Forward Together

If the question is "what do you do?", my answer is "whatever needs to get done." I aim to spend my life building strong communities, advancing progressive causes, and working hard with those around me to craft a better world together.

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ATTENTION

If you see this you are OBLIGATED to reblog w/ the song currently stuck in your head :)

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This has been in my head for DAYS - See The Light by Kane Scott

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NekGZnSvA4A

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The Progressive Promise of Basic Income

Recently, legendary anti-poverty activist John Clarke penned an article on basic income that was, to put it mildly, skeptical. When posting it to his OCAP page, he asked basic income proponents to provide their feedback (you can read the comment here). I’ve answered his call, and am reposting my comments below with quotes from the original article (which you can read here) where appropriate.  It is my hope that Mr. Clarke was serious in his request for a dialogue on what I perceive to be a crucial issue going forward, and is open to hearing my concerns about the article he’s posted. *******************************************************************************************

"They realize that a regressive model of basic income can be put in place that provides an inadequate, means tested payment to the poorest people outside of the workforce but that is primarily directed to the lowest paid workers."

You are also describing the existing social safety net that you seek to preserve (and build upon). The idea of a basic income is to replace the income support that is currently provided through stigmatizing and paternalistic welfare models that clawback earnings at rates that effectively trap people in poverty, and to instead deliver it through a vector that avoids both of those problems at a rate that empowers individuals.

"This would be, in effect, a subsidy to employers, paid for out of the tax revenues and it would be financed by cuts to broader public services."

This again would also be true of the social safety net we have now. Indeed, you see this in the States all the time - a huge percentage of Wal-Mart employees receive welfare benefits.

A progressive basic income eliminates the extortion of the existing coercive labour market by providing a real alternative to wages. That is precisely the opposite of what you're alleging. However, if you are really concerned about subsidies to employers, I would focus your efforts on the massive actual subsidies that employers directly get already. You won't run out of targets any time soon.

Your allegation that basic income is problematic for people living with disabilities rests entirely on the assertion you make in the cited article that the proposals currently on the table will be changed at a later date in a way that suits your narrative. You are an excellent organizer but that doesn't come with psychic powers, so I can't deal with those allegations as they rest entirely on speculation. If we are playing "the government will screw this up", then yes, the government could always do a better job, but since that's universally true it's also universally irrelevant.

The last few paragraphs of your article seem to admit everything I just said; you say explicitly that "an income support system that removed economic coercion in a way that progressive basic income advocates suggest, would be more than turning back the neoliberal tide. It would actually mean that the state was providing the working class with an unlimited strike fund. It would undermine the very basis for the capitalist job market. It would constitute social transformation, a revolutionary change that is, to say the least, beyond the capacity of any possible social policy enactment."

You're exactly right, but you go on to say, essentially, that that is "too good to be true". There are too many powerful neoliberals entrenched with vested interests to ever make it possible.

This is almost the exact same argument that left-leaning centrists made in the Democratic primaries last year about single-payer healthcare in the US, which you and I both know is not only not "too good to be true" but is indeed a fact of life for millions that provides real agency to human beings through redistributing wealth to people equitably in the form of essential care and liberates them from the trap of employer-provided healthcare. There's a reason that the health care sector in Canada has lined up so strongly behind basic income; it's the logical extension.

You may find it no surprise that I disagreed with those liberal centrists, and since you're making the same arguments here that they made there, often almost verbatim, I'm afraid I have to disagree with you as well.

I'm cautious about the existing pilot and no, I never fully trust the Liberals. I don't want to come across as discounting your concerns. But I think it is essential that we struggle for income support systems that are based on adequacy, full entitlement and that are purged of intrusive rules and moral policing, if I may borrow a phrase, and that is precisely what a progressive basic income represents.

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Renouncing Violence

It looks like this shooter was a Bernie supporter. In these circumstances, it is crucial for those who would defend democracy and the peaceful transition of power that rests at its heart to condemn the retreat into violence.

Our vision is of an inclusive society that enfranchises and empowers every citizen so that none feel they must resort to the gun or the knife in order to be heard. We must never rest in our efforts to build democratic structures to replace and tear down the systems of oppression that daily assault our common humanity.

