Tuesday November 2, 2021; 11:32 PM EDT
- The antidote to Trump is to build a legal case for his imprisonment and go hard after his coterie. The antidote to Trumpism is more complicated, but I'd start with fundamentals: #
- ➊ Comprehensive campaign finance reform and new ethics guidelines in Congress. Nothing will change the dynamic more than taking control of the purse. #
- ➋ Imposition of a rational "safety net" that secures essential services needed by all, young and old, poor and wealthy. Of course, I'd start with healthcare and childcare. I guarantee you even the most ardent opponent will become its most red-blooded defender a few years later. #
- The antidote to Democratic Party stupidity is maybe even more complicated.#
- ➊ I'd focus on the "local"––rural to urban––and the obscure Democratic candidates that work those beats. I'd cultivate people and ideas emerging from the local. And, on the ground, in local elections, year by year, I would build support for dem and Dem values, while championing differences and debate as the cornerstone of a healthy civil space. #
- ➋ Surely someone in the DNC can see how fucked up they are? Look no further than the brilliant power of The Lincoln Project and go hire a down-to-earth marketer/"influencer" and a sales executive who can translate "tax credits" and other policy-wonk mechanisms into the tangible. Explainer videos and long-form writings would go a long way to providing the why's, what's, how's, who's, and where's in a level of detail that would inoculate us from fake news and actually inform and excite people to take positive action. Obviously, journalism and politicians alike fail miserably with the most basics.#
- ➌ As a corollary to the above, stop the madness and change the political discourse. Do an "Apple Think Different" about your brand and how you conduct your politics. Change the messaging, stop the business-as-usual, and fire the media consultants. Stop reacting to the GOP bullshit on its own terms. The truth is, both parties are to blame here. So, unshackled by campaign finance reform, you can and should take the high-ground and win.#
- Imagine if such comms had been in place since Day 1 of Biden's administration. Imagine a one-stop website explaining and debating the policies (moderated debate, of course).#
- Biden would have defeated or greatly softened the Manchin effect, if people actually had a clear idea, specifically and not just generally, of what the heck the legislation was about and how it was funded. Photo ops and one-liner platitudes are not appropriate tools in a hyper-connected Information Age.#
- But a YouTube channel and associated website would have helped.#
- Details about public policy do matter. Messaging equally so. Dems did a horrible job on explaining and selling their vision. They allowed others to define it and hijack the discourse, and in the process we are left with inane commentary from pundits and 'ordinary' people. Meanwhile, Trump is still on the scene, and next time, Trumpism might actually prevail.#