Tired of the politics of hate?

Contrary to the stories in mainstream media coverage, anti-incumbent sentiment doesn’t mean Americans want the politics of hate and exclusion. 

The mainstream media coverage of the "tea party" activists and last week's coverage of the mid-term primary elections has stressed how these events signal voters’ dissatisfaction with incumbent officials in Washington. Coverage also points out how the Republican candidates who are challenging incumbents are mobilizing around political platforms of hate and social exclusion, such as anti-immigration and opposition to government programs designed to provide safety nets for the most vulnerable members of our society.

But what mainstream media is not telling us is that far more Americans are expressing their dissatisfaction with incumbents in more positive ways. While the numbers attending the well-funded and well-publicized tea party rallies is dwindling, tens of thousands of people from all walks of life and from all parts of our country are coming to Detroit for the United States Social Forum June 22-26 because they believe “another world is possible,” and to make this happen, “another United States is Necessary.” They’re inspired by the idea that another Detroit is already happening, and they’re hoping to get ideas for ways to bring solutions to the current economic and ecological crises home to their own communities. The solutions will require people to come together across our many differences and find ways to build broad movements to change the basic culture and structures of our society.