(Thread) Biden’s Ad Gets it Right
If you haven’t seen it⤵️
Spoiler: It’s all about race.
It’s also about economics and power, but race underlies it all.
Some background: Oligarchy isn’t new in the US. In fact, this is our third slide into oligarchy.
If you haven’t seen it⤵️
Spoiler: It’s all about race.
It’s also about economics and power, but race underlies it all.
Some background: Oligarchy isn’t new in the US. In fact, this is our third slide into oligarchy.
1/ Our first oligarchy was slavery: A few white men had disproportionate wealth and power in the South.
The electoral college and other advantages gave the South disproportionate power over the nation.
The slave-owning oligarchy was anti-federal government and anti-industry.
The electoral college and other advantages gave the South disproportionate power over the nation.
The slave-owning oligarchy was anti-federal government and anti-industry.
2/ The wealthy and powerful slaveowners knew if the North got too strong, it would outlaw slavery, thereby robbing them of their place atop the hierarchy.
So they nixed the federal programs and infrastructure (roads, canals, etc.) that would enable industry to flourish.
So they nixed the federal programs and infrastructure (roads, canals, etc.) that would enable industry to flourish.
3/ This also kept the poor poor, which further strengthened the oligarchy.
The South embraced a patriarchy (a kind of hierarchy) with white men at the top and black women at the bottom.
(Example: Even after the Civil war, rape of a black woman wasn’t recognized as a crime.)
The South embraced a patriarchy (a kind of hierarchy) with white men at the top and black women at the bottom.
(Example: Even after the Civil war, rape of a black woman wasn’t recognized as a crime.)
4/ When the South lost, the North quickly moved to strengthen industry and infrastructure.
During the Civil War, the interests of industry were aligned with the abolitionists.
So the party of Lincoln was both pro-civil rights and pro-industry.
During the Civil War, the interests of industry were aligned with the abolitionists.
So the party of Lincoln was both pro-civil rights and pro-industry.
5/ After War, the North passed legislation that allowed industry to boom.
There were almost no federal regulations limiting industrialists, so many cheated.
They manipulated markets and fixed prices.
There were no labor protections, no social security, no minimum work week.
There were almost no federal regulations limiting industrialists, so many cheated.
They manipulated markets and fixed prices.
There were no labor protections, no social security, no minimum work week.
6/ This brings us to the second oligarchy, the age of robber barons. The rich were rich. The poor had no hope of advancement.
The New Deal reversed this and gave us a strong middle class.
From about 1900 until 1955, the two parties were in relative harmony. They compromised.
The New Deal reversed this and gave us a strong middle class.
From about 1900 until 1955, the two parties were in relative harmony. They compromised.
7/ This was because in the early 20th century, the Republican Party abandoned civil rights as an agenda.
For the first half of the 20th century, neither party embraced civil rights or black rights.
For the first half of the 20th century, neither party embraced civil rights or black rights.
8/ So the period of relative harmony (early 20th century) happened on the backs of African Americans—just like old South.
We’re still riding the backlash from the women’s rights and civil rights movements.
We’re still riding the backlash from the women’s rights and civil rights movements.
9/ The federal government enforced civil rights.
When Democrats embraced Civil Rights, the white Southerners migrated to the GOP.
These groups aligned to dismantle the federal government:
🔹Industries that wanted to get rid of regulations and taxes
🔹White supremacists
When Democrats embraced Civil Rights, the white Southerners migrated to the GOP.
These groups aligned to dismantle the federal government:
🔹Industries that wanted to get rid of regulations and taxes
🔹White supremacists
10/
🔹and Evangelicals who wanted the church to govern, not the state.
We’re now tipping toward a third oligarchy which (if we get there) will be best described as a Post-Communist Mafia State.
The term is from Hungarian scholar Bálint Magyar.
🔹and Evangelicals who wanted the church to govern, not the state.
We’re now tipping toward a third oligarchy which (if we get there) will be best described as a Post-Communist Mafia State.
The term is from Hungarian scholar Bálint Magyar.
11/ I’ve written about Magyar's mafia states elsewhere. See my NBC Op Eds here ⤵️
nbcnews.com/think/opinion/……
A mafia state is when a few wealthy people control the government and essentially own and control the nation’s industries.
nbcnews.com/think/opinion/……
A mafia state is when a few wealthy people control the government and essentially own and control the nation’s industries.
12/ This brings us to Putin, a creator of the modern mafia state.
White supremacists love Putin. See⤵️
Each oligarchy we've been through has been outwardly different, but each was fueled by racism.
White supremacists love Putin. See⤵️
Each oligarchy we've been through has been outwardly different, but each was fueled by racism.
13/ According to political psychologists some people will never live comfortably in a liberal democracy. They’ll hate it. They’ll fight it.
Democracy is chaotic and messy.
Autocracy is streamlined and efficient (none of those checks and balances to slow things down).
Democracy is chaotic and messy.
Autocracy is streamlined and efficient (none of those checks and balances to slow things down).
14/ People who tend toward fascism believe that nature forms a hierarchy. They don’t believe true equality is possible.
This brings us to Biden's ad:
“The fight we have fought before”
“I wonder if were in 1920”
“Hate never goes away. It just hides”
This brings us to Biden's ad:
“The fight we have fought before”
“I wonder if were in 1920”
“Hate never goes away. It just hides”
15/ This thread draws on lots of sources. For one, @HC_Richardson for her insights into oligarchy in the US. Also political psychologists like @karen_stenner and Richard Hofstadter
Most recently I wrote a biography of Thurgood Marshall, so I've been over the history.
Most recently I wrote a biography of Thurgood Marshall, so I've been over the history.
Goodness gracious. I left out a tweet.
This should have been 15:
Also from Biden's ad: The positive:
“Sometimes those who fan the flames of hate end up drawing forth the next wave of progress.”
This should have been 15:
Also from Biden's ad: The positive:
“Sometimes those who fan the flames of hate end up drawing forth the next wave of progress.”
From me: The fight never ends. We push toward liberal democracy. They push toward autocracy. It only ends when we give up.
I can't watch it without tears.
I also love the message: "We have a lot of work to do."
And isn't that what your Twitter Mom has been telling you?
I also love the message: "We have a lot of work to do."
And isn't that what your Twitter Mom has been telling you?
My threads are also blog posts. This one is here:
terikanefield-blog.com/bidens-ad-gets…
terikanefield-blog.com/bidens-ad-gets…
