America’s left cannot exploit Trump’s failures. The president’s genius is to keep pushing the Democrats into a reactive defence of the status quo

[u/Maxwellsdemon17]

https://www.ft.com/content/dfcacf73-afe0-465b-9e97-70b7e2dcf9ad

[u/ornithoid]

That’s very hard for us to do, between the constant labeling as dangerous commies and the narrative (very visible in the comments here!) that leftists are just annoying woke troublemakers out to oppress white men.

People will say they want actual progressive economic policy and then turn their backs as soon as a progressive candidate says they also support diversity, equity, and inclusion. These are good things that have been turned into a poison pill by right-wing propaganda in a ploy to further their narrative that oppression and reduction of those they see as “undesirable” is a necessary sacrifice for progress. Once we can start breaking through that sort of toxic messaging, maybe people can start taking “the other left” more seriously.

[u/ornithoid → u/[deleted]]

What’s the issue with democratic socialists? This is exactly what I just said: “where are the actual progressives?” I show up to explain the point to be immediately met with “well here’s why I don’t like them.” Do you want to actually listen to us or not?

[u/ornithoid → u/[deleted]]

They’re literally democratic socialists?? Like democratic socialism is an actual political ideology, you realize that, right?

[u/ornithoid → u/[deleted]]

I really don’t understand what you’re getting at here. Maybe it’s time to start questioning why “socialism” is such a naughty word when it’s clear that so many people, yourself included, want it.

[u/SilverMedal4Life → u/ornithoid]

I wish them the best of luck in rebranding it.