2024: A Year of Backlash Against Progressive Extremism

[Social Media]

 

In 2024, progressives found themselves increasingly isolated, their tactics and rhetoric alienating rather than inspiring. Activists across causes—from environmental movements to pro-Palestinian campaigns and trans rights advocacy—discovered that their methods were not only ineffective but often counterproductive. Instead of garnering support, their aggression and arrogance drove people away, culminating in what many are calling the year of the backlash.

 

The extremism of the hard Left was evident in everyday interactions. For example, during the July election in Woodford Green and Chingford, Faiza Shaheen, an independent candidate ousted by Labour, attracted fierce but misguided supporters. One encounter summed up the movement’s flaws: a Shaheen supporter, faced with criticism about her alignment with controversial figures like George Galloway, erupted in anger rather than engaging in reasoned dialogue. This aggressive approach, divorced from pragmatic thinking, underscored why the campaign failed. Instead of uniting voters, it split the Left, inadvertently aiding the Conservatives. The supporter’s hostility encapsulated a broader pattern: self-righteousness combined with a refusal to entertain dissent.

 

The broader progressive movement stumbled across numerous fronts. Activists demanding immediate action on climate change, for instance, adopted tactics designed to shock rather than persuade. Groups like Just Stop Oil garnered attention by throwing soup on famous artworks and disrupting public transportation, but their stunts alienated the public rather than sparking meaningful discourse. Their actions were seen less as cries for urgent action and more as indulgent, counterproductive pranks. As a result, many Britons grew more dismissive of their cause, viewing these protests as vanity projects that caused harm without producing solutions.  

 

Figures like Greta Thunberg exemplified this decline. Once a powerful voice in climate activism, Thunberg’s pivot to championing pro-Palestinian causes diluted her influence. Her involvement in movements associated with divisive rhetoric alienated former supporters. What was once seen as the righteous fury of youth now appeared as an aimless fixation on broader ideological battles, diminishing her relevance on the world stage.  

 

Pro-Palestinian activism faced similar challenges. The October escalation in the Middle East exposed the limitations of a movement that frequently substitutes rhetoric for actionable solutions. Israel emerged from the conflict with strengthened alliances, while the movement’s reliance on anti-Zionist rhetoric—often criticized as a thin veil for anti-Semitism—failed to advance the cause of Palestinian independence.  

 

Meanwhile, the publication of the Cass Review in April dealt a significant blow to the extremes of the trans rights movement. The report scrutinized gender services for young people, challenging widely accepted narratives and discrediting the use of alarming suicide statistics to advocate for unchecked medical intervention. The rights of trans individuals, it argued, should not infringe upon the rights of women or prioritize experimental treatments for minors without rigorous oversight. Yet, instead of seeking compromise, many activists doubled down, refusing to engage with opposing viewpoints. Their unwillingness to adapt exposed a transparent bigotry at odds with their calls for tolerance.  

 

Britain’s tolerant society largely values a live-and-let-live philosophy, yet progressives frequently label dissenters as fascists or bigots. This alienates the very people they aim to persuade. Their fundamental error lies in exclusion, shutting out potential allies rather than fostering dialogue. By insisting on ideological purity, they isolate themselves further.  

 

As 2024 draws to a close, progressives face an undeniable truth: their tactics have alienated the public, and their causes are in retreat. If they fail to learn from this year’s backlash, 2025 may bring even greater challenges—especially with figures like Donald Trump poised to re-enter the global political stage.

 

Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2024-12-27

 

 

 

[mdr224]

Thats what happens when you put muslims before your own country. You expect rational people to agree?

[JonnyF]

Yes it was.

 

Except in Britain where we elected Free Gear Keir to push forward his "progressive" policy of 2 tier justice, manic authoritarianism and U-turns on promises. 

[nglodnig]

Wotta surprise it's from the Telegraph

[Purdey]

Britons remain among the most reasonable of people. No guns, sit down protests rather than outright riots (well, not many). Soup that can be washed off paintings with water. No capital punishment. All rather good-oh eh chaps?

 

[Donga]

4 hours ago, nglodnig said:

Wotta surprise it's from the Telegraph

Forget the Messenger. 

What aspects due you disagree with and why?

Cos it's only the beginning of the dial moving away from soft Left policies, where they're losing their traditional base.

[Will B Good]

4 hours ago, nglodnig said:

Wotta surprise it's from the Telegraph

 

Too scared to say......mind you don't get a ban.

[LukKrueng]

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

Figures like Greta Thunberg exemplified this decline. Once a powerful voice in climate activism, Thunberg’s pivot to championing pro-Palestinian causes diluted her influence. Her involvement in movements associated with divisive rhetoric alienated former supporters. What was once seen as the righteous fury of youth now appeared as an aimless fixation on broader ideological battles, diminishing her relevance on the world stage.  

 put her just where she belongs - irrelevance

[honcho]

thank god the people are waking up....  DEI is dead!!!!