David Brooks Is the Last Person We Should Be Listening to Right Now

David Brooks, a prominent conservative commentator, has written that the question of our time is: "Why hasn't a resistance movement materialized here?" He claims that if the Filipinos had resisted Marcos' authoritarian regime in the same way that he thinks Americans should resist Trump's, they would have succeeded. However, this simplistic view ignores the complexity and nuance of real-world politics.

Brooks' solution to creating a mass resistance movement is based on his own limited understanding of what has worked in the past. He advocates for shifting public sentiment, creating mini-dramas to draw attention to issues, and practicing "brave, disciplined, and dignified" nonviolent resistance – tactics that have been tried and failed in various contexts.

The problem with Brooks' approach is that it relies on a simplistic narrative of populists and progressives coming together. However, this ignores the fact that such an alliance has proven to be elusive in reality. Moreover, his emphasis on a unified movement neglects the diversity of perspectives within progressive circles, which may have different priorities and strategies for addressing systemic injustices.

Moreover, Brooks' advice comes from someone who has consistently disappointed the left with their views on issues such as economic policy, social justice, and national security. His views are not just irrelevant but also often antithetical to those of many progressive activists.

In reality, mass movements against authoritarianism have rarely been successful without sustained grassroots organizing, coalition-building, and strategic planning. Kurt Vonnegut's famous phrase about the anti-war movement during Vietnam is a stark reminder that the power of social movements lies not in grandiose plans but in everyday acts of resistance and collective action.

Brooks' simplistic solutions to complex problems only underscore his own irrelevance as an advisor on how to build a mass resistance movement. In reality, any protester considering their next move would do better to ignore Brooks' advice and instead look for guidance from experienced organizers and activists who have been fighting against systemic injustices in various contexts.

idk why david brooks thinks ppl r gonna just magically come together 2 form a mass res movement its like he thinks we can just shift public sentiment overnight lol anyways i think his views r pretty shallow & dont take into consideration the complexity of real world politics gotta look 2 experienced organizers & activists 4 guidance on how 2 build a mass resistance movment

I'm low-key disappointed in David Brooks' latest piece . I mean, come on, isn't he forgetting that the Philippines was already dealing with a US-backed regime during Marcos' time? Like, they didn't just wake up and decide to resist overnight . And what about the fact that people like Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi had to navigate some serious political minefields before things changed ? Brooks is trying to simplify these complex histories into a neat little formula: "just be brave, nonviolent, and dignified"... yeah right .

I mean, come on, David Brooks is at it again . He's got this simplistic view that if Filipinos had just resisted Marcos like he thinks Americans should resist Trump, they would've succeeded. But the thing is, politics isn't that easy. There are so many variables and complexities involved. I think Brooks is just trying to fit his own limited understanding of what works into a neat little package, but in reality, building a mass resistance movement takes a lot more than just shifting public sentiment or practicing nonviolent resistance.

And let's be real, his idea of a unified movement between populists and progressives has never worked in the past . It's like he's ignoring all the other ways that movements have been successful, like grassroots organizing and coalition-building. And honestly, I'm not sure why we need him anyway, given how often he's disappointed the left on issues like economic policy and social justice . In my opinion, if you want to build a real resistance movement, you'd be better off looking for guidance from people who actually know what they're doing .

I'm literally thinking about our school's student council meeting last week where they were talking about creating a new resistance movement to change the school's policy on recycling cans. The problem is, it's not that simple . They wanted everyone to just stand up together and chant stuff, but I was like, "Guys, have you seen our school's student body? It's so divided ". Like, some people care about the environment, while others just want to make a quick buck selling recyclables . You can't just ignore those differences and expect everything to magically work out .

And honestly, I'm not even sure if our school is ready for that kind of movement . We need to build relationships between different groups before we can start talking about change . It's easy to say "be brave and nonviolent" but what about the people who are already feeling marginalized or silenced? They need someone to amplify their voices, not just tell them to be strong .

I don't know, maybe Brooks has a point somewhere , but I'm not sure it's as simple as he makes it out to be . We need more nuanced thinking than that, you feel?

Ugh, I mean, come on... David Brooks thinks he can just write a column and offer some simplistic solutions to building a mass resistance movement? It's like he has no idea how complex and nuanced real-world politics are! He's all about "brave, disciplined, and dignified" nonviolent resistance, but what about the fact that this approach has been tried and failed so many times before? And don't even get me started on his view of populists and progressives coming together - please, it's not that easy. The diversity of perspectives within progressive circles is a big deal, you know!

