Why do Democrats have so much trouble turning activist energy into electoral success? That’s the question Ralph asks sociology professor Dana Fisher, author of “Activism Inc” and “American Resistance: From the Women’s March to the Blue Wave.” Also truck safety advocate, Jennifer Tierney, tells us about the legislation she is working on to make us all safer on the highway. Plus, Ralph invites you to join his “Congress Club.”
Dana Fisher is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland. Her books include “American Resistance: From the Women’s March to the Blue Wave”and “Activism, Inc: How the Outsourcing of Grassroots Campaigns is Strangling Progressive Politics in America.”
“This brings us back to this distinction between citizens who I think are extremely concerned on the left and are increasingly more engaged… but they’ve been focusing much more on this idea of mobilizing around specific events or a specific issue rather than organizing long term. And as a result, they’re not actually continuing to pay attention to and hold their elected officials accountable… It’s another reason citizens need to be organized, not just mobilized.”
Professor Dana Fisher, author of “American Resistance: From the Women’s March to the Blue Wave.”
“It’s interesting. The most powerful lobbies don’t have to rely on marches and demonstrations. You don’t have Wall Street rely on (marches). They do in-personum lobbying with their Senators and Representatives, wining, dining, campaign money, offering jobs after they retire etc. etc.”
Ralph Nader
Jennifer Tierney is a truck safety advocate and serves on the board of Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH).
“The difference in the weight and the size of the truck versus the car makes these catastrophic injuries. And in fact, 96% of fatalities involving two vehicles, a truck and a car, are the passengers in the car… that’s pretty horrific numbers.”
Jennifer Tierney, truck safety advocate
Outsourcing Activism/Truck Safety