"You can not have a government for and by the people if it is not represented by all of the people"

[JHan]

35. I thought she framed it eloquently.

"It's one of the most misused phrases in politics, though, weaponized by both the right and today's far left "

it is.

was disturbing to see how it was utilized in the immediate aftermath of the election.

During the election, and immediately after, WWC narratives centered around scolding those of us who emphasized that diverse representation matters. The argument was this made rustbelt whites feel left out: I always found this take insulting to those same people, is it that whites in the rustbelt can't stand discourse about social justice.. ??

Then there was the criticism from the "far left" that Democrats would win these whites who vote Republican by being more "socialist" and focusing less on identity politics. The idea that white conservatives ( 2 years after voting Obama these people voted the tea party in )are actually socialists in hiding who would only vote Democrat if the party leaned far more to the left is a funny kind of pretzel logic. Anything to avoid "identity politics" I suppose. Republican policies are unpopular, yet these people consistently vote Republican. "Economic anxiety" has little to do with it.

And "Identity politics" critiques really only came in vogue post-civil rights - as one would expect but it was always a factor in American politics.

Take a look at this memo from Truman's re-election campaign of 1948. It blows a hole in the idea that identity politics is a modern day invention by Democrats. For Clark Clifford, it was imperative the Dem Coalition remain united, and he acknowledges the uneasy alliance between disparate groups with interests which don't always overlap.

He mentions farmers, labor, northern "liberals", Italians, "Negroes", Jews, Catholics. He talks about the necessity to form an intricate web of connections through triangulation. A lesson in how the sausage gets made.

So the idea that if you just focus on economics and policies, the Republicans will be defeated has been a really poor myopic reading for a long time now. It's often said we're "divided", without further interrogation as to what we're divided over and why. What has happened is one party has succumbed to ethnonationalism and full-blown white supremacy, doubling down on white resentment and anger. They've gamed the system to ensure they can continually use legislation as a weapon against the vulnerable.

So the most effective way to resist is to demonstrate we are the opposite to Republicans. We care about diversity, we listen to all Americans to the benefit of all. And this is just fact. It's been shown that when women are elected, issues pertaining to women are addressed more effectively. More diverse representation shifts dynamics and focus. I still remember the meme last year of dogs in a room discussing health care for cats was it? as an analogy for while male Republicans deciding what's best for all women.

Appreciating diversity doesn't mean we open our arms to the intolerant. Even peace agreements have terms and conditions but our inclusive vision is the polar opposite of our divisive opponents, and we shouldn't be ashamed of it.