Winning Is NOT Everything

Oakland Raiders’ owner Al Davis made “Winning is Everything” his team’s motto. That hyper-competitive spirit permeates American culture. It also afflicts political activism.

Activists tend to see issues as black-or-white. We divide the world into good guys and bad guys, blame individuals rather than the system, and launch personal attacks. Anger at oppression devolves into rage at individuals. Righteousness slips into self-righteousness. Self-confidence morphs into arrogance.

As if one side must always win, the mainstream media promotes simplistic polarization by labeling issues as either “left” or “right.” Cable networks magnify minor conflicts into bitter battles, the more vicious the better.

But most moral and political issues are ambiguous. especially when it’s impossible to predict the future. Drawing on gut reactions as well as rational analysis, we can only do our best to divine right action.

In campaigns, candidates focus too much on their own election. Barack Obama even once told workers in his Chicago office that his election would itself constitute “transformation.”

Another example is the contest between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Many partisans on each side believe defeat of their candidate would be a disaster. History, however, suggests the need for humility.

Any number of scenarios could produce a Republican president. Given that threat, despite the many flaws in the Democratic Party, we must elect the Democrat. And no one knows for sure whether Clinton or Sanders would be the stronger candidate. If Sanders is nominated, the Republican machine will hammer him on his weak points much more than Clinton has.

We might be better off if Bernie loses the nomination and helps to build a real grassroots organization as an “outsider.” Our greatest priority is to build a democratic, inclusive, national organization dedicated to systemic reform. Bernie could help with that.

With “Dear Bernie and Hillary: Transform the Democratic Party,” “Proposed: Year-Round Precinct Organizing,” and “Bernie’s Revolution,” I offered some ideas along that line. Other options are available as well.

Sanders’ supporters, who are better organized than the Tea Party was at its outset, could have even more of an impact on the Democratic Party than the Tea Party had on the Republican Party. A few victories in primary campaigns by candidates who support transforming the Democratic Party into a year-round activist organization would provide great leverage.

The Democratic Party structure is remarkably democratic. There’s no need to form a new organization. All we need is for enough people with enough unity to transform the Democratic Party, face-to-face, neighbor-to-neighbor, precinct-by-precinct.

Until I hear some substantial, convincing analysis of why a critical mass of like-minded people can not transform the Democratic Party, I’ll remain hopeful and follow through on my offer to my local Party to help build the Party in my precinct. Year-round precinct organizing could be fun, rewarding, educational for all, and perhaps a model for others.

Despair is a self-fulfilling circle. People don’t get involved because people don’t get involved. Precinct organizing could break that pattern. The need is urgent. The vision is compelling. Why not try?

Electing any one candidate is not everything. We can only do our best, stay even-keeled, and prepare for the long haul.