Political Gold Mine +: The Dumpster

"A local attorney [Ted Rao] is accusing the manager of a popular Crown Heights bagel joint of purposely sabotaging old bagels — including covering them in chemicals and food scraps — so that the dumpster-diving dogooder can’t donate the leftovers." - New York Post, March 21, 2024

Sure, the dumpster serves a concrete function: It contains what could be usable food that can be distributed to those who cannot afford groceries. But it also creates a platform for messaging about everything from waste to the reality that in wealthy America too many go hungry.

That total package reaches back to the counterculture of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Back then, we boomers were on the front lines of a mission to bring America back to the people. As with Rao, a key messaging tool was diving into those dumpsters in affluent communities. Then, we gave out the food and other merchandise to the needy in not-so-well-to-do places. We asked for their votes for progressive candidates.

As a form of political rhetoric that can be quite effective because it involves concrete goodies. In old-line machine jurisdictions such as Hudson County, New Jersey during the 1950s, those goodies consisted mainly of jobs, getting grandma into a nursing home and releasing papa from jail for drunk and disorderly conduct. 

Of course, there are more sophisticated kinds of political messaging. And, yes, they are effective.

Former head of the DNC Joe Andrew of Dentons law firm published an op-ed in politico publication The Hill about the plight of those who had to go into the office during Covid. 

Another lawyer, the chair of Paul, Weiss, Brad Karp organized thousands of lawyers from myriad firms to create a free digital resource for help during Covid. 

Both law firms also do high-profile pro-bono work which communicates that the legal system can indeed be one of justice. 

There is also Greta Thunberg. She leveraged her youth and disabilities to gain attention for mitigating climate change.  

In addition, in this precarious time for the employment of knowledge workers, dumpster-diving can provide a solution. In my coaching practice, for example, two clients who had lost their jobs pitched in for a used pick-up truck. Daily they gather whatever from inside and next to dumpsters, then sell it. They are doing well enough to not have to return to working for someone else, at least not yet. 

There are also those of us who still have white-collar work and who happen to have a good eye for what's of value and free. Recently, next to the dumpster in my residential complex was a perfectly good cubby. I dragged it in, cleaned it up and listed it on Craigslist. It went fast, after I lowered the price to 50 bucks.

But, as Rao picked up, currently the most praiseworthy use of dumpster-diving is for political messaging. Already he had gotten plenty of attention. Just like Ralph Nader organized the Nader Raiders to expose consumer fraud Rao can mobilize a band of dumpster-divers to change plenty in America. (Yes, they may risk going to jail as did many during the counterculture.) 

Limiting beliefs? Self-defeating? Stuck? Complimentary consultation with Coach Jane Genova (text/phone 203-468-8579, janegenova374@gmail.com)