“Politics does not reflect majorities, it constructs them” — concise commentary from Stuart Hall re: Thatcherism, but might as well be about Trumpism - ThreadSky

edinh.bsky.social • 5 days ago

“Politics does not reflect majorities, it constructs them” — concise commentary from Stuart Hall re: Thatcherism, but might as well be about Trumpism

Reposted from jamelle

the thing about “democrats should take popular cultural positions” is that what constitutes popular is a function of an interaction between the public and elites. if a faction of elites start screaming about a vulnerable minority and another faction says they have a point, this shapes the public.

Comments

freeintheforest.bsky.social•5 days ago

A majority composed of malleable idiots is still a majority

danifroom.bsky.social•5 days ago

Especially prescient when we see how rapidly so many people and institutions follow Trump's executive orders like they're long-established federal laws

project-life.bsky.social•5 days ago

Yes, it constructs them by combining popular personalities or policies. No one builds a majority by promoting unpopular people and policy. That's why the left keeps pointing out 'mask off' moments from the right. They use popular things to build up enough to do their unpopular shit.

andrewelrod.bsky.social•5 days ago

Before Hall there was King: "A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus."

thisgrayarea.bsky.social•5 days ago

Consensus does not exist without consent.

fractalpast9.bsky.social•5 days ago

Lippmann was writing this in the 1920s.

andoando.bsky.social•5 days ago

@thedigradio.bsky.social has two really good recent episodes on Stuart Hall’s work!!

gsaucier.bsky.social•5 days ago

As in 'culture wars' carried out by political actors.

thisgrayarea.bsky.social•5 days ago

The course of revolutionising the state of things as they are&breaking up the power of statusquo is changing the social ontology through spontaneous cooperation,inviting people into a situation they can thrive on,welcoming those exhausted by the artificial struggle imposed upon them by elite cartels

thisgrayarea.bsky.social•5 days ago

Honest&trustworthy change will come from outside gov. It will be a contesting force that will overcome the politicized paradigm w/ a resonant, coherent, way of being that naturally attunes the base instinct desire for peace&accord&community&cargiving then amplifies it through scaffolding innovations

thisgrayarea.bsky.social•5 days ago

dianamcqueen.bsky.social•5 days ago

It sounds like somebody's ignoring the vocal majority.

artcat1.bsky.social•5 days ago

FYI
https://www.project2025.observer/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIy5JxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHTP_yDhoWBTj3puRf2R6RoXT-4eBkHp1ZQpaVU_85jhR_t3hKuWpmNcxhw_aem_8DkTwlv3_ddYh9HSiT70mw

anniewalsh.bsky.social•4 days ago

Despite a tape of a state legislator, an op-ed by a guy who hasn’t done a US campaign in 33 years (when he got 43%) etc, when the trans athlete bill came up in the House all but 2 Dems—both from conservative TX border districts—voted no.

Also, every Democratic senator voted against the bill.

anniewalsh.bsky.social•4 days ago

All the Dem-hating lefty people who acted as if it was a certainty that the vast majority of Democrats in both houses wouldn't vote to kill the bill need to apologize for spreading this bothsidesing lie

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