The only "Identity politics" that really matters is CLASS

[Armstead]

Perhaps it was inevitable that gender and race would become a framework in a campaign where there is a leading Black candidate and a leading Woman candidate and a leading WASP candidate.

But hopefully, we as a nation (including the politicians, the MSM and we average folks) can rise above that. We are at a turning point in contemporary history that transcends both gender and race.

We have an opportunity -- finally -- to turn a more important corner, and actually swing the pendulum in the direction of serving the interests of THE MAJORITY REGARDLESS OF RACE AND GENDER.

After 35 years of increasing polarization of Income and Power the nation is finally seeing through the Emperor's New Clothes of Corporate neo-liberalism, free-market fundamentalism and corruption of the democratic process.

This can be potentially be the start of a seismic shift that is as basic as the Conservative Revolution that began to push the pendulum far to the right, beginning in the mid-1970's.

Now there is an opportunity to swing it back towards the left in a Populist Liberal and Progressive Revolution.

There is a Perfect Storm that has been brewing against the GOP, and the Corporate Conservatives Elitists of both parties. The public is ready for change -- real substantial change in the direction of Liberal and Progressive Populist Reform.

I am not downplaying the continuing importance of gender issues or racial and ethnic issues. They remain vital to deal with.

However, at this point the real identity politics is one that INCLUDES those racial and gender issues. The issues related to CLASS, WEALTH and POWER include those, because it ultimately affects the ability of all races and genders (including sexual minorities) to either advance or continue to get beaten down.

Let's hope we are able to Seize the Moment, instead of getting sidetracked.

[antigop]

1. BINGO!. n/t

[cali]

2. If you're not downplaying the importance of race and gender issues

you might consider changing your header. And I'm sorry, but tell the middle class black man that gets stopped for "driving while black" that class issues are the only real issues, and I think you'll get a withering response.

[Armstead]

4. Please reread my post

I didn't say those issues don't matter.

I did say that there are issues that both transcend those and affect our ability to handle all other issues, including gender and racial inequities.

[redqueen]

5. The header is strongly-worded...

but it does seem to me that those middle-class minorities (not just blacks) who are harassed due to their skin color have less to complain about those who are scraping by, living in poverty, with no real chance at achieving the "American Dream", no matter what their skin color is.

[Armstead]

9. True about the header, but it was deliberate

It was frankly a visceral reaction to the spate of divisive and distracting threads on DU, and the larger tone the campaigns and the MSM are taking.

I'm pissed and frustrated about it, and the overstatement in my header reflected that....Plus, alas there isn't usually much room for subtlty in headers.

I could have written something like: "Race and gender are important, but the real issue is about class and economic and political inequality." But that wouldn't have fit.

[redqueen]

11. Well... strongly-worded or not... I like it the way it is.

Cause I agree completely.

[Armstead]

14. Thanks...and an excuse to....

:kick:

[watrwefitinfor]

17. Your header is perfect for the times.

'The only "Identity politics" that really matters is CLASS.'
Thank you for your post, Armstead, and for being a voice of sanity.

Wat

[harun]

3. I think about 80% of the people are already sidetracked

and I don't like to see that.

[Armstead]

20. I agree -- That's what's frustrating

If the General Election campaigns merely boils down to debates over the packaging a candidate happens to have been born into, while the real issues are ignored, it will be an unproductive exercise.

[redqueen]

6. Agreed. The other divisions that are stoked and worsened

are intended to ensure these issues never get wide attention from a large, united group of "have-nots".

[Armstead]

8. Exactamente -- As witness of the shallow debates over judicial nominations

Somehow whenever there is a nomination for the Supreme Court (or occasionally lower court positions) it ends up being all about abortion and religion.

The larger impact of the judiciary on such issues as consumer and workers' rights and civil rights and the basic role of government is pushed to the back.

[mitchum]

7. Absolutely! Identity partisans on both sides of the 2 party divide...

often ignore this overwhelming truth. Sometimes deliberately. Sometimes not.

[TheSource]

12. Class...

is associated with race aswell.

[Armstead]

13. It includes that but is not limited to it -- That's what is important

[ShortnFiery]

10. It don't matter WHAT you are as long as you have plenty of that "mean green"

you will do fine in the USA's budding right wing duopoly - run by the power elites within both the RNC and DLC.

