Any *good* psychologists here? How do we deal with voters' "feelings"?

[SpankMe]

The US economy is the best in the world right now: here and here.

It is, in fact, better off than almost anywhere else in the world by orders of magnitude. This is despite China's economy turning to shit, Europe's economy falling way behind, and severe political division here in the US. Joe's policies were central to this.

But we still have respondents to polls saying they don't "feel" the health of the economy is helping them. They point mostly to inflation and the cost of housing - whether those affect them or not.

More than 50% of inflation has been proven on paper to have been caused by corporate price gouging. And the high cost of housing is being driven by pure market forces. Neither is driven by any Democratic policies, and both are too complex and under the control of corrupt actors for Democratic officeholders to "fix" in any reasonable amount of time. Other than that, there's no bad news.

I'd bet it's only a small slice of people who aren't being helped by this economic success, yet this "feeling" is driving enough voters to Trump that the election is a tossup at this stage.

My question is - what communication strategy or even psyop can be used to get these voters to view the truth of the matter in proper context? Merely stating the truth from the podium or in op-eds or in books isn't working.

Jon Stewart said that telling people the truth won't win. You've got to tell a better story.

Psych guys and gals - what is that better story? Who can develop it for us - to include not only the words, but the delivery? Who can write the talking points for us that'll make people hit their foreheads with the heel of their hand and say "of course"?

[hlthe2b]

1. I'm not... but I'd guess about half need a hope and fact-based approach, some are already to go, and

the remaining group needs the devastating fear-inducing details of what will happen if TSF prevails.

So:
Hope for the future
Facts for what is at stake
Fear for consequences otherwise.

That said, excitement can be infectious. So, we need to keep up the positive energy.

[NewHendoLib]

2. It's a tough nut to crack, because MAGATs are really in

a cult, believing the lies they are constantly buffeted with in their right wing propaganda media bubble - both "news" and social media.

I've no idea how one reaches these people

[Skittles]

3. OR

they see prices STILL RISING at stores and wonder WTF is going on

[NewHendoLib]

5. They can't wonder because they can't think

[Skittles]

6. they think stuff that is WRONG all the time

and sometimes they may see reality

[NewHendoLib]

8. Reality is more complex than they are willing to engage.

[H2O Man]

11. Right.

Assuming that only cult members have issues with the economy demonstrates the dangers of taking shortcuts to rational thought.

Not everyone is doing well now, and the national economic reports mean nothing to them. This is not so much "feelings" for them, other than feeling hungry at night or cold in the winter. They properly resent idiots saying everything is fine. Instead, the proper approach is to tell them that President Biden made real progress, and VP Harris will continue that trend.

Back in the 1960s, as old forum memnbers know, it was in style to care about the poor. Sad to see people who don't have a clue what they are talking about spouting ignorance.

[Skittles]

13. correct

I actually know struggling people (and try to help).....ANY event can put them behind - a health issue, car problems, etc.....not everyone is helped by stock market numbers.

[RandomNumbers]

19. While I think you are correct regarding many people actually struggling,

I also think there is a rather significant group that are not really doing badly, but blame Biden because they aren't doing as great as they'd like.

If someone is stuck in a shit job because they can't or won't do better - and by can't I mean don't have their act together, don't make the effort - that is not really the fault of the government. (the stuck minimum wage IS the fault of Congress - but Biden can't do anything if Congress doesn't send a bill for him to sign).

If someone doesn't make even a small effort to shop around and possibly change their purchasing habits based on what is cheaper this day or this week - not the government's fault, those of us who aren't rich but have common sense have always done that.

Obviously casinos (those not run by Trump) and booze companies are still making money. If things are so bad, who is buying that cr*p?

I could go on. I mention these items specifically because I have watched in wonder as a few people I know (some but not all Trumpers) simply refuse to adjust their life on those points, and then blame Biden because supposedly it's his fault the economy isn't fantastic enough for them to just continue on auto-pilot with bad habits rather than take control of their own lives. We had a huge supply chain shock due to the pandemic. Then there is the normal business cycle - downturns happen. Functioning adults - at least those who don't have any real reason to be living on the edge - figure it out.

