Two Different Mindsets at DU

[frazzled]

32. You cannot have policy without politics

I think that's a lesson Paul Krugman learned, and eventually readjusted his focus on advocating policy to include the political landscape as well.

Both sides of which you speak (though I think this is a cartoon) are interested in policy. But you can yelp about policy all you want: without a means to actually enact policy, it's mere pipe dreaming.

The problem with one of these sides (I won't mention which) is that, seeing their policy goals—which we mostly all share—fail to be enacted, on their timetable, their attitude is to go hook and claw into the very people who might best help, eventually, to achieve those goals. It's definitely a sticks approach, when carrots are what is needed.

Believe me, we will never, EVER, achieve progressive goals by trying to eviscerate our closest allies. It only impedes the long-term achievement of policy goals, because it actually plays into the opposition side, which will never, EVER, accede to these policies.

Bashing and rejecting Democrats hurts progressive policies. I'm not saying we should not criticize conservative Democrats. But what we should be trying to do is empower them to make the right choices: this will happen only if and when their constituents want those policies. We need to focus our efforts on convincing average Americans about policy. The politicians will follow.

This is how the very smart strategists of the gay rights movement have won their remarkable victories over the past five years: working with the system, and WITH Democrats, and moving the public through a decades-long project of coming out to show the nation that they are our friends, neighbors, and family.