Here is the thing that progressives consistently miss – If you put ideology aside, there are basically two groups of Americans: people who care about politics and people who don’t.
People who care are nearly always 100% sure which party they prefer and probably think of the opposite party as a grave threat to national security. These people can be written off of any electoral strategy because we already know how they will vote.
People who really don’t care that much are tricky. They might vote one way this year and that way another, they might not vote at all and then suddenly be very passionate about just one issue or just one candidate.
These people are the sweet spot for winning elections.
The challenge is that for people who really think a lot about politics (I’m guessing most people reading this) such people seem really dumb. How can they be so blasé about the existential crisis our country is facing?
But, the Dems need to be in a kind of Don Draper mode. They have to find a way to appeal to people who just don’t really give a shit about this subject and get them to care.
To exacerbate the problem for policy minded Democrats, this demographic I’m describing isn’t moved by facts and figures or words like “fascism” or “authoritarianism” or “white supremacy” or “toxicity”’or any of that stuff. Those words are empty for them.
What they do like is a good show. A person who can speak their language, who can make the smarty pants people on the news and the snotty college kids throw a big tantrum.
They need someone who can express their feelings. Maybe even help them realize feelings that they didn’t even know they had.
And the Republicans, despite being the party of the hyper wealthy business class, is waaaaay better at this stuff than the Democrats.
We have a lot of work ahead of us.
meraedra on
Thought this was written by Acemoglu and my eyes lit up for a second
_antisocial-media_ on
I roll my eyes at every single ‘this is why Kamala lost’ article that’s written.
mackattacknj83 on
DNC should institute a mandatory retirement age after which you can’t run
4 Comments
I can sum it up better than that lady did:
Here is the thing that progressives consistently miss – If you put ideology aside, there are basically two groups of Americans: people who care about politics and people who don’t.
People who care are nearly always 100% sure which party they prefer and probably think of the opposite party as a grave threat to national security. These people can be written off of any electoral strategy because we already know how they will vote.
People who really don’t care that much are tricky. They might vote one way this year and that way another, they might not vote at all and then suddenly be very passionate about just one issue or just one candidate.
These people are the sweet spot for winning elections.
The challenge is that for people who really think a lot about politics (I’m guessing most people reading this) such people seem really dumb. How can they be so blasé about the existential crisis our country is facing?
But, the Dems need to be in a kind of Don Draper mode. They have to find a way to appeal to people who just don’t really give a shit about this subject and get them to care.
To exacerbate the problem for policy minded Democrats, this demographic I’m describing isn’t moved by facts and figures or words like “fascism” or “authoritarianism” or “white supremacy” or “toxicity”’or any of that stuff. Those words are empty for them.
What they do like is a good show. A person who can speak their language, who can make the smarty pants people on the news and the snotty college kids throw a big tantrum.
They need someone who can express their feelings. Maybe even help them realize feelings that they didn’t even know they had.
And the Republicans, despite being the party of the hyper wealthy business class, is waaaaay better at this stuff than the Democrats.
We have a lot of work ahead of us.
Thought this was written by Acemoglu and my eyes lit up for a second
I roll my eyes at every single ‘this is why Kamala lost’ article that’s written.
DNC should institute a mandatory retirement age after which you can’t run