Les Lester's Chronicle, Message Board

Les Lester's Chronicle, Message Board
[ Les Lester's Chronicle, Message Board ]

Be Forgiving with People, Be Brutal with Systems

Posted by Maestro on 5/11/2026, 5:59 pm

Hopefully, we will have yet another young progressive in office this November when Maine chooses Graham Platner over Susan Collins in their senate race. He is trouncing her in all the polls. Move over AOC and Zorhan. Platner has openly stated he will not back Chuck Schumer for the senate leadership role and he also impressed me with this great quote: "be forgiving with people, be brutal with systems." Below a good article on Platner which appeared in Jacobin magazine.

https://jacobin.com/2026/05/platner-senate-maine-nazi-smears

Re: Be Forgiving with People, Be Brutal with Systems

Posted by gm on 5/11/2026, 6:14 pm, in reply to "Be Forgiving with People, Be Brutal with Systems"

"Be ruthless with systems, be kind with people."

I absolutely agree!
But having a tendency to be nitpicky, let me ask: how do you topple the systems without also being ruthless with the people propping up said systems? 😳🤔

LOL...double tasking...doing shit and trying to read the article at same time.

Re: Be Forgiving with People, Be Brutal with Systems

Posted by Maestro on 5/11/2026, 6:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Be Forgiving with People, Be Brutal with Systems"

gm: I absolutely agree!
But having a tendency to be nitpicky, let me ask: how do you topple the systems without also being ruthless with the people propping up said systems?

He believes that many of us have misplaced anger, and that we ought to approach those folk with understanding. I know many of these type, including relatives. Would you believe one backed Jesse Jackson and Obama and then voted for Trump twice. And then there are the hard core. That's a different story. LOL!!!

Previous Message

Great take....Be Forgiving with People, Be Brutal with Systems

Posted by gm on 5/11/2026, 6:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Be Forgiving with People, Be Brutal with Systems"

"When economic systems fail people, right-wing populism arises, always blames marginalized communities, immigrant groups, those who are the weakest." The solution is to give a better answer, rooted in "left-wing populism, a populism that is there to address the underlying economic failures."
[from article]

Platner is exactly right!
Case in point: See what just happened in the UK with the fascist Reform Party and its leader Nigel Farage. He did well in those elections by spouting right-wing populism. That's demagoguery!

The Greens did exceptionally well with a progressive & "left-wing populism that addressed the underlying economic failures". That's the correct strategy - it's humane!
And so it goes!

BTW.....Be Forgiving with People, Be Brutal with Systems

Posted by noting gm on 5/11/2026, 8:38 pm, in reply to "Great take....Be Forgiving with People, Be Brutal with Systems"

"Move over AOC and Zohran."

Well, not so quickly: AOC sometimes get on my last nerve but I still see her as legit & authentic compared to others. And i'm still very very big on Zohran Mamdani.
Just my take!

Nebraska: Dan Osborn a progressive rising...more an independent?

Posted by noting gm on 5/17/2026, 12:18 pm, in reply to "BTW.....Be Forgiving with People, Be Brutal with Systems"

Just saw a brief interview with this guy in Nebraska running as a progressive.. or is it an Independent?..
He's a veteran like Platner, a previous union leader, industrial mechanic, etc.

Hmm, for some reason some in the Democratic party establishment feel they should support him cuz a regular Democrat wouldn't win in Nebraka.

He seems okay to me even though his more of a moderate on Israel than I am..

Also, he seems quite the working class hero type..
And yes, 'People Have the Power' [Lol.. check maestro's song by Patti Smith in this weeks Saturday Jams]..
Let's hope he can pull an upset in Nebraska, a Trumpian red state.
GO DAN OSBORN, GO!!

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