You’re spot on. There’s no vetting, interview, or debate that will cover every scenario that an elected official will face… particularly under this administration. At some point, a voter has to trust that they will handle whatever comes their way with as much integrity for their constituents as possible. Showing up exactly as you are with the beliefs and approaches to even messy issues is the only way to earn that trust. I don’t want a talking point candidate.
I've been feeling this same frustration about this debate. I read both Yglesias and Bonica (not the other authors on either side of the debate), and although I respect both of them I can't really find myself agreeing with either of them. What you call trust and authenticity I call vibes, but it's really the same thing. The only presidential candidates with very good vibes in my political lifetime were Obama and Sanders, and they're ideologically quite different.
I'd actually go even farther than you did, and I would say the entire left-right spectrum is either quickly becoming, or already has become, obsolete as a useful way of thinking about politics. I'm not confident enough or well researched enough to write up an entire article arguing it. It's just a gut feeling for now. But I've learned to trust my gut, so I've started looking around for evidence to support that feeling.
💯. In this sense, it seems like authenticity and trust go hand in hand. Authenticity is doing what you say, trust is being authentic over and over and over again, no matter what
Sorry for the second comment, but I do have one minor nitpick.
"what is anyone supposed to do with that knowledge? There is no secret cabal behind a curtain that can meaningfully control what candidates and electeds say or do, nor can anyone control what activists do."
You're an activist, I'm a (much less influential) activist, and who knows which other activists, electeds, and candidates are reading this. Or reading the broader debate. Not to mention voters deciding if they should vote strategically in primaries. What we say and do matters.
But that's a nitpick, I totally get and agree with what you're saying overall.
Everyone has a responsibility to do something to better our future. May I guide you to “a third way” path? Please, join me at EthicalGovtNow.org. Only $12 annually - just CLICK into EthicalGovtNow.org. Dems may win the midterms, but our Republic is in a much more complicated place than most of us think. We need a longer view of solutions to our inherited societal and political complexities and need to look for them with priorities, while supporting all liberal Democrats now. One more time: please CLICK to visit and delve into: EthicalGovtNow.org or, what we are experiencing now our grandchildren are very likely to inherit.
You’re spot on. There’s no vetting, interview, or debate that will cover every scenario that an elected official will face… particularly under this administration. At some point, a voter has to trust that they will handle whatever comes their way with as much integrity for their constituents as possible. Showing up exactly as you are with the beliefs and approaches to even messy issues is the only way to earn that trust. I don’t want a talking point candidate.
I've been feeling this same frustration about this debate. I read both Yglesias and Bonica (not the other authors on either side of the debate), and although I respect both of them I can't really find myself agreeing with either of them. What you call trust and authenticity I call vibes, but it's really the same thing. The only presidential candidates with very good vibes in my political lifetime were Obama and Sanders, and they're ideologically quite different.
I'd actually go even farther than you did, and I would say the entire left-right spectrum is either quickly becoming, or already has become, obsolete as a useful way of thinking about politics. I'm not confident enough or well researched enough to write up an entire article arguing it. It's just a gut feeling for now. But I've learned to trust my gut, so I've started looking around for evidence to support that feeling.
💯. In this sense, it seems like authenticity and trust go hand in hand. Authenticity is doing what you say, trust is being authentic over and over and over again, no matter what
Sorry for the second comment, but I do have one minor nitpick.
"what is anyone supposed to do with that knowledge? There is no secret cabal behind a curtain that can meaningfully control what candidates and electeds say or do, nor can anyone control what activists do."
You're an activist, I'm a (much less influential) activist, and who knows which other activists, electeds, and candidates are reading this. Or reading the broader debate. Not to mention voters deciding if they should vote strategically in primaries. What we say and do matters.
But that's a nitpick, I totally get and agree with what you're saying overall.
Everyone has a responsibility to do something to better our future. May I guide you to “a third way” path? Please, join me at EthicalGovtNow.org. Only $12 annually - just CLICK into EthicalGovtNow.org. Dems may win the midterms, but our Republic is in a much more complicated place than most of us think. We need a longer view of solutions to our inherited societal and political complexities and need to look for them with priorities, while supporting all liberal Democrats now. One more time: please CLICK to visit and delve into: EthicalGovtNow.org or, what we are experiencing now our grandchildren are very likely to inherit.
Correct on all points - especially about trust!