We live in an intrinsically violent society built on a heritage of oppression. It should be clear that we cannot grow a peaceful society from seeds planted in a field of blood and anger. We cannot fight our way out of a violent system; we must work together build a new path forward made of peace, love, kindness, and understanding.

Support one another in this essential work. It is more than a dream; it is our mission. <3

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My Plan To Grow The Middle Class

Put all the rich people in it

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A Standing Invitation

Shoutout to all the conservative groups who are suddenly so concerned with free speech and “hearing all ideas”. You want to hear all ideas and enable free speech, then put your money where your mouth is - have me speak at your next event alongside whatever alt-right Nazi you’ve decided to feature! Yes, this standing offer applies to any conservative organization that actually wishes to foster free speech. Bring me along to debate with your favourite Nazi and let the ideas really flow! This former Nazi is ready and waiting to engage with the “marketplace of ideas” and give you all the free speech you can handle. You want real free speech? Invite someone to challenge your ideas instead of coddling them. I promise, I won’t punch your Nazi unless he really asks for it. I’m here and waiting, lovers. Hit me up. ;)

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Which side are you? Reblog to fight Nazis with LeftBirb.

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I know which team I’m on. Lead on, Leftbirb.

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Onward, Ever Onward

I know today is a challenging day for many of us; for many others, it is a proud one.

Your feelings today are yours. I can’t, and won’t, tell you that you should feel different.

What I do hope to do is share a feeling of my own:

Hope.

Whatever else this inauguration may be, it is first and foremost a transfer of power between two radically different visions for the nation, and it is a transition that will be conducted peacefully and in accordance with a system of democratic governance, a system we’ve embraced and accepted as a publicly accessible counterweight to private power. Is the system perfect? Of course not. But we have in our hands and our hearts the power to continue to change it for the better - and we aim to do so.

For those of you who are feeling angry, upset, and betrayed by the process as we move forward and inaugurate the new President, I will ask you to keep your friends, family, and fellow citizens (and non-citizens) in your hearts. That includes those who are most vulnerable to the changes coming our way, who are already suffering and who face still further challenge ahead. They need our support. That includes those who share your concerns and passions, who may be burnt out and exhausted. Empower one another; strong communities are the foundation on which real change becomes possible. And yes, that includes Republican and conservative colleagues and family. The way you feel right now is the way they’ve felt for the last eight years. Wherever possible, seek to build bridges and start dialogues. Blocking people might feel satisfying, but it doesn’t solve the larger problem. That said, look out for your own health and safety as well. Take care of yourself and each other.

For those of you exulting in the change, I expect you to be gracious in your victory and compassionate in your actions. Many of you view Trump’s victory as a referendum on your own sense of alienation, of how you have felt left out out of the political process and dismissed by those with views different from your own. You’ve quite rightly urged the rest of us to listen to your concerns; now, lead by example and listen to the concerns of those around you as well. Confront fear in your community and, just as important, confront the fears in your hearts. Whether you feel it’s justified or not, many of those around you are feeling alarmed by this President. Respect those feelings. You have the power to prove they’re unnecessary - or prove they are.

Republicans: with control of the House, the Senate, the White House, and soon the Supreme Court, this is your chance to show that the policies you’ve preached are the better alternative. Your success as leaders will be judged in large part on whether your policies deliver better results for all the American people, set us on a path to addressing climate change, and help bridge the divide that separates us from each other. We will be watching. We will be holding you to account. And we will resist any attempts to undermine democracy or punish the marginalized.

Democrats: we’ve lost thousands of elections over the past six years. Berating third party voters for their votes and relitigating the primary is probably not the way to turn that around. We won’t win unless we offer a vision that inspires and policies that make a real difference. We can’t just hope people will vote against Republicans; we must ensure we offer them a reason to vote for Democrats. We can’t abandon people in pursuit of some myth of centrism. We can’t condescend or insult our way to changing minds. People are ready for authenticity and change. Let’s ensure we have those firmly in our arsenal.

The opening rounds of President Trump’s approach are not encouraging to those who believe in democracy and justice. But there is hope in the same places one can always find hope - in the warmth and compassion of our friends and families, in the strength and determination of our communities, in the fundamental sense of fairness and justice that resides in the heart of the humankind, no matter how buried it may be by fear. It is that fear which is our true enemy - not our colleagues, not our family members, not our political opponents. And it is by confronting that fear with a commitment to truth, to courage, and to one another that we will build a better world together. Never fear to reach out a helping hand. Never fear to seek to better understand. Never fear to take a stand for what’s right. And when fear touches you personally, as it inevitably will, seek strength in one another and carry on. The way forward will not be easy. But I have no doubts that together, we will build a world we can ALL be proud of - no matter what stands in our way.

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Onward In The Age Of Trump

On the day the electoral college voted for Trump, I had the opportunity to speak to a rally on the steps of the New Hampshire capitol building. I used the platform to talk about the need for organizing - and some practical steps for doing so. You can find that speech below.

How’s everyone feeling right now? Concerned? Upset? Inspired? Ready to fight?

I hear you. I like fighting; I like having that perfect comeback on Facebook, I like being called a “social justice warrior” - how badass is that? Hell yeah I’m a warrior for social justice! And sometimes it really does feel like we’re soldiers in a war.

But it’s not a war. And voters in your own democracy are not your enemy. We aren’t here to fight. As the saying goes: “don’t get mad - get organized.” That’s a big difference! Soldiers burn bridges; organizers build them.

So what does it mean, “get organized”? To me, organizing means “delivering a shared sense of purpose in pursuit of a common goal - and then, together, putting in the hard work to make it happen.” That’s the long form. The short form? Organizing means showing up.

Take today for example. It’s cold, it’s wet, it’s early, and it looks set to be a dark day in American history. But here we are. You showed up! At all 50 state capitols, we showed up together, and now our voice is amplified.

I hope you’ll indulge me in telling a brief story to illustrate why organizing is important before I explain how you can do it yourself. Earlier this year, I worked for a guy you may have heard of named Bernie Sanders - have any of you heard of him? Well I had the chance to work for him in Ann Arbor, Michigan. And every day, I’d wake up in the morning and join forces with three other people. Just three of us for the whole city of Ann Arbor.

Every day we spent our time calling volunteers and asking them to come in for just a few hours and help us knock on doors. Every day we shared our best knowledge with those volunteers and then asked them to share it with other people. Every day we had to keep those volunteers - and ourselves - motivated in the face of polls that showed us 10, 15, even 20 points down on our opponent. And every day, we did it - we showed up and we got to work. And on March 8th, Michigan voted - and we won.

Remember that feeling? It was pretty badass. And the part that felt the best was that we knew we’d earned it. We kept going when the polls showed us losing, we kept going when volunteers didn’t come in, we kept going when we didn’t always have everything we needed to do our jobs. And we kept showing up, and we won.

There is an incredible power in persistence. People lose faith. People lose interest. People give up. And that leaves a vacuum that can and WILL be filled by the ones who don’t give up and don’t lose interest. You can be that person. Show up. Be there.

So what can you do as we move forward?

Keep showing up. You’re here now, and that’s so important. Keep showing up. People lose faith and lose interest and lose steam, and it’s exactly when everyone else is losing interest that you have the MOST power, because all you need to do is keep going to win. Do you know how many people don’t even KNOW there are elections next year? Nobody shows up for those odd years, which means you already have a huge advantage out of the gate. Find a candidate - BE a candidate! Show up for those elections.

Build those bridges. You already know everyone here cares and is willing to show up. As soon as we finish I want you to turn to the person next to you and ask how you can help them organize. Get connected on Facebook or with email if they want. Build a bridge.Then, when you get home, go talk to Planned Parenthood. Go look up your local interfaith council. Go talk to your local Democratic party committee. Talk to your friends and neighbours. Talk to Trump supporters! I know, I know. But I spent part of this year working to stop the TPP, and we often ran into Republicans who were on the same page. You won’t always agree, but when you do, make common cause. Build a bridge! There will ALWAYS be more that unites us than divides us.

Build those bridges and then cross those bridges. Find out what people are doing and show up for them. Help get names on a petition, help knock on doors in the cold, help make calls. Yeah it’ll be hard - that’s why most people aren’t gonna do it, and that means that when you do it’s that much more powerful. And don’t be afraid to ask others to show up for you. Solidarity is what happens when people show up for each other.

Keep track of your connections. Maybe you’re great with names and faces. I’m not, so I put everyone in my phone with their name and then an identifier about what we have in common. Whenever Megan (the organizer) calls me, it shows up in my phone as Megan Bernie. Now I know our shared connection at a glance. Work out a system that works for you.

