Author’s Note

This book was completed months before the catastrophic election of November 5, 2024, which has the potential to profoundly erode American democracy, possibly even end it. Tragically, billionaires financed an effort that convinced millions of hard-pressed working Americans to vote for Trump as the “change” candidate. Millions more stayed home and did not vote at all.

The results were driven in part by the specific dynamics of the post-Covid period. Across the globe, every governing party that presided over the inflation-wracked recovery has lost large vote shares. As well, the results sadly reflect the fact that there are millions of Americans who simply will not vote for a woman for president, especially one who is Black and South Asian, no matter how skilled, smart, or qualified.

Longer term trends were also at work: the failure of Democrats to speak to the challenges and anguish of so many working Americans and their families, the rise of a media ecosystem that propagates rightwing misinformation and lies, the degeneration of our politics into billion dollar marketing campaigns, the vast increase in economic inequality, the increased power of the insanely rich, white backlash, and finally the fear that has always followed waves of immigration.

Immediately after the election, gripped by waves of sadness, I wondered if this book had any relevance for the new period we have entered. Upon reflection, I think it is even more relevant. Organizers and organizing built the civil rights movement. Organizers and organizing built the student and antiwar movements. This moment calls out for a new generation of thousands of young organizers willing to reach out, not just to those who voted Democratic, but to those who did not vote and even those who voted for Trump; to listen to them, connect with them and organize them to fight for democracy and for an economic populism similar to that of Mass Fair Share (described in this book.) The Trump regime will inflict enormous damage. If organizers are there, connecting with people, year-round, not just in the weeks before an election, there can be a powerful response to that damage.

We have entered a desperate and dark period. The hard work of hope is rarely easy. It has never been more imperative.

—Michael Ansara, November 11, 2024