And let's be real, Brooks' views on economic policy, social justice, and national security are just... no. He's always been a disappointment to the left, and his advice is basically irrelevant. I mean, if you want to build a mass resistance movement, you need sustained grassroots organizing, coalition-building, and strategic planning - not some half-baked plan from someone who clearly has no idea what they're talking about . Just ignore Brooks' advice and look for guidance from experienced organizers and activists who actually know what they're doing.

I think its kinda wild that people still gonna take some random guy's opinion as gospel truth... like what even is David Brooks' track record on social justice? anyway, i mean, building a resistance movement takes so much more than just "shifting public sentiment" and doing mini-dramas... its about actual community organizing and strategy

I mean, come on! David Brooks thinks he can just give a simple roadmap to building a resistance movement and everyone will magically follow? Newsflash: it's not that easy! He's got a pretty narrow view of how things work and his advice is basically based on his own opinions on policy issues. Like, yeah, nonviolent resistance is cool and all, but have you seen the complexities of human nature and politics in action? It's way more nuanced than Brooks lets on.

And what really grinds my gears is that he's basically telling people to just "shift public sentiment" like it's a magic trick. Where's the strategy? The planning? The actual work that goes into building a movement from the ground up? It's not just about waving a banner and chanting slogans, folks!

Kurt Vonnegut nailed it when he said social movements are all about everyday acts of resistance, not some grandiose plan. That's what I'd advise anyone considering getting involved in a protest movement to focus on: the little things that add up to make a big difference. ️

Ugh, I'm so over this article . David Brooks thinks he's a solution expert just because he's got an opinion piece out there? Please . He's all like "Hey, let's just get everyone on the same page and protest together!" Um, no . It's not that easy. The left is already super diverse and we don't need some armchair expert telling us how to organize .

And can we talk about his views for a second? He thinks he's got the magic formula for economic policy or social justice? Give me a break . I mean, I know he's written books on politics and all that, but let's be real, his track record is pretty checkered .

What really gets me is when people like Brooks assume they can just step in and give advice to people who have been fighting for social justice for years. It's like, no thanks . We don't need some outsider telling us how to do our job . Let the folks on the ground with experience be in charge .

I'm all about structure and layout, but sometimes I feel like David Brooks just needs to get a layout makeover . His whole article is just a mess of clichés and oversimplification. Can we have some nuance instead?

Can't believe what's going on with David Brooks! He thinks we just need some mini-dramas to create a resistance movement? Like, easy peasy. Newsflash: it's not that simple. The Philippines under Marcos was way more complex than that. And let's be real, his views on everything from economic policy to social justice are super outdated and out of touch with the progressive crowd. I mean, who needs a seasoned organizer when you've got some wannabe think tank guy spouting off about resistance movements? Not me, that's for sure. I'll stick with my doomscrolling and leave the organizing to the pros

I gotta say, I'm not buying David Brooks' simplistic view on how to build a resistance movement. He thinks it's just about shifting public sentiment and creating drama? Please. That's not how social movements work. It's all about grassroots organizing, coalition-building, and strategic planning. And let's be real, his views on economic policy and social justice are straight out of the same playbook as Trump. Like, what does he know about progressive politics?

And have you seen the history books? Anti-authoritarian movements are rarely successful without years of sustained organizing and activism. Kurt Vonnegut got it right – it's not about grand plans, it's about everyday acts of resistance and collective action. So, yeah, Brooks' advice is basically useless. Let's listen to the people who have been doing this for real.

This whole thing with David Brooks is just mind-boggling to me... I mean, come on, he's basically saying that if the Filipinos had done exactly what he thinks Americans should do, they would've succeeded in taking down Marcos. But let's get real here... it's not that easy. The Philippines under Marcos was a whole different beast compared to America today. And Brooks' idea of just shifting public sentiment and doing mini-dramas isn't even a new concept - we've seen this kind of thing try and fail so many times in the past.

And another thing, his solution is all about populists and progressives coming together, but that's just not how it works. The left is way too divided for that to happen easily. And Brooks has been all over the map on issues like economic policy and social justice, he's basically a no-go for progressive activists.

I think what bothers me most is that Brooks' idea of building a mass resistance movement relies on grandiose plans, but we know from history that it's the everyday acts of resistance and collective action that really make a difference. It's all about grassroots organizing, coalition-building, and strategic planning - not some cookie-cutter solution that only works for him.

I mean, if someone is looking to get involved in protesting or activism, they should totally ignore Brooks' advice and look for guidance from actual organizers and activists who have been doing this stuff for years.

