Transmissions Ep. 12: Leftoid Busywork

Class Unity

Welcome to Episode 12 ‘Transmissions,’ a Class Unity podcast. In this lighthearted episode we discuss the question of Leftoid Busywork. We open with an except from The Phantom Tollbooth (1970), an animated adaptation of the novel by the same name, by Norton Juster.

In the clip, the young protagonist Milo meets a character named the Terrible Trivium. Milo is on a mission but he needs to make some allies along the way. The Trivium seems aware of this, and offers to help. But first, he needs hand with some tasks! “First, please help me move this pile of sand with tweezers…”

Is this cartoon a metaphor for the left? Why do so many leftist organizations engage in wasted forms of activity?

In this episode, your hosts Daniel B, Katie F, Steph K, and Nick K explore these questions, and share stories from their own organizing of “time wasted doing pointless leftoid busy work.”