I wanted to brainstorm here, and would prefer if you have overly cynical feelings about this please just move on. Just looking for some ideas to write, even if it’s just for my own sanity.
I disengaged with electoral politics, years ago like many here, but now that the election is over and liberals are feeling disillusioned, it seems like it might be a good time to really drive home the failings of this system. We already see AOC and Bernie coming out and trying to absorb angry progressives back into the Democrat base. The liberal media is going to attempt to channel this energy back into the status quo.
I have no illusions of a vanguard party forming in the next 4 years, but in term of organizing, my gut feeling is this is a good time to put some energy into our communities, especially while the heat is largely off third party voters. Most liberals I talk to understand the voting system is undemocratic and that third party wasn’t even a factor this time.
I was planning on creating an outline based on some of the talking points the PSL have been using, and from their latest videos it seems they are on this vibe. I want to organize the outline on contradictions and hypocrisy, and drive home the failures.
Style guide
- Be normal
- Highlight “facts and statistics” comparing domestic and foreign policy, imply ex. “liberals are the party of facts and science so lets compare some numbers on immigration and civilian deaths overseas”. I don’t expect to convince anyone that the Uyghur genocide is fake that takes too long and runs counter to too many official sources. Things on wikipedia.
- Personal responsibility. Liberals love personal responsibility, subtly point out that Democrats constantly blame everyone else for their own failings.
- Nepotism and “dynasties”.
- Reiterate that Trump is bad, and outline the horrific policies of all rehabilitated Republicans and remind them those are the people they were cheering for
Don’t forget the important questions when it comes to messaging!
- Who is your audience?
- What do you want them to think / feel agitated by through this?
- Is there a follow-up action you want them to take?
If working with an org, some of these questions become easier to answer because your audience is usually local and you usually want them to attend an upcoming event like a rally or march or teach-in. The overall goal is usually something like organization building, coalition building, or moving a space in a direction.
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Liberals who see themselves as progressive and are disillusioned with the democrats and the liberal media apparatus.
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I want them to be confronted by the contradictions of the morals they project and the party they support. If they are presented with this information in such a way that by continuing to support the democrats they must start to see and accept themselves as a bloodthirsty racist, imperialist, bootlicker, etc. Since I believe perceived moral superiority is what they cling to, we need to chip away at their self-image so they are confronted with the reality of the ideology they support. This is what I need help with, because in my own interactions I am too intense and fire off facts, I see people shut down. Trump is just toooo scarrrry to recognize that the democrats are actually evil and sick people. Essentially an appeal to emotions, but leading them to this conclusion for themselves via facts about the horrors of liberal capitalism.
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I didn’t think this far, and again looking to brainstorm so I appreciate these thoughts. Thank you.
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I’m very partial to drawing upon Pedagogy of the Oppressed (audiobook link, can track down an ebook link if you can’t find one) as the basis for how I approach agitation when it’s face to face/not some internet slapfight.
Personally I’m of the opinion that talking points are good but if you approach people with the wrong sort of attitude or you are holding onto certain beliefs about others then even the most perfect talking points will fall flat.
It’s not really the most practical in the sense that it’s not the field guide on how to win over libs and influence people but I think it gives the reader really important things to reflect upon when they assume an educational role.
