Nov 14, 2018
Last week’s midterm elections were not the most important elections of our generation or this era. I heard that claim, and variations of it, for weeks in the lead-up, and rolled my eyes at the falseness and hyperbole. They were important, but hardly the most important. The most important election of our time was two years ago, in 2016. Democrats particularly laid importance on the 2018 midterms because of their disgraceful loss in the 2016 presidential run. They lost the most important election of our time. All they/we are doing now is crawling back out of a very deep hole.
Let’s not be all doom and gloom, however. There were a record number of women, women of color, and women with progressive platforms elected to office. Granted, their positions are generally down-ballot, far below those of real power. But it is heartwarming, and a step in the right direction. And we got to see scum like Kris Kobach and Scott Walker lose their governorships.
Among the greatest victories, from the perspective of human and civil rights, and crawling this nation and its states slowly towards being an actual democracy, was the passage of Amendment 4 to Florida’s constitution. More than a million citizens in Florida, until now disenfranchised for life because of non-violent felonies, will have their voting rights restored. The measure passed with majority support, and it’s good to see that sometimes some level of justice can be done.
Some notable losses were of Andrew Gillum and Stacey Abrams. That they did not beat their Republican rivals is a testament to the prevailing power of white supremacy in American politics. Kemp and DeSantis ran blatantly racist campaigns against their Black opponents, and that men like them were rewarded for their diseased ideologies and personal repugnance is a goddamn shame. Though it is important to note just how close Abrams and Gillum came. In Georgia and Florida, two notoriously racist Red states, a Black woman and man fell short only by narrow margins against white men. If not for Kemp’s flagrant acts of voter suppression and purging, Abrams may well have won Georgia. If the case weren’t the same in Florida, and if Amendment 4 had been passed prior to this election, the same may have been true for Gillum. Normally, I scorn any celebration of narrow losses. A loss is a loss. But I hope that in this case, the Democratic party will look at the relative strength of Abrams’ and Gillum’s campaigns, recognize the accomplishment of these two candidates in coming this close against daunting odds and powerful opposition, and finally take the fucking cue that they as a party need to rally behind progressive agendas and properly address the needs of their diverse and underrepresented base. (Note: this was written prior to announcements that there will be recounts.)
Also disappointing to see O’Rourke lose to Cruz. I mean, Texas is Texas. Crackers are crackers. But come on. That anyone could look at Ted Cruz’s face, let alone hear the prick speak, or glance over his political record, and still vote for him is baffling. That anyone can look at his face and overcome the urge to punch and vomit on it is baffling. But Texas is Texas. Crackers are crackers. Fuck y’all. This is another case, however, that Democrats should look to as an example for how far a progressive candidate can get, and how much popular support they can garner despite establishment opposition.
Touted as the major accomplishment last week was winning a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives. That’s not nothing. I’m glad they took it from the fascists, but it’s hardly a major victory in the grand scheme. True, the Democrats can use their majority to launch investigations into the illegal shit Trump and his cohorts have done and do, and introduce legislation. But with the Senate still firmly in Republican hands and Trump still president, the chances of any positive progressive legislative victories is a long shot. The best we can realistically hope for is that Democrats will be able to use their House majority to block or stall malicious legislation. Basically what they won was the ability to make things slightly more difficult for the fascist Right. This is a relief, but realistically not much cause for celebration. Remember that the majority of actions carried out by this administration have been done through executive orders and departmental sabotage. Even while holding the presidency and Congress for the past (almost) two years, the Republicans passed very little legislation. I hope that House control will act as a check on this administration, as Democrats are crowing that it will, but am concerned this could lead to an increase in authoritarian governance, rather than a curbing. Chances are that Trump and his Republican allies will use the presumed obstructionist actions of Democrats as pretense to further subvert “democratic norms” and increase the ability for unilateral decision making in government. Also, by strengthening hold of the Senate, Trump is also positioned to continue packing federal courts and the Supreme Court with extreme right-wing activist judges. The point being that Democrats haven’t won, and we certainly haven’t. If this moment is significant, it is as a signal, as a creeping, beginning phase. The fight will be more heated, not less difficult. This is not at all the time to sit back and get comfortable.
It also must be noted (sorry, not sorry) that putting our faith in the Democrats is not the way to a
Progressive, just, and truly democratic future for this country. They are far preferable to Republicans, the malaise of fear, anxiety and rage less consuming under their reign, but they are still only the lesser of two corrupt evils in a system which is prevailingly evil and corrupt. Theirs is still an organization which caters more to the capitalist oligarchy than it does us. In most ways that matter, Democrats are essentially Republicans, sans overt fascist white Christian male supremacist ideology. If there’s to be real improvement, cause for real hope, we cannot let ourselves, or those meant to represent us, be complacent. For the survival of this nation and the world, every Republican must go, but so too must every Democrat who supports and clings to iniquitous capitalist principles, doomed neoliberal policies, violent global interventions, rampant environmental destruction, routine violations of human and civil rights, and every other belief and action bringing us as a people and a species closer to ruin and extinction.
