Imagine If This Moment Was Not About The Ascent of Authoritarians, But About A New Birth Of Global Freedom...

[pat_k]

Just Imagine.....

... that the awfulness of Trumpism could help teach rising generations throughout the world the lesson the Founders tried to teach us 250 years ago - that democracy is a far better path than autocracy and oligarchy and very much worth fighting for; and how in Hungary, in Ukraine, and in our coming elections what we may we be seeing is a spark that brings us a “new birth of freedom” here and everywhere. I closed out the night by reading the Gettysburg Address, revisiting Lincoln’s powerful challenge to dedicate ourselves to “the great task remaining before us” -

that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth....

What if we could look back at this year, 2026, ten years from now, not as one where freedom was lost but where it was renewed, restored and regained momentum? Where governments “of the people, by the people, for the people” did not perish from the earth……

...Imagine if we were to win and Elon, and Putin, and Trump, and Orban, were to lose? Imagine……

I think this is the future we want. And thus we must start imagining it, and begin building a politics that makes it far more likely.

I don’t know what that politics looks like, exactly. I don’t know what this global pro-democracy movement’s rallying cry is going to be, what symbols will animate our fight or who will lead us. But we’ve seen early pieces of it in the weary but determined eyes of Zelensky, of the grace and courage of Maria Corina Machado, of the beauty of the new Syrian currency unveiled this week…..

of the brave women in Iran throwing off their head scarves and challenging one of the most oppressive regimes in modern history…..

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. I don't have to imagine...

I know it is.

[pat_k]

3. I am committed doing my little bit to make the vision reality...

And I have faith that we can make substantial strides before the decade is out.

Where my faith is shakey is that we WILL make such strides.

So many people have come to view "government" as an alien and oppressive being, rather an expression of collective will that is ultimately ours to shape.

Voting is the minimum. I see more people getting into the fray as citizen lobbyists, pushing our electeds to lead and actually build the political will for things like universal health care. That gives me hope.

Where my faith is shaken is when I'm confronted with people -- particularly young people - who are so alienated and immobilized they've lost hope.

[Fiendish Thingy]

5. Fearless progressive governance is the antidote to apathy and cynicism.

If we elect fearless representatives who will govern with the people’s best interests in mind, voter apathy will evaporate.

Expanding the court, and killing the filibuster to do so is an essential first step.

[pat_k]

6. Hear! Hear!

[Scrivener7]

2. I love this.

[pat_k]

4. You might also like some of these inspiring quotes:

Finding ways to inspire hope and action -- for ourselves and others -- is the key to making the vision a reality. Sometimes something as simple as a timeless quote helps.

https://www.greatergoodusa.com/quotes/