I’ll be turning sixty five this July so you’d think I would have known better. From the time I quit college, I had no belief that what passes for democracy in this country could be seriously reformed through our existing institutions. I distrusted both major political parties and doubted it was possible to ever create a significant or even viable third.
Living without this kind of belief is hard. Although I have, in many ways, embraced the resulting cynicism as a lifestyle, it drains an important part of life out of you. Luckily I also trusted that working with people less fortunate than I would be a worthwhile way to spend my life. A romanticized vision of an existential existence personified by the doctor in Albert Camus’s book, The Plague. And for most of my years that has been true.
Creating a school for dropouts in Chicago, trying to stem gang violence, pushing from my alternative school platform for educational reform; working at Boston’s Project Place, a worker-controlled social service agency that provided free services and also struggled to create an alternative to the usual hierarchical structures; having a private practice in counseling; fighting in the world of law for workers injured or killed by corporate indifference. All these years, all these efforts fed the meter.
Even when turning to detective fiction, I harbored the notion if I were able to honestly write about people’s interior lives and relationships, that too would be worthwhile to others and more important than just living for myself.
Throughout all that time I refused to vote for any major party presidential candidate except George McGovern. Even when folks beat on me for refusing to vote for Democrats like Humphrey and Clinton, I continued to believe that real change could never come about through our traditional institutions. A belief that was reinforced through my work with civil and criminal courts which exposed the nakedly blatant deck-stacking.
Then came Obama and I dropped my guard. I’ve written before about why I supported him, so no need to tread over old territory. But we’re almost six years in and my armor is back in place. Even his quasi-reforms don’t cut it. Especially when matched with the same old, same old that’s been a hallmark of his presidency.
In fact, the best I can say about his election (other than breaking the race barrier) is the preview of our new demographics and that was going to happen with or without him, and with or without some half-ass immigration “reform” laws.
So, “I’m back, I’m back. I’m back to where I once belonged.” But it’s different now. Or, more specifically, I’m different. It’s worse than ever. I don’t know how the “seduced and abandoned” factor figures in, but I can’t even imagine how anything can change for the better, something I’ve always been able to do.
This loss saddens me. The space where there was once an unbending hope for the future has been replaced by fear, loathing, and a deep sense of generational failure.
Yes, my generation has helped in some areas–race, women’s rights, LGBT rights and more, but it wasn’t and isn’t enough. I realized that when I looked at The Way We Live Now chart I included in my August 29th post. (middle of : http://zacharykleinonline.com/political/what-the-hell-are-we-4/) So much pain, so many lost lives, so little gain.
It’s kind of shocking when one is faced with their own naiveté. Add to that the painful realization that I’m saddened by what I see rather than juiced by anger. I’m sure some of these feelings are related to my own mortality. But some have to do with revisiting that existential reality and truly understanding the hopelessness that doctor faced in fighting the plague. As my cousin’s comment said on last Monday’s post, “What has become of us?” What I didn’t respond but probably should have, “Twas ever thus.”
Even with all that I’m feeling, I’m just not ready to throw in the towel. Maybe it’s because I see the work my son and his wife are doing along with others like him. Maybe it’s because I see that the Internet has given the fight a powerful new weapon and arena from its role in the Arab Spring to the petitions and notes flooding my inbox. Or, maybe it’s because I’m a stubborn son of a bitch. It doesn’t matter. I’ll continue to vote in local elections, sign those petitions, do my write ins for president, and occasionally demonstrate. But what matters to me NOW is making sure the candle is lit for those who follow.
Keep Hope Alive—Jessie Jackson
“Resistance is futile” ~Star Trek: The Next Generation, Borg.
Don: ““Resistance is futile”” Not always nor forever.
Lighting candles….
Millions upon millions go about their lives barely cognizant of politics. It’s just noise to them. This doesn’t work, because, as our friend Eric pointed out long ago, the “other side” is playing for keeps. Since then I’ve seen the truth of his warning. Cringing and recoiling from the relentless strategic attacks and distractions, there is no access to push progressive ideas.
