I think the premise is off. The fact liberals in political power are actively hostile (ranging from "shut them out of power" to "have the cops physically crush them") to pretty much any group outside the center-right, and have only grown moreso, makes most coalitions functionally impossible. - ThreadSky

davidforbes.bsky.social • 5 days ago

I think the premise is off. The fact liberals in political power are actively hostile (ranging from "shut them out of power" to "have the cops physically crush them") to pretty much any group outside the center-right, and have only grown moreso, makes most coalitions functionally impossible.

Reposted from G. Willow Wilson

Real q: why are modern American progressives so bad at building coalitions? The right wing is this ideologically incoherent hodge-podge of unrelated or even oppositional causes, yet they manage to work as a bloc. By contrast, liberals + leftists spend a huge amount of energy fighting w each other.

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davidforbes.bsky.social•5 days ago

Also conservatives infight constantly, and it does real damage ("the night of the wrong wives") but their degree of resources and a political system set up to cater to them insulate them from some of the impact. They also benefit from a compliant electoral opposition that doesn't press the attack.

davidforbes.bsky.social•5 days ago

If one's looking on electoral front, NC's last election provides a telling example. Conservatives had serious splits, got trounced in the governor's race and solid majority of votes went against them for legislative seats...and things are so heavily gerrymandered/rigged that they're still in power.

romanprophet.bsky.social•4 days ago

'Please stop giving money to a right-wing dictator, who openly wants Trump to win, and who is using that money to carpet bomb a population that is 75% women and children' was just too extreme of a request, frankly. You might as well demand free ponies.

stochasticburrito.bsky.social•5 days ago

The premise is essentially 'why don't the sheep just ally with the wolves for protection', it's fucking absurd.

wanderlib.bsky.social•4 days ago

There's also a fundamental difference in ecosystems.

Red state Republicans are insane. Blue state Democrats aren't actually that different from purple state ones (thanks to corruption and reactionary entryism propping up DINOs).

nullprose.bsky.social•4 days ago

hmm I can't imagine why the left wouldn't coalition build with the liberals who spent the past 100 years criminalizing their political groups, jailing their leaders, and forcing them from federal workforce.

I'm baffled, let me tell ya /s

bfwriter.bsky.social•4 days ago

yeah. "You know what, if you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I'm speaking."

that wasn't a coalition building move.

rewhan.bsky.social•4 days ago

Keep them battered, keep them broke, keep them busy.

canonicallytrans.bsky.social•4 days ago

Liberals always expect some compromise from leftist but never seem to want to make concessions in regards to what we want.

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