Open Left

I should go back. . .

and take a look at those books again.

But my principle fear is that the new posse we put in place will have the same personality characteristics and proclivities as the old posse, human nature and the nature of the political-media industry being what it is.  I'm already seeing examples.  

We need, as you say, systems that reward different kinds of behavior and punish previously tolerated behaviors, and they must be sustainable and attuned to the zeitgeist.  I see beginnings, but the culture is not there yet, not sufficiently attuned or advanced in a to be hoped for cycle of democratic resurgence to sustain systemic changes.

I'm less sanguine than I used to be that the netroots will be a real player in such a change, other than as a kind of chronicler of parts of it along the way.  The kind of cultural change necessary is bigger than the reach and influence of the netroots, and much of the progressive movement has been blunted, so far, by Obamaism on the one hand and competitive infighting over scarce resources.

I blog at www.firedoglake.com.

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by: Pachacutec @ Fri Jun 26, 2009 at 16:43:03 PM CDT