Mindless ranting will destroy us; or, I liked Ralph Nader better when he was actually doing stuff

[struggle4progress]

Now that you've clicked, I'll admit the post isn't really about Ralph Nader: he's just way of hooking you. I really did like him better when he was an active activist, setting up organizations to help us fight back. He's retired now, and I think it's a well-deserved retirement. But he seems to me much less attractive as a bloviator than he was as an activist

And there is my real topic: the bloviator versus the activist

Here's the difference

The bloviator gets to huff-n-puff rudely and loudly about whatever issue drifts by, until another issue drifts by, at which point the bloviator gets to huff-n-puff rudely and loudly at the new issue. The bloviating may amuse people or irritate people; it may provoke other bloviators to bloviate; but it never informs people and it never actually empowers them

The task of the activist is different: it is to set people in motion, armed with actual information and other tools, to empower them to confront the existing powers and to obtain change. To work for change, you need an almost scientific appreciation of the actual circumstances you want changed; you need to understand precisely who in the political-economic power structure will oppose you, and how they will oppose, and why they will oppose you; and you need to develop a feel for the kinds of pressure that can be applied, including varieties of public opinion, when appropriate. It requires a completely different mindset than mere bloviating: you need to be willing to meet new people and try new things and alter your ideas about how to proceed based on ever-changing insights based on new insights and new information

Frankly, most people don't like bloviators much, and most people quickly tune the bloviatiors out. So if you spend most of your time bloviating, or studying what bloviators say, or arguing with bloviators, you probably really aren't developing any useful skill -- you're just learning how to ensure that most people won't ever listen to you

[Lisa D]

1. K&R for the truth

We need a LOT more action :kick: