More generally, I think it might be helpful to recruit and influence people who are already active in political life to adopt EA values and views as part of their ‘private persona’—as long as we don’t form explicit public alliances with organized political parties or partisan movements.
Yes, I think this. I don’t see much point to having people elected or doing political interventions in the name of EA. But many object that even getting people who happen to be EAs into politics is too corrupting because, for example, they fundraise among EAs and their friends get partisan when supporting them.
For example, if some EA group in Washington DC wanted to do more outreach to smart young Congressional staffers (of both parties!)
Many consider this dangerously close to spinning the message to try to appeal to politicians.
Completely agree about not getting into encumbering alliances at the movement level.
Yes, I think this. I don’t see much point to having people elected or doing political interventions in the name of EA. But many object that even getting people who happen to be EAs into politics is too corrupting because, for example, they fundraise among EAs and their friends get partisan when supporting them.
Many consider this dangerously close to spinning the message to try to appeal to politicians.
Completely agree about not getting into encumbering alliances at the movement level.