2018-03-20 – I’ve been having a running debate with fellow progressives about where we direct our outrage about the Trump administration. I’ve advocated going easy on the Trump voters while standing strong against Trump and the elected and appointed pols who continue to support him.

Many of my friends say no. It’s the voters who made this happen. And there is certainly truth to this. My “rule” is not ironclad. It’s really a preference. I’m not going easy on racism or sexism or corporatism. I guess my view is a kind of secular version of “hate the sin, love the sinner.”

But there’s more to it.

I think of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911. This is a metaphor of course. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire was a sweatshop in New York. The owners kept the doors locked to prevent workers from taking unauthorized breaks and to reduce theft. When the fire broke out, 146 workers died. There was no escape.

Will there be an escape from the Trumpster fire? Or are we locking the doors against that?

The truth is that progressives have a lot to offer to many of Trump’s supporters. More than he has to offer. But we participate in a strong us vs. them ethos. We’re not interested in working things out for the best of both sides. We’re too interested in being right. We lock the doors to prevent anyone from escaping.

We’ve been keeping the doors locked for years. On both sides. Let’s not lock all the exits for Trump’s supporters.