Thank you for writing this. Those people failed our country epically (failing to hold that man accountable for January 6th when they had the power to and their abysmal COVID response come to mind) and they continue to. The abandonment from them and “liberals” and adjacent institutions is painfully evident. I completely agree that knowing things would likely lead here does not make actually experiencing it in real-time (especially less than a year in!) any better. We are truly all we’ve got.
Out of what? I’m not being deliberately recalcitrant, but that shit with the Dems trying to blindside their entire constituency with Joe Biden’s infirmity and pressing that woman sans primary for the entire party at the eleventh hour….the thrill is gone, man. Chet Baker all the way. I would be happy to sit and watch and never vote again. [never voted for the right, likely never will]. We deserve everything we have.
The Democrats and elections are a pale imitation of what a real left looks like. Your disillusionment signals not the end but the first steps towards building something new.
Yeah what's frightening, while not surprising, is that we've seen our "opposition" party seek capitulated collaboration with outright fascists over putting up any sort of substantial and material opposition. Liberal Democrats have been bricklayers for generations; consistently failing to lay a foundation for a positive future and instead, offering more grace to the very demons who seek to destroy us over those who seek to build a better world. Marxists have long proclaimed that this was going to be where capitalism's managed decline was going to lead us and that liberal Democrats would be anything but saviors in a crisis they themselves have been instrumental in manufacturing (as you've also spoken to brilliantly in numerous pieces you've written). Still, as you rightfully point out, "“It was always going to end up here” is truly an insufficient balm for the horror of watching it unfold." The only war worth waging is class war and as you astutely noted, only the capitalist class has known this war is being waged and unless we can awaken class consciousness in the American working class (far from an easy feat and much easier said than done), it's a war we stand to lose and for good. "We are the ones who can shut shit down" -- that's the energy this moment requires and is something that all of us need constant reminders of if we have any chance of staving off our literal demise. As always, we must recognize the moment were in (something you help a ton of people see), organize ourselves and as many people as possible into sustainable independent organizations, and mobilize to fight back against the tidal wave of authoritative fascism that seeks to swallow us whole. Keep proclaiming loudly what is happening Scarlet. You always know how to articulate the stakes and severity of any and all horrifying situations we find ourselves in, and it's that very energy that will help us navigate our way out of the crumbling erosion and authoritative fascism of late-stage capitalist decline. Keep that revolutionary fire burning bright; the people continue to be better for it.
Hindsight being 20/20, that was a call to open the gates for the Trojan horse. Democrats sold us out. It’s interesting that now dopes like Ezra Klein are fawning over Charlie Kirk and advocating for running pro life candidates. Probably a month away from running anti immigrant
candidates.
I don’t know that you can put this on individuals to build step by step. I just don’t see a way to claw out of this. I reference this often but in the USSR, nobody could imagine it ending until it did. And it was worse when it ended. What comes next will always be worse than what came before.
"In 2016 and 2020, the main pitch from the Democratic Party was along the lines of “we won’t address your material conditions, your economic stress, your financial ruin, but hey we promise to protect the girls and the gays. We promise to protect multicultural democracy. You can count on that”. In 2024 Harris ran a campaign that threw at least some of this out, promising to out-Trump Trump on the border and promising the “most lethal military" in the world while holding steadfastly to their commitment to genocide. In 2025 its women’s rights on the chopping block too, as they also capitulate to anti-trans hysteria. The pitch went from “we’ll at least protect you on social issues” to “ok no we won’t but we will manage your obliteration more responsibly”. Needless to say this message won’t win. And that is in the very unlikely scenario that elections remain free and fair (as imperfect as that was in a managed democracy)."
Well said! Poor white folks with two teeth on their mouth and a sock to their name will be okay with nothing as long as they’re told “at least your white”. Shaking the class consciousness in people and having them realize black people aren’t the reason you can’t afford dialysis is easier said than done, but it’s the only way out
This is definitely not the time to abandon the fight in Democratic primaries. The situation has never been more amenable to more gains. The fantasy that we won’t have elections is a drain on a crucial part of the fight.
No Marxism is needed to resist tyranny. We need to unite against fascism like the Spanish anti fascists did in the 1930s . But this time we will win 🥇😎
Thank you for writing this. Those people failed our country epically (failing to hold that man accountable for January 6th when they had the power to and their abysmal COVID response come to mind) and they continue to. The abandonment from them and “liberals” and adjacent institutions is painfully evident. I completely agree that knowing things would likely lead here does not make actually experiencing it in real-time (especially less than a year in!) any better. We are truly all we’ve got.
