Hi Garrett, My adult child — for whom I invented the word 'springling' — just shared your post with me with this message: this gave me chills in a good way and made me think of you!
You and I are working the same beat, and I couldn't be more pleased to see your work. So glad you are taking a vacation. It is difficult to sustain this work. - L
Really great post, thank you. I find that being really honest about how bad things are, AND acknowledging that change is happening and good change is possible, is an essential combo. We need community to keep us going tho - well, I do! Enjoy your break & gratitude for your work 🙏🏻
Very much appreciate it and absolutely agree with the balance between balancing both an honesty about the threats there and the love for those who are out there changing it.
This is a stunningly clear summary: “The trick in question works by flooding the zone in the specific parts of the country where (through a combination of gerrymandering, the false promise of White supremacy as a protective shield rather than a corrosive poison, and the Democratic Party’s multi-generational unwillingness to truly counter-organize in rural America) conservatives hold deep (but socially constructed) structural advantages. The theory of change is simple. The autocrats push through so much blood-curdling legislation in so many places that the myth becomes reality: We the autocrats, the minoritarians, the fascists who don’t believe in democracy… we are strong, actually. We can’t be defeated. If you’re on our side, you should work harder and vote more fervently because victory will soon be ours and we are the only ones who can protect you. If you’re on the other side, you might as well give up.”
Wow.
And I love this. Makes me think about my own weakening addiction to “efficiency.” All the good stuff takes a long time and is messy. Why wouldn’t political imagination and action be any different? Now how do we create more irresistible spaces where we’re plotting how to gum things up?
[Note: Sorry that I'm just replying now; I really took the 'on vacation' part seriously this go around]... your point about being addicted to efficiency resonates with me deeply. I've shared this quote a bunch previously, but it's moments like these that I go back to one of my most well-trod quotes (I've definitely shared it in previous White Pages), from Maria da Conceição Tavares' speech to the first World Social Forum: “Maybe when you are 20 years old you can believe in revolution, socialism and even the resurrection of the flesh. But have no illusions; the struggle is permanent. I have fought for fifty years and I will continue fighting until I die. That is all I know how to do. And I hope you will join me.”
Yes! Love this, Garrett. Thank you for the reminder that there is organizing happening that is making a difference and that there are things we can feel hope about, even and especially in the midst of despair. I hope you and your family are having a lovely spring break!
Thank you. I’m sharing this. I’m working on a “gum up the works-ish” thing that I can’t write about publicly yet, but I know deeply that I can’t just give in/give up, so keep on it.
Thanks for always foregrounding the tenacious, unglamourous organizing work that gets the goods! Hope you and your family have a fun and restful break.
Hi Garrett, My adult child — for whom I invented the word 'springling' — just shared your post with me with this message: this gave me chills in a good way and made me think of you!
You and I are working the same beat, and I couldn't be more pleased to see your work. So glad you are taking a vacation. It is difficult to sustain this work. - L
Honored to share such an important beat with you, Lynn. just subscribed to your newsletter.
I think of myself and all the other volunteers with Reclaim Idaho as drops of rain and, over time, we can create the Grand Canyon.
Grateful for every single rain drop! Thanks so much for your work!
Thank you for your work!
Exactly! Despair and perceived powerlessness is the point. Thanks for highlighting the many folks gumming up the works.
Thanks so much, Matt, for all the ways I know you think about how to gum up the works in a state we both love.
Really great post, thank you. I find that being really honest about how bad things are, AND acknowledging that change is happening and good change is possible, is an essential combo. We need community to keep us going tho - well, I do! Enjoy your break & gratitude for your work 🙏🏻
Very much appreciate it and absolutely agree with the balance between balancing both an honesty about the threats there and the love for those who are out there changing it.
Thank you for those words this morning - I really, really needed them. Have a wonderful Spring Break with your family!
Thank you!
This is a stunningly clear summary: “The trick in question works by flooding the zone in the specific parts of the country where (through a combination of gerrymandering, the false promise of White supremacy as a protective shield rather than a corrosive poison, and the Democratic Party’s multi-generational unwillingness to truly counter-organize in rural America) conservatives hold deep (but socially constructed) structural advantages. The theory of change is simple. The autocrats push through so much blood-curdling legislation in so many places that the myth becomes reality: We the autocrats, the minoritarians, the fascists who don’t believe in democracy… we are strong, actually. We can’t be defeated. If you’re on our side, you should work harder and vote more fervently because victory will soon be ours and we are the only ones who can protect you. If you’re on the other side, you might as well give up.”
Wow.
And I love this. Makes me think about my own weakening addiction to “efficiency.” All the good stuff takes a long time and is messy. Why wouldn’t political imagination and action be any different? Now how do we create more irresistible spaces where we’re plotting how to gum things up?
[Note: Sorry that I'm just replying now; I really took the 'on vacation' part seriously this go around]... your point about being addicted to efficiency resonates with me deeply. I've shared this quote a bunch previously, but it's moments like these that I go back to one of my most well-trod quotes (I've definitely shared it in previous White Pages), from Maria da Conceição Tavares' speech to the first World Social Forum: “Maybe when you are 20 years old you can believe in revolution, socialism and even the resurrection of the flesh. But have no illusions; the struggle is permanent. I have fought for fifty years and I will continue fighting until I die. That is all I know how to do. And I hope you will join me.”
It’s not a coincidence that the Tennessee Three were/are grassroots and local organizers before they were elected to the State Senate.
Oh that’s a GREAT point
I learned from you to notice those things!
Yes! Love this, Garrett. Thank you for the reminder that there is organizing happening that is making a difference and that there are things we can feel hope about, even and especially in the midst of despair. I hope you and your family are having a lovely spring break!
Definitely needed this encouragement today! Keep up the good work and enjoy Spring Break
Seconded
Me and you both! Appreciate you, Matthew!
YES! I needed this shot in the arm!
Thank you. I’m sharing this. I’m working on a “gum up the works-ish” thing that I can’t write about publicly yet, but I know deeply that I can’t just give in/give up, so keep on it.
Good luck!!!
YES! Thank you. Have a restorative break!
Thanks for always foregrounding the tenacious, unglamourous organizing work that gets the goods! Hope you and your family have a fun and restful break.