Draft Proposal of Anti-Authoritarian Leftist Coalition in the United States
This draft was generated by Gemini with specific points and examples suggested by me, however, given that AI can be inaccurate, I believe that I need a team to review this in it's entirety and make suggestions before collectively sending this out to outlets, organization, and politicians.
Subject: Proposal for Collaborative Effort: Establishing a United Left Coalition Against Authoritarianism
Dear Status Coup News, Secular Talk, Mark Charles, Bernie Sanders, Kshama Sawant, "The Squad" members, The Humanist Report, the "leftist Mafia" collection of YouTube channels, Governor J.B. Pritzker, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Robert Reich, George Takei, More Perfect Union, the ACLU, the NAACP, the Working Families Party, Black Lives Matter, Common Cause, Indivisible, the Sunrise Movement, Code Pink, and other esteemed individuals and organizations,
This message follows our recent discussions regarding the urgent need and strategic importance of forming a united left coalition in the United States. We believe that by uniting progressive Democrats, the Green Party, the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), Socialist Alternative, and unaffiliated candidates and voters, we can amplify our collective voice and offer a transformative alternative to the status quo.
Our previous conversations have highlighted several key pillars for this coalition:
* Combating Manufactured Scarcity and Resource Misallocation: Challenging policies that perpetuate division and scarcity, advocating for universal programs that benefit all. This includes prioritizing the collective people's needs over for-profit motives, ensuring that essential support for issues like job loss and homelessness is not limited to faith-based organizations but is universally accessible through robust public systems. It also means confronting the overspending on defense contractors, which diverts vast public resources from essential social programs and infrastructure, prioritizing the profits of the defense industry over human needs and risking long-term consequences like fueling conflict and stoking arms races. It also means addressing bloated police budgets, which often come at the expense of community-based services, social support, and public health initiatives, representing a significant misallocation of resources that disproportionately impacts marginalized communities. Furthermore, we must actively combat means-testing, which is an unnecessarily invasive and often dehumanizing process that creates barriers to accessing vital social safety net programs, perpetuating stigma and administrative burdens instead of ensuring universal access based on need. This pillar also addresses the concern that the global presence of U.S. military bases contributes to potential tension within the international community, diverting resources and potentially fueling conflicts rather than promoting peace and stability.
* Addressing Intertwined Threats to Democracy and Well-being: Recognizing the connections between democratic erosion, social inequities, economic disparities, and environmental degradation, and fighting for solidarity in intersectionality. This includes confronting the consistent betrayal of Indigenous Peoples by our government, acknowledging the profound historical and ongoing injustices stemming from broken treaties, land theft, cultural suppression, and systemic neglect. This betrayal represents a fundamental failure of democratic principles and a severe threat to the well-being and self-determination of Indigenous communities.
* Embracing Authenticity and Radical Inclusion: Upholding the dignity and autonomy of all individuals, particularly those with marginalized identities (both visible and invisible), including pagans, witches, the LGBTQIA+ community (including polyamorous-oriented people, nonbinary, and trans individuals), disabled people, neurodivergent people, people of color, women, consensual kinksters, childfree/childless people, and those with specific immigration statuses, and building trust with diverse communities. This also includes confronting the pervasive issue of tokenization of minorities, where superficial inclusion or symbolic representation is offered without genuine power-sharing, authentic engagement, or a commitment to dismantling systemic barriers. This practice undermines true diversity and perpetuates existing hierarchies by reducing individuals to their identity markers rather than valuing their full contributions and agency.
* Highlighting Complicity with the Far Right: Directly addressing how Democrats who compromise with the far right, whether through direct collaboration or inaction, contribute to its normalization and strengthening. This also involves confronting the apparent performative concern about the real threats of the Trump administration, where some political figures (such as Hillary Clinton) vocalize alarm primarily during presidential election cycles, often choosing to blame the electorate rather than consistently engaging with and addressing systemic issues or their own strategic shortcomings. This contrasts with figures (such as Kamala Harris) who have remained vocal and active in combating these threats even after elections, underscoring the need for consistent and genuine commitment beyond electoral expediency.
* Welcoming Anti-Authoritarian Allies: Acknowledging and actively seeking to collaborate with moderates who have awakened to the imperative of working against the rising tide of authoritarianism, recognizing this as a critical, unifying goal. This includes emphasizing the criticality for sympathetic moderate Democrats to join in for support, as their participation is essential for building a broad-based front against authoritarianism and ensuring the coalition's ability to achieve both electoral impact and systemic change.
* Urgency to Reverse Decades of Republican Damage: Recognizing that many of the systemic challenges facing our society—from economic inequality and environmental degradation to the erosion of democratic norms and social fragmentation—have been exacerbated by decades of Republican policies, we commit to a concerted effort to reverse this damage and rebuild a more just and equitable foundation for all.
* Addressing Root Causes and Pathways to Transformation: Recognizing that many of these problems stem from fundamental issues within the capitalist system itself, we commit to exploring and advocating for systemic change. This includes understanding that while some reforms may address symptoms, a strategic approach can utilize certain ameliorative reforms as stepping stones or building blocks towards a more fundamental post-capitalist transformation, fostering social empowerment and building alternatives within existing structures.[1, 2] This also involves considering economic frameworks like Modern Monetary Theory (MMT), which, at the federal level, could facilitate a transition to a post-growth, post-capitalist economy by leveraging the government's currency-issuing power to balance the economy with ecological limits and reduce economic inequality. This could enable universal basic services, including guaranteed access to quality education from early childhood through higher education and vocational training (just as children's education is guaranteed), rapid development of renewable energy infrastructure, and a public job guarantee, while using taxation to manage demand and reduce the purchasing power of the wealthy.[3, 4, 5, 6] Furthermore, this pillar emphasizes the importance of a right-to-repair framework and a strong focus on renewable energy, prioritizing repairs and longevity over the manufacturing of new products designed with "planned obsolescence." This shift promotes sustainability, reduces waste, and challenges the consumption-driven imperatives of traditional capitalism.
* Holding Corporate Polluters Accountable and Protecting Public Resources: Highlighting the devastating environmental and public health impacts of major corporate polluters who frequently evade accountability for violations, and confronting the threats to community well-being due to the privatization of resources necessary for survival and safety. This includes instances where profit motives override public safety and access to essential services, exemplified by crises like the Flint Water Crisis (where the commodification of water led to toxic supply and exorbitant rates) [7, 8, 9], the Conyers Georgia chlorine plant fire (which occurred in September 2024, leading to ongoing health and environmental issues for residents as of May 2025), the lithium-ion battery fire in California (which occurred in January 2025, depositing heavy metals into sensitive ecosystems with cleanup deemed "very difficult, if not impossible"), and the ongoing issues with Graphic Packaging in Kalamazoo, Michigan (where a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit in March 2024, despite residents reporting health issues from toxic emissions and concerns about systemic racism and redlining). It is crucial to acknowledge that independent, on-the-ground outlets that rely on contributions from viewers, such as Status Coup News, have been instrumental in shining a spotlight on these specific corporate pollution cases and consistently following up on them. In contrast, traditional media outlets have often failed to provide adequate coverage, not due to a lack of funding, but likely due to potential impacts on their bottom line and relationships with advertisers. Consequently, many of these incidents are either missed entirely or are prematurely assumed to be resolved once traditional media attention wanes. This also includes the severe impact of coal mining pollution in West Virginia, where mountaintop removal and other surface mining practices lead to "ionic toxicity pollution" (increased salinity) in streams, affecting drinking water quality and increasing treatment costs for communities. Research as of March 2024 indicates this pollution is linked to a public health disaster, causing over a thousand excess deaths annually in affected Appalachian areas, with increases in cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, pulmonary disease, and birth defects (heart defects showing a 181% higher risk). This includes contamination of billions of gallons of water with cleaning chemicals and heavy metals like arsenic and mercury, often resulting in "strangely colored black or orange discharges" in local creeks. This pillar demands stronger environmental regulations and robust enforcement, and a re-evaluation of the privatization of essential public services.
