Interview with Sam Berg about US electoral politics
Apr 15, 2017
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Samantha Berg, a radical feminist activist and co-founder of the Women's Liberation Fund, discusses the symbolic importance of voting in the context of the 2016 election. She shares insights on the challenges of the U.S. electoral system, including corporate influence and the need for electoral reform. Berg advocates for direct action and grassroots activism as vital for women's liberation. She emphasizes the importance of expanding women's representation in politics to drive meaningful change and counter the fear and division surrounding elections.
Samantha Berg emphasizes the importance of grassroots activism and direct action for achieving systemic change beyond merely voting in elections.
She shares her disillusionment with the electoral process, highlighting voting irregularities that nurture skepticism about the fairness of the system.
Deep dives
Personal Journey to Radical Feminism
The speaker reflects on her personal journey to becoming a radical feminist, emphasizing her upbringing in New York and her academic background in linguistics. Early experiences volunteering for anti-poverty and women's organizations led her to recognize and articulate the injustices faced by women, particularly after studying women's history during college. As she engaged in political work, including grassroots lobbying and supporting various political candidates, her activism evolved to focus primarily on anti-prostitution efforts, co-founding the Women's Liberation Fund to combat sexual slavery. This commitment to women's rights and political action showcases a deep-seated passion for social justice that has shaped her identity and work over the years.
Disillusionment with the Electoral Process
The speaker shares her disillusionment with the electoral process, particularly citing her experiences as a poll watcher during the contentious 2000 presidential election. Contrary to the national focus on Florida's election issues, she witnessed significant voting irregularities in Brooklyn, such as malfunctioning machines and insufficient paper ballots, which impacted many voters' ability to cast their votes. This experience led her to question the fairness of the electoral system, expressing skepticism that every vote is fully counted and that the Electoral College undermines the significance of individual votes. The prevailing sentiment is one of profound disappointment in the political process, leading her to adopt a skeptical view of presidential elections and their true impact on democracy.
Radical Feminism and Direct Action
The speaker advocates for radical feminism that emphasizes direct action as a vital component for social change, especially in the current political landscape. She encourages feminist activists to prioritize self-protection while speaking out against sexism and societal injustices, suggesting that women be vocal in challenging disturbing advertisements or narratives. Critically, she discusses the limitations of voting within the existing two-party system, arguing that while it's important to participate, it should not be the sole focus of women's liberation efforts. Instead, she believes that systemic change requires grassroots labor and active engagement beyond just casting votes, asserting that true progress lies in sustained activism.
This was an interview done with Samantha Berg right before US citizens voted for Donald Trump or Hillary Rodham Clinton in November of 2016. Ms. Berg talks about the symbolic nature of voting in addition to what radical feminist women can do to counter the fear and divisions that inevitably come up around US presidential elections.
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