This is awesome! Thank you. I am going to an precinct org meeting in NC today. Back to work. Limiting doom scrolling and media....it makes me feel worse. Being in community with county Dem Party volunteers makes me feel better. Do more Worry Less
Thank you, David Pepper. Several years ago you inspired my spouse and me to get involved, and we got involved with The States Project (started a TSP giving circle we named "For the People"). I'm sharing here a piece that includes and goes beyond the usual election process, for what it's worth (and I don't remember from whom I got it):
Beyond that, my spouse and I have been thinking it's time soon for you and the other leaders like you to do something like an action congress...you, Dan Squadron, Melissa Walker, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Tim Snyder, Jason Stanley, Heather Cox Richardson, Robert Hubbell, and more. There's a lot of wisdom to be pooled, and wisdom like yours is particularly important because it comes from being in the field, knocking on doors, engaging in public conversations. Socio-political-architectural conversations and planning and action. I'll share also this piece, which my spouse happened upon. The 2 segments we'd most recommend are Anat Shenker-Osario's remarks that start just after an intro at 3:30, and those of LaTosha Brown, Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter Fund, whose comments start at around 1:02.
MVP November 6, 2024 Post-Election Briefing: Where Do We Go From Here?
Of the many questions I have, these first two seem to be eating at me, I think in large part because I feel blame coming at us from all directions, even from each other(ie Democrats).
So, first, what to do in these first moments with “allies” and friends (and corporate media) who are doing the work for the right wing?
Second, instead of “working harder,” might we first need to figure out how to “work differently?” Both, for sure but, as diligently as so many worked, we certainly missed something/s. I’m too new at all of this to have a clue. I am not giving up, but I know I’m best suited to being a “grunt” that can be plugged into the day-to-day work.
I think that has to involve the creation of a liberal media ecosystem to rival that of the right wing, including our own radio stations, multiple podcasts, and consistent appearances on MSM outlets. And the best part is that we wouldn't have to make up a bunch of propaganda; we could just tell the truth, simply and repeatedly, with a few messages that really resonate with the poor and middle class -- such as, "The billionaires and big corporations are screwing you over, and we're going to stop them."
I think if we liberals would look first to ourselves, we would see that conservatives aren't the only ones being sucked into conspiracy theories, becoming brainwashed, and believing false facts. Tons of liberals buy into all sorts of garbage they see online. They also waste tons of time circulating useless memes that are a variation on one theme: Trump is stupid, bad, evil and so are his followers. While I don't deny I often feel that way myself, I don't see how it helps us to keep saying that over and over and over. Not only does it amplify our opponent, but it's a poor substitute for political activism that is designed to take power away from our opponents.
I am a strong believer in activism of the traditional political type. I have worked for 14 years as a volunteer in Wisconsin, running a neighborhood action team, educating people about candidates, policies, and how to attain power. Though we lost this election, Wisconsin didn't move as far toward red as other swing states, according to statistical analysis. I wholeheartedly believe this is because of our increasing activism over the last 12 years since the wake-up call provided when Scott Walker ran for, and won, the governorship of Wisconsin. Instead of spending so much time promoting useless memes, I'd like to see our social media sites promote the kinds of activities that result in power gains for our side over time. Instead of thinking you're an activist because you spend six hours a day pushing repetitive, useless memes, get involved in what actually produces change: voter registration, talking to LIVE PEOPLE via phone banking and canvassing, SHARING FACTUAL INFORMATION about what is going on and how government works, and challenging your friends and family not to go down the rabbit hole of spectator politics (which has never changed anything).
And while we're at it, let's stop saying we're going to move outside the US. That phrase alone tells me you're not an ally in the fight for our future. It's often a performative, virtual-signaling comment. I know it comes from disappointment and genuine fear, but it doesn't do anything to move us forward. People fully engaged in change-making of the "don't agonize, organize" type don't leave, they recoup their energies to fight on.
When I was in college (50+ years ago), I got a letter from my great-grandmother saying how happy she was that her church ladies had given her a ride to her polling place because "I've always made it a point to vote, ever since women were given the right." I recall being stunned to realize just how recently that had happened.
Yes 100% plus 60 million registered voters did not vote; which in such a critical election is utterly mind-boggling.