* Anticipating and Countering Common Threats in 2025: Recognizing the escalating and interconnected challenges projected for the coming year, including:
* Geopolitical and Democratic Instability: State-based armed conflicts, increasing geopolitical tensions, geoeconomic confrontations (sanctions, tariffs), deepening global divisions, and direct threats to democratic institutions and fundamental rights posed by anti-democratic agendas (such as efforts to undermine checks and balances, restrict voting, and limit reproductive and educational freedoms).[10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18] This also includes vigilance against any intent to overturn or erode precedents like Terry v. Ohio, a landmark Supreme Court decision that established the "stop and frisk" rule based on "reasonable suspicion" rather than probable cause.[19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24] Critics argue that this precedent grants broad police discretion, potentially leading to racial profiling and disproportionately impacting minority communities, thereby undermining Fourth Amendment protections and civil liberties.[19, 23, 24] Furthermore, we must address the expansion of government surveillance and erosion of civil liberties exemplified by legislation such as the Patriot Act, which has been criticized for undermining constitutional protections in the name of national security. This pillar also highlights the concerning rhetoric and actions of Donald Trump, including his threats to Panama (claiming China operates the Canal and threats to "take it back" or that "something very powerful is going to happen," and alleging overcharging of American ships), his on-again, off-again tariff threats and pressure on Mexico regarding migration and drug trafficking (including increasing Mexican National Guard troops on the border and actions against shelters aiding migrants), his repeated vows to "take control of Greenland" from Denmark (not ruling out military force and stating "one way or the other, we're going to get it," despite Danish and Greenlandic officials asserting it's not "a piece of property that can be bought"), and his tariff threats and musings about Canada becoming the "fifty-first state". These actions, as observed and reported as of May 26, 2025, contribute to global instability and undermine international norms. A critical concern is also the current Trump administration's intent to ignore the Supreme Court or render it ineffective, thereby dismantling a fundamental check on executive power and further eroding the rule of law.
* The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and Weapons Accountability, and Double Standards in International Law: The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly the situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, represents a profound humanitarian crisis and a critical challenge to international law and human rights. This includes documented violations of international humanitarian law, such as unlawful killings, arbitrary detention, torture, and the forcible transfer and displacement of Palestinians, with some reports describing the situation as apartheid.[25, 26, 27, 28] The use of U.S.-supplied offensive weapons, including 2,000-pound bombs and bulldozers, has been linked to civilian harm, destruction of infrastructure, and annexation, raising concerns about U.S. complicity in gross human rights violations and war crimes.[29, 30, 31, 6] Efforts to remove policies linking U.S. arms sales to international human rights law further exacerbate these concerns, as seen with the Trump administration's revocation of a Biden-era policy in February 2025. From a radical perspective, this conflict is often viewed as a manifestation of global imperialist dynamics and a critical test of commitment to human rights and self-determination.[32, 33, 34, 2] This coalition also recognizes the different standards applied to nations regarding human rights violations. While Russia has been documented committing severe human rights violations and war crimes in Ukraine (including escalating civilian attacks, indiscriminate weapons use, targeting infrastructure, summary executions of POWs, torture, forced transfers, and the criminalization of human rights organizations, with incidents reported as recently as February-May 2025) and in Chechnya (including mass civilian deaths, arbitrary detentions, torture, and targeting of dissidents and LGBTQI+ persons) and Syria (unlawful attacks on civilians, as documented in 2024 and March 2025), the international response and accountability measures often appear inconsistent when compared to those applied to Israel, highlighting a problematic double standard in upholding international law and human rights.
* Economic Volatility and Inequality: Persistent economic uncertainty, a projected global growth slowdown to 2.3% in 2025, escalating trade tensions, financial market adjustments, the impact of a rising cost-of-living crisis, and demographic shifts threatening fiscal sustainability.
* Intensifying Environmental and Climate Crises: The increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, continued reliance on fossil fuels, widespread biodiversity loss, deforestation, air pollution, and the alarming impacts of melting ice caps and rising sea levels.
* Social Fragmentation and Misinformation: Growing societal polarization, social and political unrest, and the erosion of human rights and civic freedoms are exacerbated by the pervasive spread of AI-driven misinformation and disinformation. This fragmentation has been significantly influenced by historical policy decisions, including:
* Reagan-Era Media Deregulation: The repeal of the Fairness Doctrine by the FCC in 1987, under the Reagan administration, removed requirements for broadcasters to present controversial issues of public importance and fairly reflect differing viewpoints.[35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40] This decision, despite congressional opposition and a presidential veto, is cited as a contributing factor to rising political polarization, allowing for more opinion-based content and narrowcasting.[35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40]
* Clinton-Era Media Deregulation (Telecommunications Act of 1996): This act, intended to spur competition, instead led to one of the largest consolidations of the telecommunications sector in history. It eased media ownership regulations, eliminated caps on radio station ownership, and allowed large corporations to acquire numerous media properties.[41, 42, 43] This resulted in a drastic decline in independent news outlets, homogenization of content, decreased local news coverage, and a prioritization of profit over journalistic integrity.[42, 43, 44] These changes created favorable conditions for the dramatic expansion of partisan news outlets like Fox News and MSNBC, further contributing to political polarization and making news a source of profit rather than a public service.[37, 45]
* Mischaracterization of the Left: The pervasive political rhetoric, particularly from Republican factions, that labels even the most cooperative and reform-oriented Democrats as the "radical left" or as "socialists/communists," despite their policies not fitting such ideological definitions, further exacerbates social fragmentation and hinders constructive political dialogue. This tactic aims to demonize and delegitimize mainstream progressive efforts, contributing to an environment of heightened polarization and distrust.
* Manufacturing Consent and Dangerous Conspiracy Theories: We must directly confront the ways in which corporate media structures engage in "manufacturing consent" by selectively framing narratives, prioritizing corporate advertisers' interests over public good, and thereby fostering inaccurate public perceptions. This media complicity creates fertile ground for the proliferation of dangerous conspiracy theories, such as Marjorie Taylor Greene's "Jewish Space Lasers." While seemingly absurd, such theories are deeply rooted in antisemitic tropes that blame Jewish people for global catastrophes and genuinely incite hatred and violence against Jewish communities and other minority groups, particularly the Jewish diaspora. This demonstrates how distorted media environments enable the spread of misinformation that directly harms vulnerable communities and undermines societal trust. This also includes acknowledging how the U.S. flag's symbolism is facing a crisis due to its use by the MAGA movement and other far-right factions, risking association with extremism, division, and anti-democratic ideals. However, the coalition believes this symbolism is redeemable and can be reclaimed to represent unity, liberty, and justice for all Americans. Furthermore, the actions of influential figures like Elon Musk, whose immense wealth accumulation grants him disproportionate power, are a concern. His public actions, such as his reported "Sieg Heil" gesture, his unsubstantiated claims regarding "paid protesters," and his promotion of speculative financial ventures like Dogecoin, contribute to the normalization of extremist symbols and ideologies, fuel social fragmentation, and directly harm minority communities, including the Jewish diaspora, by associating powerful figures with symbols of hate and by spreading misinformation that can have real-world consequences.
* Threats to Vulnerable Communities and Civil Liberties from Authoritarian and Discriminatory Policies: The rise of Christian nationalism poses a significant threat to American democracy and civil liberties, often seeking to legitimize overt bigotry and undermine the separation of church and state.[46, 47, 48, 49] This ideology is strongly correlated with anti-Black, anti-immigrant, and anti-Muslim racism, as well as patriarchal views of gender roles.[46, 48] Proponents of Christian nationalism have shown animosity toward outgroups and a preference for their ingroup, potentially impeding the equal application of the rule of law.[47, 49] Efforts to introduce religiously affiliated schools into publicly funded charter school systems threaten the separation of church and state, risk using taxpayer dollars for religious instruction, and could allow discrimination against students and staff based on faith or identity.[50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55] Furthermore, the imposition of work requirements for essential social safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid presents an unjust and often unfeasible barrier, particularly for disabled individuals. These requirements often fail to increase employment and disproportionately affect those who should be exempt due to disability, school enrollment, or caregiving responsibilities.[56] Framing disability through a social model, rather than a medical one, highlights how societal barriers, rather than individual impairments, create disability, making work requirements inherently unjust for those disabled by society.[57] The burden is further compounded for those who may have service animals and/or Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) that also require care, as these animals are often essential for their well-being and ability to function, yet their care is the handler's responsibility and not covered by entities.[58, 59] Specific threats are also posed by figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as of February 2025 has been criticized for directly harming people with disabilities and the systems that support them. His actions include the elimination of the Administration for Community Living (ACL) in March 2025, which undermines decades of progress and risks institutionalization and neglect.[60] Kennedy has also spread misinformation about autism, making ableist comments that question the inherent worth and dignity of autistic people based on their perceived ability to contribute to the economy or conform to neurotypical expectations, and has promoted debunked theories linking autism to vaccines.[57, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65] The coalition also recognizes the chilling comparison of RFK Jr.'s proposed "wellness farms" for those struggling with addiction or taking psychiatric medications (where they could be forced to labor for years without cell phones) and the Trump administration's (embraced by RFK Jr.) ICE "deportations" of migrants to notoriously brutal prisons in El Salvador (like CECOT, where human rights groups report arbitrary detention, torture, incommunicado detention, and hundreds of deaths as of March-April 2025) to the labor camps and concentration camps of the 1930s. These policies, which devalue lives that don't meet a productivity threshold and impose forced labor or inhumane detention, echo historical atrocities where human dignity and rights were systematically stripped away. Furthermore, the coalition condemns actions such as Kristi Noem's public bragging about killing non-human animals, which normalizes cruelty and reflects a disregard for life, aligning with the dehumanizing rhetoric that often precedes and accompanies policies like the ICE deportations to brutal prisons in El Salvador. Finally, we must remain vigilant against any efforts to bring back or implement policies reminiscent of "Jim Crow" laws, which systematically disenfranchised and oppressed Black Americans, representing a grave threat to democratic principles and racial justice. This also includes the ongoing threat of child marriage in the U.S., with only 13 of 50 states having banned it as of July 2024, and new exceptions being considered in states like New Hampshire as of January 2025, and a bill to ban it advancing in Texas as of May 2025. Furthermore, there are ongoing efforts to erode child labor protections in states like Florida as of April 2025, and proposals to allow employers to hire children for hazardous jobs or opt out of federal labor standards as part of Project 2025.
