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Next shift in mass consciousness in the US? (lemmygrad.ml)

submitted 7 months ago by sunbleachedfly@lemmygrad.ml to c/usa@lemmy.ml

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After the pathetic move by the Democrats just days after an incredibly positive election for them, I am wondering what people think about the next shift in consciousness among the working class in the US.

Just anecdotally, I have found that most people are not afraid to talk about politics in places where its usually prohibited (mostly work, school, etc). The anger among the more liberal people I've seen is palpable.

As the American economy is showing trends of generational decay, the US government is also taking actions that will immediately impact tens of millions of people. The economy is in turmoil while ICE kidnaps people off the streets. Universal healthcare, food assistance, etc, seem like sound policies to many people simply because it would stabilize the economy more at this point.

The Dems are still the vehicle through which the majority of people think that the "resistance" will come from, but after this latest government reopening vote I'm seeing some very existential reactions.

I'm curious what people think will happen next in terms of the consciousness of the masses. I dont think the masses are anywhere close to accepting a vanguard party, but I do think that a massive shift away from the two current parties in power is possible within the next few years. I could see a shift toward democratic socialism as a party emerges with all the new contradictions that will arise with that.

What do y'all think?

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[–] freagle@lemmygrad.ml 9 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I just saw a staunch anti-communist liberal say "why the hell should I vote for any of these progressives if the party is just gonna scuttle everything even after a historic victory and significant polling in their favor?!" And I thought "this is exactly what we expected would happen but I never thought I'd see it and certainly not from this person"

[–] sunbleachedfly@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 7 months ago

Exactly. The juxtaposition between the NYC mayoral race & the establishment Dems acting on this just days after is pretty moving for popular discourse imo

[–] sleeplessone@lemmy.ml 4 points 7 months ago

Just another anecdote, but a normie bluemaga lib I know just posted this in the friends groupchat.

[–] limer@lemmy.ml 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I think there will be an evolution during the next few months and years. But it cannot be applied to action until there is community restructuring.

There has to be a new way of doing things at the towns and cities across the country. Political change must happen at the smallest levels first.

I think only when people start being different in how they interact with their neighbors, can community change occur. So I am looking for that.

But, usually it takes a bad economic collapse to kick-start that much community reorganization.

[–] sunbleachedfly@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Thats a good point. Do you think the community organizing in & around Chicago has that sort of potential? Reading how they've reacted to the ICE raids, it seems like a drastic change.

[–] limer@lemmy.ml 2 points 7 months ago

I think it’s good. Any sort of community protection and networking can inspire actions elsewhere. I can only hope it increases.

But I am not sure how much of this will be remaining once the current danger goes away. Hopefully there will be long term benefits which stay when people are less threatened

The main danger to most Americans, at this point, is for the sense of danger to go away.

Because what is killing most of us, and ruining lives, is the quiet stuff: lack of food, threats to shelter, illness, powerlessness, being virtual slaves economicly. This kills millions of Americans each year, while the current drama is only hurting hundreds of thousands at the same time.

It is very possible for there to be a renewed sense of false security and for the economy to not be trashed. Tens of millions of people would sink down into apathy again and there will be no chance of reform or positive change.

More people would live longer and be happier if things got really bad, because then there would be real change in many positive directions.