Hey team, I want to say something about @Ocasio2018 and the #GreenNewDeal.
Standing behind her, her allies and this movement is a moment of truth for climate politics in America.
Standing behind her, her allies and this movement is a moment of truth for climate politics in America.
2. If you're middle-aged or older, and a jaded veteran of climate politics, you may well think the odds of getting #GreenNewDeal legislation passed in the next couple years are low.
You're not wrong.
But that's not what this fight is about now.
You're not wrong.
But that's not what this fight is about now.
3. This fight is now about proving whether there is or is not a political constituency for climate action in America.
And, while a freshman representative and her pursuit of #GreenNewDeal might not be the hill where you want to take your stand, it's where the fight's going down.
And, while a freshman representative and her pursuit of #GreenNewDeal might not be the hill where you want to take your stand, it's where the fight's going down.
4. The battle's being fought there for the simple reason that it is there that many in the media, the opposition and the Democratic Party itself have decided to make clear what they think of the climate movement's importance: Namely, not friggin' much.
5. Over the last few weeks, we've seen a growing number of efforts to discount not just the seriousness of #GreenNewDeal legislation, but the likelihood of any real climate action, and change in the political status quo of platitudes and predatory delay.
6. The DC buzz has cohered around Ocasio-Cortez's inexperience and the movement's powerlessness.
They've set up a situation where those of us who care about climate policy in America cannot afford to treat the demand for a #greennewdeal with anything less than full seriousness.
They've set up a situation where those of us who care about climate policy in America cannot afford to treat the demand for a #greennewdeal with anything less than full seriousness.
7. Because how this fight goes down is going to send a big signal about how the climate fight will play out in the 2020 election, and for elections to follow. It matters.
8. The patronizing, dismissive responses of Beltway insiders to this demand for real action (to any demand for real action, no matter how perfect, proven+ popular) is itself perhaps the major challenge for climate action in America.
There's only one way to change this: Get loud.
There's only one way to change this: Get loud.
9. Get loud about the need for big, rapid, disruptive climate action everywhere you can. Make the demand for climate speed and justice the topic. Debate the #greennewdeal, and what it should look like. Support bold youth advocacy, like the @sunrisemvmt and #schoolstrike4climate.
10. Because we are not going to be magically granted the power to save the world on a breakneck timeline by being more patient and more polite.
We're going to make that power by fighting back in situations like this.
Make it cost something to dismiss climate action this way.
We're going to make that power by fighting back in situations like this.
Make it cost something to dismiss climate action this way.
Without comment:
