Justice has no arch towards goodness. I steadfastly reject that “hope” as little more than wishful thinking. It serves only to permit fictions of justice. Justice must be made and so it must first be imagined and considered—fantasies about goodness are nothing better than soporific consolations. Indulge if you must, at your own peril.
But just can be made to bend if there is enough collective will and time. The Supreme Court be damned, there will be change. Today’s ruling on gerrymandering effectively tells politicians that they can choose their own voters and make sure others, even the majority, have their place in the conversation. This is another victory for white supremacy but Republicans have become entirely shameless in that too.
Last night put Julián Castro on stage pursuing the US Presidency. He stands no chance. Not yet. Not this time. We are still in the strangleholds of Reaganism.
Castro told the truth and when is doing the right thing ever the wrong thing? But I do not think it is yet a winner. There are innumerable examples of the truth that demands this reversal, this turning inside out of the model but fear of otherness, fear of loss of power, these are all far too dominant in the narrative yet.
That Castro speaks with clarity and passion only makes him more dangerous. He can’t win this election but I tell you, this issue will be used to try to defeat whoever is the nominee. Even Biden will turn this corner as quickly as he can because the Democratic electorate now stands wholly opposed to more of the Run from Reaganism that has failed everyone, and I mean that, sooner than even he thinks. He is nothing if not wanting to win and he will adjust and learn because they all must.
This is what leaves characters like Delaney and Jim Webb and others with no place to go—they aren’t quite as vile as Republicans but can’t yet fathom a genuinely different world. No one will leave themselves behind in pursuit of office who understands the invidious Republican agenda. They will not long survive as a candidate for anything. Republicans aren’t yet cowering—as Democrats have since Reagan—but they know the jig is up. They are going to need that gerrymandering more than ever.
Tell it brother…