this post was submitted on 20 Feb 2025
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Genuinely curious what people want the Democrats to specifically do right now, apart from vague calls of "something" and "more" and "better." At least on a federal level, aren't they pretty much powerless at this point? What even can they do?
All great ideas. Have you mentioned them to the Democrats? They are depressingly poll-driven, but it's probably worth directly reaching out. My local congress people are probably sick of my shit by now, but if so -- good.
Well since they think a mean worded tweet is all you need to stop Trump, I figured a mean worded comment is just as good /s
Figure out what they stand for, stated in two sentences. (From that old chestnut that says that you don't understand a thing if you can't explain it in two sentences, or less.)
Learn from the experts (PR people, psychologists, neuroscientists, screenwriters, etc.) how to state it in ways that resonate with people.
Then, do it. Convince all of us that they care, and are trying. Build coalitions around the message, and strengthen civil society.
The greatest damage from this administration's lawlessness does not come from tearing down government agencies, it's the corrosive effect of hopelessness in the minds and hearts of the citizens as we look around and feel like we're alone, and that nobody else actually cares about our laws, traditions, and principles.
They already did number 2, exclusively, and its part of the problem.
When did that happen? Their messaging is pretty widely regarded as terrible.
Because it was so rehearsed and prepared. They needed the opposite, which is what trump and JD Vance did. Podcasts and shows where they just had casual conversations. The experts and linguists and whatever else were a horrible idea.
I'm not sure what you're talking about. Harris's message was along the lines of (from a Lemmy comment, TBF), "address disparate health care outcomes that predominantly impact Black men." Nobody even knows what that means, much less has the ability to remember it. Or, she had some talking point about a several-thousand-dollar tax credit. (I don't recall how much or for whom.) That is, they talked like policy wonks, not in terms like "dignity" and "providing for your family" that reach people emotionally.
Their opponents said highly memorable-but-evil things like, "Haitian immigrants are eating the pets." I mean, like that, but good. Or, when you think of Obama, there's one word that immediately comes to mind. Like that.
ETA: I just remembered one of Harris's other leitmotifs for the campaign: "We're not going back." Just awful messaging. Democrats constantly, constantly, go for the negative formulation, which is terrible messaging. For one, saying you're not your opponent lets your opponent control the terms of the debate. Also, our memories and subconscious minds are bad with negatives. Like the famous pink elephant example, if I were to say, "I'm not a professional dogcatcher," a week from now, you might have the vague recollection of u/SwingingTheLamp and dogcatchers, or maybe just dogs. If I were smart, I'd say, "u/SwingingTheLamp is such a sexy guy" instead.
This particular example doesn't suffer from that problem, but on the other hand, it doesn't say anything of importance. So we're not going back, great, we already knew that, but where are we going? It doesn't say anything emotionally-impactful about the future and Harris's role in it. By contrast, "make America great again" is much better slogan, because it makes a promise about the future. And a vague one, so you can seamlessly fill in whatever you think "great" looks like, and you can actually envision a perfectly-tailored picture of the future. Harris == discontent about the past; MAGA guy == good-feels about the future.
"We're second worst, you have no choice but to vote for us, and we will only move right" might have resonated with you.
I mean, I'm not an expert by any means but haven't the republicans been able to very efficiently stifle democrat majorities before? If they just follow that playbook (delaying things, being pains in the ass, constant insistence on funky rules) they can at least annoy the shit out of them and hopefully slow things down. They're way too polite for that tho, they'd rather just let it happen and hope they come out okay in the end then to risk the wrath of the annoying orange and his minions.
