Howdy folks,
Our guest for the Sept 5, 2023 episode of Redneck Gone Green will be David Rovics, a songwriter, musician, writer and podcaster based in Portland, Oregon. Amy Goodman describes Rovics as “the musical version of Democracy Now.” That’s because he is not only a talented musician, he is also a deep thinker with decades of practical experience as part of the anti-authoratarian Left.
As usual, I have written a thought piece for folks who want to go deep. This time my writing is a bit different, because it is a summary of a much longer essay Rovics wrote recently called The Mind-Warping Effects of Rabbit Holes. Just scroll down to read my summary.
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Onward to the world we deserve,
David Cobb (he/him)
Why I put my pronouns in my email signature
In The Mind-Warping Effects of Rabbit Holes Rovics underscores the importance of considering specific historical context and existing material conditions (aka “reality”) when considering how to best make social change. He highlights the complexity of human reactions, and raises questions about the best strategies to combat fascism. He focuses on two contrasting events that both happened in 1921: The Tulsa massacre in Oklahoma and the Coal Mine Wars in West Virginia
Rovics starts by observing the complex conditions of 1921. The aftermath of World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the Red Scare all led to a surge in anti-communist sentiment. This included horrific attacks on unions, mass deportations, and a host of regressive right wing laws. The tabloid press blamed various groups, including Black Americans, immigrants, and "reds," for the country's problems. Rovics argues convincingly that these conditions created a fertile ground for radical solutions to oppressive situations.
He then gives us an excellent summary of both the Tulsa Massacre and the Coal Mine Wars. While both events involved organized groups of people, he emphasizes the significant differences in conditions between the two states. In Oklahoma, the radical labor movement had been successfully repressed, while in West Virginia, the United Mine Workers of America was an active and mobilized force fighting for workers' rights.
He points out that a key difference was the presence of above-ground leadership by union members in West Virginia, committed to organizing the entire working class, regardless of race or immigration status. In contrast, in Oklahoma, such forces were less prominent, contributing to the Tulsa massacre.
Rovics then delves into the rise of fascism in the 1920s and 1930s. He argues that prosperity, competent governance, cooperatives, and unions have been more successful in preventing fascism. His contention is that building a stable and free society requires engagement in governance and active participation in cooperatives and unions.
Rovics also acknowledges the role of individuals and groups working to monitor and combat the far right, but cautions against focusing solely on this issue. He argues that creating a society where the far right has less appeal is ultimately the way to defeat fascism.
He also points out that simply “voting for Democrats” has proven to be completely ineffective in curtailing the rise of the right, for the obvious reason that the Democratic Party is led by capitalists and imperialists. The predatory class simply do not have the best interests of the working class of this or any other country in mind.
He concludes with a discussion of a controversial social media post advocating for the execution of Confederate politicians and military officers during Reconstruction. He questions the effectiveness of such actions, emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive approach to societal transformation.
About David Rovics
David Rovics is a songwriter, musician, writer and podcaster based in Portland, Oregon. Since the 1990’s, David has been touring regularly throughout North America, Europe, and occasionally elsewhere, playing on stages large and small, at protests and festivals as well as in squatted social centers and folk clubs. He has recorded dozens of albums and has millions of his songs streamed every year. His writing and podcasting can be found on Substack and other platforms. David also plays music for kids.