Thread by @JuliusGoat

The difference between compromise and concession is one I wish more people grasped.

https://twitter.com/juliusgoat/status/1282304266317762560

Compromise is an agreement between two or more entities who are working on the same goal but disagree on how to achieve it.

Concessions are a sometimes-necessary part of a strategy involving contention against one or more entities who are working for a totally different goal.

Compromise isn't how you achieve unity. It is the fruit of unity.

Trying to achieve unity through compromise isn't just a bad idea. It's impossible.

Making unity your end goal will only result in full concession of any other goal—which those w/different goals will appreciate.

Concessions can be necessary, and so it can be good at times to make concessions. But those concessions should always be a part of a strategy to achieve a goal, which those who are forcing you to make concessions would seek to prevent.

Be aware: they are not compromises.

So, we should know what our goals are, so when concessions are propose we see how—and this is crucial—we will use that concession to achieve that goal.

Any concession that can't be used toward achieving our goal is one that will achieve a different goal.

And should be rejected.

And this, by the way, is why it is *more* important to know what we want to do than how we are going to do it.

And why most objections starting with "but what is your PLAN?" are actually sly arguments against the goal itself.

There are many paths, but one goal. Know the goal.

Proposed goals:

*A completely equal and equitable democracy.
*A society that addresses basic human needs and honors the basic humanity of all its members, without prejudice.
*An open society so peaceful and just it has no need of punishment.

Our opponents have other goals.

Joe Biden isn't going to compromise with Republicans; not because Biden isn't someone who values compromise, but because—to the extent that they and Biden have different goals—it's impossible.

Republicans know the difference between compromise & concession.

So should we.

And those of us who share the goals above ought not to compromise with Democratic establishment, except to the extent that their goals align with ours. For many of us, voting for the Dem is a concession toward a goal, not compromise.

Know the difference. And know the goal.

If Democrats do what they often do, they'll either:

1) compromise with Republicans on a shared goal aligned not with our goals but with those of corporatism; or

2) make concession w/no strategic purpose, and call it "compromise."

We must reject both and pressure for better.

To Summarize:

Unity exists only through shared goals
Unity is only as good as those goals
Compromise isn't how unity is achieved; it is a result of unity
Trying to unify through compromise only leaves you compromised
Concession must be strategic, or it is worse than worthless