Better than nothing

While it may come as no surprise to people that my general preference is for limiting the power of the states and increasingly centralizing power with the federal government, I have to admit that in the coming years I may have cause to like the system we have set up at the moment. Similarly, but somewhat more unlikely, I may also get around to appreciating the Second Amendment as well, but we'll stick with the first bit for now.

It is increasingly clear to me that for at least the next two years the federal government is going to be a force for evil with regards to any progressive goals, or hell, any goals that don't involve all of our money going into The Toddlers pockets. The absolute best we can hope for is a negative event, that is congressional gridlock. But I have no confidence in that situation lasting long, because politicians are horrible, and the Democrats are really bad at playing the perception game and getting the public to realize the reason for the obstructionism and that the blame should be laid at the feet of the party that supports a man who wants to put immigrants in camps.

I give it six months, a year at best, before the Democratic representatives from areas that have a large Republican population jump ship enough to allow legislation to pass even through the threat of a filibuster.

Which means if we want to see progress on any issues like health care, housing, or the minimum wage it has to at the state level.  A couple of dozen representatives have stated that they are not going to be attending the inauguration at the end of the week, and many of them say instead that they will be talking with their constituents and having meetings about what they can do in their own district or state. This then is the way progressive ideals can be advanced in an era where a fascist federal government exists, it matters little with to, say, Oregon if the feds decide to reduce or remove the minimum wage or to "modify" the definition of marriage, or whatever, unless they are also prepared to make some pretty fundamental changes to the Constitution as well.

It's far from an ideal situation of course, because the red states will continue to fuck their people as hard as possible in the name of morality and punishing the poor/minorities/sex havers. But it might be better than nothing.

That might be the mantra for anything not horrible that happens this year "Might be better than nothing".

I am not filled with optimism.