Podcast Summary
Managing Money Internationally with Wise vs. Engaging in Politics: Consider the impact of your actions in politics beyond self-expression or entertainment, and strive for meaningful change.
Wise is a financial service that enables users to manage and transfer money across different currencies at real-time exchange rates, without hidden fees. This can be particularly useful for international travel or sending money to family and friends abroad. Meanwhile, in the political sphere, Eitan Hirsch, author of "Politics is for Power," encourages listeners to reflect on their engagement with politics. Hirsch, a political science professor, shares his background as a political hobbyist, explaining how he once viewed political organizing as "dirty" or "beneath" him due to his lack of strong partisan inclinations. However, his academic work led him to a deeper understanding of the importance and complexity of political action. Hirsch's book emphasizes the distinction between participating in politics as a form of self-expression or entertainment and actually doing the work of politics to make a difference in people's lives. As listeners, it's essential to consider whether our engagement with politics is leading to meaningful action or if it's just for entertainment.
Understanding Politics as a Verb and a Noun: Political hobbyism refers to engaging in politics for personal fulfillment, while some argue that their activities aim to inform for action. Hersch's work challenges us to consider motivations behind political engagement.
Politics can be understood as both a verb and a noun, and the distinction between the two is important. Eitan Hersch, a political scientist, argues that political hobbyism refers to engaging in politics for personal emotional or intellectual fulfillment rather than to influence government through organized behavior. This can include activities like news consumption, arguing about politics, and sharing political content online. Many people, including those who listen to political podcasts, may be political hobbyists under this definition. However, some may argue that their activities are different because they aim to inform themselves in order to take action. Regardless, Hersch's definition challenges us to consider the motivations behind our political engagement and whether it truly leads to influencing government. Hersch's work on political hobbyism represents a shift from his earlier focus on campaign analytics and voting rights issues, reflecting his belief that understanding the big picture of political behavior is crucial.
The disconnect between politics consumption and civic engagement: One-third of the population spends 2 hours daily on politics, but real engagement through volunteering or community problem-solving is decreasing.
While many people spend a significant amount of time consuming news and following politics, much of this consumption may not lead to active engagement or community involvement. A study suggests that approximately one-third of the population spends around 2 hours a day on politics, but this time may be inflated due to social desirability bias. Additionally, people are more likely to underreport passive activities like TV watching. Despite the high levels of cognitive engagement with politics, real engagement through volunteering or community problem-solving is actually decreasing. This disconnect between interest and action raises questions about the impact of news consumption on civic participation. It's important to note that not all news consumption is equal, and some sources may provide more meaningful information that guides behavior. However, the trend towards horse race coverage and political drama may not be the most effective use of time for those seeking to make a difference in their communities.
The difference between passive consumption and active engagement in politics: While knowing political facts is important, true political impact comes from direct engagement and community building, not just sharing opinions online.
While consuming and sharing political information online may feel like a political act, it often doesn't translate to real engagement or action. The most politically engaged demographics, such as college-educated white men, may know the most political facts but not necessarily be the most actively engaged in politics. Instead, factors like personal motivation and discomfort with the political status quo are more likely to drive people to engage in organized political activities. Additionally, the internet can create a false sense of political action through sharing and expressing opinions, but true impact often comes from direct engagement and community building. It's important to recognize the difference between passive consumption and active engagement in politics.
Political hobbyism: The unproductive side of online political engagement: Online political activities can be unproductive if lacking strategy, goals, and organization. They can reinforce biases, distract from community action, and incentivize politicians to grandstand. Mindful engagement is a must for productive political impact.
Engaging in online political activities, such as donating to candidates or participating in protests, can be considered political hobbyism if the actions lack organization, strategy, and clear goals. This hobbyism can negatively impact politics by incentivizing politicians to grandstand for our emotional satisfaction rather than addressing important issues. Moreover, political hobbyism can make us worse by reinforcing our biases and preventing us from taking meaningful action in our communities. Lastly, it takes away time we could be spending building power through more effective and strategic actions. In essence, being mindful of our goals and the impact of our actions is crucial in ensuring that our political engagement is productive and beneficial for ourselves and society.
Understanding the Importance of Empathy in Politics: Online political engagement often lacks empathy and instead focuses on anger and outrage. Offline, we understand the importance of empathy and understanding others' needs to build connections. Organizers like Lisa in 'The Gray Area' use deep canvassing to connect with people and potentially change their minds through empathetic listening.
The way we engage in politics online can be detrimental to building empathy and understanding with others. During a discussion about the political process, it was pointed out that lawyers may appear to treat the process as a circus, but it's not necessarily the fault of the institution. Instead, it's a reflection of how engaged citizens behave and reward bad behavior. Offline, we understand the importance of empathy and understanding others' needs to bring people along. However, online political engagement often lacks empathy and instead focuses on anger and outrage. The book "The Gray Area" profiles organizers who work off a deep well of empathy to build power and communities. Lisa, a volunteer in Brooklyn, is an example of this. She goes to Staten Island every weekend to talk to Trump voters using a method called deep canvassing, where she listens to their perspectives with an open and empathetic mind. The goal is to connect with people and potentially change their minds. The book aims to help people channel their emotional energy and commitment to politics in a more productive way.
Deepening connections through empathy and understanding: Effective communication requires recognizing and engaging multiple identities, not just surface-level ones. Deep canvassing is a method that focuses on shared needs and experiences to connect with others and effect change.
Effective communication and understanding go beyond surface-level identities and require connecting on a deeper level. Shopify's AI-powered helper, Shopify Magic, and Wise's currency exchange services aim to simplify business operations and money management, respectively. However, the discussion on deep canvassing highlights the importance of recognizing and engaging multiple identities when attempting to effect political or social change. Deep canvassing is a method that aims to connect political change with identities other than the first one a person brings to the table. For instance, someone who identifies as a Republican might be approached as a caregiver, focusing on shared needs and experiences rather than political affiliations. In politics and everyday life, identities can break down quickly when engaging in meaningful discussions and policy-making. Ultimately, the method for connecting with others and making progress remains the same, regardless of the issue's size or scope: be empathetic, listen, and engage on a deeper level.
Feeling powerless in face of national issues leads to national politics hobbyism, but local organizing and engagement matter: Local politics are just as important as national politics, and getting involved locally can lead to greater empowerment and influence in national issues
The shift towards national politics and the increase in political hobbyism among individuals can be a result of feeling powerless in the face of national issues. However, this mindset is problematic as it overlooks the importance and impact of local organizing and engagement. Local politics matter as much, if not more, than national politics, and being involved at the local level can lead to greater empowerment and influence in national politics. Theda Skocpol's research on civic decline suggests that as the college-educated population has grown, people have begun to feel less important and less relied upon in their communities. To combat this, it is crucial to encourage individuals to get more involved locally and recognize the power that comes from building local communities and organizations. National politics may seem daunting, but it is rooted in local power and civic institutions. Therefore, engaging in local politics is not a quietist or passive approach, but rather a necessary step towards wielding political power at the national level.
The Importance of Local Organizing: Neglecting local organizing for national change can lead to short-term focus and missed opportunities for long-term impact. Recognizing the importance of local efforts is crucial for effective political engagement.
There's a concerning trend among politically invested individuals to prioritize national change over local organizing, leading to a short-term focus and neglect of long-term investments. This mindset is influenced by the belief that local efforts only have local impact, even if they contribute to larger national movements. This perspective is particularly prevalent among younger generations, who are more nomadic and have a harder time committing to local communities due to factors like affordability and delayed life milestones. Dan Hopkins' book "The Increasingly United States" highlights the new phenomenon of people being more attached to national elections than local ones, which can lead to a disproportionate focus on the former. To counteract this trend, it's crucial to recognize the importance of local organizing and the long-term impact it can have on national politics.
The nationalization of politics creates cross-cutting identities and incentives: The nationalization of politics presents challenges and opportunities for the political system, requiring adaptation to preserve local engagement benefits.
The nationalization of politics, driven by technological and economic trends, has led to increased polarization and a disconnect between people and their local political systems. This move towards a more nationalized politics creates cross-cutting political identities and incentives, which can hinder bipartisan cooperation. However, it also keeps people connected to the practice of democracy at a local level, which is harder to do nationally. The difference between politics and other areas of life, such as business, is that the structure of government has not changed to reflect this nationalization. While there may be more political hobbyism on the left than the right, retirees, who are more politically engaged and trend Republican, challenge this assumption. The lack of attachment to local institutions on the left, particularly among young people, may exacerbate the hobbyism problem. Ultimately, the nationalization of politics presents challenges and opportunities for the political system, and it's important to consider how to adapt to these changes while preserving the benefits of local political engagement.
Politics and community service are interconnected: Political parties can bridge the gap between policy goals and community needs by offering direct services, increasing trust and support.
Politics and community service are interconnected. State Farm agents, as small business owners and community members, provide personalized insurance solutions for small businesses. Similarly, politics can be seen as a form of service to the community, where gaining political power allows for the implementation of policies that benefit the community. The idea of political organizations directly providing services to build local strength is a radical concept, but it has historical precedent. For instance, the Black Panthers offered community services like healthcare and education. While this practice is less common among modern political parties, offering direct services could help convey a genuine commitment to community needs and potentially increase trust and support. For example, a political party could offer emergency backup care for childcare or elder care as a benefit to its staff or members, demonstrating a genuine concern for families' wellbeing. This thought experiment illustrates how political parties can bridge the gap between policy goals and community needs through direct service provision.
