In a turn of events that has left many scratching their heads, Donald Trump has won the 2024 presidential election. The reasons behind this outcome are manifold, but at the heart of it lies a profound disillusionment with what I call "fake progressivism."
Back in 2016, the air was electric with the promise of real progressivism. Bernie Sanders championed ideas like "Medicare for All" and built a broad coalition grounded in the struggles of the working class. His rhetoric wasn't about dividing us along lines of race and gender; it was about uniting us in our common fight for economic justice and fairness.
But since then, the progressive movement has lost its way. The rise of movements like Me Too, the protests following George Floyd's death, and the Black Lives Matter movement have shifted the focus. While these causes are undeniably important, the way they have been co-opted and weaponized has led to a toxic form of progressivism centered around the idea of "equity."
Equity, unlike equality, seeks to ensure equal outcomes rather than equal opportunities. This sounds noble on the surface, but in practice, it has led to policies that ultimately harm those they intend to help. Take, for example, the San Francisco school districts' decision to remove higher-level math classes in the name of equity. The intention was to level the playing field, but the reality is that it robs motivated and talented students—many of whom come from working-class and minority backgrounds—of the chance to excel and reach their full potential.
Then there's the baffling obsession with renaming schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of focusing on the urgent need to reopen schools and address the glaring educational disparities exacerbated by the pandemic, progressive leaders were caught up in symbolic gestures. Renaming schools became a priority over the tangible, pressing needs of students, particularly those from disadvantaged communities who suffered the most from school closures.
This brand of progressivism, which prioritizes performative acts over substantive change, has left many feeling alienated. It's no wonder that working-class voters, who once saw hope in progressive promises, have turned away. They feel betrayed by a movement that claims to represent them but instead gets lost in identity politics and symbolic gestures.
Moreover, this "fake progressivism" often overlaps with NIMBYism (Not In My Back Yard), disguised as efforts to "preserve neighborhood character" or "prevent gentrification." While these causes may sound virtuous, the result is a severe housing shortage that disproportionately affects low-income families and communities of color. By blocking new housing developments, blue states are not only driving up housing costs but also risking a loss of electoral college votes as people migrate to more affordable states.
The Democrats' embrace of these "woke" politics has also undermined the fundamental political concept of "building a big tent." Historically, successful political movements have thrived by bringing together a diverse coalition of voters with a range of views and interests. But the relentless focus on identity politics and equity has shrunk the Democrats' tent, alienating many who once felt at home under its canopy.
As the progressive movement became more insular, focusing on narrower and narrower issues, many voters felt pushed out. Working-class voters, moderate Democrats, and even some liberals found themselves unwelcome in a party increasingly defined by rigid ideological purity tests. These voters didn't disappear; many of them found a new home in the Trump tent, which, ironically, became the bigger tent by appealing to a broader base disillusioned with the Democrats' drift.
The alienation didn't stop there. The recent Palestine protests have also driven a wedge between progressives and a significant portion of the electorate. While advocating for human rights and justice is crucial, the polarized and often aggressive nature of these protests has alienated moderate voters who feel that the movement is out of touch with their values and concerns.
Similarly, issues surrounding transgender rights, such as bathroom access and participation in women's sports, have sparked intense debates. Many Americans, while supportive of transgender rights in principle, are uncomfortable with policies that they feel compromise privacy and fairness. The progressive push for these changes, without broad public consensus, has further alienated voters who might otherwise support the movement's economic and social justice goals.
In essence, the progressive movement's shift towards equity and symbolic actions has led to unintended consequences that have eroded its base of support. The working class, who were supposed to be the primary beneficiaries of progressive policies, have instead found themselves left behind. This disillusionment created an opening for Trump to capitalize on, presenting himself as a champion of the "forgotten" American.
As we reflect on this election, it's crucial to recognize that genuine progressivism must return to its roots—fighting for tangible, impactful changes that improve the lives of all Americans, especially the working class. Only then can it regain the trust and support it once had and truly make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
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In the past month, I've attempted a Parks on the Air activation on two different occasions at Thornton State Beach (US-3577). I failed to obtain the required ten contacts to activate the park both times. Despite that, I had a lot of fun and am writing this blog post about my experience getting there via public transit and operating at the park.