Also take into account that we are a nation of 340 million people and I know many people that voted for Trump voted for him because he, GOP and MSM lied to them. Anyhow my point being he is far from having a mandate from the people.
David, I would love to hear a take from you on the idea of 'obeying in advance'. What to look for, how to identify and stop it. I watched on Fb and reposted a tic tok video from Daniel Aquino about material on a website that he was largely responsible for creating 14 years ago. The organization was Colonial Williamsburg and the material from a dozen historians of the American Revolution was removed without comment this past week. I find this even scarier than the pandering headlines that we are seeing.
Is there any way for Harris voters to do a gigantic class action lawsuit refusing to be governed by a felon and an adjudicated rapist. Just because the founding fathers could never foresee a political party putting one on the ballot shouldn’t mean that we are forced to abide by a man who has trashed our constitution at every possible point being POTUS. There has to be something in our Constitution or laws that prevents a felon, rapist and grace national security risk from wielding the powers of POTUS!! This can’t happen!!
Thank you so much for this! I didn't realize just how much your words would move me. Even if I am in the middle of nowhere, in a red county, I'm gonna find some people with common beliefs and step in there with all of you.
David…..so we have deluded ourselves that Democracy , although never in a perfectly complete form, can be maintained consistently. What we achieve we can easily lose…as we see…It seems the nature of human beings bends more towards hate and anger for those different from them and love of misinformation and appalling behavior in their leaders. It is almost like being on a treadmill of successes and failures but never being able to get off that treadmill at some final stop of Democracy as we know it should be with the confidence we will have it forever. That is very depressing. Unfortunately, at this moment, the opposition is so brain washed and filled with hate and violence …we of course would never seek to that level to achieve Democracy, Those of us who have managed to chart a path filled with positive feelings for humanity and work to maintain life , liberty and happiness for all, are looking at our fellow citizens in America and wondering if we have been naive about how dark it could become here… Gail
This is beautifully said. I just want to suggest something that the idea that the nature of human beings tends more towards hate and anger. Our lower brain can easily and automatically be triggered into hate, fear, anger and tends to stay there because it is a primative threat response (fight, flight, freeze) - love and kindness are higher order emotions, and so when digital media seeks to keep us engaged and on the page for longest they preference content that is frightening or enraging. Hate filled messages will always lose out to puppies or humans being kind in a 1:1 contest online, because the algorithms only care about 'time on page' vs the survival and thriving of humankind. This is weaponizing a cognitive feature of humans against us. AI could be designed to preference kind, compassionate, hopeful content, but that is not the most profitable as the ecosystem now is set up. We need much more in person interactions and much fewer minutes online/scrolling/being triggered.
We sincerely appreciate every word you write and cannot get along without your uplifts and factual scenarios. Our entire group of progressive rural folks continue to need your advice and educational material! Many Blessings!
I think we should stop moaning about the segment of Trump voters that are grievance-filled, vengeance-seeking, white Christian nationalists who are duped by right-wing media. Those people have existed for a long time and they aren't the ones who elected Trump. The people we should be focusing on are the millions who aren't that way yet voted for Trump. Many people were fed up with the immigration problems and inflation. Some of that is because they were misinformed, but many of them were looking for something better and the Democrats offered more of the same. You can't keep telling people who are struggling financially that the economy is doing great. We can win back these voters and if Trump is as bad as we think he is going to be, it should happen in 2026 or 2028.
Thank you, David. My grandmother was born 11 years after Rhoda Denison Bement's death. She lived in 3 centuries, passing in 2001 (Ohioan). I was fortunate to know her well and to have her name as my middle name, which is also the name of one of the few women named in the Bible. You provided great perspective for those who don't contemplate, or even are aware of, this history. We'll keep fighting to build a better community for all.
How do you compete when you are the party that follows democratic norms, and your competing party has an authoritarian playbook? Is continuing as a 2-party system the definition of insanity? Any thoughts on the Forward Party or others? Seems like time to try something new... maybe a name change since currently each side stiffens up at the thought of the other party.