[NewHendoLib]

21. Yes. This.

[H2O Man]

23. Yes, of course.

While I would hesitate to think I know enough to judge anyone else's financial reality, it is true that there are many people with Eeyore Personality Disorder. As the OP speaks of how to deal with them, the answer is actually easy. It is important to recognize that they are like Picasso and Rembrandt, true artists at complaining. And they find great pleasure in complaining. It does not cause them distress, rather, they make those around them suffer listening to them.

Deep down, they are happy. They are not going to change. Hence, the best thing one can do is avoid them, and not engage with them. That, of course, isn't always possible. There may be one in the family that calls to say there were no green olives in the grocery store, and they blame Biden. In such instances, seek to limit communications to telephone calls. When they call, simply ask, "What's new?" Then you can set the phone down for 25 minutes before picking it up and saying, "Oh, gosh!" And again every 25 minutes. This will make both of people happy.

[yardwork]

37. You've described a lot of Trumpers.

I don't think it's a winning campaign strategy to point this out, though. (I mean, I have no problem talking about it here, I just don't think it would be helpful for Democratic politicians to point it out.)

But, yes, the typical MAGAT is filled with resentment and grievances, aimed at people of color, immigrants, women with good jobs, college professors, liberals with good jobs, etc. plenty of MAGATs are doing just fine, economically, but they still feel aggrieved. Others are doing very badly and it's pretty easy to see that their own life choices contributed.

[orthoclad]

14. We need to reach the 1/3 of the population

who don't think it's worth voting. Listen to them and see what we can learn from them, then appeal to them.

The red third ain't going to change its mind now. The blue third is pretty firm. The other third is a BIG resource to tap.

[usonian]

4. Don't overthink it. (Dems do this)

Last edited Mon Jul 29, 2024, 02:40 AM - Edit history (1)

First, I am not a psychologist. I learned enough to survive the sociopathic bosses I encountered in Silicon Valley.

Second, forget the cult. They are a small minority. Others may have an opening. Many voters are "one issue" or can be triggered by one issue. Can you identify it?

Find the ONE thing, not all.

Third, a comparison of platforms (below) and the nuclear weapon called project 2025 (4525, I call it) that destroys everything for thousands of miles, will include SOMETHING in them to turn off everyone.

I leave project 2025 to others to summarize, but do check out my issues list for a "wedge"



GOP agenda:
• A society that excludes and criminalizes necessary health care and personal sexual preferences.
• A society that warps the constitution to establish one religion and encourage violence against others.
• Americans pitted against each other along lines of race, color, religion, gender, sexuality, and income.
• Vilification of blacks, Jews, Muslims, lgbtq+ , homeless, and women of strength, encouraging violence against them.
• Destruction of public schools and the opportunity they provide to all, minorities included.
• Funding of private, religious schools to increase class division and unequal access and opportunity.
• Banning of books.
• Devastating climate change
• Leveling the Gaza waterfront to create a Hotel Strip
• A deadly all-out war on the rights of women.
• More welfare for the rich.
• Private health care companies replace medicare and deny needed treatments -- basically "death panels"
• Every civil right is eroded by clown judges living in the 18th century rewriting the constitution.
• Worker's rights and benefits reduced in order to create greater profits for businesses.
• Safety nets removed, so that homeless, and jobless people are left to die on the streets.
• More, more, more of culture war.
• GUNS, everywhere, with no limitations or requirements. Mob rule ( warms Putin's heart )
• Unbridled support of authoritarian regimes across the globe, who eagerly imprison, "re-educate", murder and commit atrocities on others.
• Lies, hate speech and threats are welcomed on "social media" and given support by government officials.
• Medical care and prescription drug costs skyrocket.
• Leadership by people with the lowest morals of all. Grafters and grifters.


KAMALA'S AGENDA (as I see it)
• Support of women's health care and sexual preferences.
• Separation of religion and state, and protection of minority rights.
• Americans of every race, color, religion, gender, sexuality, and income honored and treated fairly.
• The wealthy pay their damn fair share.
• Acceptance and embrace of blacks, Jews, Muslims, lgbtq+ , homeless, and women of strength.
• Zero tolerance of hate and violence.
• Strong action to reduce gun violence.
• Vigorous support of public schools and the opportunity they provide to all, minorities included.
• Getting private, religious schools off the dole.
• Slashing the divide in education, opportunity, internet access and access to the levers of power.
• Banning book bans!
• A local and global "Manhattan Project" to counter climate change
• Guaranteeing the rights of women.
• Support of Medicare, so that some day, we can have UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE, SINGLE PAYER.
• Taking profiteers of "Medicare Advantage" plans to task.
• Restoring the Supreme Court to one that serves all people, and it not a religious tribunal or den of thieves.
• Worker's rights and benefits increased and guaranteed.
• Safety nets bolstered for homeless, jobless, and other needy people.
• Holding social media accountable for calls to violence that they harbor or actively foster.
• Sensible gun control
• Putting authoritarian regimes across the globe on notice.
• A better society by POSITIVE EXAMPLE

