I think I understand and partly agree with what you’re saying, but I’m sure that there is room for some nuance. If good people stand around doing nothing to participate in the process of setting direction and policy, then only bad people will ever be in charge.

Everyone who ever serves does so with a vision. Some visions are as simple as making sure that there are people to execute on projects. Some are about achieving personal goals, for good or ill. Some are about playing a role in creating or reinforcing policies they believe are good for society.

Sometimes we can sit back and let others do the work. Sometimes we have to energize those around us to get something done. The latter is exactly what the far right is doing. Apart from those leaders and funders who have purely selfish motives, everyone involved thinks that what they are doing is to protect a way of life they cherish and serve the community in what they imagine are healthy ways to create the society they want to live in. Those that disagree have to make their voices heard and coordinate their efforts in opposition.

The very existence of every organization ever is to coordinate efforts toward shared goals. If only one side is organizing, only one side will control the narrative and only one side will set policy.

Unions organize in opposition to capital. Political parties organize to promote ideologies and in opposition to each other. Community service groups organize for the betterment of their community. Protest movements form in opposition to policy. It past time for progressives to organize in every way possible to counter the regressive movements that are gaining more power every day.