* Technological Risks: The rapid evolution of a politicized technology landscape, including concerns about the adverse outcomes of AI technologies and the formation of technological blocs.[11, 12, 13]
* Countering the Influence of Special Interest Lobbies on Foreign Policy and Civil Liberties: Recognizing the significant impact of powerful lobbying groups on democratic processes and human rights, particularly:
* AIPAC's Political Influence: The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is a pro-Israel political lobbying group that advocates for U.S. assistance to Israel and policies aligning with Israeli government priorities, with its priorities frequently translating into U.S. government policy. As of May 2025, AIPAC has been accused by Senator Bernie Sanders of "muzzling" Democratic colleagues' criticisms of the war in Gaza by threatening to fund primary challenges against them, reportedly spending significant sums to unseat critics of Israel. This influence directly impacts the ability of elected officials to speak freely on critical foreign policy issues.
* ADL's Suppression of Dissent and Conflation of Criticism with Antisemitism: The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), while founded to combat antisemitism, has faced criticism for its rightward shift and staunch support of Israeli policies, promoting a "new antisemitism" that includes criticism of Israel and anti-Zionism. As of April 2025, the ADL's annual report indicated that Israel-related incidents comprised over half of all antisemitic incidents in 2024, with widespread opposition to Israel's military response in Gaza cited as a key reason. The ADL produces reports that use problematic methodology to document antisemitism, often including criticism of Israel, which are widely cited without scrutiny. It actively attacks and smears defenders of Palestinian rights, including student groups and progressive Jewish organizations, pushing governments and schools to suppress their activities. The ADL has endorsed executive orders targeting critics of Israel in the U.S., threatening non-U.S. citizens with deportation for pro-Palestinian protests, which free speech advocates condemn as an attack on the First Amendment. This conflation of criticism of Israel with antisemitism can silence legitimate political discourse and create divisions within Jewish communities, alienating those who advocate for Palestinian rights from mainstream Jewish communities.
* Influence of Ultra-Wealthy Donors on Political Agendas: The significant political payments made by figures like Elon Musk to Donald Trump (as highlighted by Senator Bernie Sanders in May 2025) and the deliberate donations by the Adelson family to Trump on behalf of "Israel first" policies exemplify how immense private wealth is leveraged to directly influence political outcomes and foreign policy, often prioritizing specific agendas over broader public or democratic interests. This concentration of financial power poses a direct threat to democratic integrity and the ability of elected officials to act independently.
* Commitment to Principled Action and Accountability: Emphasizing that, realistically, it is impossible to compartmentalize one's politics from one's actions and statements. This coalition demands consistency and integrity from all political actors, recognizing that public rhetoric and policy choices have real-world consequences and reflect underlying political commitments. This also addresses the growing tarnishing reputation of the United States in the eyes of the international community, and the subsequent shame many Americans face about their own country due to perceived hypocrisies, human rights abuses, and declining democratic norms. Furthermore, the coalition stresses the necessity for self-reflection and a reevaluation of "norms" such as decorum, recognizing that rigid adherence to traditional political etiquette can sometimes be misinterpreted as complicity or a lack of urgency in the face of escalating threats.
* Addressing the Economic Plight of Single Parents: Recognizing the unique and often severe economic challenges faced by single parents, including disproportionate poverty rates, limited access to affordable childcare, and inadequate social safety nets. This coalition is committed to advocating for policies that provide robust support systems, ensuring economic security and well-being for single-parent households and their children.
* The Crucial Role of Independent Media and Human Rights Advocacy: We recognize that outlets like Secular Talk and The Humanist Report consistently discuss fundamental issues centering on human rights and highlight very real threats that receive little attention elsewhere. Their dedication fills a critical void in public discourse. This also includes highlighting Greg Palast's "Vigilantes Inc." video (released in 2024, relevant for the 2024 election) about Republican tip lines to invalidate ballots in 2024 as an example of crucial independent reporting that uncovers systemic threats to democratic processes.
* Strategic Unity for Electoral Impact and Longevity: Recognizing the critical need for a united front, especially in the lead-up to important elections, we advocate for at least a strategic truce among left-leaning factions to prevent the "spoiler effect" and better organize the anti-fascist vote. Ranked-choice voting (RCV) is a key reform supported by this coalition, as it can reduce political polarization by incentivizing candidates to work across the aisle and engage in more positive campaigns, as observed in Alaska and Maine as of April 2025. RCV also solves the "spoiler problem" by allowing voters to rank candidates without fear of wasting their vote, thereby strengthening political parties and increasing voter participation. While RCV aims to expand voter choice and improve representation, concerns exist regarding potential drawbacks for minority communities, such as higher ballot exhaustion rates in some districts, which necessitate targeted voter education efforts. This strategic unity is essential to effectively combat the Radical Right, necessitating a willingness to compromise within the coalition to maximize collective impact against authoritarian forces. This unity and clear articulation of a transformative vision can combat hopelessness and apathy, leading to greater voter turnout and engagement. This coalition aims not just for short-term electoral gains but ideally seeks to remain in perpetuity, building a lasting movement for transformative change, with an emphasis on realizing these goals through the active participation and leadership of those who are already or have been in office, leveraging their experience and influence to chart a course for systemic change. This includes acknowledging that both blind party loyalty and ego are antithetical to the goals of genuine unity and effective action, as they prioritize narrow interests over the collective good. Furthermore, this coalition recognizes the necessity of working both within the confines of the Democratic Party and outside the two-party system, advocating for a multi-faceted approach that includes organizing, protests, and rallies in addition to voting through elections. This involves emphasizing the need for the progressive caucus to take over the Democratic National Committee (DNC), drawing a parallel to how the Tea Party successfully influenced the Republican Party, to ensure the party's platform and strategy genuinely reflect progressive values and the needs of the people.
We believe that by working together, we can build a powerful movement rooted in justice, equity, and genuine human dignity. We propose a collaborative effort to further develop this vision and translate it into a concrete plan of action.
We would be honored to schedule a meeting or call to discuss this proposal in more detail. Please let us know your availability.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name/Organization]
reshared this
Draft Proposal for a Left Wing Antiauthorian Crossparty Coalition
Gemini synthesized proposal highlighting aspects that I thought about, but could use more rigorous research, review, and polishing. Given how vast this is, I believe that a team would be necessary to finalize this into something that can be sent to the appropriate recipients.
Subject: Proposal for Collaborative Effort: Establishing a United Left Coalition Against Authoritarianism
Dear Status Coup News, Secular Talk, Mark Charles, Bernie Sanders, Kshama Sawant, "The Squad" members, The Humanist Report, the "leftist Mafia" collection of YouTube channels, Governor J.B. Pritzker, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Robert Reich, George Takei, More Perfect Union, the ACLU, the NAACP, the Working Families Party, Black Lives Matter, Common Cause, Indivisible, the Sunrise Movement, Code Pink, and other esteemed individuals and organizations,
This message follows our recent discussions regarding the urgent need and strategic importance of forming a united left coalition in the United States. We believe that by uniting progressive Democrats, the Green Party, the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), Socialist Alternative, and unaffiliated candidates and voters, we can amplify our collective voice and offer a transformative alternative to the status quo.
