Power to the People or Scream into the Void?

It is more than a little embarrasing to watch liberals rally around the two Justins in Tennessee, especially Black liberals. If in their minds these two Representatives believe they are the second coming of MLK and Stokely Carmichael, here to restore Democracy to a broken land, they are in for a rude awakening. The high-flying rhetoric and raised fists may ignite romantic devotion in those nostalgic for the heady days of Black Power, but their appeals to government of,by and for the People will fall on deaf ears. Or more likely, incite yet more white backlash. Yes, they gave the NYTimes something to write about other than Donald Trump, and yes they have a future on the lecture circuit. Liberals will gather to hear them explain why Black Lives Matter and why assault weapons kill people and why prisons should be abolished but those liberals will just go back to their mortgaged houses and bullshit jobs and try to vote harder next time. Every liberal is wailing about our "broken democracy". Gerrymandering. Apathy. Whatever. Maybe they should spend more on campaign ads next cycle! Yeah. And find better candidates! Yeah. This is what a typical believer told a reporter: “There has been this whirlwind of stress,” she said. “A lot of people are feeling like they have their hands tied. There is a sense of helplessness and frustration.” She said it was important to force the legislature to listen. “It makes you feel a little less alone and a little less like you are screaming into the void to have someone actively take notice and stand with you." The first thing is to recognize that you ARE sceaming into the void. Then you have to figure out why. If what you have been doing for the last sixty years hasn't been working you may want to re-examine your theory of change. Or just go on the Bill Maher show and host Saturday Night Live.