Back in the day when “Crashing the Gate” was new and Kos was doing a book tour, I met him at Monkeywrench Books in Austin. It was a very Austin crowd mainly, somebody even brought beers. We even had a 9/11 Truther who kos, to his credit, shut down when he tried to derail the Q&A with his absurdities. I got off work early to meet him and hear him speak and I brought my copy of the book and a friend’s for kos to sign but it was exceptionally difficult just to get his attention, even though I had gotten there very early.
You see there was this one guy who HAD to dominate kos’s attention at all times before and after his talk. You know the type: the stereotypical “Liberal elitist” sobriquet suited him to a tee. Educated, bespectacled and well dressed in an expensive outfit designed to look “poor”, looking imperiously at anyone else who deigned to address either kos or himself as if he were inspecting a particularly disgusting bit of filth. I did manage to shoehorn my way into the conversation long enough to get his signature but for the most part, Mr. Elitist snob made sure to thoroughly disapprove of everyone else that came with 10 feet of kos, while they were engaged in a deep conversation which it seemed we proles couldn’t possibly understand. You know, sometimes it’s easy to see why working class voters gravitate toward a populist against their own best interests because despite his transparent lies, the shitgibbon knows how to give them, (us) a level of lip service that hasn’t really been a thing in the Democratic Party since, well, ever, in my memory at least. Even Carter’s message was muted by the Democratic establishment who still believe they are better than all others. Most of the rest of us have been reduced to a fucking ATM. Money machines who are to do as we are told and not be too loud or balky.
At the time, I thought kos looked annoyed and I attributed it to Mr. Snob shooing and disapproving everyone else away but in the last several years and after some of my own online interactions with kos, I have come to believe that he wasn’t annoyed with Mr. Snob but with the rest of us gathered there behind Forbidden Fruit on E North Loop, off Lamar. I’ve stuck around here because I thought alternative media is a good thing and is worthy of support but it seems to me like “Crashing the Gate” is now more like “Guarding the Gate” and I have, (once again) been left on the other side of the gate I helped crash these last 20+ years. I haven’t yet decided what I’m going to do but since the election, I feel like I‘m a 1960 Chevy Impala, stuck in mud up to the axles. I’m flinging mud everywhere but only getting more stuck.
I guess that metaphor can describe my relationship with the entire Democratic Party. I’ve never been comfortable in an alliance with the Elitists and party officials but the United States system being what it is, I’ve been largely accepting of reality. Recently some more of my “allies” have made it clear that they are only in it for themselves and are either going to bail out of the country or double down on protecting their core constituencies, while broke ass f*gs like myself can go to hell. I’m sick of fighting for other people’s causes, (like marriage equality for example) on the theory that a rising tide lifts all boats, only to be left swamped in the end. Because time and time again, I have devoted years and decades helping achieve success for other people’s lives and being flipped off like a booger when they achieve success.
I’m not saying that there are not good Democrats. For the most part the party is genuinely concerned with promoting the general welfare of the people, (hmmm where have I heard that before? 🤔) but they are hopelessly, intractably stuck in the network of wining and dining with people who give them checks of 7 figures instead of the millions and millions of folks like myself who stretch their gas budgets or decide that we can keep using that buzzy microwave so we can divvy up some very precious income among Democratic candidates. The only time they pay any “attention” to us at all is when their algorithms take a few nanoseconds to send us a couple of dozen AI generated money begs every day. Yes, they need to fundraise but they need to understand what kind of sacrifice it is for us to send until it hurts. In spite of spending thousands on this election, despite being unable to afford it, I now have all 3 branches of Government filled with people who want me dead, imprisoned or deported.
It’s okay though! The Democratic Party is definitely going to fight for me in 2026, as long as I start sending them checks now. Daily Kos is going to move forward with a bold new platform with new, exciting writers and my (now hugely increased) subscription will be used for all kinds of good. Good for who though? The Clintons, the Obamas, the Pelosis, the Gores, etc., etc are all going to be alright. I’m sure they are all very concerned about trans Americans having a giant pink, triangular target on our backs but there’s nothing they can do about it, you see. Not until I send them more money so they can take the fight to the Republicans©!
So when I came across this little gem….
The harsh reality is that Democratic voters will be less affected by Trump’s policies. Yes, it’s generalizing, but Democrats are generally more educated, earn higher incomes, and live in places with strong local Democratic government, infrastructure, and support.
There are 20 states and D.C. above the national average in per capita GDP. Vice President Kamala Harris won 14 of them. Of the 31 states below the national per capita GDP average, Trump won 25.
….I strained a muscle rolling my eyes. In a way I agree with the sentiment. Sometimes you just have to let the plane crash but this callus, uncaring, metaphorical shrug at the misery that is in store for allies(!) rubs me the wrong way, to put it mildly. It’s pretty abominable to basically say, “Well, sucks to be you but at least I’ll be okay” but here we are. I gave, I worked and I sacrificed and I think that’s worthy of a bit more than this frank dismissal of what I’m facing. I recently cut all contact with MAGA friends and family members because they can’t say they love me while embracing the party that wants me punished for being who I am. Now we have kos essentially saying that I’m collateral damage, so oh well. I guess I should have expected it after his argument that it’s more acceptable to slaughter Palestinian Israeli children than Jewish Israeli kids.
I’m sure it’s going to be a great comfort to my when I look out my barred window as the great DNC’s Elysium floats majestically across the sky, knowing how well taken care of all of them are. Until Democrats figure out how to stop being so fucking tone deaf, I honestly don’t have a lot of hope. I’m less educated. I earn a lower income. I live in Texas. And I’m a fucking Democrat, kos. I don’t deserve either your sneers or your dismissal, anymore than I deserve the punishment heading my way. Next time someone asks you why we lose elections, look at yourself and look at the Democratic Establishment. Why do you get to be okay while I now get to suffer even greater misery than the MAGAs who surround me? IF I’m still in a position to be allowed to cast my vote in 2026 or 2028, what makes you think the Democrats will deserve it? Hell, they’re already demanding I give them MORE money, once again promising shit that they have never been able to deliver.
I know that Trump doesn’t care about the working class. You know that Trump doesn’t care about the working class. It’s not a state secret. The difference is that he and Republicans have figured out something that still inexplicably escapes Democrats; they know how to pretend to care, while you guys who travel in the executive circles of the Democratic Party don’t seem to be able to avoid sneering at the working class, much less pretend to care about us. I know it because I served and because I read but clearly that isn’t enough of a constituency to win. Going around and saying that the working class are a bunch of bigoted, mouth breathing morons who deserve what they get may seem satisfying but it’s not winning new voters.
Posting this now but I have to leave for work soon, (working class and all) so I won’t be around till later.
