Systems of power have self-reinforcing mechanisms to maintain their power.
Corporate Dems, the entire political apparatus & the MSM will do anything to stop any movement that poses a real threat.
There are 3 components to winning real change. #SuperTuesday vs. May Day 1/14
Corporate Dems, the entire political apparatus & the MSM will do anything to stop any movement that poses a real threat.
There are 3 components to winning real change. #SuperTuesday vs. May Day 1/14
First, we have to really believe systemic change is possible. Like *really* believe. If we don’t, we’ve already lost.
They want us to feel hopeless. Hopelessness leads to apathy, complacency & inaction. That’s exactly what they want. 2/14
They want us to feel hopeless. Hopelessness leads to apathy, complacency & inaction. That’s exactly what they want. 2/14
If you’re feeling hopeless or despair, that’s okay. Take time for self-care. Find what inspires you about humanity.
I like to read about the history of social change. Abolition movements, civil rights, women’s rights. Labor movements. LGBTQ movements.
What inspires you? 3/14
I like to read about the history of social change. Abolition movements, civil rights, women’s rights. Labor movements. LGBTQ movements.
What inspires you? 3/14
There’s so much inspiration in history. We’ve fought mightier giants, against greater odds, with fewer resources & won!
And when there is so much at stake, nothing could be more irrational than hopelessness. 4/14
And when there is so much at stake, nothing could be more irrational than hopelessness. 4/14
The second component to winning real change is shared vision. We need short-term & long-term vision to both inspire & guide us.
We need an intersectional vision that fundamentally challenges & transforms ALL forms of oppression & injustice. 5/14
We need an intersectional vision that fundamentally challenges & transforms ALL forms of oppression & injustice. 5/14
Our short-term vision includes much-needed Band-Aids: M4A, GND, increasing the minimum wage, eliminating gender/race pay gaps, fighting institutional racism, sexism, classism, etc. 6/14
We also need a long-term vision that transforms society away from inherent oppression, authoritarianism, injustice, etc. towards a truly liberated society that inherently nurtures our full potentials & maximizes fulfillment, inspired by our values: 7/14
Vision inspires us. It gives hope. It speaks to power: we know things don’t have to be this way. Things can be a lot better.
A better world *is* possible. 8/14
A better world *is* possible. 8/14
The third component to change is strategy: understanding how change happens.
Electoral politics are important, but they are just one of many tools movements have for change.
See this thread for a historical perspective on change: 9/14
Electoral politics are important, but they are just one of many tools movements have for change.
See this thread for a historical perspective on change: 9/14
Power concedes nothing. Change happens when change is *forced* by threatening something greater. 10/14
Understand our power. Another 4 years of Trump is NOT a threat. Those in power, including much of the Dem establishment, would rather have Trump than Sanders. Many in power think he’s an embarrassment, but they sure as hell are not threatened by him. 11/14
A real threat is hitting them where it hurts. Strikes, civil disobedience, disrupting business-as-usual. Raise the costs of injustice.
If passing M4A costs them X, make not passing M4A cost them way more than X. That’s how we win. 12/14
If passing M4A costs them X, make not passing M4A cost them way more than X. That’s how we win. 12/14
Change happens when people believe change is possible; they have an inspiring vision of what change looks like & they have a strategy of change enlightened by the history of social change.
Keep raising consciousness, keep organizing & keep fighting. We will win. 13/14
Keep raising consciousness, keep organizing & keep fighting. We will win. 13/14
And until we win *real* democracy, we need to look at electoral politics the same way movements of the past looked at electoral politics: not as the primary driver of change, but rather as just one tool among many tools for change. ♥️ 14/14
