Bagchi's Hierarchy of Liberal Activism...or something
It seems that the only time I write is when I'm a little pissed off or stressed out. Maybe it's because my best inspiration to write thoughts that are worth sharing hit at those moments. Some of you know that I've been working on a campaign in San Diego. It's the district Duke Cunningham represented until his whole bribe deal came up. Most of you know the candidate I'm working for and all that, but I'd rather not talk about the details here in an open forum until after the elections.
Every job interview I've had in the past few years--and probably every job interview I will ever have--has the interviewer asking me, "What makes you want to work in politics?" or "What motivates you to do a task?" In most cases, I've given long-winded answers because I've never really found a clear way to explain it. I told my last interviewer that there is a list of things I am passionate about and a list of things that I am good at, but the list of things I am good at and passionate about is a very short one...and playing in politics is on that list...so the interviewer usually chuckles..maybe laughs a little, but it never really accurately covers why I do what I do.
A lot of us seem to do that..get really into a cause, but fail to identify a single reason for getting into that cause. I thought about it during my work in this campaign and I think I've gotten closer to the reason I do what I do. It really is a long theory, but I promise, my reason is explained eventually.
In my opinion there are three types of liberals in the world. The first is the do-nothing liberal who takes a ton of classes from a prestigious school and loves to chat with his friends over coffee at Starbucks about his new ideas on why Bush is a moron. If it's not Starbucks, it's something just as trendy. This is the liberal that writes in his own blog and loves to discuss shit constantly, in a dignified manner of course.
These guys and gals usually do as their title says:absolutely nothing. You may see them at a rally or two, but it's mostly to be able to add to their credibility as a liberal when they chat with the same friends they sip lattes with in the mornings, right before reading their favorite columnist's article in the "New York Times." Though they do little to help get their policies of interest actually passed, the Democratic Party needs these people for two main reasons: 1) they keep liberal theory and discourse alive and 2) they are usually the highest donors to political campaigns.
The second class is a little different in one significant factor from the first group: they get paid a helluva lot less, and thus, must join a union. But this category is not solely for union leaders. This category includes the house mom who sports a "Hillary for President" on the back of her gas-guzzling SUV, without realizing she is pissing off every Republican and conservative who ever has the misfortune of pulling up behind her at a stop light.
Basically, I call these people the more-heart-than-head liberals. True, this group does represent the core of what liberals in power fight for every day: equal rights for all, protection of workers' rights, etc., but members of this group can only fight back with talking points sent down from party central command, which is something the other side is also known for. These folks will be at the rallies. Not only that, but they will proudly wear their pin-up buttons that advertise their candidate of choice or express some witty condescending message that insults the president or the Republican Party...and will probably provoke a chuckle or two from people in the previous group who are doing their once-a-month rally participation. These people are important to the liberal cause because they are the foot soldiers. They're the ones calling you on a Saturday from so-and-so's campaign and asking for you to support his or her candidate. These are the folks who have the worst things to say about the opposition and they would die before every having to vote Republican.
The third and last category of people are the ones who basically combine the main factors from our first two groups. These are the folks who run for political office. These are the people who join non-profits or take shit political jobs just because it will help in one of two ways: help get their ideal policies turned into law or help get people elected who will make those ideal policies into law. This is the group I hope to join. Though I love talking theory and love my loyalty to many liberal values, I want to do something about. I don't fuck around. I never have with any job I have, but when I have a job in the front lines of politics, I feel that I make myself transcend from groups 1 and 2 and give my loyalties and passions a positive purpose that go beyond a paycheck and series of late working night, but a feeling that damn it, I did make a little difference in the tiny ass corner of the world I am currently in. That's why I do politics.
Anyways, Election Day is in two days. A few more late nights, then at the victory party, I am getting wasted and making out with every female staffer or volunteer under the age of 30...so that's like two whole people. Peace out, gang. Until next time.
KjB
P.S. Much love to liberals in all three groups. Seriously.
Every job interview I've had in the past few years--and probably every job interview I will ever have--has the interviewer asking me, "What makes you want to work in politics?" or "What motivates you to do a task?" In most cases, I've given long-winded answers because I've never really found a clear way to explain it. I told my last interviewer that there is a list of things I am passionate about and a list of things that I am good at, but the list of things I am good at and passionate about is a very short one...and playing in politics is on that list...so the interviewer usually chuckles..maybe laughs a little, but it never really accurately covers why I do what I do.
A lot of us seem to do that..get really into a cause, but fail to identify a single reason for getting into that cause. I thought about it during my work in this campaign and I think I've gotten closer to the reason I do what I do. It really is a long theory, but I promise, my reason is explained eventually.
In my opinion there are three types of liberals in the world. The first is the do-nothing liberal who takes a ton of classes from a prestigious school and loves to chat with his friends over coffee at Starbucks about his new ideas on why Bush is a moron. If it's not Starbucks, it's something just as trendy. This is the liberal that writes in his own blog and loves to discuss shit constantly, in a dignified manner of course.
These guys and gals usually do as their title says:absolutely nothing. You may see them at a rally or two, but it's mostly to be able to add to their credibility as a liberal when they chat with the same friends they sip lattes with in the mornings, right before reading their favorite columnist's article in the "New York Times." Though they do little to help get their policies of interest actually passed, the Democratic Party needs these people for two main reasons: 1) they keep liberal theory and discourse alive and 2) they are usually the highest donors to political campaigns.
The second class is a little different in one significant factor from the first group: they get paid a helluva lot less, and thus, must join a union. But this category is not solely for union leaders. This category includes the house mom who sports a "Hillary for President" on the back of her gas-guzzling SUV, without realizing she is pissing off every Republican and conservative who ever has the misfortune of pulling up behind her at a stop light.
Basically, I call these people the more-heart-than-head liberals. True, this group does represent the core of what liberals in power fight for every day: equal rights for all, protection of workers' rights, etc., but members of this group can only fight back with talking points sent down from party central command, which is something the other side is also known for. These folks will be at the rallies. Not only that, but they will proudly wear their pin-up buttons that advertise their candidate of choice or express some witty condescending message that insults the president or the Republican Party...and will probably provoke a chuckle or two from people in the previous group who are doing their once-a-month rally participation. These people are important to the liberal cause because they are the foot soldiers. They're the ones calling you on a Saturday from so-and-so's campaign and asking for you to support his or her candidate. These are the folks who have the worst things to say about the opposition and they would die before every having to vote Republican.
The third and last category of people are the ones who basically combine the main factors from our first two groups. These are the folks who run for political office. These are the people who join non-profits or take shit political jobs just because it will help in one of two ways: help get their ideal policies turned into law or help get people elected who will make those ideal policies into law. This is the group I hope to join. Though I love talking theory and love my loyalty to many liberal values, I want to do something about. I don't fuck around. I never have with any job I have, but when I have a job in the front lines of politics, I feel that I make myself transcend from groups 1 and 2 and give my loyalties and passions a positive purpose that go beyond a paycheck and series of late working night, but a feeling that damn it, I did make a little difference in the tiny ass corner of the world I am currently in. That's why I do politics.
Anyways, Election Day is in two days. A few more late nights, then at the victory party, I am getting wasted and making out with every female staffer or volunteer under the age of 30...so that's like two whole people. Peace out, gang. Until next time.
KjB
P.S. Much love to liberals in all three groups. Seriously.