[TwilightZone]

9. If you haven't already, you should make this a thread.

It deserves its own thread, and maybe something highly useful like this will displace a few dumb couch jokes.

[orthoclad]

15. Sadly, the couch jokes are more effective

Policy statements don't work. They haven't worked ince Reagan. We need to flood the zone with Nazi imagery, death camp images, other emotional hot buttons first. And mockery, like Chaplin's The Great Dictator. We're fighting against decades of Fox, twitter, and talk radio, plus the subtler propaganda the ruling class (Vance's term) uses in all the media they've bought up while we let antitrust laws languish.

"Policy" has failed, while we slept.

Press the emotional buttons first. Then follow up with policy.

We need propagandists.

[TwilightZone]

26. There needs to be a balance.

Trump's approval ratings are historically stable and are currently near three-year highs. It's become pretty obvious that he has a base level of support that is never going to waver, regardless of what he says and does, how many convictions he receives, and how much we throw at him. Beating people over the head with the same stuff ad infinitum hasn't accomplished anything.

Our focus should be on our side. Turnout is the key, as it always is. We need to motivate liberals, Democrats, left-leaning independents, and anyone else who'll listen to vote, simple as that. More Trump shit isn't going to do that. Anyone open to our message almost certainly already turned on Trump years ago. Telling them that he's an evil bastard for the 4,000th time is unlikely to get anywhere. They already know. The other side doesn't care.

We need to balance attacking Trump with targeting issues that people care about -- inflation, healthcare, immigration/border, jobs, economic issues, climate, choice, and so on.

[orthoclad]

29. "liberals, Democrats, left-leaning independents" don't need

motivation. That blue third is already motivated. So is the red third. The Gray third needs motivation, and is key to 2024. We need to push their emotional hot buttons to motivate them. Buttons first, then bore them with loooong policy declarations and statistics.

This isn't about policy, it's about the looming Fourth Reich.

We'll need a really massive turnout to beat the cheat. The Gray third could do it.

[usonian]

16. Done it, but things get lost in the flood of posts.

https://democraticunderground.com/100219213115

I’ll repost regularly, and I seem to recall that I posted an earlier version in Activist HQ, so I’ll do that again.

Thanks for the reply. I *KNOW* that these issues are winners (and losers for the magat cause)

LET’S KICK SOME ASS.

[Celerity]

10. great post!

[Tree Lady]

7. The thing is you can tell all of us

that the economy is better, my first thought is, better for who? So it must be better for companies, for employment, for stock market, for the government. But every time I go grocery shopping the prices haven't come down from what covid and inflation did.

So that is what we are facing and I think its better to get people to vote based on other things than economy, you will piss them off if you try to tell people they are doing better when they may not feel that.

I am mostly saying to vote for women, democracy, the environment, etc. We have a ton of reasons to vote for Kamala.

[orthoclad]

17. We need to tell the fact that half of inflation

is simply due to corporate greed. The price increase of food is largely artificial, just another way to line investor's pockets. "Sensible pundits" act like inflation's a law of nature. It's not. It's a conspiracy against us (but they call the conspiracy nice neutral words like "price fixing" ).

edit: damned smilies

[Tree Lady]

24. Totally true corporate greed

But that doesn't change a thing for us little guys in the grocery line. I shop at Trader Joe's. They use to be cheap. Now every time I go it's $25 more than it use to be for same amount. We are retired so tiny increase we get per year has done nothing because insurance, power bills, water bill, internet, all over them have gone up.

Just bought wood for the winter, cost more. Needed a new cover and rack same ones I bought 3 yrs ago of course cost more. On and on. That is why I never try to tell people the economy is better under Joe. Too much explaining and you get lost in that.