Our previous conversations have highlighted several key pillars for this coalition:
* Combating Manufactured Scarcity and Resource Misallocation: Challenging policies that perpetuate division and scarcity, advocating for universal programs that benefit all. This includes prioritizing the collective people's needs over for-profit motives, ensuring that essential support for issues like job loss and homelessness is not limited to faith-based organizations but is universally accessible through robust public systems. It also means confronting the overspending on defense contractors, which diverts vast public resources from essential social programs and infrastructure, prioritizing the profits of the defense industry over human needs and risking long-term consequences like fueling conflict and stoking arms races. It also means addressing bloated police budgets, which often come at the expense of community-based services, social support, and public health initiatives, representing a significant misallocation of resources that disproportionately impacts marginalized communities. Furthermore, we must actively combat means-testing, which is an unnecessarily invasive and often dehumanizing process that creates barriers to accessing vital social safety net programs, perpetuating stigma and administrative burdens instead of ensuring universal access based on need. This pillar also addresses the concern that the global presence of U.S. military bases contributes to potential tension within the international community, diverting resources and potentially fueling conflicts rather than promoting peace and stability.
* Addressing Intertwined Threats to Democracy and Well-being: Recognizing the connections between democratic erosion, social inequities, economic disparities, and environmental degradation, and fighting for solidarity in intersectionality. This includes confronting the consistent betrayal of Indigenous Peoples by our government, acknowledging the profound historical and ongoing injustices stemming from broken treaties, land theft, cultural suppression, and systemic neglect. This betrayal represents a fundamental failure of democratic principles and a severe threat to the well-being and self-determination of Indigenous communities.
* Embracing Authenticity and Radical Inclusion: Upholding the dignity and autonomy of all individuals, particularly those with marginalized identities (both visible and invisible), including pagans, witches, the LGBTQIA+ community (including polyamorous-oriented people, nonbinary, and trans individuals), disabled people, neurodivergent people, people of color, women, consensual kinksters, childfree/childless people, and those with specific immigration statuses, and building trust with diverse communities. This also includes confronting the pervasive issue of tokenization of minorities, where superficial inclusion or symbolic representation is offered without genuine power-sharing, authentic engagement, or a commitment to dismantling systemic barriers. This practice undermines true diversity and perpetuates existing hierarchies by reducing individuals to their identity markers rather than valuing their full contributions and agency.
* Highlighting Complicity with the Far Right: Directly addressing how Democrats who compromise with the far right, whether through direct collaboration or inaction, contribute to its normalization and strengthening. This also involves confronting the apparent performative concern about the real threats of the Trump administration, where some political figures (such as Hillary Clinton) vocalize alarm primarily during presidential election cycles, often choosing to blame the electorate rather than consistently engaging with and addressing systemic issues or their own strategic shortcomings. This contrasts with figures (such as Kamala Harris) who have remained vocal and active in combating these threats even after elections, underscoring the need for consistent and genuine commitment beyond electoral expediency.
* Welcoming Anti-Authoritarian Allies: Acknowledging and actively seeking to collaborate with moderates who have awakened to the imperative of working against the rising tide of authoritarianism, recognizing this as a critical, unifying goal. This includes emphasizing the criticality for sympathetic moderate Democrats to join in for support, as their participation is essential for building a broad-based front against authoritarianism and ensuring the coalition's ability to achieve both electoral impact and systemic change.
* Urgency to Reverse Decades of Republican Damage: Recognizing that many of the systemic challenges facing our society—from economic inequality and environmental degradation to the erosion of democratic norms and social fragmentation—have been exacerbated by decades of Republican policies, we commit to a concerted effort to reverse this damage and rebuild a more just and equitable foundation for all.
* Addressing Root Causes and Pathways to Transformation: Recognizing that many of these problems stem from fundamental issues within the capitalist system itself, we commit to exploring and advocating for systemic change. This includes understanding that while some reforms may address symptoms, a strategic approach can utilize certain ameliorative reforms as stepping stones or building blocks towards a more fundamental post-capitalist transformation, fostering social empowerment and building alternatives within existing structures.[1, 2] This also involves considering economic frameworks like Modern Monetary Theory (MMT), which, at the federal level, could facilitate a transition to a post-growth, post-capitalist economy by leveraging the government's currency-issuing power to balance the economy with ecological limits and reduce economic inequality. This could enable universal basic services, including guaranteed access to quality education from early childhood through higher education and vocational training (just as children's education is guaranteed), rapid development of renewable energy infrastructure, and a public job guarantee, while using taxation to manage demand and reduce the purchasing power of the wealthy.[3, 4, 5, 6] Furthermore, this pillar emphasizes the importance of a right-to-repair framework and a strong focus on renewable energy, prioritizing repairs and longevity over the manufacturing of new products designed with "planned obsolescence." This shift promotes sustainability, reduces waste, and challenges the consumption-driven imperatives of traditional capitalism.
* Holding Corporate Polluters Accountable and Protecting Public Resources: Highlighting the devastating environmental and public health impacts of major corporate polluters who frequently evade accountability for violations, and confronting the threats to community well-being due to the privatization of resources necessary for survival and safety. This includes instances where profit motives override public safety and access to essential services, exemplified by crises like the Flint Water Crisis (where the commodification of water led to toxic supply and exorbitant rates) [7, 8, 9], the Conyers Georgia chlorine plant fire (which occurred in September 2024, leading to ongoing health and environmental issues for residents as of May 2025), the lithium-ion battery fire in California (which occurred in January 2025, depositing heavy metals into sensitive ecosystems with cleanup deemed "very difficult, if not impossible"), and the ongoing issues with Graphic Packaging in Kalamazoo, Michigan (where a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit in March 2024, despite residents reporting health issues from toxic emissions and concerns about systemic racism and redlining). It is crucial to acknowledge that independent, on-the-ground outlets that rely on contributions from viewers, such as Status Coup News, have been instrumental in shining a spotlight on these specific corporate pollution cases and consistently following up on them. In contrast, traditional media outlets have often failed to provide adequate coverage, not due to a lack of funding, but likely due to potential impacts on their bottom line and relationships with advertisers. Consequently, many of these incidents are either missed entirely or are prematurely assumed to be resolved once traditional media attention wanes. This also includes the severe impact of coal mining pollution in West Virginia, where mountaintop removal and other surface mining practices lead to "ionic toxicity pollution" (increased salinity) in streams, affecting drinking water quality and increasing treatment costs for communities. Research as of March 2024 indicates this pollution is linked to a public health disaster, causing over a thousand excess deaths annually in affected Appalachian areas, with increases in cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, pulmonary disease, and birth defects (heart defects showing a 181% higher risk). This includes contamination of billions of gallons of water with cleaning chemicals and heavy metals like arsenic and mercury, often resulting in "strangely colored black or orange discharges" in local creeks. This pillar demands stronger environmental regulations and robust enforcement, and a re-evaluation of the privatization of essential public services.
* Anticipating and Countering Common Threats in 2025: Recognizing the escalating and interconnected challenges projected for the coming year, including:
* Geopolitical and Democratic Instability: State-based armed conflicts, increasing geopolitical tensions, geoeconomic confrontations (sanctions, tariffs), deepening global divisions, and direct threats to democratic institutions and fundamental rights posed by anti-democratic agendas (such as efforts to undermine checks and balances, restrict voting, and limit reproductive and educational freedoms).[10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18] This also includes vigilance against any intent to overturn or erode precedents like Terry v. Ohio, a landmark Supreme Court decision that established the "stop and frisk" rule based on "reasonable suspicion" rather than probable cause.[19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24] Critics argue that this precedent grants broad police discretion, potentially leading to racial profiling and disproportionately impacting minority communities, thereby undermining Fourth Amendment protections and civil liberties.[19, 23, 24] Furthermore, we must address the expansion of government surveillance and erosion of civil liberties exemplified by legislation such as the Patriot Act, which has been criticized for undermining constitutional protections in the name of national security. This pillar also highlights the concerning rhetoric and actions of Donald Trump, including his threats to Panama (claiming China operates the Canal and threats to "take it back" or that "something very powerful is going to happen," and alleging overcharging of American ships), his on-again, off-again tariff threats and pressure on Mexico regarding migration and drug trafficking (including increasing Mexican National Guard troops on the border and actions against shelters aiding migrants), his repeated vows to "take control of Greenland" from Denmark (not ruling out military force and stating "one way or the other, we're going to get it," despite Danish and Greenlandic officials asserting it's not "a piece of property that can be bought"), and his tariff threats and musings about Canada becoming the "fifty-first state". These actions, as observed and reported as of May 26, 2025, contribute to global instability and undermine international norms. A critical concern is also the current Trump administration's intent to ignore the Supreme Court or render it ineffective, thereby dismantling a fundamental check on executive power and further eroding the rule of law.
