The Progressive Dilemma

For Context: read this.

First of all, I am planning on voting for Biden, so don't lecture me on how I'm supposed to vote.  This is not about how I'm supposed to vote, but how we are supposed to think about voting.  Not just in this election, but in every election going forward.  I am a progressive, and many of my friends are moderate democrats. I also have friends who are conservative, and I don't hold it against them, even though I disagree with them strongly.

As I thought about the Tara Reade allegations (which as of this writing are only allegations), I felt that the moment really illustrated the dilemma progressives experience almost every election, but to illustrate the dilemma, I want to pretend that the distinctions of "moderates" and "progressives" don't exist.  Instead, let's see the problem as between those people who have experienced sexual assault and those who haven't.

Now, let's imagine you've been sexually assaulted.  Sadly, many of you don't have to imagine it.  Now there are two candidates for you to choose from, and both of them are sexual predators.  From my perspective, I'd say you get a pass.  You don't have to participate in that election.  Why should you feel obligated to make that choice?

Of course, that's the low-hanging fruit of my point.  The real point goes even deeper, because the context goes deeper.  During the last presidential election the Democratic Party fielded the first female candidate against a known sexual predator.  She lost.  Women (and victims) were appalled, but then an amazing thing happened: MeToo.  Women (and men) began stepping out of the shadows to be heard, and while the results weren't always what we'd hoped for, it sure seemed like the tide was turning.

Then Tara Reade's allegation came out. Now I can't say that it's true or not, but it might be.  And so in the wake of the MeToo movement, we may actually be fielding two sexual predators in the general election.  For the survivor, the question becomes, "How do I choose between the two?" Sure, the argument is that one of them is less evil, and if you can hold your nose and make that choice, great, I guess.  But I refuse to shame you, if you can't.  For some people, the evil can never be accepted, regardless of how little of it there is in relation to someone else.

I used to talk to my students about 9/11 and how America lost its mind, and we'd open up the debate on torture.  Someone would inevitably argue that a little bit of torture is okay.  I mean, waterboarding? That's hardly torture, right?  I mean these are bad people, and it could save lives. That last point is debatable, but I do think that action movies have permanently skewed our perception in that regard.

But then I would ask, "So what if torture is effective?  Are you still okay with it?"  A few more of them would raise their hands. "I mean, if it's effective, and it saves lives, why not?"  Then I would ask them, "What about child molestation?"  A look of panic would spread across their faces.  And mild confusion. Is this one of Mr. Kincade's traps? "I mean, what if the terror suspect had children?" I'd say, "You could threaten them, right?  I mean, you might have to act on it, to make the threat credible- but only a little bit.  Hey, you're saving lives."

Most rational people would argue that a little bit of child molestation is still not okay, but for some people the more persuasive argument was this:  what if it's for nothing?  What if you get the wrong guy? Or the information is bad?  What if you break your own code, but get nothing in return?  What if you turn a blind eye, and the worst still happens?  Will it be easier or harder the next time?

I can tell you from experience that it gets easier, and that's not a good thing.  At various times in my life I have had more and I've had less integrity.  I think I had a lot in high school.  I had been a bit of an outsider, and I didn't feel I needed to go along to get along.  But when I went to college things started to change. I didn't want to go, but I didn't know what else I could do.  I compromised, because I thought it would be easier, but I discovered that it wasn't.  Taking a principled stand seems hard it first, but it is much easier in the long run.

Having kids changed all that.  I realized that I was responsible for raising two children, and that I was a role model.  If I cursed, they cursed.  That might not sound so bad, but if I was thoughtless, they'd be thoughtless, and... well, you see where it leads.  Being a teacher also made me a better person for the same reason.  If you don't show enough care to your students, they will return the favor- and there's a lot more of them than there are of me.

Don't get me wrong- there is a time to bend.  After all, you might be wrong.  The pandemic has a lot of folks questioning their bedrock principles.  A lot of people are questioning the very stability of the society they live in.  If you aren't questioning what's going on, then there's something wrong with you.  Which is why I don't presume to know the truth of Reade's accusations.  I have not decided in advance.  Sometimes we have to move forward with imperfect knowledge.

I would like to hear Reade's story- the way we heard Christine Blasey Ford's story.  If she can say what happened, and explain why her story changed, that will make a huge difference.   I accept that there's a risk.  Some people are good liars.  Some people are horrible at telling the truth.  But while there is a risk to hearing her story, there's a real risk to not hearing her.  How deep does our support for survivors go?  Will they speak out, if people don't listen?

Which is why this is the progressive dilemma.  I have progressive friends who decided that they won't vote for Biden, because of the contributions that he accepts, but I know many who are no fans of his, but would stop at (next to) nothing to stop Trump.  Where we draw the line can often be personal, and we should never feel shame for out convictions, and we should never shame others having their convictions.

I started this off by saying that I would vote for Biden- for now.  But if Reade's story gains credibility, or another person comes forward, I will publicly denounce Biden.  And if Trump wins by one vote, I won't lose a minute of sleep over that.  A little bit of rape or a little bit of torture is not worth it to me.