What does a social media post — in this case a brief YouTube talk — look like when it goes far beyond the "It's bad! They're so bad!" approach of many op-eds and social media postings? In an earlier posting, I suggested that they offer p_attern recognition, instructive historical cases, and techniques for action_. Beyond "it's bad!" is an event that needs to be understood as part of a pattern. Then we need to see parallel cases that can help us think about our options going forward. And then we need concrete, specific action items that have a chance of making a difference. That's a rich, powerful posting whether it's on the op-ed page, on a blog, or in a YouTube posting.
Tad Stoermer reaches for this kind of posting, this kind of analysis and useful action-oriented advice. In one recent episode devoted to the cancellation of Stephen Colbert, Tad Stoermer discusses:
- A brief discussion of how top-down silencing works.
- What’s at stake now for Colbert. (details)
- An argument that other, more important things are at stake behind the Colbert news.
- Congressional appropriations process is being trashed.
- Gutting NPR, PBS, etc., as the real top-down power play here, not the threat to a famous person.
- An avenue of truth is eliminated: that’s real silencing. Colbert will be back somewhere.
- Power of fiction for protecting bad governments. Public media as a threat to their fictions.
- We need parallel institutions to stand up when systems are captured or destroyed by bad government. Don’t beg for access from tyrants, create alternate information pathways.
- Examples of this process of creating parallel institutions from history: US revolution: Committees of Correspondance, patriot-created networks. Anti-slavery had information circulating. Underground news in Nazi Germany.
- Free press is a precondition of functioning resistance.
- Colbert is not the central issue. He’ll land somewhere.
- Now rebuild public media, liberating it from corporations and parties. Examples given quickly.
- Build an institution they can’t touch. Use it. Improve it, make it vital for resistance.
14. That’s the work now.
Stoermer''s brief video gives us concrete analysis and action items. He offers us a chance to start thinking, Yes, there's a struggle ahead, but we are now more fully armed with understanding about how power and resistance both work.