Politics of individual support: Politicians can make a difference in people's lives through concrete services and support, leading to collective benefits and stronger community connections.
Providing concrete services and support to individuals can be an effective and beautiful form of politics, rather than being seen as a corrupt or icky form of transactional politics. This perspective challenges the negative connotations associated with machine politics and direct help, which have been linked to bribery and corruption in American politics. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of politicians making a difference in people's lives on an individual level, as this can lead to collective benefits and stronger community connections. This approach can be seen in various organizations, from NRA chapters offering safety classes to churches and synagogues providing community services. By focusing on the positive aspects of transactional politics and understanding that they can contribute to making people's lives better, parties seeking power can embrace this form of politics and build stronger relationships with their communities.
The decline of organized politics and religion leading to individualism and disconnection: Instead of viewing politics and religion as hobbies, we should see them as opportunities to make a positive impact on others' lives through service and community engagement.
Politics and religion, like organized institutions in general, have been weakening, leading to an increase in individualism and disconnection. This trend, often referred to as "bowling alone," has contributed to the rise of political hobbyism. People are less likely to engage with organized political or religious groups, preferring to follow news and engage in activities that don't require interaction with others. However, the speaker argues that this trend is problematic because it limits our ability to make a difference in our communities and the world. Instead, we should view politics and religion as forms of service, where we work together to make a positive impact on others' lives. To get started, the speaker suggests reading the book for inspiration and finding like-minded individuals to work with towards common goals. Remember, this is a long-term plan, and it may require starting a new organization or revitalizing an existing one. The shift from political hobbyism to active engagement is an important one, and it starts with recognizing that politics is about making a difference in people's lives.
Staying informed about local politics requires dedication and effort: Dedicate time to attend city halls, planning meetings, or candidate forums to learn about local groups and their agendas. Find resources like local resistance groups or Indivisible chapters to get involved in your community.
Finding and engaging with lethargic organizations or staying informed about local politics requires active effort and dedication. There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution or a national database to rely on. Instead, you need to go in person to city halls, planning meetings, or candidate forums to learn about local groups and their agendas. This can be time-consuming, but it's an essential part of being an informed and engaged citizen. Additionally, there are resources like local resistance groups or Indivisible chapters that can serve as starting points for those interested in getting involved in their communities. These groups vary significantly from one town to another, so it's essential to do your homework and find a group that resonates with your values and goals. A powerful example of this dedication is the woman who consistently attended zoning board meetings in suburban New York, demonstrating the importance of showing up and staying informed in your local community.
Individuals can influence community issues through persistent involvement: Persistent involvement in community issues can lead to significant knowledge gain, respect, and influence, even for solitary individuals.
An individual's persistent involvement in community issues, even if seen as unusual, can lead to significant knowledge gain and influence. The story of the woman who consistently showed up to zoning meetings and argued for her causes serves as an example. Her dedication and commitment earned her respect and power, despite her solitary status. This phenomenon is not unique and can be observed in various contexts, including the IMBY movement in San Francisco. Furthermore, people in positions of power crave feedback, and individuals who consistently engage and provide constructive criticism can wield considerable influence. The journalist's experience covering political campaigns and policy papers illustrates this concept. It's essential to remember that behind every political or community issue are human beings who are deeply invested and vulnerable to social feedback. Engaging in long-term relationships and maintaining decorum, even when disagreeing, can lead to more productive and effective political conversations.
Journalism that inspires action: Productive political journalism inspires citizens to engage in their communities by reporting on local activists and focusing on collective action and coordination.
Productive political journalism goes beyond reporting the news and instead focuses on helping citizens engage in politics. Journalists should consider the impact of their stories on citizens' ability to act within their communities. For instance, instead of just covering international politics or horse race stories, they could write about local activists like Kyrais Matias in Haverhill, Massachusetts, who are making a difference in their communities. Such stories can inspire and inform citizens, helping them become more effective participants in the political process. Moreover, political journalists and scientists should focus more on understanding collective action and coordination, as this is crucial for mass participation. By covering these stories, journalists can contribute to an ecosystem that encourages citizens to engage in politics rather than just following it as a hobby.
Understanding politics through history and social aspects: Explore books and discussions to gain insights into the history and social aspects of political movements and organizations. Engage in political discussions to deepen understanding and connect with others.
There's more to politics than just the traditional coverage of politicians and their campaigns. Eitan Hirsch, a historian and organizer, emphasized the importance of understanding the history and social aspects of political movements and organizations. He recommended books like "Hobbies" by Steven Gelber, "Concrete Demands" by Rhonda Williams, and "Here All Along" by Sarah Hurwitz to gain insights into these topics. Hirsch also encouraged listeners to engage in political discussions on Reddit and share their experiences and intentions related to politics as a verb or form of service. By broadening our perspective on politics, we can deepen our understanding and potentially create meaningful connections with others.