We hear pols saying they want to make things “better” and need to believe them. What goes unsaid, but is clear in the results, is they want to make things better for themselves and their benefactors. Maybe someday, something will reunite our splintered common causes into a working model of governance.
From their cold dead hands…
Bill: ” Maybe someday, something will reunite our splintered common causes into a working model of governance.” If there is one over-riding thing that progressives need to do is begin to build an umbrella organization that has the potential of building a coalition of all our splintered groups. Seem like the logical first step.
Hi Zach,
Sorry to be pessimistic again, but in responding to a post like this it is the only way at this time.
Arab Spring? NPR just had street interviews in Egypt where almost everyone said conditions are worse than before the uprising. Revolts that, from the beginning, are controlled and directed away from the elites are not true revolutions and are a waste of time and life.
The internet? There is so much contradictory information on it, that there is no way the average person can figure out what is true. There is a massive overload of subjects, that dilutes people’s power, and keeps their focus hopelessly off the main problem. Also, as the internet is quickly more controlled, anything of a threat to those in power has, or will be, bought off or suppressed one way or another.
Your son and wife are doing wonderful work, I’m sure. But they are in a small minority. Many young people are going gung-ho into the armed forces and are happy to go wherever they are told, do to whoever whatever they are told, and don’t even consider asking WHY. The great majority of people under 40 who don’t go, cheer them on and call them heroes. Along with 90% of society from the far right to the democrats, liberals and most so-called progressives. And all significant media in the country are on board.
I guess there is only one slim hope–that we muddle through this. It’s possible, I guess.
Then again, I recall a quote from my favorite rock star, Lennon (Grin)–“There are decades where nothing happens; and then there are weeks where decades happen.”
Jed: “Then again, I recall a quote from my favorite rock star, Lennon (Grin)–”There are decades where nothing happens; and then there are weeks where decades happen.”” Which is why I ended the post with the line about keeping the candle lit. That’s become our responsibility in the face of all the ugly.
Sorry, Zach, but I forgot 1 thing and you’ve got me going–Obama.
It makes absolutely no difference who is put up as the candidate. Matter of fact, it is very smart to put up a black, a gay, a woman, American Indian, etc. It keeps the illusion of democracy going even though they are as beholden to the powers that be as anyone.
I will not vote in this next presidential election, although I believe it will be very interesting. Tea-party like candidates, I believe, have an excellent chance to win the White House. Even though they too will be beholden, and unable to do what they would like, a large section of elites will not be happy with this because it works against the illusion of democracy.
Maybe they will try to undercut that possibility by a Hillary Clinton, or someone similar, candidacy. They then have someone in power, who except for a few social issues, is right wing, militaristic and an avid champion of the entrenched powers. As a woman, and supposed liberal, she would help them preserve the illusion of economic and political freedom while carrying out their agenda.
Jed: “I will not vote in this next presidential election, although I believe it will be very interesting.” Well, like I said, I’ll do a write in. And I meant it.
If Obama can’t get things done, who can? Its just unfathomomable to me me how a sane human being can actually vote along “party lines” knowing deep inside it truly is not for the greater good. A small example of whats wrong w/ the 535 people who manage this country. Our government is broken, folks, and until we fix it, we have no shot. All we can do is babble about it, until its too late. We ‘re devouring ourselves from the inside out. As long as everybody has that “I got mine” attitude, nothing will change. US Government — not too big to fail.
Hank–“As long as everybody has that “I got mine” attitude, nothing will change.” Doesn’t get any truer than this.
I read review of book by psychologist that put your last two columns in a new light. Argument is that “global warming” is beyond dispute and fatal. People live with ambivalence of knowing we are heading for destruction and needing to avoid the indisputable. This natural state leads to depression.
I tried to find name of book. ( I think I saw it on Truthdig )
We need a way out of this helpless feeling
Fuck the “pessimism”
Let’s find way to get engaged.
Which can lead to happiness
Obama result was no surprise
Instead of expecting more fr him
We need to harness energy
Ron: “We need a way out of this helpless feeling.” Well, from Lord of The Rings: “Where there’s a whip, there’s a way.