And, I will grant the argument that the dominant ideology is always the ideology of the power structure: That is to say, that there are many poor people and middle class people in this country who see the world through the same prism as billionaires do. So, it will be hard to convince them that change is needed.
And, I will grant that there are sections of the middle class who do not even know there is a recession: I was in Los Angeles recently, and I was in areas where it rained money. Many people had large houses, new cars, and spent $50 to see a movie (with popcorn and sodas).
For them, “ it’s all good” (except of course for the fact that they and their children are breathing air with 400 toxins that exceed the federal guidelines). These folks have a stake in the status quo. They will be resistant to change.
And, I will grant that the history of third party movements in the United States would suggest that third parties are not a viable way to effect fundamental change.
So, I admit that electoral politics appear to be a reasonable way to effect change.
Change may come with Obama, but if the last four years are any indication, it will be a glacial pace. The folks in Lodi will have beach front property before anything meaningful happens to slow global warming.
Don’t be fooled by his rhetoric. He is not with us. Notice in his speech he did not even mention Occupy Wall Street.
I believe that the notion that we have to move way to the right and support Obama is a self-fulfilling prophecy: Because the country is conservative, we must be very measured in our demands in order to win elections, i.e., be conservative.
Instead of placating the forces of resistance, let’s be leaders and show the way. The beginning is easy: We have the concept of “occupy,” now all we have to do is occupy the Democratic Party. All that is required is a change of consciousness.
Nelson Strasser lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
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