I live in the city and do not own a car, so I'm always on the lookout for transit-friendly SOTA and POTA destinations. I've had decent success attempting POTA activations via transit at San Bruno Mountain and Candlestick Point. Thornton Beach proved to be a bit challenging to get to via transit.
Looking on Google Maps from downtown, if you just type in the destination "Thornton State Beach," it might direct you to Daly City BART, then to take the 120 bus, then walk to an intersection that doesn't actually exist. If you follow the path shown in the image (fig. 3), there will be no way to access the beach. What you should do, instead, is take the 120 bus or 110 bus to the Westlake Shopping Center after arriving at the Daly City BART station. This should only be one or two stops. From there, walk down John Daly Boulevard, take a right on Lake Merced Boulevard, then a left onto Glenwood. From there, walk down Glenwood towards the ocean, take a left on Eastgate Drive, then a right to N Mayfair Avenue which turns into Northgate Avenue. Follow this street until it curves. At the curve there will be an old cut-down fence with several desire paths leading to the highway (fig. 2). At the highway, there will actually be a pedestrian crosswalk (fig. 4). There was definitely an urban planning oversight here, as the only connection to this pedestrian crosswalk is desire paths that lead from cut-down fences. Presumably, these fences were not even cut down by the city, but by residents just trying to access what amounts to their local park.
Upon arriving in the parking lot, it wasn’t immediately obvious to me how to get down. If you take a right and go far enough, you should see the trail down. From there you can take one of three paths along the cliff above the beach. I still don’t know how to get all the way down to the beach from here, as both times I operated, I stayed on the cliff above the beach (fig. 1). It's pretty much cold, foggy, and windy during all parts of the year, so be sure to dress accordingly. Another thing to know for this POTA destination is that there are regular group tours done on horseback, so watch out for horses and manure.
I operated only 10m Upper Side Band, QRP 5 watts. The first occasion was during the All Asia DX (Phone) Contest, which I did not plan for but was a nice surprise. I found several Japanese hams calling CQ and once I figured out the required contest exchange from the first person (in this contest, we exchanged ages), I was able to rack up six contacts. I did not have much luck calling CQ POTA on my own on the first day. Furthermore, band conditions were decent, but I came later in the afternoon and the eastern US was closing up, so that left pretty much only Japan to contact.
The second occasion was driven out of determination to obtain ten contacts for POTA activation and to figure out how to enter the beach as a pedestrian. On the first occasion, I had to take a ride share from the ill-fated south side of John Daly Boulevard with no cut-down fences with which to enter the beach on foot. On this second visit, the weather was a bit clearer and I was able to see more of the ocean. I came a bit earlier this time, so the eastern US was still open. I made eight contacts ranging from Japan to Texas and a few other US states. I operated for a couple of hours but it was starting to get cold, and my battery was dying, so I had to end my operation for the day. I may not have made ten contacts, but I had a few nice contacts with people all over the world, and making connections is what ham radio is all about. Maybe I’ll come back someday to attempt an activation again.
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Recently I had the opportunity to visit San Bruno Mountain State Park and activate the summit for Summits on the Air (SOTA), and I attempted a Parks on the Air (POTA) activation. This was a very transit friendly destination to make radio contacts. Starting from downtown San Francisco, I took BART to Daly City, where I caught the 130 bus to the Royce Way Trailhead. You can also take the 130B bus. The trailhead is easy to miss from a distance, but there is a small set of wooden stairs leading to the trail from the street.
From the trailhead to the summit, the hike is around 2.3 miles. A sizable increase from my previous SOTA at Mt. Davidson, but manageable. This was the perfect moderate hike for me. The beginning is quite steep and rocky, however, and I would not recommend it for people with mobility issues. I almost slipped several times. It was particularly challenging on the way back coming down. The trip up was very foggy, but if the fog does break, the journey offers scenic views of the rest of the city and the greater Bay Area.
Once you reach the top, you need to walk along Radio Road to the summit. There’s a small parking lot where I did the activation, attaching my telescopic pole to a fence with a transom knot. I made one contact on 10m and three on 2m, all local to the Bay Area. The propagation for 10m wasn’t very good that day, but I made enough contacts to activate the summit for SOTA, but didn't reach the 10 required for POTA activation.
This convenient location offers the opportunity to activate the SOTA summit W6/CC-072 and the POTA park US-1196. I hope to come back to this location, hopefully when the 10m propagation is better, and make even more contacts next time.