* The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and Weapons Accountability, and Double Standards in International Law: The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly the situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, represents a profound humanitarian crisis and a critical challenge to international law and human rights. This includes documented violations of international humanitarian law, such as unlawful killings, arbitrary detention, torture, and the forcible transfer and displacement of Palestinians, with some reports describing the situation as apartheid.[25, 26, 27, 28] The use of U.S.-supplied offensive weapons, including 2,000-pound bombs and bulldozers, has been linked to civilian harm, destruction of infrastructure, and annexation, raising concerns about U.S. complicity in gross human rights violations and war crimes.[29, 30, 31, 6] Efforts to remove policies linking U.S. arms sales to international human rights law further exacerbate these concerns, as seen with the Trump administration's revocation of a Biden-era policy in February 2025. From a radical perspective, this conflict is often viewed as a manifestation of global imperialist dynamics and a critical test of commitment to human rights and self-determination.[32, 33, 34, 2] This coalition also recognizes the different standards applied to nations regarding human rights violations. While Russia has been documented committing severe human rights violations and war crimes in Ukraine (including escalating civilian attacks, indiscriminate weapons use, targeting infrastructure, summary executions of POWs, torture, forced transfers, and the criminalization of human rights organizations, with incidents reported as recently as February-May 2025) and in Chechnya (including mass civilian deaths, arbitrary detentions, torture, and targeting of dissidents and LGBTQI+ persons) and Syria (unlawful attacks on civilians, as documented in 2024 and March 2025), the international response and accountability measures often appear inconsistent when compared to those applied to Israel, highlighting a problematic double standard in upholding international law and human rights.
* Economic Volatility and Inequality: Persistent economic uncertainty, a projected global growth slowdown to 2.3% in 2025, escalating trade tensions, financial market adjustments, the impact of a rising cost-of-living crisis, and demographic shifts threatening fiscal sustainability.
* Intensifying Environmental and Climate Crises: The increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, continued reliance on fossil fuels, widespread biodiversity loss, deforestation, air pollution, and the alarming impacts of melting ice caps and rising sea levels.
* Social Fragmentation and Misinformation: Growing societal polarization, social and political unrest, and the erosion of human rights and civic freedoms are exacerbated by the pervasive spread of AI-driven misinformation and disinformation. This fragmentation has been significantly influenced by historical policy decisions, including:
* Reagan-Era Media Deregulation: The repeal of the Fairness Doctrine by the FCC in 1987, under the Reagan administration, removed requirements for broadcasters to present controversial issues of public importance and fairly reflect differing viewpoints.[35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40] This decision, despite congressional opposition and a presidential veto, is cited as a contributing factor to rising political polarization, allowing for more opinion-based content and narrowcasting.[35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40]
* Clinton-Era Media Deregulation (Telecommunications Act of 1996): This act, intended to spur competition, instead led to one of the largest consolidations of the telecommunications sector in history. It eased media ownership regulations, eliminated caps on radio station ownership, and allowed large corporations to acquire numerous media properties.[41, 42, 43] This resulted in a drastic decline in independent news outlets, homogenization of content, decreased local news coverage, and a prioritization of profit over journalistic integrity.[42, 43, 44] These changes created favorable conditions for the dramatic expansion of partisan news outlets like Fox News and MSNBC, further contributing to political polarization and making news a source of profit rather than a public service.[37, 45]
* Mischaracterization of the Left: The pervasive political rhetoric, particularly from Republican factions, that labels even the most cooperative and reform-oriented Democrats as the "radical left" or as "socialists/communists," despite their policies not fitting such ideological definitions, further exacerbates social fragmentation and hinders constructive political dialogue. This tactic aims to demonize and delegitimize mainstream progressive efforts, contributing to an environment of heightened polarization and distrust.
* Manufacturing Consent and Dangerous Conspiracy Theories: We must directly confront the ways in which corporate media structures engage in "manufacturing consent" by selectively framing narratives, prioritizing corporate advertisers' interests over public good, and thereby fostering inaccurate public perceptions. This media complicity creates fertile ground for the proliferation of dangerous conspiracy theories, such as Marjorie Taylor Greene's "Jewish Space Lasers." While seemingly absurd, such theories are deeply rooted in antisemitic tropes that blame Jewish people for global catastrophes and genuinely incite hatred and violence against Jewish communities and other minority groups, particularly the Jewish diaspora. This demonstrates how distorted media environments enable the spread of misinformation that directly harms vulnerable communities and undermines societal trust. This also includes acknowledging how the U.S. flag's symbolism is facing a crisis due to its use by the MAGA movement and other far-right factions, risking association with extremism, division, and anti-democratic ideals. However, the coalition believes this symbolism is redeemable and can be reclaimed to represent unity, liberty, and justice for all Americans. Furthermore, the actions of influential figures like Elon Musk, whose immense wealth accumulation grants him disproportionate power, are a concern. His public actions, such as his reported "Sieg Heil" gesture, his unsubstantiated claims regarding "paid protesters," and his promotion of speculative financial ventures like Dogecoin, contribute to the normalization of extremist symbols and ideologies, fuel social fragmentation, and directly harm minority communities, including the Jewish diaspora, by associating powerful figures with symbols of hate and by spreading misinformation that can have real-world consequences.
* Threats to Vulnerable Communities and Civil Liberties from Authoritarian and Discriminatory Policies: The rise of Christian nationalism poses a significant threat to American democracy and civil liberties, often seeking to legitimize overt bigotry and undermine the separation of church and state.[46, 47, 48, 49] This ideology is strongly correlated with anti-Black, anti-immigrant, and anti-Muslim racism, as well as patriarchal views of gender roles.[46, 48] Proponents of Christian nationalism have shown animosity toward outgroups and a preference for their ingroup, potentially impeding the equal application of the rule of law.[47, 49] Efforts to introduce religiously affiliated schools into publicly funded charter school systems threaten the separation of church and state, risk using taxpayer dollars for religious instruction, and could allow discrimination against students and staff based on faith or identity.[50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55] Furthermore, the imposition of work requirements for essential social safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid presents an unjust and often unfeasible barrier, particularly for disabled individuals. These requirements often fail to increase employment and disproportionately affect those who should be exempt due to disability, school enrollment, or caregiving responsibilities.[56] Framing disability through a social model, rather than a medical one, highlights how societal barriers, rather than individual impairments, create disability, making work requirements inherently unjust for those disabled by society.[57] The burden is further compounded for those who may have service animals and/or Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) that also require care, as these animals are often essential for their well-being and ability to function, yet their care is the handler's responsibility and not covered by entities.[58, 59] Specific threats are also posed by figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as of February 2025 has been criticized for directly harming people with disabilities and the systems that support them. His actions include the elimination of the Administration for Community Living (ACL) in March 2025, which undermines decades of progress and risks institutionalization and neglect.[60] Kennedy has also spread misinformation about autism, making ableist comments that question the inherent worth and dignity of autistic people based on their perceived ability to contribute to the economy or conform to neurotypical expectations, and has promoted debunked theories linking autism to vaccines.[57, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65] The coalition also recognizes the chilling comparison of RFK Jr.'s proposed "wellness farms" for those struggling with addiction or taking psychiatric medications (where they could be forced to labor for years without cell phones) and the Trump administration's (embraced by RFK Jr.) ICE "deportations" of migrants to notoriously brutal prisons in El Salvador (like CECOT, where human rights groups report arbitrary detention, torture, incommunicado detention, and hundreds of deaths as of March-April 2025) to the labor camps and concentration camps of the 1930s. These policies, which devalue lives that don't meet a productivity threshold and impose forced labor or inhumane detention, echo historical atrocities where human dignity and rights were systematically stripped away. Furthermore, the coalition condemns actions such as Kristi Noem's public bragging about killing non-human animals, which normalizes cruelty and reflects a disregard for life, aligning with the dehumanizing rhetoric that often precedes and accompanies policies like the ICE deportations to brutal prisons in El Salvador. Finally, we must remain vigilant against any efforts to bring back or implement policies reminiscent of "Jim Crow" laws, which systematically disenfranchised and oppressed Black Americans, representing a grave threat to democratic principles and racial justice. This also includes the ongoing threat of child marriage in the U.S., with only 13 of 50 states having banned it as of July 2024, and new exceptions being considered in states like New Hampshire as of January 2025, and a bill to ban it advancing in Texas as of May 2025. Furthermore, there are ongoing efforts to erode child labor protections in states like Florida as of April 2025, and proposals to allow employers to hire children for hazardous jobs or opt out of federal labor standards as part of Project 2025.
* Technological Risks: The rapid evolution of a politicized technology landscape, including concerns about the adverse outcomes of AI technologies and the formation of technological blocs.[11, 12, 13]
* Countering the Influence of Special Interest Lobbies on Foreign Policy and Civil Liberties: Recognizing the significant impact of powerful lobbying groups on democratic processes and human rights, particularly:
* AIPAC's Political Influence: The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is a pro-Israel political lobbying group that advocates for U.S. assistance to Israel and policies aligning with Israeli government priorities, with its priorities frequently translating into U.S. government policy. As of May 2025, AIPAC has been accused by Senator Bernie Sanders of "muzzling" Democratic colleagues' criticisms of the war in Gaza by threatening to fund primary challenges against them, reportedly spending significant sums to unseat critics of Israel. This influence directly impacts the ability of elected officials to speak freely on critical foreign policy issues.
* ADL's Suppression of Dissent and Conflation of Criticism with Antisemitism: The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), while founded to combat antisemitism, has faced criticism for its rightward shift and staunch support of Israeli policies, promoting a "new antisemitism" that includes criticism of Israel and anti-Zionism. As of April 2025, the ADL's annual report indicated that Israel-related incidents comprised over half of all antisemitic incidents in 2024, with widespread opposition to Israel's military response in Gaza cited as a key reason. The ADL produces reports that use problematic methodology to document antisemitism, often including criticism of Israel, which are widely cited without scrutiny. It actively attacks and smears defenders of Palestinian rights, including student groups and progressive Jewish organizations, pushing governments and schools to suppress their activities. The ADL has endorsed executive orders targeting critics of Israel in the U.S., threatening non-U.S. citizens with deportation for pro-Palestinian protests, which free speech advocates condemn as an attack on the First Amendment. This conflation of criticism of Israel with antisemitism can silence legitimate political discourse and create divisions within Jewish communities, alienating those who advocate for Palestinian rights from mainstream Jewish communities.
* Influence of Ultra-Wealthy Donors on Political Agendas: The significant political payments made by figures like Elon Musk to Donald Trump (as highlighted by Senator Bernie Sanders in May 2025) and the deliberate donations by the Adelson family to Trump on behalf of "Israel first" policies exemplify how immense private wealth is leveraged to directly influence political outcomes and foreign policy, often prioritizing specific agendas over broader public or democratic interests. This concentration of financial power poses a direct threat to democratic integrity and the ability of elected officials to act independently.
* Commitment to Principled Action and Accountability: Emphasizing that, realistically, it is impossible to compartmentalize one's politics from one's actions and statements. This coalition demands consistency and integrity from all political actors, recognizing that public rhetoric and policy choices have real-world consequences and reflect underlying political commitments. This also addresses the growing tarnishing reputation of the United States in the eyes of the international community, and the subsequent shame many Americans face about their own country due to perceived hypocrisies, human rights abuses, and declining democratic norms. Furthermore, the coalition stresses the necessity for self-reflection and a reevaluation of "norms" such as decorum, recognizing that rigid adherence to traditional political etiquette can sometimes be misinterpreted as complicity or a lack of urgency in the face of escalating threats.
* Addressing the Economic Plight of Single Parents: Recognizing the unique and often severe economic challenges faced by single parents, including disproportionate poverty rates, limited access to affordable childcare, and inadequate social safety nets. This coalition is committed to advocating for policies that provide robust support systems, ensuring economic security and well-being for single-parent households and their children.
* The Crucial Role of Independent Media and Human Rights Advocacy: We recognize that outlets like Secular Talk and The Humanist Report consistently discuss fundamental issues centering on human rights and highlight very real threats that receive little attention elsewhere. Their dedication fills a critical void in public discourse. This also includes highlighting Greg Palast's "Vigilantes Inc." video (released in 2024, relevant for the 2024 election) about Republican tip lines to invalidate ballots in 2024 as an example of crucial independent reporting that uncovers systemic threats to democratic processes.
* Strategic Unity for Electoral Impact and Longevity: Recognizing the critical need for a united front, especially in the lead-up to important elections, we advocate for at least a strategic truce among left-leaning factions to prevent the "spoiler effect" and better organize the anti-fascist vote. Ranked-choice voting (RCV) is a key reform supported by this coalition, as it can reduce political polarization by incentivizing candidates to work across the aisle and engage in more positive campaigns, as observed in Alaska and Maine as of April 2025. RCV also solves the "spoiler problem" by allowing voters to rank candidates without fear of wasting their vote, thereby strengthening political parties and increasing voter participation. While RCV aims to expand voter choice and improve representation, concerns exist regarding potential drawbacks for minority communities, such as higher ballot exhaustion rates in some districts, which necessitate targeted voter education efforts. This strategic unity is essential to effectively combat the Radical Right, necessitating a willingness to compromise within the coalition to maximize collective impact against authoritarian forces. This unity and clear articulation of a transformative vision can combat hopelessness and apathy, leading to greater voter turnout and engagement. This coalition aims not just for short-term electoral gains but ideally seeks to remain in perpetuity, building a lasting movement for transformative change, with an emphasis on realizing these goals through the active participation and leadership of those who are already or have been in office, leveraging their experience and influence to chart a course for systemic change. This includes acknowledging that both blind party loyalty and ego are antithetical to the goals of genuine unity and effective action, as they prioritize narrow interests over the collective good. Furthermore, this coalition recognizes the necessity of working both within the confines of the Democratic Party and outside the two-party system, advocating for a multi-faceted approach that includes organizing, protests, and rallies in addition to voting through elections. This involves emphasizing the need for the progressive caucus to take over the Democratic National Committee (DNC), drawing a parallel to how the Tea Party successfully influenced the Republican Party, to ensure the party's platform and strategy genuinely reflect progressive values and the needs of the people.
We believe that by working together, we can build a powerful movement rooted in justice, equity, and genuine human dignity. We propose a collaborative effort to further develop this vision and translate it into a concrete plan of action.
We would be honored to schedule a meeting or call to discuss this proposal in more detail. Please let us know your availability.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name/Organization]
reshared this
Great idea! I'm all about building coalitions and alliances! Tagging @AIF_Massachusetts
cc" @LeatherCubAndrew@4bear.com @leathercubandrew@lgbtqi.world @_L1vY_
Leather Cub Andrew Aû reshared this.
@DarthAstrius since I saw your post months after related to this I figured that you might be interested and of course the person who authored the YouTube video posted there.
Cc'd:
@DoomsdaysCW @AIF_Massachusetts @leathercubandrew@lgbtqi.world @_L1vY_
Edit: if you might have interest in this too, since I think we are all on the same side. Apologies for all of the tagging from some of my "mess" of posts
The Urgency of forming a leftist coalition as depicted by Gemini
* Heightened concerns about threats to U.S. democracy from within, including political polarization, attacks on free and fair elections, and the erosion of democratic norms.
* A strong perception among scholars that the U.S. is "sliding toward authoritarianism."
* Ongoing economic anxieties (like inflation) that can fuel populist anger.
* Deep dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party's ability to consistently counter the far-right effectively, particularly among progressives who feel compromises have gone too far.
* The urgency of upcoming elections, including the 2024 Presidential and Congressional elections, which will determine control of federal power and policy.
Yes, it becomes even more imperative to implement some form of this broad coalition now, or at the very least, to intensify efforts to build its foundations, for the reasons previously outlined, which are amplified by the current climate.
Specifically, the coalition would be comprised of:
* Progressive Democrats: Those within the Democratic Party who advocate for significant systemic change and are often critical of corporate influence and centrist compromises.
* Moderate Democrats (who are changing their minds to fight fascism instead of compromise with them): This is a crucial, though potentially smaller, group of Democratic moderates who, convinced by the severity of the threat, are willing to move away from traditional compromise with the far-right and embrace a more confrontational, principled stance.
* The Green Party: A third party focused on ecological sustainability, social justice, nonviolence, and grassroots democracy, often holding positions to the left of the mainstream Democratic Party.
* The Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL): A communist party advocating for the revolutionary overthrow of capitalism and the institution of socialism, with a very distinct and often more radical platform than other groups.
* Unaffiliated Candidates/Voters: This broad category includes independents, non-voters, and those generally disillusioned with the two major parties, who might be attracted to a coalition that offers a truly different path.
Here's a recap of why the current climate makes it particularly urgent to build this specific coalition:
* The Threat is Immediate and Ongoing: The "building blocks of fascism" aren't theoretical; they are actively being debated and implemented in various forms (e.g., challenges to election integrity, rhetoric targeting specific groups, attempts to expand executive power). Waiting allows these trends to deepen. This coalition would aim to directly counter these threats across all levels of government.
* Electoral Stakes are High: The upcoming elections are not just about policy; they are increasingly framed as existential contests for the future of American democracy. A unified front from Progressive Democrats, sympathetic Moderates, the Green Party, PSL, and Unaffiliated individuals might be perceived as necessary to effectively counter forces seen as anti-democratic, preventing their further electoral gains.
* Harnessing and Directing Disillusionment: The widespread disillusionment, particularly on the left, could be channeled into effective political action rather than remaining as fragmented protest votes or apathy. If voters feel the Democratic Party isn't doing enough, a more unified and principled alternative, drawing on the strengths of all these groups, could motivate them.
