A quilt. Also a metaphor for the contradiction of both diversity and unity, together.
I’ve been puzzling over the divide between Democrats this election cycle. I’ve seen a lot of people, high profile people, claim “they don’t know what happened to this site”. Well, I think I may have an answer: A Presidential Election Season. Between Presidential elections I call this place – in my mind as I type the address – “The Daily Rage Machine”. I come here to see what I should have my blood up about. Trade deals, pipelines, racism, the latest stupid thing. And I do find it helps me keep connected to the the pulse on the left. The research is generally pretty good and the comments fill in details that really help when talking with other people about the issues. DailyKos between Presidential elections _is a highly progressive site_, radical progressive. Sanders supporters and Hillary supporters blend together and feel right at home. They blend because, ultimately, nothing is at stake. We’re just a crowed of people fighting for each other and we may not support the more radical voices, or the more centrist voices, but we know we are all marching in the same direction. We all want to end up in the capital with an agenda that is going to help people.
But one thing I have learned is that you don’t really know the limits of a relationship until something is at stake between you and the other person(s). It seems to me that Progressives with a passion for social justice pretty much run this place between Presidential elections. But they are a minority in the total base among Democrats. When an election roles around Democrats of all kinds flock to this site and, shudder, change it. It becomes unrecognizable to people who keep this site going between cycles. The issues change, the slant on the issues changes, the tolerance for radicalism shifts, the in jokes shift. Everything changes because a broader more diverse group of people use the site for their own purposes.
Add to this Kos himself who has a no nonsense “Elect Democrats” purpose for this site and people start to get bounced around, bumped, hurt, sometimes trampled.
Keeping perspective has been the guiding light for me this season. Yes, I’ve had it with Sanders and my comments reflect that. But Sanders is not the enemy. His supporters are not the enemy. I’m not their enemy. At worst, I’m wrong. I certainly have my doubts. But I am also pretty satisfied with my research on the issues, my options, and my choices.
I trust through continued dialogue around the issues and the actual options available we will all come back together. Let’s not burn bridges or engage in acts of self exile.
peace