This is awesome! Thank you. I am going to an precinct org meeting in NC today. Back to work. Limiting doom scrolling and media....it makes me feel worse. Being in community with county Dem Party volunteers makes me feel better. Do more Worry Less
Thank you, David Pepper. Several years ago you inspired my spouse and me to get involved, and we got involved with The States Project (started a TSP giving circle we named "For the People"). I'm sharing here a piece that includes and goes beyond the usual election process, for what it's worth (and I don't remember from whom I got it):
https://wagingnonviolence.org/2024/11/10-things-to-do-if-trump-wins/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGdB39leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHTCr_g14n3bQvOjD1_ArrET1cP-ReBQEFZOwq46Kvkzwy4mxy-Dw4zHWxA_aem_MifzypgtXA21qRsLvcZN5w
Beyond that, my spouse and I have been thinking it's time soon for you and the other leaders like you to do something like an action congress...you, Dan Squadron, Melissa Walker, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Tim Snyder, Jason Stanley, Heather Cox Richardson, Robert Hubbell, and more. There's a lot of wisdom to be pooled, and wisdom like yours is particularly important because it comes from being in the field, knocking on doors, engaging in public conversations. Socio-political-architectural conversations and planning and action. I'll share also this piece, which my spouse happened upon. The 2 segments we'd most recommend are Anat Shenker-Osario's remarks that start just after an intro at 3:30, and those of LaTosha Brown, Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter Fund, whose comments start at around 1:02.
MVP November 6, 2024 Post-Election Briefing: Where Do We Go From Here?
Thank you, David, for all you are already doing.
Here's the link to the MVP briefiing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyqzz0-bieM
Of the many questions I have, these first two seem to be eating at me, I think in large part because I feel blame coming at us from all directions, even from each other(ie Democrats).
So, first, what to do in these first moments with “allies” and friends (and corporate media) who are doing the work for the right wing?
Second, instead of “working harder,” might we first need to figure out how to “work differently?” Both, for sure but, as diligently as so many worked, we certainly missed something/s. I’m too new at all of this to have a clue. I am not giving up, but I know I’m best suited to being a “grunt” that can be plugged into the day-to-day work.
Thank you for giving so much of yourself.
Yes on differently.
I think that has to involve the creation of a liberal media ecosystem to rival that of the right wing, including our own radio stations, multiple podcasts, and consistent appearances on MSM outlets. And the best part is that we wouldn't have to make up a bunch of propaganda; we could just tell the truth, simply and repeatedly, with a few messages that really resonate with the poor and middle class -- such as, "The billionaires and big corporations are screwing you over, and we're going to stop them."
Amen on differently!
I think if we liberals would look first to ourselves, we would see that conservatives aren't the only ones being sucked into conspiracy theories, becoming brainwashed, and believing false facts. Tons of liberals buy into all sorts of garbage they see online. They also waste tons of time circulating useless memes that are a variation on one theme: Trump is stupid, bad, evil and so are his followers. While I don't deny I often feel that way myself, I don't see how it helps us to keep saying that over and over and over. Not only does it amplify our opponent, but it's a poor substitute for political activism that is designed to take power away from our opponents.
I am a strong believer in activism of the traditional political type. I have worked for 14 years as a volunteer in Wisconsin, running a neighborhood action team, educating people about candidates, policies, and how to attain power. Though we lost this election, Wisconsin didn't move as far toward red as other swing states, according to statistical analysis. I wholeheartedly believe this is because of our increasing activism over the last 12 years since the wake-up call provided when Scott Walker ran for, and won, the governorship of Wisconsin. Instead of spending so much time promoting useless memes, I'd like to see our social media sites promote the kinds of activities that result in power gains for our side over time. Instead of thinking you're an activist because you spend six hours a day pushing repetitive, useless memes, get involved in what actually produces change: voter registration, talking to LIVE PEOPLE via phone banking and canvassing, SHARING FACTUAL INFORMATION about what is going on and how government works, and challenging your friends and family not to go down the rabbit hole of spectator politics (which has never changed anything).
And while we're at it, let's stop saying we're going to move outside the US. That phrase alone tells me you're not an ally in the fight for our future. It's often a performative, virtual-signaling comment. I know it comes from disappointment and genuine fear, but it doesn't do anything to move us forward. People fully engaged in change-making of the "don't agonize, organize" type don't leave, they recoup their energies to fight on.
When I was in college (50+ years ago), I got a letter from my great-grandmother saying how happy she was that her church ladies had given her a ride to her polling place because "I've always made it a point to vote, ever since women were given the right." I recall being stunned to realize just how recently that had happened.