* Shifting the Overton Window: The political center, especially concerning economic policy and foreign intervention, has arguably shifted rightward. A robust, unified left coalition with clear, MMT-informed proposals (anti-means-testing, reallocating funds from bloated police/defense) could try to pull the "Overton Window" back, making more progressive ideas seem mainstream and achievable.
* Combating Donor Influence More Effectively: A broad coalition, by explicitly naming and challenging the influence of wealthy donors (including specific groups like AIPAC) and their ties to defense contractors and other industries, could present a more unified and powerful front against corporate capture of policy.
* The "Complicity" Argument Gains Salience: As the political climate grows more dire, the argument that moderates' compromises (often tied to donations) make them complicit becomes more potent and urgent. This puts pressure on them to choose sides in a more fundamental way, potentially prompting the "moderate Democrats who are changing their minds" to join such a coalition.
The "How" Remains the Challenge:
While the imperative to build such a coalition is strong given the current climate, the practicalities remain the significant hurdle. The representative board model is a theoretical solution, but its implementation requires:
* Exceptional Leadership: Leaders from Progressive Democrats, moderate defectors, the Green Party, PSL, and among unaffiliated activists willing to set aside past animosities and narrow party interests for a broader cause.
* Strategic Flexibility: A willingness to navigate the "spoiler effect" in current electoral systems, perhaps through strategic non-contestation in certain races or endorsing specific candidates from among the coalition partners.
* Clear, Unifying Message: A concise platform that genuinely unites all factions and avoids getting bogged down in minor ideological disputes, focusing on the shared threats and the MMT-informed universal solutions.
* Significant Grassroots Mobilization: The power would largely come from the ground up, forcing the leadership of existing parties to engage.
In essence, the "current climate" makes the need for this coalition—comprising Progressive Democrats, select moderate Democrats, the Green Party, PSL, and Unaffiliated candidates/voters—more urgent than ever, transforming it from a theoretical ideal into what many would argue is a practical necessity for the long-term health of American democracy.
Leather Cub Andrew Aû reshared this.
* Community Organizers and Activists: Leaders of grassroots movements, local activist groups, and social justice organizations.
* Thought Leaders and Intellectuals: Academics, writers, journalists, and public speakers who shape public discourse and influence opinion.
* Leaders of Non-Profit Organizations and Advocacy Groups: Directors and key staff of organizations working on issues aligned with the coalition's goals (e.g., climate justice, economic equality, civil rights, peace).
* Union Organizers and Labor Leaders: Figures who represent significant segments of the working class.
* Influential Figures in Arts and Culture: Artists, musicians, filmmakers, and cultural commentators who have a platform and reach.
* Potential Future Candidates: Individuals who might run for office in upcoming cycles but aren't currently elected.
Here's how constituents can encourage these non-elected leaders to participate in or support the coalition:
I. For Influencing Activists, Organizers, and Non-Profit Leaders:
These individuals are often already engaged and ideologically aligned but may need convincing of the strategic viability or necessity of this specific coalition.
* Direct Personal Outreach (Networking):
* Method: Attend their organization's events, rallies, or meetings. Introduce yourself, express your support for their work, and then gently introduce the idea of this broader coalition, highlighting the shared anti-fascist, pro-universalist goals and how a unified front could amplify their existing efforts.
* Why Fruitful: Builds direct relationships and trust. These leaders often respond to genuine grassroots engagement and a clear demonstration of shared purpose.
* Focus: Emphasize the interconnectedness of their specific issue (e.g., housing, racial justice) with the broader systemic problems (scarcity, elite influence, authoritarianism) that the coalition aims to tackle.
* Highlight Overlapping Goals and Amplified Impact:
* Method: In conversations (in person, email, or direct messages), explicitly articulate how joining this coalition would amplify their organization's existing work and achieve their goals more effectively. Use concrete examples of how unified action could make a difference.
* Why Fruitful: Leaders are driven by impact. Show them how a larger, coordinated movement can overcome obstacles that single organizations might face (e.g., funding limitations, media blackout, political opposition).
* Focus: Frame the coalition not as diluting their work, but as a force multiplier. For instance, Green Party activists might be convinced by how a unified coalition with MMT principles could actually fund a Green New Deal. PSL activists might see it as a necessary tactical step against a common enemy.
* Offer Resources and Support:
* Method: If you have skills (e.g., graphic design, social media, research, organizing), offer to volunteer or contribute to their existing work, and then use that connection to introduce the coalition idea.
* Why Fruitful: Demonstrates commitment and builds goodwill. Leaders are often resource-strapped and appreciate practical support.
* Focus: Show how your personal commitment to the broader cause can directly benefit their organization's immediate needs.
* Organize Joint Discussions/Forums:
* Method: As a constituent, you can help organize local discussions or forums that invite leaders from different groups (e.g., a local progressive club leader, a Green Party chapter rep, a community activist) to discuss shared challenges and potential collaborations.
* Why Fruitful: Creates a low-pressure environment for initial conversations and relationship-building among the various "leaders" at a local level.
* Focus: Facilitate dialogue around the common threats and the interconnected solutions, leading naturally into the idea of a broader coalition.
II. For Influencing Thought Leaders, Intellectuals, and Cultural Figures:
These individuals have significant platforms and can shape narratives, but may be more difficult to engage directly without an existing relationship.
* Amplify Their Work & Connect to Coalition's Narrative:
* Method: Share their articles, videos, and podcasts on social media, adding your own comments that connect their insights to the need for this coalition. Use their work as evidence for the coalition's arguments.
* Why Fruitful: Gets their attention by showing you value their contributions. Positions them as a natural voice for the coalition's message.
* Focus: Demonstrate how their analysis of, say, economic inequality, ties into the "scarcity narrative" and the need for MMT-informed solutions, which the coalition is pushing for.
* Engage in Online Discussions:
* Method: Participate thoughtfully in comment sections on their articles, social media threads, or livestreams. Pose questions that subtly push towards the coalition's interconnected framework.
* Why Fruitful: Can spark their interest in the broader coalition concept and might lead to direct engagement if they see a compelling argument.
* Focus: Encourage them to explicitly connect the dots between elite donor influence, bloated budgets (police/military), and the overall threat to democracy.
* Suggest Collaboration/Appearances:
* Method: If you have connections or a platform (e.g., local podcast, community newsletter), respectfully invite them to speak or write on topics relevant to the coalition's intertwined issues.
* Why Fruitful: Offers them a new avenue to share their ideas and positions them as part of a growing movement.
* Focus: Propose topics that naturally lead into the coalition's integrated message, for example, "How the Funding of X Directly Harms Our Community's Ability to Have Y."
III. General Principles for All Non-Elected Leaders:
* Lead by Example: Be an active, engaged constituent in your own right. Show your commitment to the cause through your actions.
* Show, Don't Just Tell: Instead of just telling them about the coalition, demonstrate how it could work or how it's already beginning to form through local efforts.
* Respect Their Autonomy: Acknowledge their existing work and priorities. Frame the coalition as a collaborative partnership, not a takeover.
* Highlight the Urgency: In every interaction, subtly reinforce the high stakes of the current political climate and the imperative for unified action now.
* Be Persistent but Not Annoying: Follow up respectfully, but don't badger. Focus on quality over quantity in your outreach.
By proactively reaching out and articulating the interconnectedness of these critical issues, constituents can play a vital role in encouraging key non-elected figures to recognize the imperative of this coalition and lend their influence and support.
"Fight for Solidarity in Intersectionality Now" in the Context of the Coalition:
This phrase demands that the coalition (composed of Progressive Democrats, Moderate Democrats who are changing their minds, the Green Party, PSL, and Unaffiliated candidates/voters) must actively and immediately:
* Fight for Solidarity:
* Internal Unity: This means a relentless internal struggle within the coalition itself to overcome historical animosities, tactical disagreements (like the "spoiler effect"), and ideological differences. It's about convincing each component – from pragmatic Progressive Democrats to revolutionary PSL members, from reform-minded Greens to disillusioned Unaffiliated voters – that their shared objective of combating the current authoritarian threat and building a truly democratic society outweighs their individual divergences.
* Common Cause Against Division: It means actively resisting attempts by external forces (e.g., mainstream media, political opponents) to sow discord within the coalition or to divide "the people" against each other through "othering" tactics.
* Mutual Support: It's a commitment to supporting each other's specific struggles, recognizing that an injustice against one group (e.g., immigrant communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, working-class families facing economic hardship) diminishes the freedom and security of all.
* Fight for Intersectionality:
* Holistic Problem Definition: This involves explicitly, consistently, and forcefully arguing that the diverse problems facing society are deeply intertwined:
* The "scarcity narrative" (that we can't afford universal services) is a lie perpetuated by elite donors and corporate interests, serving to justify resource misallocation towards their profits (e.g., bloated police departments for social control, excessive defense contractor spending fueling military adventurism, AIPAC donor influence on foreign policy benefiting specific agendas/contractors).
