no permanent allies or enemies...

Early last week I posted a meme that quoted Liz Cheney re: Jim Jordan's traitorous hypocrisy.

The comments that followed were yet another reminder of how profoundly polarized we are as a people: while there was general agreement that Ms. Cheney's insights noted above are true re: Jordan, it makes many of us uncomfortable to consider her an ally on this issue. Fair enough. Cheney has a public record to stand on which is not pretty. It is hardly compassionate and not all that different from the priorities enacted by the once demagogue in chief. But when it comes to the January 6 insurrection, I believe she is right on the money - and needs to be respected for this. Clearly this is why Nancy Pelosi put her on the House Select Committee to investigate the attempted coup.

One of the principles of grass roots community organizing is: no permanent allies and no permanent enemies. This is American pragmatism that always trumps political ideology when working for the common good. Even Jesus taught his disciples that they needed to learn how to make peace with "unrighteous mammon!" And Reinhold Niebuhr celebrated much the same when he wrote Children of Light, Children of Darkness in the midst of the Great Depression of the 30's. Too often open-hearted, optimistic people get trapped when we choose to believe that ideological purity is more important than compromised results. This holier than thou inertia solves nothing and confuses the purity of our bubble for authentic engagement. Studying with masters like Cesar Chavez, Fred Ross, Ed Chambers, Dolores Huerta, and various Industrial Areas Foundation organizers has taught me not to let the perfect become the enemy of the good. As the sermon on the mount makes clear: God makes the sun rise and set on the righteous as well as the unjust. 

All which is to say, for the first time in decades I'm with Bernie at this moment in time. He realizes that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make significant economic changes law for middle class and working class people. So, like the mature wing of SDS used to say, "we're PART of the way with LBJ." And Bernie is part of the way - maybe even MOST of the way - with Uncle Joe Biden. He didn't rant and pout when the first Biden stimulus package bailed on the $15 an hour minimum wage. Rather, he said we'll pick it up later. And we'll let our pragmatic allies build momentum for it, too. Same with the two huge infrastructure proposals that have a good chance of becoming law before Labor Day. Are they perfect? Everything a good democratic socialist would want? Not at all, but as the man has said out loud and in public: the up-coming infrastructure bills are the most comprehensive changes working people will encounter since the days of FDR.

Sanders also knows that realistically there are only a few more months to get results before the 2022 election cycle sucks the oxygen out of the room for those in Congress. Most Americans won't pay much attention until September 2022, but the policy wonks, lobbyists, hacks as well as fundraisers will turn a blind eye to deal-making once the summer is over and the position themselves for mid-term elections. Now is when it compromise and cooperation counts. The recent one year extension of tax credits for children must become permanent law. The infrastructure bills that address brick and mortar repairs alongside more high tech needs and climate change are vital, too. This is a time for introspective prayer, disciplined agitation for real changes that we can accomplish with common ground, and then the courage to use the limited power of this moment boldly before the hour passes. So, let's give Ms. Cheney credit where credit is due, quit the carping, and find more areas for cooperation as there are already too many entrenched ideologues heralding their purity but doing nothing to heal our wounds. Dr. King used to say that we are given certain moments to advance the cause of justice and hope - and they don't last for ever. So, seize the moment