Love Big Brother or your chocolate rations may be reduced. :evilgrin:

[Armstead]

35. Emphasis on Mean

[GodlessBiker]

15. You seem to want to stuff everything in a "class" box, but everything might not fit there.

Why is it necessary to make all issues subservient to class issues? Marx did that and it was a somewhat limiting. We simply don't break down along class lines all of the time.

[Armstead]

18. Wrong.

I agree that Society is a complex mix of many different segments and interests. There's class, race, religion, basic political stance, personal values, hobbies (guns) etc. etc. etc.

But ultimately, the ability of individuals and society to address issues is affected by such issues as who has access to the "public square" and the machinery of government and the ability to participate and ve visible in discussions and considerations of policies and values.

The ability of other issues to be dealt with also is determined by who has and controls the money and other resources.


So I'm NOT saying class is the only issue. But it underlies the ability to deal with most other issues.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

16. There is nothing the elites like more than these second-tier schisms

that distract us from uniting in a larger, more powerful base. But we will fight among ourselves for crumbs rather than demand our fair share of the loaf. The wealthy love that about us.

[redqueen]

19. Very well put.

Agree 100%. :thumbsup:

[Armstead]

21. God forbid Blacks and Whites and Women and Men should unite for economic justice

You're right. The more we get sidetracked, the more the status quo is able to embed itself.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

28. If you collect a paycheck, you are a serf in the eyes of the truly wealthy

Each of us may feel rich in comparison with someone who's worse off. I think it's part of our survival mechanism, a way to insulate ourselves against the fear of life's unpredictability.

But if we work then we are merely working class - we are all working class, and nothing but grist for the mill owners. When the most vulnerable have been squeezed dry and have nothing more to take, the laws are changed to make another segment more vulnerable so they can be squeezed too. And we are all at risk, no matter how large our houses or how numerous our vehicles, gadgets and toys. The New Deal is being turned upside down; we won't need history books to learn how terribly ordinary people suffered during the Gilded Age. Maybe that's what it will take to invigorate the populism that gave rise to the workers' rights for which my union father fought all his life, but I don't know what effect a global economy will have on a new movement. In my darkest moments I am glad that my parents passed away before this country began to lose/give up so much of what they fought to gain.

Edit to add, happy to K&R your fine OP. Yep, even in my darkest moments I can find some happiness. ;)

[sandnsea]

22. Class matters to poor white men

the way gender matters to women the way race matters to minorities.

Magnify the troubles of class x five and you grasp the trouble of gender, x ten and you begin to grasp the troubles of minorities.

[Armstead]

24. It also affects poor black women, poor black men, poor white women and...

everyone in the economically beseiged middle class.



One problem with identity politics is that it gets people with common economic and social interests to fight among themselves for crumbs from a shrinking pie.

The more of a pie there is to go round, the more people are also free to advocate on other issues affecting race and gender.

[sandnsea]

25. I understand your point

And I don't disagree with it. Gender and race issues are not supplanted by class issues. They compound, class, gender, race. Poor white men have a legitimate point about class, it's tough to come from nothing and be successful. It compounds for women and compounds again for gender. A little more empathy all the way around would be helpful.

[Armstead]

29. I agree that empathy would be helpful

We all need to focus more on what we have in common

[sandnsea]

32. We need to respect the differences

We need to recognize that each person's experience isn't the same and when someone says something is a problem, respect their point of view. I don't have to have anything in common with someone in order to do that.

[dragonkeep]

23. That's it in a nutshell.

It breaks down into the haves and the havenots every single time. I want a path so all our countrymen and women will be in the haves. Vote to make it so.

[Hippo_Tron]

26. Economic equality issues are inseperable from race and gender issues

[redqueen]

27. Strongly disagree. (nt)

[La Lioness Priyanka]

30. i agree that poverty is much bigger than any other oppression however its not the only

one that matters.

but to a degree i do believe that social change will not occur till poverty adn poor education has been eradicated

[redqueen]

31. social change will not occur till poverty and poor education have been eradicated

Agreed 100%

:hi:

[Armstead]

33. I overstated in my headline

I was getting fed up with the tone of the last few days, so I went a little bit overboard.

But I do believe firmly that the issues of economic inequality and the distortions of overall power are the key to effectively dealing with more specific problems.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

34. to a large degree i agree.

edited to add the word large