While many have argued that one of the most pernicious problems in local and national government is hyper-polarization and militant partisanship that draws stark dividing lines in our communities both locally and nationally, an underlying issue propagates and exasperates this divide is lazy activism, spurred on by a digital culture.
Not even 20 years ago, when protesters marched against invasion of Iraq — later proven to have been orchestrated on fictitious grounds of weapons of mass destruction that did not exist — required both Americans and international activists to march in the streets. The internet was a relatively new tool in the activism toolbox by which organizers could reach the like-minded and motivate them to join in the streets, around capitol buildings or in public squares where they could speak, listen and be heard by each other and elected officials, hopefully pushing them away from invasion or at least voice their displeasure at such.
But in the 20 years since, a means of communication has become the method of the protest. Rather than marching in the streets for or against abortion, for or against military action, for one civil right or another or even against specific political figures and legislation which have drawn public ire, both activists and the motivated public instead post comments on social media, read only in ideological silos, which can be ignored by public officials with a keystroke or an emoticon.
“The senator heard us, his blue thumb proves it!”
Elected officials both locally at the state level and nationwide tell us that email is the best means to communicate with them. Of course it is. Send a message and elected officials can respond, “Thank you for your concern, we’re looking into the matter,” giving activists the false belief they have done something while allowing the elected officials to claim that they are listening to their constituents.
Phone calls, if actually answered, at least require an immediate response to the anger, outrage or celebration in constituents’ tone of voice, unlike the flat characters in an email or social media post or tweet.
Bodies matter more than bytes. A public protest puts physical bodies in a physical space that conveys dedication to effect some change, coupled with constructive action such as delivering petitions or having speakers engaged with the public who may not otherwise know about the nuances of the issue.
Residents often set up on the corner of Coffee Pot Drive and State Route 89A, or State Routes 260 and 89A, urging drivers to honk if they support [insert topic here], most recently supporting Ukraine.
It would be more beneficial to collect funds for the International Red Cross or use one’s wealth to help refugees on Polish border find shelter and resources — but that time and effort might interfere with local activists’ ability to protest affordable housing projects in the Verde Valley. Instead, holding meaningless signs on the street corner allows “trophy case activists” earn their participation medals for the cause of the week.
Ukrainians can’t hear the honks.
Rather, activists who don’t brag donate to refugee support organizations or Ukrainian media outlets.
Lazy activism is how our political process operates too. Rather than legislate with a consensus, Democrats and Republicans connive in state houses to gerrymander districts for the least amount of election competition, securing seats that lack debate or campaigning to desperately edge for one-seat majority.
With slim majorities, conservatives and liberals pass bills as though they have two-thirds majority mandates. In November, should the other party manage to win a one-seat majority and governors mansions, entirely possible in razor-thin “battleground” states, the new party in power will repeal laws as if they had a two-thirds majority.
Lawmakers should instead govern based on popular opinion and clear majorities rather than aim at winning at the margin and governing via extremism.
As long as lazy activists continue to protest with posts and rally with retweets, lawmakers will feel free to ignore the moderate majority. Go to meetings and speak. Organize events that have clear goals for real-world change and read the legislation you want implemented or repealed.
If you only share memes, the rest of the world can just unsubscribe.
Christopher Fox Graham
Managing Editor
Help Ukrainians (for Real)
The International Committee of the Red Cross – together with its partners in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – remains active in Ukraine and surrounding countries, saving and protecting the lives of victims of armed conflict and violence. Our neutral and impartial humanitarian action supports the most vulnerable people: humanitarian needs are enormous, but together we can address them. Donate here https://www.icrc.org/en/donate/ukraine
United Help Ukraine Inc. is a nonprofit charitable organization receiving and distributing donations, food and medical supplies to Ukrainian IDPs (internally displaced people), people of Ukraine affected by Russia’s invasion into Eastern Ukraine and annexation of Crimea, families of wounded or killed for freedom and independence of Ukraine. Our activities focus on fund-raising events, raising awareness of the crisis in Ukraine by engaging individuals, organizations, private and government institutions, and media in the United States of America. https://unitedhelpukraine.org/donate
The Kyiv Independent is Ukraine’s English-language media outlet, created by journalists who were fired from the Kyiv Post for defending editorial independence. On Nov. 11, 2021, over 30 ex-Kyiv Post employees decided to continue the Kyiv Post’s legacy by launching a new publication – the Kyiv Independent. View its news coverage here: https://kyivindependent.com/ and its Twitter feed here https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent. Illia Ponomarenko is the defense and security reporter at the Kyiv Independent and has done amazing reporting on the front lines. He has reported about the war in eastern Ukraine since the conflict’s earliest days in 2014. To support the hard working coverage The Kyiv Independent and Illia Ponomarenko and his colleagues, donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/kyivindependent-launch
Médecins Sans Frontières aka Doctors Without Borders is stepping up its medical humanitarian response to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and in neighboring countries, where more than 4.3 million refugees have fled. MSF has a longstanding presence in Ukraine, including in parts of the eastern region that have been affected by armed conflict since 2014. Due to the current war, MSF has halted normal activities and have started emergency activities in Ukraine. with teams in Kyiv, Lviv, Vinnytsia, Zhytomir, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odessa, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Bila Tserkva, Uzhhorod and Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, and in Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia, Russia, and Belarus. MSF is an independent and impartial organization committed to providing medical humanitarian assistance to people affected by the war no matter who they are or where they are. Donate here: https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/secure/donate
