the left

On the Necessity of Humility in Politics

On KPFA's "Flashpoints" last night, the nice liberal host was prompting the nice liberal guests to say something about what items of progress they think they can expect under a Biden administration. I don't remember who was talking -- I was listening to the radio while driving home from an afternoon hike. Anyway, here's what I think the nice liberal guests on "Flashpoints" can expect:

To some extent we probably all share the frustration

We've all been driven into the political wilderness by recent events, but it's been coming a long time. At least since Dwight D. Eisenhower gave his most important and most famous speech on Jan. 17, 1961.

“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists, and will persist.”

Should the Green Party be replaced?

It's beginning to look unlikely that Jill Stein will merit 5% of the vote this year. This reality shouldn't keep us from trying, though. The question on my mind, however, is one of whether or not the Green Party needs to be replaced with some other party, or a new party, capable of challenging the Democratic Party in the election cycles ahead.

Plan B? The Ace Card up our sleeve

“Taken” ... great film, love Liam Neeson etc, there's a scene in that movie that has stayed with me, it echoes in a back room of my brain all. the. time. and tends to get a little louder whenever the mechanisms of The Machine appear to be more overwhelming than usual. (so, ya know, every other day!)