- cross-posted to:
- politics@beehaw.org
- cross-posted to:
- politics@beehaw.org
Zohran Mamdani has won the race for New York City mayor, according to Decision Desk HQ, ushering in a new era of progressive politics in the city and reigniting the debate over the Democratic Party’s future.
Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, is poised to become the first millennial and first Muslim to lead New York City, after a campaign that pulled off one of the most stunning political upsets in recent memory. He defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who mounted a long-shot independent bid after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in his bid to succeed Mayor Eric Adams.
Mamdani focused heavily on affordability, pledging to freeze rent, establish city-owned grocery stores and make buses free for riders. He quickly became a progressive icon as well as a polarizing figure within the party over his positions, so much so that it divided prominent New York Democratic leadership over whether to endorse him.
Because it’s actually worked. The wealthy have become outrageously more wealthy in the last several decades because of their interference in elections.
Mamdani is a setback for their plans, but honestly 56 million dollars is effectively nothing compared to the money the elite, donor-class holds and uses to influence society. The only way we topple their stranglehold is to have more “Mamdani Events” in every major city and state while we still have democracy and can launch grass-roots elections to remove corruption and money from politics.
Well, that’s the only peaceful way. Revolution is always an option. But also, as long as the economic system allows individuals to hoard vast properties, the wealthy will use their power to influence politics.
Sure, just as soon as the revolutionaries gain control of the military. Until we reach that day, all realistic plans for revolution are going to be at least on SOME level institutional and political in nature.
I like to repeat the story that Mussolini wasn’t dragged out of his headquarters by an armed group of rebels who toppled the government, Mussolini was arrested and handed over to the dissidents by his own government and the king of Italy when the government caved to social and international pressure. (And the fact that allies were leveling a swath of destruction towards Italy.)
Of course. Serious revolutionaries know you must infiltrate or otherwise subvert the military to be successful.
56 million dollars is pocket change for a single billionaire. It’s less than that for a multitude of billionaires.