I think “Democrat Socialist” may be one of those terms like “intifada” that means wildly different things to different people. The NYC group has a platform that is absurd. They may think Zoran is winking and nodding to the “normies” but I suspect it is the other way around. He is winking and nodding to the DS but doesn’t intend to try to…
I think “Democrat Socialist” may be one of those terms like “intifada” that means wildly different things to different people. The NYC group has a platform that is absurd. They may think Zoran is winking and nodding to the “normies” but I suspect it is the other way around. He is winking and nodding to the DS but doesn’t intend to try to implement their platform. Why? Because he didn’t strike me as a fanatic or stupid and you would have to be both to think that that platform has any realistic chance of being implemented in NYC. You can’t seize the means of production on a city by city basis. Ditto, abolish police, open prisons, make education free, etc., etc. ad nauseam. And nauseating is what it is. Nauseatingly childish and stupid. Like they think these are realistic goals for a mayor anywhere without massive change at the national level. I suspect he means “Democratic Socialist” in the European sense like more progressive or left-wing approaches to govt services and wealth inequality and its by products, but essentially co-existing with capitalism. And THAT, at the city level, is something that might just incline him to trying things others haven’t for fear of the label. And maybe he is trying to make the word “socialist” less scary, less like a bogeyman. Countries like France, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, etc. all have some parties with some “socialist” or “socialism” in their names and yet these countries appear to be doing just fine on the capitalism front while also having much better outcomes on fronts like education and health care.
I think the same thing is true of “intifada.” No matter what some people meant when they said it, the phrase is like a game of telephone that can end up having a very different meaning after many layers. I suspect that a lot of young, progressive/liberal protestors don’t know anything about the first or the second intifada and aren’t intending to advocate for the eradication of the state of israel, let alone all Jews, but just mean equality or justice (again a very slippery word) for Palestinians. Maybe they should know? Perhaps it is irresponsible? Maybe for someone who first uttered it. But I can’t believe that thousands of college students mean to endorse killing Jews or Israelis. A lot of these people are extremely earnest young people. Moreover, those opposed to a Palestinian state or to any change in the status quo seem to interpret any support for Palestinians as necessarily supporting the worst atrocities of Oct. 7th or that the are secretly applauding same. I just don’t think that is true. I fully support the right of Israel to exist and also support some sort of justice for palestinians who were cruelly dispossessed. No one can return the world to the status quo ante, nor should we want to. At the same time, it seems like this region will continue to be a site of conflict as long as Palestinians do not achieve some sort of equal status either within Israel or in a separate sovereign state that is not subjected to continuous occupation. It is unjust.
On a side note: “Karen” was always a misogynist label. Not trying to defend the folks that inspired the label, but I view it as tinged with the general misogyny in the culture that reserves a special hatred for women who aren’t “nice”, who speak loudly, who have strong opinions. It is a way to shame and silence them. Just ask Ellen DeGeneres. DeGeneres may actually be a pill, but how many celebrity men are “pills” and weren’t subjected to publication shaming. Indeed, some of these guys who had a folksy, approachable public persona like Jerry Lewis were actually SOBs (reportedly) and some, like Bill Cosby were sexual predators. I don’t think for one minute that all the public figures who are assholes IRL, let alone sexual predators, have been outed. Not by a long shot. So if some people were calling you a “Karen” Sarah just chalk it up to garden variety misogyny and ignore it. That’s my take anyway.
I think “Democrat Socialist” may be one of those terms like “intifada” that means wildly different things to different people. The NYC group has a platform that is absurd. They may think Zoran is winking and nodding to the “normies” but I suspect it is the other way around. He is winking and nodding to the DS but doesn’t intend to try to implement their platform. Why? Because he didn’t strike me as a fanatic or stupid and you would have to be both to think that that platform has any realistic chance of being implemented in NYC. You can’t seize the means of production on a city by city basis. Ditto, abolish police, open prisons, make education free, etc., etc. ad nauseam. And nauseating is what it is. Nauseatingly childish and stupid. Like they think these are realistic goals for a mayor anywhere without massive change at the national level. I suspect he means “Democratic Socialist” in the European sense like more progressive or left-wing approaches to govt services and wealth inequality and its by products, but essentially co-existing with capitalism. And THAT, at the city level, is something that might just incline him to trying things others haven’t for fear of the label. And maybe he is trying to make the word “socialist” less scary, less like a bogeyman. Countries like France, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, etc. all have some parties with some “socialist” or “socialism” in their names and yet these countries appear to be doing just fine on the capitalism front while also having much better outcomes on fronts like education and health care.
I think the same thing is true of “intifada.” No matter what some people meant when they said it, the phrase is like a game of telephone that can end up having a very different meaning after many layers. I suspect that a lot of young, progressive/liberal protestors don’t know anything about the first or the second intifada and aren’t intending to advocate for the eradication of the state of israel, let alone all Jews, but just mean equality or justice (again a very slippery word) for Palestinians. Maybe they should know? Perhaps it is irresponsible? Maybe for someone who first uttered it. But I can’t believe that thousands of college students mean to endorse killing Jews or Israelis. A lot of these people are extremely earnest young people. Moreover, those opposed to a Palestinian state or to any change in the status quo seem to interpret any support for Palestinians as necessarily supporting the worst atrocities of Oct. 7th or that the are secretly applauding same. I just don’t think that is true. I fully support the right of Israel to exist and also support some sort of justice for palestinians who were cruelly dispossessed. No one can return the world to the status quo ante, nor should we want to. At the same time, it seems like this region will continue to be a site of conflict as long as Palestinians do not achieve some sort of equal status either within Israel or in a separate sovereign state that is not subjected to continuous occupation. It is unjust.
On a side note: “Karen” was always a misogynist label. Not trying to defend the folks that inspired the label, but I view it as tinged with the general misogyny in the culture that reserves a special hatred for women who aren’t “nice”, who speak loudly, who have strong opinions. It is a way to shame and silence them. Just ask Ellen DeGeneres. DeGeneres may actually be a pill, but how many celebrity men are “pills” and weren’t subjected to publication shaming. Indeed, some of these guys who had a folksy, approachable public persona like Jerry Lewis were actually SOBs (reportedly) and some, like Bill Cosby were sexual predators. I don’t think for one minute that all the public figures who are assholes IRL, let alone sexual predators, have been outed. Not by a long shot. So if some people were calling you a “Karen” Sarah just chalk it up to garden variety misogyny and ignore it. That’s my take anyway.