Communicate! So many movements fizzle out because people don’t communicate; people ask “what next” and nobody has an answer they can share. Keep in touch. Keep people up to date. And keep busy! Keep a list of people who are interested in what you’re doing and email them every month with updates - you can use Mailchimp for free to mail out to a big list quickly and easily and to always track who should get what email.

I’ll warn you know - you’ll have bad days. You’ll run into trolls and haters who taunt you and try to destroy what you’re doing and tell you it won’t matter. Worse, you’ll run into so many people who don’t care either way. Every day, the easiest choice will always be to quit, to join the ranks of the terminally apathetic or the perpetually angry.

But you’re here right now, you showed up right now because YOU. CARE.

And on inauguration day, when the protests come, you’re going to show up!

And during next year’s elections when hardly anyone votes, you’re going to show up!

And when the midterms come in 2018, you’re going to show up and work hard for real progressives!

And when they try to ban Muslims, you’re going to show up, together - and we’re going to make a difference.

Stay organized, my friends. Let’s do this.

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My Current Projects

With the election over, I’ve been back home and had a bit of time to work on some new projects (free time - what a weird feeling). One is Createsmas, a holiday designed to give artists, makers, and creatives some real support. Also a way to make sure I don’t get any gifts on my birthday. :lol: Far better for the resources that would have gone to gifts to instead go to support art! :D The other is Progress Champions (site still under development, but you can see the Facebook page here). I’m very excited for the work I’ll be doing with Progress Champs next year. I suppose I should get a job, too. :lol: 

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Forward With The Etobicoke-Lakeshore NDP

Today’s AGM for the Etobicoke-Lakeshore NDP was an enjoyable and successful event. We heard from ONDP Deputy Leader Jagmeet Singh on a number of topics - of particular interest to me was his support for a basic income guarantee, one of my passion projects. He was asked about the leadership race, and he let us know that he “can neither confirm nor deny any rumours”. ;) We also elected a new executive committee. I am proud that the members of the NDP in Etobicoke-Lakeshore have placed their trust in me as President for another year. I am eager to get back to work, and to apply the many lessons I learned over the past year to organizing for real progress in Etobicoke in 2017 and beyond.

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Returning Home

With the election over, I’ve returned home. I’m very proud to say that we won the race I was working on, unseating an incumbent Republican in a swing district while the rest of the state went the other direction. Now I’m settling back in to life in Canada. A couple new projects on the go, as well (as always). It’s good to be home. :)

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Bernie in Michigan!

Last time I was in Ann Arbor it was to work for Bernie and I got to speak at his rally. I’m not speaking this time, but there’s another Bernie rally happening here and I’m stoked to go! You can come too - here’s the link to RSVP.

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But Who Do I Vote For Now?

Deciding who to vote for this year in the Presidential election has been... challenging.  I poured my heart and soul into Bernie. I have no regrets - I worked as hard as I ever have on that campaign and there is nothing more I could have done to change things. And we did make a big difference; I know that progress is made of many small steps far more often than it is a few big ones. Nonetheless, it was very sad to have lost. After a few weeks (ok, months) of being pretty depressed, I recognized that I had to get practical and make a decision - who do I vote for now? I knew I wasn’t voting for “the Donald”. He’s easy to joke about, but the bulk of his policies are standard Republican fare that would be terrible for the labour class. He does have some good stances, sure. But he’s also pretty obviously a con man. And frightening - watching his RNC speech was the first thing that made me donate to Hillary Clinton. But then I had my qualms about her, too, for obvious reasons after that primary. No, I wasn’t “feeling the Johnson”. Libertarian, in America, is a word you use when you want to say Republican but need another syllable. Johnson is a pretty standard issue Republican on most of his policies - possibly more so than Trump. Jill Stein. Ahh, Jill. I like Jill Stein, and I like most of her party’s positions. In particular, I view climate change as an existential crisis, and she shares that. That’s almost enough to get my vote. And she’s certainly made no secret of her desire to follow in Bernie’s footsteps. And yet... As the campaign has gone on, it’s become more and more apparent to me that this campaign is, essentially, a referendum on Donald Trump and all he represents. This is a man who has openly embraced overt white supremacy in a nation drowning in built-in white supremacy. This is a man who profits - literally and figuratively - from tearing at social cohesion and turning people on one another. This is a man who fixes blame instead of fixing problems. This is a man who attracts millions of followers. And this election is as much about them as it is about us. Do you imagine those people who are already talking about “second amendment solutions” are going to simply chin up and move on for 2020? Do you think losing the election will simply erase those beliefs? Because I don’t. And that’s why this election can’t just be a victory. It can’t come down to 30 hanging chads or five rural Ohio counties. It needs to be a landslide. It needs to be a complete repudiation of what Donald Trump has embraced and fields as his banner. That’s why, this election, this die-hard Berner is following Bernie’s lead and voting, donating, and campaigning for Hillary Clinton.  We’ve heard Donald Trump’s message. Come November 8th, let’s make sure he and his supporters can’t help but hear ours.

