Progressives nationwide have with good reason grown to be very proud of their social reach through online forums and discussion groups. Whether it is DailyKos, public feeds on Facebook, private groups on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, etc. Getting the message out is a dedicated goal of progressives and over the last ten years plus we've watched it grow. Unfortunately, at the same time we've seen a rise of progressive cynicism and a real world lack of action.
In an essay for the National Journal, John Judis argues that the current trends within the country, specifically amongst the working class and middle class are not working in the favor of Democrats as had been expected in his essay several years ago called The Emerging Democratic Majority.
In his new essay, Judis argues that the trend lines work against Democrats in part due to population shift, messaging and the way that isn't hitting home to voters.
Salon and others also take a swipe at what is happening - noting that one of the problems is that Democrats continue to bet on rising populations of minority population aren't solidly democratic, especially Hispanic and Asian American communities.
What has caused this shift in expected outcomes from a look years ago to a current outlook? The answer is far more simple than we want to admit: the assumption of a certainty has led to far less reliable work, both in the field and in the way we recruit candidates.
In 2011, Avaaz, an online advocacy organization argued that online advocacy highlights issues, raises attention to concerns and because of that it is important for advancing political issues. In the article for The Guardian, they note that this growth of online discussion helps benefit not just their causes but the information level of their readers.
On the whole, it is hard to disagree with this argument - the more well informed people are in general, through whatever means, the better. Critics argued that clicktavism was too simple, meant little because it both took seconds and required little ongoing action. The key argument of groups such as Avaaz and others (including MoveOn, etc.) was that this online activism could be turned into a way to garner email addresses, lists of advocates to help influence the world far more than just a click on a form.
In 2010, Micah White argued that Clicktavism was hurting the progressive movement - an article that garnered more than a few negative responses.
Now, however four years down the road we have to look back and wonder where exactly did the open advocacy go in the real world? The reason why this is important is simple: by removing ourselves from actual on the ground advocacy and circulating petitions, do we open ourselves up to be overtaken by cynicism?
There are few better examples than the current status of protest in America. In 1965, protestors flocked to Selma, Alabama to protest the civil rights violations in regards to African American voters. Churches and those concerned traveled hundreds of miles to form a throng of more than 25,000 people at the Selma, Alabama courthouse.
Over a course of six days, more than 3,000 were arrested many white progressives along with African Americans who traveled to Selma to stand up for their community.
These forms of on the ground protests not only helped get people to vote - an important social right - they also helped build the progressive movement in the south and nationwide. By putting some skin in the game, those who had traveled to stand with those in open support of their just cause, the Democratic Party managed to make significant inroads into those communities and build significant real-world relationships with decision makers and leaders in those communities.
This is key. Democracy Journal argues that the change in demographics in this country isn't a sure lift to the Democratic Party for numerous reasons - most important of which that the Democratic Party hasn't managed to put down roots in those communities that explain not just our issues but to include them in the process.
The lesson gained in the 1960s, and even to some extent beyond was that long term investments in the growth of the party can't simply be done through online advocacy. The requirement for success is real world connections that form the social relationships that guide results.
Think about this for a second: for every petition and click of like you've done on facebook or twitter, have you met that person? Do you know others who've signed similar petitions or action personally?
It's good - and important - to share the message. I definitely feel as though sharing information, including diaries like this one remain a key component of the democratic strategy. Beyond that, however, there comes a time when only shoe leather really works.
Judis argues in his most recent article that:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/...
NONE OF THIS is to suggest that America is headed toward an era of Republican domination. Going forward, the country's politics is likely to remain on a seesaw. What's clear, however, is that the Democratic advantage of several years ago is gone. And the seeds of a slight Republican advantage appear to have taken root, particularly in governor's mansions, state legislatures, and the U.S. House, where Republicans sport majorities they haven't enjoyed since the Hoover-Coolidge 1920s.
The point not being made though is the most direct one: what challenge - of any sort - are Democrats putting up to prevent this? With large swaths of seats left unchallenged in 2014, is the Republican majority the result of Republicans having a message hit home or Democrats conceding elections?
It may be a little bit of both - but the reality is, unless progressives are prepared to do more work than "click" and "share", we will struggle to gain ground in communities that have a real world desire to see participation by activists that extend beyond a computer screen.
Fivethirtyeight.com makes an effective argument that part of the reason why this happens is because Progressives have decided that giving up ground is far easier than standing for issues.
In the longterm, this creates significant pockets that act as large echo chambers of people who agree with us - and it lowers the number of on the ground voices that broadly disagree with conservative policies.
Sharing information is important - click, share, pass off to a friend. In order for Democrats to grow and expand into emerging communities we actually have to go there - beyond the internet. Democrats must be prepared to speak to them directly, not through text. They must be prepared to recruit and support candidates from those communities.
Ferguson, Missouri was a wakeup call. Lots of clicks and shares. The advocacy that mattered though occurred as people worked to register voters in that community immediately after. Now the follow up: are we prepared to put the work in to recruit and build in communities and show them support?
No one 'owes' progressives a vote. We have to earn it. My question is: are you prepared to get out from behind a keyboard and try to earn that vote in the communities that are waiting for a proof that we care?