“Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.” - Basil King
I have been sitting on this train of thought for a little while and had to tune out, as far as that is possible, to get some sense of clarity. Specifically and immediately this is meant for my friends and readers in the US but generally speaking, this goes for all of us, not only because the US election and the country’s future affects us all around the world but further even, I feel this to be applicable in most situations.
To return to the US election, the state of fear and importance and what needs to be said is clear. I honestly cannot say how this election will play out and wether Biden or Trump will win. Either Biden will win in a landslide or it will be a close call. Either way, there will be unrest, of that I am convinced and yes, it is important to mentally and physically prepare for that, however which way you see fit for yourself. More importantly to realize and internalize now is that nothing will immediately change irrespective of who wins. I don’t mean to put down anyones hopes that votes or has voted for Biden but realism is utterly important here to carry the fight forward. Looking at Biden’s plans for the future, both in terms of policies and personnel are regressive at best and again, realistically, will do nothing but continue the actual policies that Trump has installed. That assessment is purely based on factual historical realities not a bias. If Trump wins, it’s much of the same story, just with coarser words, more corruption and a faster decline of the US empire than under Biden. It is incredibly naive to believe that a DNC presidency will actually deliver the desperately needed changes the country and the world needs just because we have a seemingly more empathetic puppet on our TV screen.
Once you realize that nothing will essentially change we can talk hope and encouragement. This political crisis, amplified through a brutal pandemic has laid bare the failures of both capitalism and our current version of “democracy” and those cracks have become so palatable that for the first time in my 20 plus years of activism I feel like we are genuinely creating a critical mass of people that are willing to do what it takes to demand and create that change. Change from the top never delivers and at best, rests on the shoulders of those we exploit. Change from us, from the bottom, from the 99% is, however, possible and we are continuously proving that. Be it on the streets, in our online conversations and our own lives, sitting around a kitchen table coming together and through dialogue addressing the very core issues that have “guaranteed” our wealth and safety and finally realizing how oppressive and wrong they are.
Hell, I have learned more in the last 4 years in regards to sexism, gender, racism, the failures of our political systems and the evils of capitalism than in the previous 30 years and that my friends is only the beginning- At this point I genuinely need to pay my utmost respect to any and all people younger than me in my life that have taught me so much these last years. Your “radicalism” is nothing but inspiring to an old, tired fighter. On that note, and speaking as an “old” white, cis, privileged man - I realize I am not any of these in actionable reality but for arguments sake, on the surface let’s say I am - occupy the hearts and minds of the “fearful” comrades! Irrespective of what an amplified group of internet trolls might make you believe, we are here for the change. I digress though, encouragement, here we go!
Fuck the 1%! Yes, they have the guns but damn it, we have the numbers, more so than ever in my lifetime and it is time to realize this! Unify, accept that the changes we want and demand are universal! None of us are alone and we got this! The burning fire ignited by the blatant corruption, racism, sexism and populism personified by Trump and the RNC - and they are nothing but a visual example of a class of global 1%’ers the world over, is here to stay and it is up to each and everyone of us to do what we can to stoke that.
We are responsible for the change we want, we all know now that we cannot rely on those we give power, but we do know that we aren’t alone! That, my friends, is not only beautiful to witness but now needs to be harvested. Reach out to your family, your friends, your neighbours, your online community and amplify this solidarity. We have the tools, we know what to do so let’s get out and do it. Sure, vote to your hearts content but keep it in the forefront of your mind that change happens with you and then your community. Yes, these last few years have been taxing and truthfully it is going to get worse, but the sense of personal, local, national and global solidarity of the downtrodden is here and that is what we need to hold on to and build on. In the words of the might man himself: