The Real Reason Trump Won: The Failure of the Democratic Party

[@PerceivedREALITY999]

Instead of arming Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan; US tax payer money should be spent on infrastructure, healthcare, education, homelessness etc Instead of pursuing delusions of grandeur, the US should seek mutually beneficial cooperation with the rest the world.

[@joeanthony7759]

Yes, that would be decent, caring, intelligent, even. Can’t have that.

[@maverickhill1776]

Straight up.

[@providetriggersforevolutio3748]

@PerceiveREALITY999 I totally agree with your points. This notion of American hegemony and/or unipolarity at the expense of working people both domestically here in the US and throughout the global south has got to end. Multipolarity can exist where folks can mutually benefit from a system that is not based on endless exploitation by the few at the top of the pyramid.

[@fashioncitymetaverse]

"India middle east European corridor" 👀 September 20,2023 joe Biden was in India. The key was Israel. Involved countries India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, jordan, Israel to Haifa, by container ship to Greece. All this to make Israel the heart beat trade of middle east/ west Asia. For Israel to dominate the region economicly.

[@willieduffie4967]

Yeah.....this country has it's damn mind 🤬!

[@Thekarlskorner]

For the first time in my fifty years of voting in presidential elections I voted independent with a clear conscience. The last several election cycles I voted for the lesser of two evils. No more!

[@mumuzeze]

My family as well!!

[@yasshilpi6427]

I did not vote....both are evils

[@j.kelley1685]

Thank you for breaking free of the cycle that's kept us down

[@begood8591]

Same here No parts of Trump or Harris

[@Kuppasy]

Yes.. I have decided to move away from the two elitist parties permanently.

[@lunamoth08]

Prices were never going to go down. Capital doesn’t give up ground it’s won.

[@CBT5777]

That is one major flaw of capitalism.

[@KimSiever]

Flaw? It’s a feature.

[@CBT5777]

@@KimSiever Maybe for you. Capitalism works differently for everyone depending on your class.

[@KimSiever]

Yes. As I said, that’s not a flaw. It’s designed to increase capital for the owning class.

[@CBT5777]

@@KimSiever sure, but I'm not a fan of a system that exploits most of the people.

[@Durga-ct2eb]

Needs to go viral to those who are freaking out over the Trump win. Great dialogue guys thank you!

[@kiwiaurora]

Man, I really appreciate Eugene Puryear. He has valuable, nuanced commentary. Fyi give him a raise

[@adrianpacheco-fj1bg]

When you have just 2 choices and both are bad is really frustrating

[@akeelyaqub2538]

There were other choices like Jill Stein. Dont pretend like americans had no choice here, they did and they CHOSE corruption, they always do.

[@tiggtiggs]

Democracy literally means 'People Power.' There is no Democracy, in the corporate captured West when The People outsource their own power too corporate careerists & misanthropic ideologues posing as, Public Servants.

[@stephenleyden9559]

Yet, the vast majority keep voting for the parties that don't care about them. Over and over and over again. Definition of stupid.

[@KazukoLight]

Yep sheep being brainwashed cultist. This year especially i saw very little or medium difference between the two parties who really are owned by the same people.

[@ashishkalam9337]

Only 50-60% of people actually vote. so no, the majority do not vote against their interest

[@stephenleyden9559]

@@ashishkalam9337 60% is the majority idiot

[@kylezo]

calling the oppressed working class "stupid" is counterrevolutionary; you're not helping and you're not serious, you're just throwing a temper tantrum.

[@cbbcbb6803]

​@@ashishkalam9337Not voting is voting to not vote. Not voting is voting to let someone else's vote count even more than your vote. It is voting against your own interests.

[@CompassionIsPower]

GLORY TO PALESTINE 🇵🇸 ❤

[@pandukawb]

Do you think Trump will solve the Palestine issue?

[@elinannestad5320]

@@pandukawb if he hands it to his horrible son-in-law, like last time, Zionism wins.

[@luxorwest]

Bless Palestine 🇵🇸

[@begood8591]

​@pandukawb No he won't

[@andjanice71]

@@pandukawbhighly doubtful, but Harris was very clear in her support of the state committing war crimes and crimes against humanity against the Palestinian people.

[@studdot4748]

They lost because of the genocide

[@clevelandblake5218]

Fact

[@zoltanbarath7371]

One reason, perhaps the most important. There is another significant reason expained above in details.

[@leilaoksanen5142]

​@@clevelandblake5218 That is why democrats without votes.

[@outdoorgearguy6823]

Democrats lost Middle Eastern voters that Biden predominantly won 4 years ago over Gaza

[@outdoorgearguy6823]

Inflation= looting for corporate profit

[@chrislubs1341]

Because the US has no meaningful choice politics, though not anything truly new.

[@kollibriterresonnenblume2314]

Eugene Puryear is always so informative

[@willieduffie4967]

👍

[@providetriggersforevolutio3748]

@@kollibriterresonnenblume2314 Eugene is a fast and analytical thinker! Well read!

[@kylezo]

i sent a socialist program episode with him to a friend of mine, and my friend said, and i quote, "This sounds like designed propaganda...I think it is ddesigned to create an information overload to keep people distracted by looking at irrelevant things while simultaneously increasing general anxiety. It sounded so synthetic and unorganic that I am almost sure this is foreign sourced propaganda. I'm not sure there was anything of value of information at all in that entire tirade." he then went on to tell me I should listen to Joe Rogan for a healthy balance of genuine conversations.

[@mrweasel]

@@kylezo Your friend sounds like he just engaged his own belief defence system, while making no specific point on the content. Ask him for specifics...Rogan does speak to a lot of different people, and i think that is very good. His own commentary can be weak, but that is not a typical if you engage with a wide section of people. On the other hand, something like this includes deeper analysis.

[@providetriggersforevolutio3748]

@kylezo what your friend needs to understand is that so called designed propaganda exists in all sides of the political spectrum. No one is exempt. Is your friend poor and struggling day to day economically or is s/he economically privileged? Do an experiment and let him/her live with economic deprivation for several months and see if his/het assessment post this experiment would label all the topics that were discussed in this clip as “ irrelevant thugs to create anxiety.” That’s the point of capitalism. It dehumanizes folks to the point that they cannot comprehend a different worldview that doesn’t fit into their overly dogmatized narrative. Thus, the increasing internal political and economic demise of the American empire. You never try your confuse folks with the facts when their minds are already made up.

[@starfish253]

The issue is not Democracy versus communism versus socialism. The issue is unchecked capitalism.

[@kylezo]

there is no such thing as "checked" capitalism. that's a red herring in service of incrementalism which in itself is a form of counter-insurgency.

[@andjanice71]

Capitalism is an authoritarian ideology, so it’s inherently undemocratic.

[@jeffspicolli593]

Capitalism has raised more people out of poverty in history. Socialism eventually runs out of other people's money and communism is soul-destroying. If you think socialism works check out what is happening in Canada.

[@nnmcintosh9054]

In other words continue with this roller coaster of capitalism that gets worse and worse every time? Get real IT HAS NEVER WORKED

[@Khuno2]

Pursuing popular policies that offend their donors isn't profitable for Democrats. Prepare for the usual gaslighting and scapegoating, but make no mistake: this is deliberate, not incompetence. They know and prefer to lose than adapt, and are incentivized to do just that.

[@michelleryan1861]

Ronald Regan was a joke in the 80s, why has his reputation changed?

[@jeffspicolli593]

LOL. You remind me of what Reagan once said; "It's not that our friends on the left are ignorant, it's that they know so much that isn't so."

[@timmccarthy3034]

I HATED HIM...... But now, I realize, that HE STOPPED ALL SUPPORT for ISRAEL..at that time he wasPresident, .. with a single phone call...RONALD REAGAN..........Amazing....I never DREAMED IN MY WILDEST DREAMS I WOULD EVER SAY 1 GOOOD WORD ABOUT HIM....... But, look at me now.......... BIDEN NEVER DID THAT.....BIDEN COULD HAVE INSTANTLY STOPPED THE ISRAELIS FROM GENOCIDAL SLAUGHTER....... but he practically gave BB A BLOWJOB.....OMFUKINGGOD.......

[@r-Justice1421]

Oh my gosh, Brian Beker amd Eugene. How nice! I just love listening to this power team. Brian, i wish you would do more programs. We sure miss you!

[@StateOfPurgatory]

Guns and bombs money makes the military richer and richer

[@moongardenglow]

They keep choosing families that manufacture the weapons to run the military

[@mariacoronel2547]

26:38 Mr. Reagan fully funded the “Contras” to fight the Sandinista government which impeded any kind of economic growth because of the expense of the war. He pretty much put an embargo on Nicaragua 🇳🇮.

[@jeffspicolli593]

No mention of why he did that?

[@slimbibi7329]

And when congress axed that, he though Oliver North funneled drug money to the contras and allowed the flow of drugs to increase to “fight “ communism.

[@ronaldoferreira594]

This is The BEST program here! Thanks, Brian! #LONGLIVERESISTANCE

[@sassysince90]

Really great analysis. We need to invest in populist policies that make a difference in everyones lives. Healthcare eould be a great start instead of arming and causing wars.

[@rkoh3740]

There is a solution to every problem. The issue is those solutions cost the capitalists $$. Either in taxes or higher wages. Either would improve the economy but the owners cant see the big picture.

[@VoltairsGhostNone]

We cant let the Democratic party walk away and have them demand we vote for them next time. If we ever vote again I will NEVER vote for this Party of the Rich on the left party.

[@realcomedyperrycoalmon9407]

There is also the fact that the Democratic party ignored black interest and that resulted in less participation.

[@elmabrooks7417]

The real reason trump won this election is because the Democrats failed to present a winning candidate. Who is Kamala? I voted for Jill Green. She was the most qualified. The Democrats allowed trump to campaign for President, he got Media Air time. Kamala loved debating trump. Republicans Voters and Democrats Voters got tired of the game. Trump won. Who did you say Kamala is?

[@ahagamama]

We are in a class war and it is as bad as what is happening in Gaza. The poor and working people are losing. There are more of us - when will we unite and stand against the "ruling class"?

[@UmiYogi0205]

May be this needs to happen so that finally humanity returns.

[@akeelyaqub2538]

Its definitely not as bad as whats happening is Gaza but I agree, people need to overthrow these evil governments.

[@nnmcintosh9054]

Yes but some of us still hold out hope that with "hard work" they will rise up. They need to get their heads out of the clouds

[@Sam-4567]

Thanks for this. If those who voted democrat in this election can’t comprehend why I voted third party-they should watch this. You covered most of the points for me.

[@moongardenglow]

The rich will never let any of that happen

[@Xmr2024]

We must MAKE THEM!!!

[@henriettealkhouri7432]

America is in deep trouble on many fronts, National Debt is $35 Trillion, infrastructure is crumbling, inflation is high, its industry has crumbled, the gap between the wealthy, and the poor has widened, and finally its position, and reputation in the world has sunk. How can Trump deal with all these issues assuming they will keep him alive???.

[@juanrodriguez5404]

He won't that's the answer 🙃🙃🙃🙃

[@adrianariaratnam5817]

Such an illuminating discussion ; I've certainly learned a whole lot. Thank you so very much. 🙏

[@gc1282]

The real reason she lost? Disingenuous. Overly dramatic. Accent changes. When asked what she would do differently than President Joe Biden, she said “Not a thing that comes to mind,”. I could go on and on

[@chai8418]

@@gc1282 those are shallow reasons.... It's not why she lost. People are not that shallow. Mmmm or are they?

[@SoundIt11]

No policies, got it.

[@byronhay1648]

How about the real he won given all the negative issues against this felon?

[@Colombiaguapo]

@@chai8418 Saying that she wouldn’t change anything differently than Biden is not a shallow reason. Nobody wants 4 more years of wars and a terrible economy.

[@ElectricAlien577]

​@@chai8418 Disingenuous and no change from biden are not shallow reasons

[@enkaiscott]

STOP with all the GUESTS and just you TWO get together once per week and have this TALK.

[@vibesverily]

SOUNDS like a good IDEA if you ask ME

[@tayray88]

This is so much knowledge to take in.

[@saraa.3889]

I can't look at Brian Becker without seeing Eric Clapton.

[@jimjohnson724]

I hope Bernie Sanders has more of a say in the direction of the D party moving forward

[@xstensl8823]

Eugene you rock

[@PL22-JudgeDredd]

You can't do shit if you do not have the leader who has the power to reform for the working class. Hence voting Trump because of the hatred or dislike for Kamala is not a solution. In 2020, Biden was voted by the majority for the same reason. America will forever be trapped in a cycle of choosing the frying pan or fire.

[@busyb8676]

And they kept sending bombs to continue the genocide. Democrats failed their constituents expectations.

[@drewfellows4104]

Such cogent analysis that everybody needs to hear. Thank you Brian and Eugene!

[@virgilioblanco]

MAY U S VOTERS STAY HOME? If they were realistic they would. Desolve the ELECTORAL COLLEGE only THEN "YOUR VOTES WOULD COUNT".

[@NickaelDC]

Thank you again Brian and Eugene for another wonderful and informative episode. Connecting the dots between capitalism, the government, policies, profits and the rights of the American people was so enlightening. If people haven't seen the previous episode, they really need to go back and watch it as well because it ties into this episode so well.

[@JoeMolina.4ene]

To those that say the Arab vote made a difference just remember this “the Muslim ban” will be in effect during his presidency. And as far as the Gaza genocide “nothing will change”. This is why this group should’ve voted with their brain and NOT their ❤…..

[@ErrolWallace-tv8ok]

I like this when 2 brains is at work. Blessings

[@pattyhoge1725]

Great conversation and commentary. Thank you!

[@paulkennedy927]

I think that Mr. Puryear should run for office. Why doesn't the US have more candidates like him? Informed, passionate, communicative.

[@singingway]

Eugene you just helped clarify something I never understood while I was living through it! You said 43:46 "they tried to push it back as SOON as they could..in the late 1970's they saw their opportunity." Being a teen in that time, I thought the advancements made on social fronts were -- FOREVER! I thought once gains were made they weren't LOST again! It seemed to us that progress would continue onward and upward with ever-expanding levels of raised consciousnesses -- about the environment, civil rights, women's rights, disability rights, worker's rights -- once those hard-fought gains had been made, we just never believed we'd have to fight the SAME FIGHTS AGAIN. New fights, yes. But not the OLD ONES! But they couldn't have done it without the media. The media FAWNED over Reagan. The media re-educated regular people to vote against their own interests.

[@kylezo]

it's called the ratchet effect; gains are made, but never very far, and the dial gradually drifts to the right over time. this is the problem with granting working class solidarity to a center-right party like the democrats. they will never fight for us because their interests are at the direct expense of our well being

[@anne9567]

Great analysis!

[@defianceforhumanity]

As I typed, “the people blame everything but themselves,” my phone’s predictive text generator wrote, “the people blame Trump.” Wth! I don’t blame either party as the people do have power.

[@yishnir]

Fantastic arguments.

[@Allah-is-my1Lord-Yemenia-girl]

I am your sister from Yemen, and by Allah I only spoke out of hunger and distress. My mother, my brothers, and I lessons and tears. We are in a situation that only God knows about. God is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs for those who broughtOh people, we are your sisters, by God 😭😭😭 We do not even find a loaf of bread inside the house that would satisfy you, oh nation of Muhammad. People are brothers. Oh God, make your righteous servants subservient to us. Oh God, make your righteous servants subservient to us. My appeal to every Muslim, oh Lord, if he sees this message, may He prolong his life, make him happy, and cover him. May God reward him. God is sufficient for me, and He is the best disposer of affairs. There is no power or strength except with God. Oh people, oh nation of Muhammad, oh people of goodness, oh people of mercy. We are your sisters and your children. By God, we do not even find a loaf of bread inside the house that would satisfy you. Oh nation of Muhammad, I only spoke out of extreme hunger and distress. My mother, sisters, and I are displaced from our homes because of the war. We are in a state that no one knows about except God. God is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs, against those who brought us to this state 💔💔 By God Almighty, I only wrote this appeal out of extreme poverty and poverty, oh people. I beg you by God Almighty, Lord of the Mighty Throne, that I do not have food at home. By God, my brothers and sisters have been sitting around for two days. Without food, by God our situation is very difficult, we are 4 people in the house and my father passed away and there is no one to support us and we live in a rented house and we cannot pay the rest of the rent. I am not lying to you nor deceiving you nor cheating you. I am a Yemeni girl displaced because of the war between me and my family over a rent dispute and the owner of the house. By God, my brother comes every day and humiliates us and talks about us and wants us to go out to the street because we are unable to pay him the rent. The neighbors saw us crying and talked to the neighbors again and gave us a deadline until the end of the week and we swore to God to let us out of the street now we are in arrears of 60 thousand Yemeni riyals for 3 months rent may God have mercy on us our country is suffering because of this war and we do not find our daily sustenance and we live my mother and sisters our father passed away may God have mercy on him and we do not have anyone in the world to come to us in these harsh circumstances my little sisters went out to the street and saw the neighbors eating and stood at their door giving them even a piece of bread and by God in whose hand is the heavens and the earth they closed the door and kicked them out and they came back crying dying of hunger no one has mercy on them and now the holiday has come back to me if no one of us helps us with a kilo of flour by God we will die of hunger brother I seek refuge in God and then in you and I want your help for the sake of God I ask you by God you love goodness and help me even if it is about the rent of the house send me a WhatsApp message on this number 00967711500090 and ask for my card name and send it and do not delay may God compensate you with all good My little sisters, look at their situation and help us and save us before they throw us out into the street and humiliate us or my family and I die of hunger. We ask you by God, if you are able to help us, do not delay on us, and may God reward you with good.'~~_«%•&»_~~_~&:»'////;&&;&;&;;&🎉😢😢😢😢;&;&&&//&..,!~~~♡♡~~~♡~~♡~•~•~•♧♧(･|.}]◤)~♡~،'~;l.i.i.i.i.i.l.|,,,,،،،،،،،.،...،،،،,,،،,,,,,،،،،،،،,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,،،،,,,,,,🎉

[@mooncalf191]

11 people should feel very stupid for liking this scampost. They've been using this exact one for weeks all over. Hint: if they ask you for money, they aren't who they say they are, guys!

[@davidluckens3479]

thanks

[@singingway]

Eugene is making a tremendously important point at 58:00

[@DaleIsWigging]

This video should just be a 1 second clip that just says Genocide in the thumbnail😂

[@SazalibinkamsirSazali-zu5yo]

Thank you have nice Talking.im from singapore C4❤🎉😊

[@michaelfoort2592]

Headline tells it like it is

[@emilsmith7159]

This is spot on, and no other commentators seem to get these basics right.

[@mermeller]

That's pure gold, preach!

[@mariacoronel2547]

55:10 Congratulations Bryan! This is the best show of the Socialist Program. Eugene is an amazing analyst, I follow his and Rania’s show all the times.

[@LivN25]

I’m not sure where to put my angst in the system we have but listening to these two smart guys who put words to how i feel, makes it feel less lonely

[@plamedimatenda10]

Free Congo 🇨🇩

[@marart780]

Gaza

[@ErrolWallace-tv8ok]

I know this interview. Was going to be entertaining? When these two brilliant brains get to Getter Blessings

[@Sowindiee10]

I love this framing of actions as creating a social crisis. It felt tangible and doable. Great dialogue as always!

[@sarachiba6012]

Eugene Puryear 🌺💐🦋

[@cuongchinguyen3495]

Planet First People Second ... Profit Only Last

[@StutteringCoach1]

An amazing conversation. Couldn't stop hearing. And couldn't agree more.

[@jennrat2982]

Chris Hedges lastest video goes over this in a little more depth via a Q and A format..👍

[@Bwarrior138plus]

Thanks ❤❤❤❤❤

[@callyyeadon2653]

👍❤️🕊️

[@PrincessFairyGirl]

we the people are struggling!!!

[@Hsces]

Can anyone make the info of 18-30 yr. Progressive how they voted.

[@andrewkujan1457]

Great analysis, thank you!

[@DolphineAchonga-gn6kn]

I'm grateful for your calm and more rational take. All I see across the platforms is either unrealistic euphoria or immobilizing despair. The best to be hoped for is that things do not get fundamentally worse. Yeah, the Democrats present themselves as the party of the working class but haven't lived up to their expectations in the recent decades. All the voters have had to hang on is voting against something worse. But even that reason was dashed with the continuing economic difficulties. Then their foreign policy leaned into the Republican rhetoric and killed all hope that their priorities are different. It's gonna be hard for the poor, immigrants, women and the queers. But band together, build grassroots movements, and keep fighting. Do you think local elections could minimize the possible consequences?

[@colleenjohnson5381]

Great stuff gentlemen❤

[@catharinephoto]

Great points

[@isaacnewman9341]

Damned if you do, Damned if you don't...that's American politics at the moment. We need a complete overhaul of this two party system

[@yojimbo3681]

I agree, but you can't put the blame entirely on the Democrats. Trump ran on White Identity Nationalism and a lot of people fell for it.

[@kylezo]

Yes, you can, and yes, we do. democrats are a center-right party built on capitulation and acquiescence. the narrative that 50% of the country are nazis is pure fiction meant to divide class solidarity further.

[@sonicdash761]

Exactly, and now we’re all gonna suffer because of it.

[@SarahSuperFox]

Exactly

[@SazalibinkamsirSazali-zu5yo]

2001 im show to all county +/or-/Throw must reading before you done

[@ryankay4457]

I will NEVER in my life vote for the same party as Dick Cheney.

[@SazalibinkamsirSazali-zu5yo]

im never get any income $0

[@jacksonuche7428]

According to this guy, all the politicians are in the same group just with two parties.😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@hackandslash873]

On the plus side we won't have to endure any more cackling

[@servantofthemosthigh712]

Damn Eugene, I love you for that man. You’re on point. The first one I have ever heard say that the indigenous American people and that include the colonial black American people them in the Indian sport together you couldn’t tell the distinction between the both of them the Indian and the black colonial Americanshot my brother you have to do a whole podcast on that

[@wynetsang]

In 2026 US will celebrate 250 years anniversary of greatness of United States and Trump is best best president for this occasion.

[@zoranazanoskar5400]

You don't seem to realize that Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand etc. are also capitalist economies. But their population is doing better and better.

[@sgteam176]

Singapore is a socialist capitalism. Essential services like water and health care are provided and protected by the government. capitalism alone is not going to work for any country.

[@alexricky87]

Saying that people's views on trans "rights" are wrong, bigoted, etc, misses the point and it will be a losing issue if anyone continues to push it.

[@Danderman888]

Now! It's the system that had failed.

[@mightyman1855]

You guys highjacked the real true reason that’s Gaza

[@livthedream5885]

Manchin is from W. Virginia, I believe.

[@AudioPervert1]

Jacksh*t worth these reasons, when one way or another the devotion to capitalism goes on. This economy of outrage itself has no reason nor sustainability.

[@postmanlondon]

More scrutiny on how votes were cost was an important factor!

[@rwksasc]

Who caused the inflation? By tariffs, supporting wars, and their consequences such as grain shortage?

[@ricjackson2841]

I just didn’t vote. Last few elections I voted Green Party. I’m just checked out.

[@luisdavidllense2293]

Gallivanting with Hillary and the Cheneys just made things worse for the Kamala camp. Who was it for???

[@alexponera46]

Unbelievable level of incompetent

[@lenarobinson438]

why on earth is speaking SO FAST!!!!

[@chai8418]

Bro Jill Stein already does this... Look at her results.l! The problem is you all keep wanting to complain without wanting to build a grassroots movement.

[@rkevinappier]

both of these guys are in a leadership role of a socialist party lol

[@Don.M.]

Every Leftist seems to only accept the most infallible leaders who never say a word put of place. It’s asinine to expect that. People are flawed, but when a leader steps up amongst Leftists that gets the platform right like Jill Stein and the Greens, they deserve full support regardless. It’s about the PLATFORM AND POLICIES.

[@ronbunn1349]

lol bro this guy does lots of organizing and is active with a certain party that also ran a socialist candidate

[@huberthumphry280]

@@Don.M. can't agree with you here. When was the last time a group of people came together, developed a "platform and policy" program, went out and canvassed then won elections and implemented their program? Actions bring change, whether civil rights movement, labor rights movement, etc. these changes came from "grassroots" movements taking actions that forced change. Never has it happened by "let's make a party, set a platform, get elected and implement policy"

[@africanhistory]

The voter turnouts were way higher than 2016 2020-2024 was 4%

[@mjleger]

What's ironic about the "civil rights revolution" that BB refers to at 37:00 is that it was premised on universalism. When it comes to the bourgeois revolution of 1776, EP has nothing good to say about it, ignoring its progressive dimensions on the basis of its limitations. The "democratic invention" that it opened up, nevertheless allowed for workers' rights, women's rights, refugee rights, of national independence, etc, to emerge. The civil rights movement emerged in coordination with and as part of the socialist and labour power that developed in the US, by and large in conversation with world communism. But the postwar era also saw the rise of a petty-bourgeois countercultural tendency that was post-ideological, seeing totalitarianism in everything, including communism. This made the 60s protest movements - as "fierce" as BB says they were - based also on a cool vs square dichotomy that fit perfectly within consumer capitalism. This contributed immensely to the rise of postmodern ideas. The identity struggles of the 50s turned over time into identity politics. This, in the long run, dovetailed with neoliberal governance ( think of the Stuart Hall school of cultural studies, or discourse theory ). It coincided with the Eurocommunist tendency, which looks to alternative sources of radicalism: students, Third Worldism, gays, black power, etc. This post-left tendency was encapsulated by Laclau and Mouffe's "radical democracy," which is now referred to as left populism. This was, in the end, a liberal pluralist attack on Marxism, as discussed for example by people like Ralph Miliband, A. Sivanandan or Ellen Meiksins Wood. The left that does not deal with the class vis à vis identity issue adequately is mucking about, looking for supporters where they can find them. Identity cannot be a gateway drug into class struggle, along a sort of militant version of intersectionality. The PSL should perhaps be redefined as the Party for Socialism and Universal Emancipation so that it does not get mixed up with the anti-normative petty-bourgeois ideology of the postwar New Left counterculture etc. The 60s happened because of a) the existence of the Soviet Union, b) the novelty of the consumer culture, c) the postwar economic boom. As Boots Riley puts it, we need a left that looks more like the 30s and less like the 60s. Because so much of the PMC is fully ensconced in identity, the left cannot simply "do both," identity and class. Adolph Reed, the Fields sisters, Alain Badiou, etc, understand these things. But many do not. They want a party that will fight for redistribution ( etc ) and recognize people for who they are. However, recognizing you for who you are is by and large immaterial when it comes to historical materialism. Postmodernists want to extend "materialism" to encompass identity, embodiment, experience, nationalism, etc. Some of this is necessary, but some of it leads in conservative and even reactionary directions. Micro-politics and "power" politics easily slides into micro-fascism or neoliberal discourse theory, for instance. It can do that because it is anti-universal. It can only ever be antagonistic, at best. This is in fact encouraged by people like Mouffe. And this contributes to weakening the left. Any criticism of wokeism - which has become easier after so much excess - is attacked by identitarians within the left. Everyone has an identity, but minority identities are presumed to be more radical, due to minority status. This assumption leads to conflict and splits, and to separatist strategies, sometimes in an unstated manner within left movements. Then they re-coalesce but in ways that are contradictory and unresolved. It's best to be open about these things but it can lead to disappointment, to under the table strategies, which is par for the course when it comes to human psychology. All said, if the left is not to be continuously outflanked by the "normie" right, it needs to come to a stronger ideological stance on this issue. I have offered the slogan "identity trumps socialism." The Harris-Trump debacle is further proof that this slogan is correct. What it means is this: don't push you identity and your lifestyle on others. Keep your notion of politics generic. Don't focus on "hypocrisy" and the narcissism of minor differences, etc. Identitarians will say: sure, you go first, etc, we have been suffering for x number of years, etc, referring to ongoing experiences of discrimination. If your leftism seeks to quell this types of rationality, you're wasting your time. I refer to this as the game of woke baseball, which starts with accusations of sexism, etc, and ends with the accusation of class reductionism. The left should not play the game of woke baseball. And identitarians then turn on you, exploit you with planned acts of discrimination, and say: see, now you understand how we feel. But this is b.s. because what it is actually designed to do is not prove its identity politics, but prove its anti-universalism, which is something that Marxists-sociialists already understand. What identitarians want, at the end of the day, is for everyone to be allowed to enjoy their identity. This is whatever, hedonism perhaps, but it's not a left politics. Badiou refers to it as the capitalist materialism of languages and bodies. Another example: for some so-called sex radicals, "rich people" are straights who don't put out to Tom, Dick and Harry. The "desegregation" agenda they would pursue has the features of Incel logics. It's not hard to see how that's rubbish. Regardless, it is common in postmodern academia. Straight sexuality is tacitly deemed bourgeois, fundamentalist, dictatorial, totalitarian, etc. This is so inoperative that it gives credence to conservative notions of rights discourse. Henri Lefebvre refers to this problem as the "marxist passport" having been lent to identity struggles, with the latter becoming unable to return it after use. Another way to see it is how the Gramscian concept of hegemony has become bereft of communist politics and used strictly to advance PMC identity politics. See for instance the discussion in the book Contingency, Hegemony, Universality ( Verso, 2000 ). Much of this problem is unconscious. Even people on the left are unaware of the extent to which their consciousness has been affected by postmodern culture and petty-bourgeois ideas. Another point: privilege theory is anti-universalist means-tested social policy. It's privilege theory that is stupid. Privilege is not a useful Marxist-socialist concept.

[@martiniiilim7497]

Vote Trump out, vote Trump in... Nice!!! 😅😅😅

[@CrashTheSlasher]

We need to stop portraying registered non-voters as “staying home” when they don’t vote. They’re not home, they’re at work 😂 I was going to vote on Election Day but my job came down on me hard for a long-term injury that’s impaired my ability to work & decided that was the best day to do it I guess.

[@clairjunior5291]

Hey Kamala, we are speaking now.