Just started Dream: Re-imagining Progressive Politics in an Age of Fantasy by Stephen Duncombe. The author thanks Jason Grote in the acknowledgments, so his every word is suspect.
Hey, that's my buddy. I love that book. Sometimes it seems like it doesn't know whether it wants to be an 05/06-type "what progressives should do now" book in the mold of What's The Matter with Kansas or Don't Think of an Elephant and more of an academic theoretical text, but I pretty much agree 100% with the ideas in there, and I appreciate that he keeps the ideas accessible to the average reader. Not everybody feels up for reading Žižek 100% of the time.
Just finished it. I'm persuaded. I have reservations about some of the people and organizations mentioned, but not his use of their example.
Mind if I ask who and why? I'm just curious -- totally fine if you don't feel like sharing.
Sure. Critical Mass, for one. Plenty of people do vital work that requires them to be punctual. What if a home health care provider needs to give someone medication on the hour, but can't because of a CM ride? Or working people who just need to be on time? Disrupting these people's lives doesn't seem ethical to me, and I wouldn't want an entity whose aims and values I share to be the guilty party. These are misgivings I have, not a blanket condemnation.
Rev. Billy has an air of sanctimony, even as he mocks it. More power to the guy if it's working.
The last example is Michael Moore , but with him I'm doing what Duncombe is arguing against. The emotional arguments that I'm suspicious of are a big part of his appeal.