No one is coming to save us but us.
That shit troubles me mightily. Solidarity has fractured so badly the bone likely cannot be reset. What then now?
Build a left where people find belonging again
Out of what? I’m not being deliberately recalcitrant, but that shit with the Dems trying to blindside their entire constituency with Joe Biden’s infirmity and pressing that woman sans primary for the entire party at the eleventh hour….the thrill is gone, man. Chet Baker all the way. I would be happy to sit and watch and never vote again. [never voted for the right, likely never will]. We deserve everything we have.
The Democrats and elections are a pale imitation of what a real left looks like. Your disillusionment signals not the end but the first steps towards building something new.
Oh, agreed. Here’s hoping, anyway. Keep on and godspeed! +1
No point in appeasing the right anymore. Real progressives need to resist without apology or compromise. The right only deals in bad faith 😳
Yeah what's frightening, while not surprising, is that we've seen our "opposition" party seek capitulated collaboration with outright fascists over putting up any sort of substantial and material opposition. Liberal Democrats have been bricklayers for generations; consistently failing to lay a foundation for a positive future and instead, offering more grace to the very demons who seek to destroy us over those who seek to build a better world. Marxists have long proclaimed that this was going to be where capitalism's managed decline was going to lead us and that liberal Democrats would be anything but saviors in a crisis they themselves have been instrumental in manufacturing (as you've also spoken to brilliantly in numerous pieces you've written). Still, as you rightfully point out, "“It was always going to end up here” is truly an insufficient balm for the horror of watching it unfold." The only war worth waging is class war and as you astutely noted, only the capitalist class has known this war is being waged and unless we can awaken class consciousness in the American working class (far from an easy feat and much easier said than done), it's a war we stand to lose and for good. "We are the ones who can shut shit down" -- that's the energy this moment requires and is something that all of us need constant reminders of if we have any chance of staving off our literal demise. As always, we must recognize the moment were in (something you help a ton of people see), organize ourselves and as many people as possible into sustainable independent organizations, and mobilize to fight back against the tidal wave of authoritative fascism that seeks to swallow us whole. Keep proclaiming loudly what is happening Scarlet. You always know how to articulate the stakes and severity of any and all horrifying situations we find ourselves in, and it's that very energy that will help us navigate our way out of the crumbling erosion and authoritative fascism of late-stage capitalist decline. Keep that revolutionary fire burning bright; the people continue to be better for it.
“When they go low, we go high.”
Hindsight being 20/20, that was a call to open the gates for the Trojan horse. Democrats sold us out. It’s interesting that now dopes like Ezra Klein are fawning over Charlie Kirk and advocating for running pro life candidates. Probably a month away from running anti immigrant
candidates.
I don’t know that you can put this on individuals to build step by step. I just don’t see a way to claw out of this. I reference this often but in the USSR, nobody could imagine it ending until it did. And it was worse when it ended. What comes next will always be worse than what came before.
"In 2016 and 2020, the main pitch from the Democratic Party was along the lines of “we won’t address your material conditions, your economic stress, your financial ruin, but hey we promise to protect the girls and the gays. We promise to protect multicultural democracy. You can count on that”. In 2024 Harris ran a campaign that threw at least some of this out, promising to out-Trump Trump on the border and promising the “most lethal military" in the world while holding steadfastly to their commitment to genocide. In 2025 its women’s rights on the chopping block too, as they also capitulate to anti-trans hysteria. The pitch went from “we’ll at least protect you on social issues” to “ok no we won’t but we will manage your obliteration more responsibly”. Needless to say this message won’t win. And that is in the very unlikely scenario that elections remain free and fair (as imperfect as that was in a managed democracy)."
*subscribes instantly*
Well said! Poor white folks with two teeth on their mouth and a sock to their name will be okay with nothing as long as they’re told “at least your white”. Shaking the class consciousness in people and having them realize black people aren’t the reason you can’t afford dialysis is easier said than done, but it’s the only way out
This is definitely not the time to abandon the fight in Democratic primaries. The situation has never been more amenable to more gains. The fantasy that we won’t have elections is a drain on a crucial part of the fight.
No Marxism is needed to resist tyranny. We need to unite against fascism like the Spanish anti fascists did in the 1930s . But this time we will win 🥇😎