I really think these constant purity tests are a huge problem for progressives. Can someone explain their value to me?
Does Maher have some terrible ideas? Of course. But he also aligns with 90+% of the values of everyone on this forum. He also has a huge megaphone he uses every week to promote those same 90% you all agree on. I would guess he has given more air time to climate change than the entirety of television, combined. He has been a constant voice against the religious right, Trump, corporate welfare and for LGBTQ+ rights, criminal reform women’s rights etc.
Whatever happened to the idea that politics is compromise? I know for a fact someone is going to quote the last sentence with a well argued “lol” but I obviously don’t mean compromise with the right. Can we not compromise with our own side a little? Are we only allowed to align with people we 100% agree with?
Can we join forces with some feminists who have retrograde views of sex? How about gun control advocates who only want assault rifles controlled? Pro-choicers against late term abortion? Black activists who want full reparations?
Politics is messy. Everyone is not always going to agree with each other. That’s not a reason to write them off. It’s a reason to convince them they are mistaken on some points.
If we write everyone off who we disagree with, even a little, we are left standing next to nobody.
(Inb4 someone responds completely ignoring that I acknowledge Maher has some terrible ideas).