That is Matthew Miles Goodrich, pictured above. Goodrich is a founding member of the Sunrise Movement, and he acts as its Chief Operating Officer. In the July 2024 issue of The Nation magazine, Goodrich wrote an article entitled, "Vote for the Planet," though its online headline is, "Young People Want Better Than Biden. But What Choice Do We Really Have?"
It was kind of fun reading that July issue of The Nation, with most of the "fun" coming from the fact that I didn't actually read the magazine until very early in August. What was most enjoyable, at least to me, was reading what the magazine had to say about national politics, all based on the "certainty" that President Biden would be running for reelection against Donald J. Trump. Columnist Jeet Heer, for instance, after pointing out the weaknesses of Biden as a candidate, made the following pronouncement: "It's too late for the Democrats to switch horses now - there's no mechanism for replacing Biden with another candidate."
Of course, the "mechanism" that effectuated the change that Heer thought was impossible - and that I feel confident that Heer has since approved - was the decision, by President Biden, to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, and to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris. Let's take just one more moment, right now, to appreciate and salute Joe Biden for his willingness to put the nation first, and himself second. Kamala Harris' speech, at the Democratic Party's 2024 Campaign Headquarters, was an eloquent and heartfelt appreciation for what Joe Biden has done, as President, and what he did in stepping aside. If, by any chance, someone reading this blog posting hasn't heard Harris' comments, I think it would be worthwhile to click the link I have just provided.
Let me tell you what Matthew Miles Goodrich said, in his "Vote for the Planet" article. He, too, assumed that Joe Biden would be the Democratic Party candidate, and as his online title said, he and other young people "wanted better," but felt that they had no real choice. This is not exactly the kind of enthusiasm that those campaigning for any office like to see in their supporters!
Goodrich, like Jeet Heer, was writing when there seemed no possibility that there would be a Democratic Party candidate other than President Biden. Goodrich, like Heer, was advising The Nation's readers to "make the best of a bad deal." In doing so, Goodrich said something I think is worth highlighting: "Ultimately," Goodrich wrote, "politics is a negotiation."
I think this statement is profoundly true, and it is applicable to "politics" at every level, and in every place, and at all times. We're not just talking about the current presidential election.
"Politics" is the way we, as a nation (or as a city, or as a county, or as a state) make decisions. And we almost never completely agree on what should be done, and how it should be done as we start out in the political process. Therefore, of necessity, because we disagree, because we differ, "politics is a negotiation."
This fact is a "feature," not a "bug." Almost always, everyone involved in any decision-making process - and this means all of us, as citizens, when we talk about "politics" - have some good points that others will agree have merit, and some points that others will not agree with. Unless we believe that "politics" should be about extirpating those with different views, or rendering them mute, and incapable of action, "politics" is, of necessity, a "negotiation" about what we can agree on, given the fact that we do, in so many ways, actually disagree, and would do it differently if we were the only ones who counted.
Goodrich is addressing this fact in his article in The Nation, and he urges his friends and followers in the Sunrise Movement - discouraged about national policies relating to our Climate Crisis - to get engaged, and to negotiate fiercely.
That is good advice for us all, on climate-related issues and on ALL the issues we care about, and that are so important. We all are part of the decision-making process; that is what "politics" is, a "decision-making process," and if we don't engage and participate - if we don't "negotiate" - we may well end up dissatisfied with what happens. "Stating" what is right, "demonstrating" what is right, important as it is, is not enough. We need, all of us, from our different perspectives and positions, to "negotiate," which means to build political power by allying ourselves with others and working with them, across differences, to come to some mutually accepted course of action.
Politics is a negotiation! It isn't wiping out the other side!
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