* This misallocation, driven by unaccountable money in politics, directly harms the ability to provide universal well-being (healthcare, housing, education, climate action).
* The resulting economic anxiety, social division, and political disillusionment create fertile ground for the rise and entrenchment of authoritarianism and fascism, as seen by the current political climate in 2025.
* The complicity of some moderate Democrats (who compromise with the far-right, often influenced by donations) is a systemic issue that contributes to these intertwined problems, necessitating their shift or replacement.
* Integrated Solutions: The fight for intersectionality demands that the coalition offers integrated solutions. For example:
* Advocating for MMT isn't just about spending, but about freeing resources from the military-industrial complex and carceral state to fund universal programs, thereby addressing economic inequality and social injustice simultaneously.
* Challenging AIPAC's influence isn't just about foreign policy, but about freeing up funds for domestic needs and promoting a more ethical, less militarized approach to global relations, which benefits overall human well-being.
* Fighting voter suppression isn't just about voting rights; it's about empowering all voices to demand economic and social justice.
* Fight Now:
* Urgency in 2025: The 2024 election results (Trump's second term, Republican trifecta) and the ongoing political environment in 2025 (Republican agenda, heightened polarization, Democratic internal struggles) make this fight immediate and existential. There is no time for leisurely debate; action is required.
* Seizing the Moment: The widespread public discontent and internal Democratic reckoning present a chaotic but essential window of opportunity for this coalition to emerge as a viable and compelling alternative.
* Pre-emptive Action: The fight now means actively countering the authoritarian agenda as it unfolds, preventing further democratic erosion, and building the necessary infrastructure for future electoral and social victories.
In essence, "Fight for solidarity in intersectionality now" is the rallying cry for a coalition that fundamentally understands:
* The enemy is not just a person or a single party, but a system of concentrated power and divisive ideologies.
* The solution requires all those committed to genuine democracy and universal well-being to unite, acknowledging their diverse struggles as interconnected.
* The time for this unified, multifaceted struggle is not later, but immediately, given the severity of the current climate.
This phrase provides the moral and strategic imperative for Progressive Democrats, Moderate Democrats who see the light, the Green Party, PSL, and Unaffiliated candidates/voters to coalesce and launch a truly transformative movement.
Housing
Good news!!! After working with Thresholds, I was deemed qualified for the FDDP (Front Door Diversion Program). We're currently looking at some possible apartment options.
Since it's just myself, they will pay up to and including the Fair Market Rent.
The ceilings are listed on this page by zip code.
Leather Cub Andrew Aû likes this.
Leather Cub Andrew Aû reshared this.
Leather Cub Andrew Aû tagged Leather Cub Andrew Aû's status with #apartments
Housing
Good news!!! After working with Thresholds, I was deemed qualified for the FDDP (Front Door Diversion Program). We're currently looking at some possible apartment options.Since it's just myself, they will pay up to and including the Fair Market Rent.
The ceilings are listed on this page by zip code.
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmrs/FY2025_code/2025summary_sa.odn
Leather Cub Andrew Aû tagged Leather Cub Andrew Aû's status with #chicagometroarea
Housing
Good news!!! After working with Thresholds, I was deemed qualified for the FDDP (Front Door Diversion Program). We're currently looking at some possible apartment options.Since it's just myself, they will pay up to and including the Fair Market Rent.
The ceilings are listed on this page by zip code.
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmrs/FY2025_code/2025summary_sa.odn
Tell Congress to Support Medicaid Funding!
As a current Medicaid recipient who has medical issues and depends on Medicaid, I believe it is my duty to share this.
From my doctor's office at Howard Brown.:
The House of Representatives is considering cutting healthcare spending by no less than $880 billion. These cuts could include changes to the way the federal government pays for Medicaid, which provides healthcare for almost 80 million people in the U.S. This will disproportionately impact people living with HIV as Medicaid covers 40% of people living with HIV in the U.S. and is the largest source of federal funding for HIV prevention, care, and treatment.
Congress must consider the detrimental impact of healthcare funding cuts, including funding cuts to Medicaid! This funding is critical in the work that Howard Brown does to support some of our most vulnerable populations including LGBTQ+ people, children, the disabled, elderly, and those in rural areas. Contact your members of Congress to oppose ANY cuts to Medicaid during the budget reconciliation process!
Leather Cub Andrew Aû likes this.
Leather Cub Andrew Aû reshared this.
Leather Cub Andrew Aû tagged Leather Cub Andrew Aû's status with #Healthcare
Tell Congress to Support Medicaid Funding!
As a current Medicaid recipient who has medical issues and depends on Medicaid, I believe it is my duty to share this.From my doctor's office at Howard Brown.:
The House of Representatives is considering cutting healthcare spending by no less than $880 billion. These cuts could include changes to the way the federal government pays for Medicaid, which provides healthcare for almost 80 million people in the U.S. This will disproportionately impact people living with HIV as Medicaid covers 40% of people living with HIV in the U.S. and is the largest source of federal funding for HIV prevention, care, and treatment.
Congress must consider the detrimental impact of healthcare funding cuts, including funding cuts to Medicaid! This funding is critical in the work that Howard Brown does to support some of our most vulnerable populations including LGBTQ+ people, children, the disabled, elderly, and those in rural areas. Contact your members of Congress to oppose ANY cuts to Medicaid during the budget reconciliation process!
Tell Congress to Support Medicaid Funding Now!
like this
Leather Cub Andrew Aû reshared this.
Leather Cub Andrew Aû likes this.
like this
reshared this
Hi everyone,
My pronouns are he/him/his. I'm a demisexual childfree neurodivergent pagan kinky gay leatherboy open to polyamory learning about witchcraft. My privileged identities are white, cis, male, and able-bodied.
I'm new to Friendica and have a Mastadon account on 4bear. Trying to navigate through these dark times and embrace the fediverse.
Leather Cub Andrew Aû reshared this.
#Introduction
Leather Cub Andrew Aû likes this.
Leather Cub Andrew Aû reshared this.
My partner is autistic too, and we have a service dog too. Although she hardly works these days, she is too old to get in our car now, and he works from home. Her name is Dothraki. Our crow is named Hannibal, he is not release-able. He is a nut, he is very good for lightening the mood in the room with his antics and weird sounds. So Peetie like the radio? As in you need to have it on for him all the time!? Music or News?
My partner had a service dog when we met 11 years ago, and he eventually became too old to work; he was 3 when we met, and it wasn't until he was 13 years old that he slowed down, even though he wasn't predicted to live past 10, so now we have our current service dog who is learning the ropes of doing a combination of psychiatric assistance and guiding.
Aischa She/Her likes this.
Leather Cub Andrew Aû
in reply to Leather Cub Andrew Aû • •Leather Cub Andrew Aû tagged Leather Cub Andrew Aû's status with #LeftistCoalition
Leather Cub Andrew Aû
2025-05-27 13:01:22
Leather Cub Andrew Aû
in reply to Leather Cub Andrew Aû • •Leather Cub Andrew Aû tagged Leather Cub Andrew Aû's status with #uspol
Leather Cub Andrew Aû
2025-05-27 13:01:22
Leather Cub Andrew Aû
in reply to Leather Cub Andrew Aû • •Leather Cub Andrew Aû tagged Leather Cub Andrew Aû's status with #solidarity
Leather Cub Andrew Aû
2025-05-27 13:01:22
Leather Cub Andrew Aû
in reply to Leather Cub Andrew Aû • •Leather Cub Andrew Aû tagged Leather Cub Andrew Aû's status with #intersectionality
Leather Cub Andrew Aû
2025-05-27 13:01:22
Leather Cub Andrew Aû
in reply to Leather Cub Andrew Aû • •Leather Cub Andrew Aû tagged Leather Cub Andrew Aû's status with #DemocratParty
Leather Cub Andrew Aû
2025-05-27 13:01:22
Leather Cub Andrew Aû
in reply to Leather Cub Andrew Aû • •Leather Cub Andrew Aû tagged Leather Cub Andrew Aû's status with #GreenParty
Leather Cub Andrew Aû
2025-05-27 13:01:22
Leather Cub Andrew Aû
in reply to Leather Cub Andrew Aû • •Leather Cub Andrew Aû tagged Leather Cub Andrew Aû's status with #PSL
Leather Cub Andrew Aû
2025-05-27 13:01:22
Leather Cub Andrew Aû
in reply to Leather Cub Andrew Aû • •Leather Cub Andrew Aû tagged Leather Cub Andrew Aû's status with #SocialistAlternative
Leather Cub Andrew Aû
2025-05-27 13:01:22