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#progressivism

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>>The fastest way to grasp the inherent flaws of a politics rooted in racial and ethnic categorization is to have it weaponized by one’s political enemies.<<

nytimes.com/2025/07/08/opinion

Part of me sympathizes with Thomas Chatterton Williams in his dislike of identity politics. I too would rather see a focus in US progressive politics on tangible gains for all, such as Medicare For All.

Yet TCW does not pay sufficient attention in this column to two drivers of identity politics.

The first is history. Racialized politics existed in North America long before the United States came into existence; read, for example, about the 1675/6 Bacon's Rebellion in Virginia and its aftermath. As a result of this long history of racialized politics, the structures of wealth and power in the USA are racialized too, and the adoption of the "universalist" non-racial policies will not be able to remedy these structural injustices. Recognition of this truth partially explains the "grip" race and identity have on his students and many other Americans beyond the classroom.

The second factor TCW does not address lies in the present. Aside from encounters with explicit racism, the experience of everyday life in the USA of navigating school, work, relationships, consumption, dealings with officialdom, transport , and health care, can be perplexing, frustrating, and frightening, especially for members of minorities who do not enjoy TCW's education and socioeconomic status. For many, in a society filled with traps, scams, exploitation, disinformation, misinformation, and general confusion, answering the questions "Who can I trust? Who gets what's happening to me?" is a must. Race and ethnic identity will almost certainly figure in the answers. One should hardly be surprised if this pattern from everyday life is repeated in politics. For many members of minorities in the USA, racial identity is not a choice of politics but a condition of survival.

I don't know what sort of politics can best address the historical factor of baked in racial inequity, nor do I expect the nonracial policy measures I favour to work a swift miracle of interracial trust. I am not that Brit who thinks that Americans are simply too stupid or benighted to deal with their social and political problems.

Yet I am fairly sure that simply lecturing the young about the virtues of liberal universalism and the vices of identity politics is unlikely to make much headway, however much I might sympathize with the underlying sentiment.

I don't have a solution to the problems of progressive politics in the USA up my sleeve. All I can do is hope for the success of the Sanders/AOC/Mamdani current and protest against the outrages perpetrated by current administration.

The New York Times · Opinion | The Grip That Race and Identity Have on My StudentsBy Thomas Chatterton Williams

Dealing with the effects of climate change by causing more of it is short-sighted, irrational, negligent, and immoral. Le Pen and her ilk can go get stuffed.
#climatechange #environment #extremeheat #politics #progressivism

Europe’s heatwave moves east as row erupts in France over air conditioning | The Guardian

theguardian.com/world/2025/jul

The Guardian · Europe’s heatwave moves east as row erupts in France over air conditioningBy Angelique Chrisafis

[P] I swear, the older I get, the more I identify with leftists. I've heard so much that it's supposed to be the other way around, but I suspect this is to do with autism and "moral rigidity" (a euphemism for having even the scantest infiniteismal iota of scruples, moral agency, and Universal empathy, which neurotypicals seem to lack in the most literally absolute sense I've ever witnessed).

What Sarah McBride says about progressive purism and maximalist rhetoric deserves careful consideration.

I was moved when she spoke of her personal and family history and surprised to learn that she is a Presbyterian elder.

Although the discussion lasts over an hour and a half, it doesn't drag and is worth your time

Sarah McBride on Why the Left Lost on Trans Rights | The Ezra Klein Show
youtu.be/KlbNFsAGFRc?si=yZ_rAz

youtu.be- YouTubeEnjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
Replied in thread

@forza4galicia

Judicial violence is violence and extremism.

So we agree! 🤙🏾

Progressivism is not ‘far’ from left, and, even

What are the similarities between #Progressivism and #Liberalism? In terms of public policy positions.

True self defense, like in real proequitativeness (that is really the objective of what you call ‘left’) is never extremism.

What sort of violence is this? Like murdering a CEO or some politicians?

But violence in order to remain slavery in the rest of population like do ‘right’ (=elitism=fascism=nazism) is what is really extremism.

What are you defining as slavery in this scenario? Back in the days prior to the #CivilWar? Well, war is not extra judicial violence, as I understand it.

social.teci.worldTECI Social
Replied in thread
@forza4galicia @midway @GrumpyRabbit

Fair enough.

#Progressivism is far left, and any left wing (or right wing) ideology that supports or excuses extrajudicial violence to a broad degree is most certainly extremism. Typically you will see this in left wing #anarchism or right wing #nationalism.

I call certain ideologies "far" because of their relative isolation from other ideologies. #Nationalism is quite a bit different than #Conservatism, and #Progessivism is quite a bit different than #Liberalism.

If you go online, it looks like the far left is generally identified by opposing #capitalism. Not sure that I agree with that categorization, I don't think it's extreme to oppose #capitalism if you support a #MixedEconomy, but there is a lot of overlap between #progressivism and support for #Marxism, #socialism, #communism, etc. so there's still a lot of overlap between my position and the general public's perception.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far-left_politics?wprov=sfla1
en.wikipedia.orgFar-left politics - Wikipedia

A quotation from Teddy Roosevelt

No man can be a good citizen unless he has a wage more than sufficient to cover the bare cost of living, and hours of labor short enough so that after his day’s work is done he will have time and energy to bear his share in the management of the community, to help in carrying the general load. We keep countless men from being good citizens by the conditions of life with which we surround them.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) American politician, statesman, conservationist, writer, US President (1901-1909)
Speech (1910-08-31), “The New Nationalism,” John Brown Memorial Park dedication, Osawatomie, Kansas

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/roosevelt-theodore/1…

A quotation from Teddy Roosevelt

Those who oppose all reform will do well to remember that ruin in its worst form is inevitable if our national life brings us nothing better than swollen fortunes for the few and the triumph in both politics and business of a sordid and selfish materialism.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) American politician, statesman, conservationist, writer, US President (1901-1909)
Speech (1910-08-31), “The New Nationalism,” Osawatomie, Kansas

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/roosevelt-theodore/3…