possible presidential candidate — but otherwise, I'd say he's the exact opposite of what I think voters are looking for. He definitely got an inflated ego from the defeated recall attempt here in California.
Great write-up! I am now subscribed to the stack! I think you're definitely onto something that I'm not seeing talked about much with the authenticity axis specifically being the trait that characterizes people's apathy towards the current democratic party. As much as I wish it was more about progressive politics, the reason we get AOC-Trump voters is probably more to do with the authenticity angle (while it's true that Biden could have done a lot more and a lot more boldly, he was still the most progressive president we've had in decades, especially early in his term).
One thing that I think is related to the competition for attention is the decades-long shrinking of the middle class through the neoliberal era (which I agree is closing/evolving now into something new). When more voters spend more of their time working multiple jobs and fretting about money, paying rent, etc, they have even less time to spend following the news/politics (probably a contributing factor as to why influencers/podcasters are so appealing - it's bite-sized news that is consumable within the time frame people have to invest into politics). I don't know how democrats combat this, but I agree it's not about needing a "Rogan on the left". The authenticity angle is perhaps a key component to this and sort of what you're getting at towards the end. Be bold, be genuine, and come across as a real human person rather than as a robotic representative of an old and perhaps dying form of politics.
I haven't read it yet, but you might be interested in a book that a colleague of mine through union organizing recently published at the end of his phd: "Make Your Own Job: How the Entrepreneurial Work Ethic Exhausted America" https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674293601
So I wrote like four different versions of this post before I published it, and the first one was called "The Authenticity Gap" haha. It's very important! But difficult to measure. It's a vibe, as they say. I definitely think AOC has a decent chance at being president someday, even though she's considered too left-leaning by many. She understands the power of authenticity and attention, even better than other Squad members or younger politicians.
Agreed to the shifting economy and class divisions. On top of that, email and cell phones have allowed work to creep into our personal lives. It creates time constraints, but also prevents us from truly unwinding.
...which also feeds into the cultural pressure to always be grinding, so that's an interesting book recommendation! That's something the internet has definitely supercharged too. I think it's funny how many "productivity" social media accounts give advice that basically only applies to being an internet influencer. It's almost a pyramid scheme, in that way. If I ever feel like writing a non-political post, that's definitely a topic I'd love to explore.
Well written. Another excellent summary of current political events. However, in 2016, the democrats should have realized two things: 1. Women may be elected to leadership roles, (VP,Senate), but many will never vote for a woman President. 2016, and 2024 examples. 2. Clearly 30% of the population are like trump and his maga . Don't be misled by polls, they are clearly his flock. Democrats needed, especially Pres. Biden to embrace the powers the Supremes gave to president,and used thewm. In this he failed, and we are where we are now. Mid terms may prove critical to whether we have a democracy, or just a dictator that has no rerspect for anything, or anyone.
For better or worse, I think the first female president is more likely to be a Republican than a Democrat. You're right, a lot of people simply won't vote for a woman (whether that's a conscious or unconscious bias). On top of that, there is an internal assumption with a lot of voters that "female candidate = more liberal."
Biden seemed to want to have it two ways. Let's move on from Trump and return to normal, but also, let the legal process slowly play out in the background and save democracy. If he truly wanted to convey the threat to the American people, he should have pushed for more swift legal action.
He was from a previous time in politics where doing the right thing was foremost, and politics second. From day one, he should have pushed his powers as far as necessary. Biden should have , by Ex Oder, enacted the border deal the maga gop left off the table.
We elected an African American, twice. We lost with a woman candidate , twice. Clear where the bias is. Democrats need to get tough, and play like the maga cult, or continue to lose elections.
It does seem like a lot of media figures are pushing Newsom. I'll grant that he's good on TV — I suppose the unspoken deal is, come on our show and we'll mention you as a possible presidential candidate — but otherwise, I'd say he's the exact opposite of what I think voters are looking for. He definitely got an inflated ego from the defeated recall attempt here in California.