Easier to say Trump is awful and we can't let America turn into Gilead!!

[dobleremolque]

30. Shrinkflation too. My wife and I were just observing that

a "half-gallon" of our favorite ice cream is now 1.5 quarts, instead of 2 quarts;
a "pound" of coffee is now 12 ounces instead of 16 ounces;
a 16-ounce "large" can of tomato sauce that I used in tonight's dinner, is actually only 15 ounces;
and of course the prices haven't been reduced to reflect the quantity decrease. The item price has been increased.

[orthoclad]

32. Point the fingers at the ruling class!

THEY cause our suffering. The stock market is a casino for the rich, who cares if the Dow is up when spaghetti costs twice as much?

THAT will defeat Trump.

[Zoomie1986]

28. Odd

We're a working class household, but our grocery prices have come down considerably since 2020.

I've noticed that some of the supply issues are still sorting themselves out with a resulting impact on prices, but that's less of a problem than the price gouging that vulture corporations have used to max their profit margins at our expense. However, even that is starting to wane as things return to normal.

Too many people seem to think their 2024 grocery bills would go back to exactly what they looked like in 2019, and that never would have happened, even if we'd never had a pandemic. It's five years later. Prices go up for most things over that much time, and that's normal. So if a can of diced tomatoes is now 95c instead of 90c, as is the case at my supermarket, then that's normal inflation over time, not some huge price hike.

I've seen people who gripe and moan about how high gas prices are now, when the average was 31c a gallon in 1958, why can't it be that cheap again, gripe gripe gripe moan moan moan. They conveniently forget that wages then were also a fraction of what they are now: The minimum wage was $1/hr, and the average salary was $5100. Did I mention that most cars also sucked down gas to the tune of 8-10mpg? When we adjust gas prices for inflation, and consider the far more fuel-efficient vehicles available today, the average person in 2024 is far more likely to spend less on gasoline as a percentage of their income compared to people in 1958.

Anyway, we can't do much about supply chain disruptions that linger still, but we can make the case that corporations have gouged consumers, and need to face consequences for that. They do.

We can also make the case that people need to learn to think realistically about economics so that they can get some perspective about how prices do not remain stagnant over time. Some go down (gas is effectively cheaper now than in 1958), but most of the time they go up.

That's just how it is.

[orthoclad]

12. "tell a better story."

We need skilled propagandists more than shrinks, I think.

The Reich wing has access to a century of motivational research, plus all the CIA and military material on how to overthrow goverments. Bolton let the cat out of the bag when he said we knew how to do it. These are patient, well-organized, and well-funded villains of the ruling class (Vance's term). They've been working on this for generations, since the 1960s at least. We're out of time now, they are very close to success.

We are in a war of emotional content. Reason and policy statements won't win it. It's gotta fit on a bumper sticker.

[Mz Pip]

18. I agree

Make America Great Again is a simple but highly affective slogan that works well in combination with simplistic talking points- Immigrants are coming for your jobs, abortion is murder, Democrats are communists.

None of these are true but they are effective propaganda.

I think “We’re not going back!!” resonates. It seems to be working.

[orthoclad]

20. and "Beat the cheat"

Be positive. Negative declarative statements are weaker propaganda. Short imperative sentences work better. "don't go backwards!" Like MAGA. That shortens an imperative sentence to 2 syllables. The Right has expert propagandists.

[Clouds Passing]

36. Fryer the Liar

[dsp3000]

22. I wish we could say fuck their feelings

[Sympthsical]

25. Find common points of entry

Don't get in their face with, "You're wrong! According to CNN . . ." Because people shut down with that kind of confrontational approach.

Instead, find some things to agree on. You mention housing. Housing costs are skyrocketing. Agree with that. And then explain why Democratic policy is better than Republican.

You cannot dictate to people they don't feel how they feel. You have to accept they feel that way. Rather than a "No, but" engage in conversation with a "Yes, and." Housing costs too high? Well, the End Hedge Fund Control of American Homes Act is currently in Congress. It would halt Wall Street from buying up all the houses and jacking the prices.

Groceries getting more expensive. Don't go with, "No they're not!" (Which I've seen here on DU, which is just unbelievable). Explain, "Yes, and the Biden administration has been fixing supply chain problems, and here's how Harris would go further."

You're going to have to agree with the premise, then redirect it to the waters you want them to swim in.