There's still more of Us than there are of Them!!! Thanks for your post this morning ☕ and will reStack ASAP 💯👍
Yes 100% plus 60 million registered voters did not vote; which in such a critical election is utterly mind-boggling.
Also take into account that we are a nation of 340 million people and I know many people that voted for Trump voted for him because he, GOP and MSM lied to them. Anyhow my point being he is far from having a mandate from the people.
Thank you David. 🙏
David, I would love to hear a take from you on the idea of 'obeying in advance'. What to look for, how to identify and stop it. I watched on Fb and reposted a tic tok video from Daniel Aquino about material on a website that he was largely responsible for creating 14 years ago. The organization was Colonial Williamsburg and the material from a dozen historians of the American Revolution was removed without comment this past week. I find this even scarier than the pandering headlines that we are seeing.
Is there any way for Harris voters to do a gigantic class action lawsuit refusing to be governed by a felon and an adjudicated rapist. Just because the founding fathers could never foresee a political party putting one on the ballot shouldn’t mean that we are forced to abide by a man who has trashed our constitution at every possible point being POTUS. There has to be something in our Constitution or laws that prevents a felon, rapist and grace national security risk from wielding the powers of POTUS!! This can’t happen!!
Thank you so much for this! I didn't realize just how much your words would move me. Even if I am in the middle of nowhere, in a red county, I'm gonna find some people with common beliefs and step in there with all of you.
amazing story! i am 64 and still learning. thank you for sharing.
David…..so we have deluded ourselves that Democracy , although never in a perfectly complete form, can be maintained consistently. What we achieve we can easily lose…as we see…It seems the nature of human beings bends more towards hate and anger for those different from them and love of misinformation and appalling behavior in their leaders. It is almost like being on a treadmill of successes and failures but never being able to get off that treadmill at some final stop of Democracy as we know it should be with the confidence we will have it forever. That is very depressing. Unfortunately, at this moment, the opposition is so brain washed and filled with hate and violence …we of course would never seek to that level to achieve Democracy, Those of us who have managed to chart a path filled with positive feelings for humanity and work to maintain life , liberty and happiness for all, are looking at our fellow citizens in America and wondering if we have been naive about how dark it could become here… Gail
This is beautifully said. I just want to suggest something that the idea that the nature of human beings tends more towards hate and anger. Our lower brain can easily and automatically be triggered into hate, fear, anger and tends to stay there because it is a primative threat response (fight, flight, freeze) - love and kindness are higher order emotions, and so when digital media seeks to keep us engaged and on the page for longest they preference content that is frightening or enraging. Hate filled messages will always lose out to puppies or humans being kind in a 1:1 contest online, because the algorithms only care about 'time on page' vs the survival and thriving of humankind. This is weaponizing a cognitive feature of humans against us. AI could be designed to preference kind, compassionate, hopeful content, but that is not the most profitable as the ecosystem now is set up. We need much more in person interactions and much fewer minutes online/scrolling/being triggered.
We sincerely appreciate every word you write and cannot get along without your uplifts and factual scenarios. Our entire group of progressive rural folks continue to need your advice and educational material! Many Blessings!
I think we should stop moaning about the segment of Trump voters that are grievance-filled, vengeance-seeking, white Christian nationalists who are duped by right-wing media. Those people have existed for a long time and they aren't the ones who elected Trump. The people we should be focusing on are the millions who aren't that way yet voted for Trump. Many people were fed up with the immigration problems and inflation. Some of that is because they were misinformed, but many of them were looking for something better and the Democrats offered more of the same. You can't keep telling people who are struggling financially that the economy is doing great. We can win back these voters and if Trump is as bad as we think he is going to be, it should happen in 2026 or 2028.
Thank you, David. My grandmother was born 11 years after Rhoda Denison Bement's death. She lived in 3 centuries, passing in 2001 (Ohioan). I was fortunate to know her well and to have her name as my middle name, which is also the name of one of the few women named in the Bible. You provided great perspective for those who don't contemplate, or even are aware of, this history. We'll keep fighting to build a better community for all.
What an amazing life!!
How do you compete when you are the party that follows democratic norms, and your competing party has an authoritarian playbook? Is continuing as a 2-party system the definition of insanity? Any thoughts on the Forward Party or others? Seems like time to try something new... maybe a name change since currently each side stiffens up at the thought of the other party.