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From New York to Chicago

What an eventful visit to New York City. My friends are now married, I reconnected with someone I hadn’t seen in 15 years, and I now own the fanciest piece of clothing I’ve ever owned. Onward to Chicago, and then to Denver. The first Rock Against The TPP concert is this week!

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A Story For Our Time

Once upon a time there were twin brothers born to a king. Amon was born just a few minutes earlier, which made him next in line for the throne. Imal, despite being technically a twin, would receive nothing.

As children, the two were inseparable. However, as they matured, Imal became very jealous. One day he tried to kill Amon, but was stopped, and he fled and went into hiding. Amon, however, was heartbroken. He loved his brother. He refused all human contact whatsoever, not even the smallest poke or prod.

As the years passed, his father the king despaired. Would his dynasty end with his withdrawn son? But one day, the King had an idea and hired the kingdom's finest bounty hunters to track down Imal and return him to the castle.

It took months, but at last they found Imal hidden away in a small village, living as a peaceful farmer under an assumed name. They captured him and brought him back. Imal was certain they were going to kill him, but instead they brought him to Amon. Overjoyed, Amon welcomed his brother home and returned to society. Before long, he found a partner and the king's dynasty was saved.

And the moral of the story is: If you want to poke Amon, you gotta catch Imal.

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Asexual And Proud

I’ve written before about being asexual. I don’t remember exactly when I discovered the term in the context of human sexuality, but I definitely remember how quickly it clicked with me. Here, at last, was an explanation beyond just “I’m different” or “something’s wrong”. And that was it. I was like “huh, that’s cool,” embraced it, and stopped thinking about it. I have not been in the habit of doing a lot of self-reflection in the area of my own sexuality. Perhaps I have been avoiding it. Recent events have prompted me to reconsider that. As a result, I’ve been thinking a lot more about what it means to me to be sexually attracted to... nobody. On its face, that’s just what it means - I’m not into having sex with anyone. Sure, I think lots (lots) of people are physically attractive... but I can’t imagine ever having sex with any of them. But it’s more than that. Not wanting to have sex with anyone also means not fully engaging with so much of pop culture, with so many social norms. Sex is so often used as a stand-in for intimacy in cultural storytelling. It’s how you “consummate” a marriage or how you know a relationship is “serious”. It’s a constant subtext to flirting, to dating, even to just making new friends. “Are they doing this just to sleep with me?” is a constant backdrop for people (spoiler: I never am). Of course, the flip side is that people take it personally when you’re not interested. I’ve also found that a lifetime of absorbing the message that “sex=intimacy” makes it tough to believe people who say they are building intimacy with you, even when they really are. Obviously there are a lot of variables in that equation, but feeling excluded from this hugely important process that drives so many people to such lengths, that underpins so much of what relationship norms are about... it’s a big challenge thrown on top of an already challenging subject. So that’s why I’m embracing it today. The Pride celebration, to me, is all about embracing that part of you that’s maybe different from the norm, and asking people to engage with you as you are, not as sexual norms suggest you ought to be. I don’t yet know exactly what that means for me. And that’s ok. I’m going to be open and transparent with the world about that process, and I’m going to ask people forthrightly to accept that there’s an exploration going on. I don’t know everything about how this is going to shake out, I don’t know when - or even if - I’m going to get a full handle on my sexuality and how it works for me and for my partners. But I do know this: I’m asexual, and I’m ok with that.

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Happy Canada Day

There’s really no place like home. <3