I know the internet loves, "NO YOU'RE WRONG!!!!" But actual human beings, in real life, do not respond to that sort of thing.

People set themselves up as oppositional and confrontational, and then they go full surprised Pikachu when they're met with opposition. How did that happen? Les mysteres.

Remember, you're trying to persuade - not browbeat.

[proud patriot]

27. It's republican policies that are hurting voters

it's democratic policies that are helping voters and we have a long way to go .

[meadowlander]

31. Trump appeals because it's easier to make people feel afraid than to make them feel secure.

On the other hand, it's also easier to make the same people more afraid of Trump than they are of the other candidate.

Trying to insist to people "No, no, no forget your feelings - you're actually OK" probably isn't going to work with those people. But you can remind them that the reason they feel insecure is because Trump screwed up the Covid response which tanked the economy, gave a bunch of tax cuts to rich people which he'll make permanent in his second term, and had four years to do something about the border situation he's complaining about now and didn't.

They're coming for your Medicare, your Social Security, your rights to make decisions about your own health care. And Trump has said he would be a Dictator from Day 1. They want to ban books, take away access to contraception and IVF, and criminalize identities. He will hand Ukraine to Russia and won't blink an eye when the Baltics are next. He's only running to stay out of jail and once he has power he will wield it irresponsibly in a way that puts your life and livelihood (and the lives and livelihoods of everyone you care about) in danger.

Remember brinksmanship with North Korea over their nuclear programme? Pulling out of the Iran deal? Putting his son-in-law in charge of peace in the Middle East? Inciting an insurrection? Threatening to shoot protestors? Politicizing the justice department? Throwing paper towels at Puerto Ricans?

It will be worse in a second term because he won't make the same mistake of appointing responsible adults to any of the positions that would potentially act as brakes on his worst abuses of power.

Who do you want behind the Resolute Desk when China invades Taiwan or Iran gets dragged into open war with Israel or Russia decides it needs more breathing space or the next generation of ISIS/al Qaeda is "determined to strike in the US" again? Who do you want writing the regulations that will manage the impact of AI on American jobs? Who do you want coordinating hurricane and wild fire responses? Who do you want making policy decisions during the next pandemic (keeping in mind his policies killed 800,000 people during the last one)?

We live in dangerous times and more than ever we need serious people in the White House.

[RockRaven]

33. Not by fucking them, that is for sure.

That method only has a 50% win rate.

[Ms. Toad]

34. It isn't psychology that is needed, because it isn't feelings.

It is a substantial number of people - like my daughter; a friend from the theater who had to start pretty much from scratch when her husband left her, the woman who runs the stall next to mine at the local farmer's market who will never be able to retire - whose paychecks/social security cover far less of their monthly expenses than they used to.

While I think truth is always the best policy, continuing to deny the reality that many people in the low to middle income classes are experiencing on a paycheck-to-paycheck basis is political suicide. At a bare minimum, we must acknowledge their experience (not feelings) and provide a roadmap out of this situation.

[Silent Type]

35. Wasn't that long ago that half the country was living pay check to pay check. We'd be worse under trump,

but there are plenty of people who haven’t kept up with inflation, especially housing. And many lower paid jobs have improved in terms of pay.

I think most will vote Democratic when they think about alternative. But the economy can still be an issue for a lot of people.

[SomedayKindaLove]

38. Maybe the narrative should be less "telling them a story"

And instead more focused on listening to their stories?

Also important to note that “feeling the economy isn’t supporting you” isn’t a feeling. Fear and anger are feelings that might be associated with that belief.

[alarimer]

39. It's not feelings, it's truth.

The economy is not working for everyone. We absolutely have to tell the truth about this. Housing is unaffordable in most places for a whole lot of people.

We cannot gaslight everybody into thinking everything is fine just because the stock market is doing well.

They go to the store and see how high prices still are. What we can do is put the blame where it belongs: on corporate greed.

This is an economy that has always only worked for the haves and never for the have-nots. Sure, I get that politicians only pander to the middle classes and higher because they are the ones that vote. And the middle class doesn’t really care about anyone worse off.

[brooklynite]

40. To paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld "you go to the election with the voters you have"

If the voters feel the cost of living is problematic, you don’t tell them why they’re wrong; you empathize with them and explain what you’re doing to address their concerns.