Performative destruction
We’ve arrived here because we’ve put too many so-called leaders into power who are unwilling to detox from their addictions to power. The good news is, we do not have to stay here.
As I right this, a couple of days prior to publication, the House of Representatives is engaged in a high stakes performative, destructive playbook. A few members who revel in their influence hold up resolutions to keep the federal government funded after the end of the month. Millions of federal worker families have paychecks and healthcare on the line. These few members have nothing to lose by their actions.
And so we see in stark relief the way those who want to call themselves “leaders” behave. Some put the good of the team, organization, or community they serve ahead of their own benefit. Some put holding on to power before anything else. Perhaps they tell themselves they need to retain power to do some other bigger, better things. But those things never get done, because retaining power is a full-time job.
The few members playing with their power are a problem. The bigger problem is the leaders of their party who will not work with the other party for the good of the country. Bipartisan cooperation is toxic to their primaries.
And that’s the biggest problem of all. As voting rights have been constrained, and parties tenaciously gerrymander districts to make them non-competitive, primaries are all too often contests of the extremes. Few voters turn out, and the ones who do tend to be the hardest-liners of their positions. To make it through a primary, a congressional candidate often has to pander to the extremes. And since House terms are only two years, this creates a constant churn of performative extremism. This week, that performance threatens the well-being of millions of ordinary folk.
We’ve arrived here because we’ve put too many so-called leaders into power who are unwilling to detox from their addictions to power. The good news is, we do not have to stay here. Among the actions we can take:
Many organizations coalesce around voting access, ranked choice voting, and removing dark money from campaigns. Find the one or two that speak to you, and give them your support.
Vote in every primary, and refuse to support extremists in any way, in any party.
Write, call, email your representatives regularly, insisting they live up to their oaths of office and work for the benefit of all their constituents. Call out corruption and misinformation. Do not tolerate bad behavior. Let them know your support is contingent on them doing the job they were hired to do.
Above all, never give up working for justice and inclusion. We are all necessary voices in the fight for a more humane society.
Be safe and well.