General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Dems Unveil New Plan to Beat MAGA: More Gun Shows and Less AOC [View all]unblock
(56,304 posts)(a) policy
time after time, polls show democrats with decent to huge leads on policy positions.
we should *not* be looking to change policy positions. while there's always room for improving and retuning, by and large, we hold the winning hand *on policy*. we should not be looking to alter policy, certainly not in the direction of abandoning the largely liberal policies that are actually quite popular.
this is our core strength. we should strengthen it, not weaken it.
(b) cultural messaging
we admittedly suck at this, and republicans are masters at dressing up their sometimes wildly unpopular policies in the flag and patriotism and attacking any opposition as anti-capitalist or unpatriotic, and of course the media loves the empty sloganeering.
*this* is what we need to improve on.
don't abandon regulation about clean air or clean water or getting businesses to do the right thing generally.
instead, talk about how football *needs* referees. yeah, they get it wrong on occasion, and that sucks, but it would be an utter disaster without referees. the economy also needs referees, and largely for the same reason -- companies would cheat and abuse the lack of oversight in a way that harms everyone the interact with and even just people nearby.
don't abandon rights for lgbtqia+, people of color, women, etc.
instead, whenever *any* minority group or women are attacked, unite and say *americans* are under attack. *all* americans are under attack when any of us are attacked. constantly say things like "why do you hate americans?"
republicans are always finding an excuse to pick off one group of americans or another. talk about the overall pattern of hate for nearly everyone.
around *85%* of americans can't say they are white AND christian AND straight AND cis AND male and hardly any of us can claim to be billionaires. we should heavily promote the *unified* theme that republican privilege-based politics harms virtually all of us.
don't abandon progressives tax policies.
instead emphasize how billionaires and highly profitable companies get benefit immensely from corrupt government support and give back virtually, if not actually, nothing *and* how that leaves the rest of us to pick up the tab *and* that's why it's so hard to get ahead these days.
tell how we will bring back the american dream, not the illusion of the american dream, but implement an economic program that invests in real americans who need and deserve it, not massive hugely profitable businesses owned by billionaires who have no need for government gifts.
etc.
don't throw out winning polities when it's our messaging that needs improving.
oh, and it would be great if we could find some billionaires willing to help shift the media back to sanity, instead of the insanely right-wing bias it exhibits these days....