One thing they could do is stop voting with republicans to confirm Trump's appointees. Have you seen. how well the Republicans obstruct? They can get everybody in their rank and file out on network TV to call for banning a book by title while the democrats can't even get their best faces on TV to call what's happening with NY's mayor blatant quid pro quo corruption
EDIT: Trump energy chief says there are upsides to ecological collapse
agreed. that's literally their job. oppose the other party by whatever means at their disposal. use the press, support union actions, so many ideas. be bold be creative.
they at least should stop pretending that "playing by the rules" and "trusting the system" is an appropriate response to illegal orders, illegal firings, violations of constitutional doctrine, and open defiance of judicial and legislative oversight. relevant video from InnuendoStudio, sadly aged like wine
Only if the appointees are bad (which, since it's Trump and "stuff up the deep state" project 2025, there's probably a lot of bad appointees). If we obstruct appointees that are good, we'll just keep seeing the pendulum swinging when a new party comes into power.
Please name a single person Trump has picked for a cabinet position that is objectively good.
I don't believe you're making that argument in good faith. Every one of his nominees have been ridiculous caricatures of stereotypical MAGA car salesman
When eighty million Americans sat out the election they sent a pretty clear message that they're okay with whatever Trump and Co wants to do.
No, they sent a message saying "Both of these choices suck, badly."
Bo, the6 sent the message of "both of these are atrocious human beings, so I will support neither "
By choosing neither they threw their full support behind the winner which was Trump.
There is blood on their hands from the choice they made.
I always find it telling when someone blames the people who couldn't stomach to vote for an openly corrupt, genocidal party, instead of blaming the leadership of the party for being openly corrupt and genocidal.
They sent a message saying "Both of these choices suck by exactly the same amount. I have no preference".
How can you win a war, when you lack the strength to grit your teeth and choose the lesser evil? Will you stamp your fists on the ground and demand no evil, while the greater evil slaughters your people? How many lives of your tribesmen will you give in order to send your message to the Democrats?
No, more like "both of these people should be tried for crimes against humanity, so I support neither"
As far as "how do I win a war" it starts with not supporting a capitalist, because as long as they have power, the working class will be oppressed.
You have power! You are responsible! You need to use that power. You need to make active choices in the world.
Yes, we have power, which we can use to toss off the chains of the oppressors, and seize the means of production.
Ready to help?
I didn't choose this username for no reason
So, ready to do more than just vote?
I have no interest in entertaining your false dichotomy.
Well, it's two years to the next federal vote.
What are you going to do in the meantime?
Figure it out yourself.
I've been doing what I plan to do for the next 2, 4, 8, 20 years: work to build just systems, that dont rely on the state to meet the material needs of the working class in my community.
So, again, what are you doing?
There you go. You figured it out. I did all that, and one more day on top of it. It only takes one day to vote.
Not lining up to bend over for republicans would be nice a nice start. Even a quarter the obstructionism as the republican party has put forth when Democrats are in charge would be appreciated.
Certainly, but like -- what specifically? If you could pick one specific thing they should do/have done, what would it be?
Not vote "Yes" on appointments.
For the most part they haven't; and with the votes available, not a single nominee was in danger of being voted down even when all Democrats voted against them. Pete Hegseth received 0 Democratic votes and still got confirmed.
My interpretation: the right is broadly successful because they are presenting a compelling narrative to explain the problems in America. It's "elites" in business, government (deep state), and schools that are pushing an unamerican agenda of "wokeness", using immigrants to gain power, and indoctrinating through schools and universities. This is enough to get people to vote right because at least the right is doing something to address their concerns.
What the Democrats need to do, is present a more compelling narrative. They can't just be the "non-maga" party. They have to actually address people's concerns about economic insecurity and present a vision for the future. I remain convinced that the first president that runs on economic populism will sweep an election.
Yeah, I remember in 2016 when the Hillary campaign's response to "Make America Great Again" was "America is Already Great" and man did that go over like a lead balloon. Democrats fucking love to pretend everything is okay.
And then Harris did the same and wondered why she lost.
"Everything is okay! Sure you can't afford food, rent, housing, the government spends more on wars than social services, but I might give those with millions a few hundred thousand to buy a house! And I'll appoint a Republican to my cabinet!"