"Saving democracy" hasn't been near enough for me either, mainly because anyone who didn't realize democracy was in trouble before Trump came along wasn't paying attention. Not wild about "freedom" either, maybe because the state to the north of me (that would be New Hampshire) has LIVE FREE OR DIE on its license plates. I tried to grapple with it earlier in my Substack, but so far the best analogy I've come up with is "recovery" the way the AAs use it, meaning learning new ways to move forward in the world and do as little harm as possible. https://susannajsturgis.substack.com/p/how-do-we-save-democracy
Imo "freedom" is too vague a concept. It might correlate to chaos, but it doesn't to fear or hate.
Trump voters want a "strong man" -- he doesn't have to BE strong, he just has to project strength, which Trump does because he's large. Show how he's not strong. Being a bully isn't strong, it's weak. Explain how it's weak. Being fat and old isn't strong. He won't release health info. Say Americans need to know that their Pres. is really healthy, not just heavily medicated. Talk about the unlicensed pharmacy that Ronny Jackson ran in the White House.
Their main concern is the "economy, stupid." Which to them is paying for groceries, gas, etc. Hit Big Oil for price gouging. Hit Big Ag for degrading food quality and supply to keep profits up. Remind that state and local taxes impact prices too. And remind them that every piece of plastic they use, hard or soft, is profit for Big Oil and damages the planet as well. The cycle needs to be broken. If she's not prepared to take big, visible steps to do that, I doubt she'll win.
They see Dems as supporting Big Everything with huge spending bills. Kamala has to explain how that will change. She needs a Dem Congress that will dial it back. Repubs won't dial anything back except social safety nets. She should say she'll push Cong. to make rules to police itself (start with ending the filibuster so the Senate can function again period).
To reach Trump voters, she has to talk in terms they understand. They don't understand (or care about) concepts. They care about themselves. We all do, but some of us can see ourselves in the larger contexts of nation and humanity. They can't. So talk to them on their level.
Ask parents what they want for their daughters: Should they be allowed to make their own decisions, or should some man (not their father) who doesn't know them be allowed to tell them what they MUST do, and how and when they must do it?
I'll have her back, but she has to have mine too. Winning this election may save democracy now, but if the major problems aren't addressed, it will just be a short save, and a totalitarian candidate will surely win in 2028.
Kamala is going to mop the floor with Trumps hideous weave.
"Saving democracy" hasn't been near enough for me either, mainly because anyone who didn't realize democracy was in trouble before Trump came along wasn't paying attention. Not wild about "freedom" either, maybe because the state to the north of me (that would be New Hampshire) has LIVE FREE OR DIE on its license plates. I tried to grapple with it earlier in my Substack, but so far the best analogy I've come up with is "recovery" the way the AAs use it, meaning learning new ways to move forward in the world and do as little harm as possible. https://susannajsturgis.substack.com/p/how-do-we-save-democracy
Imo "freedom" is too vague a concept. It might correlate to chaos, but it doesn't to fear or hate.
Trump voters want a "strong man" -- he doesn't have to BE strong, he just has to project strength, which Trump does because he's large. Show how he's not strong. Being a bully isn't strong, it's weak. Explain how it's weak. Being fat and old isn't strong. He won't release health info. Say Americans need to know that their Pres. is really healthy, not just heavily medicated. Talk about the unlicensed pharmacy that Ronny Jackson ran in the White House.
Their main concern is the "economy, stupid." Which to them is paying for groceries, gas, etc. Hit Big Oil for price gouging. Hit Big Ag for degrading food quality and supply to keep profits up. Remind that state and local taxes impact prices too. And remind them that every piece of plastic they use, hard or soft, is profit for Big Oil and damages the planet as well. The cycle needs to be broken. If she's not prepared to take big, visible steps to do that, I doubt she'll win.
They see Dems as supporting Big Everything with huge spending bills. Kamala has to explain how that will change. She needs a Dem Congress that will dial it back. Repubs won't dial anything back except social safety nets. She should say she'll push Cong. to make rules to police itself (start with ending the filibuster so the Senate can function again period).
To reach Trump voters, she has to talk in terms they understand. They don't understand (or care about) concepts. They care about themselves. We all do, but some of us can see ourselves in the larger contexts of nation and humanity. They can't. So talk to them on their level.
Ask parents what they want for their daughters: Should they be allowed to make their own decisions, or should some man (not their father) who doesn't know them be allowed to tell them what they MUST do, and how and when they must do it?
I'll have her back, but she has to have mine too. Winning this election may save democracy now, but if the major problems aren't addressed, it will just be a short save, and a totalitarian candidate will surely win in 2028.