Brooks is so out of touch lol he thinks the solution to building a mass movement is as simple as "be brave, be disciplined" newsflash dude: politics isn't that easy especially when you're talking about issues like economic policy and social justice... like come on Brooks has been all over the place on those topics what makes him think he can just whip up some magic resistance movement ? I'm so tired of ppl thinking they can solve complex problems with simplistic solutions it's gonna take more than some "mini-dramas" to bring about real change let's get the experts involved here

Ugh, can't believe people are still swallowing this oversimplified narrative . David Brooks is like a broken record, spewing the same tired buzzwords about populists and progressives coming together . Newsflash: it's not that easy! Have you seen the state of American politics? It's like trying to get cats to work together .

And don't even get me started on his advice on nonviolent resistance . I mean, come on, Kurt Vonnegut said it best: "The most daring act is still to think for yourself." Don't just blindly follow some armchair activist's instructions . Get out there and educate yourself, build those grassroots networks, and strategize with people who actually know what they're doing .

Brooks thinks he can give us a magic formula for success? Please . He hasn't even cracked the code on his own views on economic policy . At this point, I'd trust a random tweet from @philosophybot over his opinion .

idk why ppl r so obsessed w/ Brooks' views on this 2. I mean, he's always had a liberal tone but still thinks he can give ppl the magic formula 4 building mass resistance? Newsflash: it ain't that simple! Mass movements need more than just "brave, disciplined, & dignified" nonviolent res - they need strategy, org, & a clear plan. Brooks is basically sayin' let's all just get along w/ the system & pretend like systemic injustices rnt a thing. meanwhile, ppl r dyin in the streets 4 change

I'm just not buying into this idea that some grand resistance movement is going to magically solve everything . I mean, David Brooks thinks he's got a solution, but it's all based on his own limited experience and understanding of how movements work. Newsflash: politics isn't just about pop culture and soundbites, it's messy and complex .

And what really gets my goat is that his approach ignores the diversity of perspectives within progressive circles – it's like he thinks everyone's just going to suddenly agree on the same thing . And let's not forget, Brooks has consistently disappointed the left with his views on everything from economic policy to social justice. I mean, if you're not even a credible voice in progressive circles, why should we be taking your advice?

I think what really matters here is that experienced organizers and activists are doing their thing – building coalitions, planning strategic campaigns, and fighting for real change on the ground . So, if you're a protester looking for guidance, just ignore Brooks' advice and look to those who have actually been making waves in the progressive movement .

I think Brooks is totally off base here . The problem with his approach is that it's way too simplistic and ignores the complexity of real-world politics. Like, have you seen the different ways people are protesting around the world? It's not just about shifting public sentiment or creating mini-dramas – it's about building a movement from the ground up, one that takes into account all the different perspectives and priorities within progressive circles.

And let's be real, Brooks has never been exactly known for his nuance on issues like economic policy or social justice. His views are often way off base compared to what actual progressive activists have to say . So why should we take him seriously as an advisor?

I think the key to building a mass resistance movement is about everyday acts of resistance and collective action, not grandiose plans that he's peddling here. It's like Kurt Vonnegut said – it's all about being part of something bigger than yourself, and working together with others who share your values.

If someone's looking for advice on how to build a movement, they should totally ignore Brooks and seek out experienced organizers and activists who have been fighting against systemic injustices for years. They'd know way more about what actually works than some guy with an opinion

Brooks is just out of touch . He's trying to give advice on how to build a resistance movement like it's a simple game, but he's missing the point entirely . The problem isn't that people aren't resisting strongly enough, it's that we need to be smart about it . We need people who actually know what they're doing, not some armchair quarterback like Brooks who can't even get his own views right . And btw, he's been totally wrong on so many issues in the past, I'm surprised he thinks he can just waltz in and give us a plan for change . We need people who have actually been fighting for what they believe in, not some self-proclaimed expert like Brooks .

I'm like "come on bro, Brooks is way off here" He's got it backwards. The problem isn't that people aren't coming together, it's that his plan to get them there is a total disaster . We need experienced organizers and activists not some armchair expert trying to tell us how to do social justice right . I mean what's with this "brave, disciplined, and dignified" nonviolent resistance? That's just code for "do nothing and look good while doing it" . Where's the grassroots organizing? The coalition-building? The strategic planning? We need real-world experience, not some simplistic plan that's gonna get us nowhere . Give me a break, Brooks

come on, david brooks he's always gettin' it so wrong! thinkin' he can just wave a magic wand and create a resistance movement like that's gonna happen. i mean, the philipinos tried to resist Marcos back in the day and what did they get? A brutal regime still runnin' the show. we cant just replicate what worked for others and expect it to work here. every situation is unique and requires nuance, not some simplistic plan from someone who's always been on the wrong side of history .