I’m trying to redirect their rage about the system to a leftist perspective but they’ve gotten microwaved brains by anti vax and dumb conspiracy websites

  • OhWell [he/him]
    ·
    4 years ago

    My parents are disillusioned former Democrats who sit on the fence over Trump. One day they are all for him, the next day they remember he's a moron reality TV star. My dad voted for him, but not my mom.

    Getting them to move left has been a painful process. They were really into Bernie Sanders for 2016 and when he lost, they didn't want to vote. When 2020 came around and they watched him get entirely screwed for Joe Biden, they kinda snapped, cause Biden brings back a lot of painful memories for them as they suffered immensely from the 2008-2009 recession. My parents became angry, bitter people after suffering through that and seeing Biden brag in campaign ads about "fixing the economy in 2009" absolutely pissed them the fuck off.

    All I heard yesterday from not just my parents, but all my relatives, including the one aunt I have who did vote for Biden; they all ranted about how Dems screwed this stimulus and made Trump look like the good guy. Most of my family are disillusioned Democrats. My grandparents quit voting for Dems after Hillary was nominated and my parents quit after Obama. But they all sat there and agreed yesterday that at least with Trump they're getting more and they are dreading Biden's presidency. For my grandparents, their fear is legit in how he wants to go after social security, which they live off of.

    I kinda feel lucky that even though my family hates Dems, and will go as far as to the flipflop around on Trump, at least they aren't into conspiracies.

      • OhWell [he/him]
        5·
        4 years ago

        I've been talking about that on here for fucking months. If the left could pull their heads out of their asses and focus everything on the working class and building solidarity for a working class movement, it would help. Instead, the left is really a bunch of people arguing over identity politics and infighting over stupid shit. You get called a "class reductionist" for bringing this stuff up, but it's true.

        The GOP got their most votes from working class households and minorities since the 1950s. That should tell everyone that the common people aren't buying into the empty platitudes and identity politics that the Democratic party offers anymore. Actually, it should scare the living shit out of the left that the GOP's message to the working class is beginning to work to such a degree as they move further towards fascism.

        Fascism has historically been rooted in offering a solution to help the poor and working class. I've been saying this for months; the minute the GOP starts addressing wealth inequality and talking about the class war, it's over for Dems. The Dems have spent the past 30 years moving further right since the "third way new Democrats" of Clinton. They just elected to president, the most right wing politician they've had since then.

        The left needs to get their shit together and start organizing with the working class or we are doomed.

          • cam [none/use name]
            ·
            4 years ago

            Any reading suggestions that cover this topic? Like for example a history/analysis of how fascism functions materially

            • RedDawn [he/him]
              ·
              4 years ago

              Fascism: what it is and how to fight it, by Leon Trotsky. Which is actually just a collection of essays from various other publications, but it’s exactly what you’re looking for