The first virtual Democratic National Convention was historic. The theme of its first night on Monday night was all about unity, voting, and promoting real leadership in opposition to the Trump agenda. We know that a bipartisan intel report showed that the Trump campaign chair is in constant communication with a Russian officer. The whole first day was about appealing to both progressives and anti-Trump Republicans like John Kaisich. John Kasich is right that Trump has shown bad policies, but we know that moderation doesn't work to eliminate structural inequality. Bernie Sanders gave an articulate, powerful speech on opposing oligarchy. I do agree with Bernie Sanders that people should have a $15 minimum wage, universal pre-K, investments in infrastructure, universal health care, climate change policies, end private prisons, and eliminate cash bail. Biden may not be the candidate that many of us desire, but the only way Trump is out of office is to vote Trump out. We witness the most important election of our lifetimes. There is no need to embrace fantasy. Lives are at stake. So, we should push Joe Biden to be more progressive as he is a neoliberal centrist. We should call for an explicit black agenda including reparations for black Americans. Yet, if we sit out this election, Trump may be re-elected and the lives of millions of people could be ruined. That is why it is a necessary duty to vote.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama gave a passionate, thoughtful speech about the times that we live in. She said that Trump is not prepared to deal with the complex nature of the Presidency. The Presidency requires not only experience, but folks need intellectual curiosity, empathy, compassion, and a sense of character. We all know what Trump's character is consisted of. Michelle Obama later gave arguments on why voting is important, about how the nation has the right to be better, and going higher never means to grovel in the midst of injustice. Going high revolves around confronting evil in order making sure that the oppressed and all people experience justice comprehensively. We also have to be careful. Christie Todd Whitman was involved in the 9/11 air quality scandal. The change in America will not come by solely courting never Trump Republicans. Progressives, black people, other people of color, the young, etc. must be energized to vote. Also, we shouldn't compromise our core convictions. Biden should be pressured to be more progressive.
We know that far right extremists are wrong on many issues. Yet, it is always important to expose neoliberals and members of the liberal establishment (not progressives). Neoliberals are funded by multinational corporations and various large foundations in order to show a smokescreen of progress without nothing fundamentally changing for the common people (especially for the working class, grassroots people). One example is how the centrists and many of the Hollywood crowd praise Cardi B, but she is a person saying the n word, admits to have ties to the Bloods street gang, caught admitting that she drugs people for nefarious purposes, and called black women roaches. It is is the height of hypocrisy to claim that calling yourself anti-black slurs and anti-women slurs in music is somehow reclaiming your identity.
I'm consistent, because I don't agree with any musician (from 50 Cent, NWA, and to Luke) claiming that using anti-black slurs (or using misogyny in music) is somehow keeping it real, but these same musicians wouldn't dare use slurs about other groups of people because their careers would be gone. The common weak argument from those who support anti-black degradation in music is that they have free speech rights. They do have free speech rights, but we have the free speech right to critique or disagree with their dehumanizing product. See, freedom is a 2 way street. Even the greatest art in human history was critiqued without censorship. There is nothing wrong with being woke, but we can't be a fake woke. Another one of these fake woke people is Bill Maher. Maher said the n word, used a token apology, and supports policies of the war on terror. Tomi Lahren is known for disrespecting Maxine Waters and other progressives too. So, Tomi is wrong. This system is bigger than musicians (as large corporations fund many of these musicians to spew the debasement of our people for profit). It is about a system of oppression that must end.
Trump retweeted a post from the right wing extremist Brandon Straka about letting Democratic cities to rot. This comes after many protesters oppose the death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other black human beings. Trump is desperate for votes, so he is using overt racism, and promoting divisions instead of solutions. Straka is a Trump supporter. We know who Trump is and what he represents. Trump claims that the U.S. coronavirus numbers are better than almost all countries when the USA has the most deaths of any country on Earth as a product of the coronavirus. While over 21 billion dollars is spent for the Pentagon, Trump refuses to invest in the USPS, to election services, and to the rebuilding of our national infrastructure. The richest people on Earth has benefit by this malfeasance. Mark Zuckerberg's wealth has increased by 59 percent, Jeff Bezos' wealth has grown by 39 percent, about 50 million Americans have filed for unemployment insurance, and about 40 million Americans have at risk of eviction from housing. This numbers are incredible and unprecedented in world history, but this is reality. We don't need a privatization of the Post Office and other public services to benefit wealthy corporate leaders. We need a reconstruction of society whereby wealth is redistributed fairly to the people. That is why it is crucial for our votes and our voices to promote seniors, defend veterans, defend democracy, defend the Postal Service, and end anti-democratic policies in American society.
By Timothy
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