Pro-Democracy’s Better Strategy
Let’s Make Extra Room for Those Still Waking Up And Meet People Where They Are
QUICK READ: Americans are being offered the choice between liberal democracy and fascism. If we are going to win the hearts and minds of Americans, we need to understand better why people respond to GOP packaging and outdo them. Anand Giridharadas has offered us many useful tools to consider.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
“Americans are being offered a clear choice between continued and expanded liberal democracy, on the one hand, and fascism, on the other. And it’s more or less a dead heat.
So wrote American journalist Anand Giridharadas in a persuasive guest essay about American politics in the New York Times recently.
In order to “sell” the pro-democracy cause to “progressives, liberals, moderates, even decent Republicans who still believe in free elections and facts,” we need a better strategy than “fatalism, despair, and reaction to the right” at the worst and “policy wonkiness and praying for indictments” at best.
We need to galvanize people through a better understanding of the political psychology of voters, both in terms of ideals and anxieties.
We need to offer our narrative about the benefits of democracy in the present instead of merely denying GOP alternative doom and gloom. We must command attention to achievements like student debt relief rather than argue good policy points like the Inflation Reduction Act. We need to meet people where they are and let them become more awake over time.
We should pick fights periodically to accentuate good politics over bad as have Beto O’Rourke and Gavin Newsom to good effect of late and make a home for democratic ideals by telling the better “heroes-and-villains” story through which to build bridges and win.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We have to be more strategic about what matters most to voters if we are going to defend democracy and defeat fascism. Anand Giridharadas’ essay is full of good ideas.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We have to be more strategic about what matters most to voters if we are going to defend democracy and defeat fascism. Anand Giridharadas’ essay is full of good ideas.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
Free elections and facts matter. I support democracy and believe we need to defeat the fascist turn the GOP has taken over the past years.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We have to be more strategic about what matters most to voters if we are going to defend democracy and defeat fascism. Anand Giridharadas’ essay is full of good ideas.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Free elections and facts matter. I support democracy and believe we need to defeat the fascist turn the GOP has taken over the past years.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We have to be more strategic about what matters most to voters if we are going to defend democracy and defeat fascism. Anand Giridharadas’ essay is full of good ideas.
Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We have to be more strategic about what matters most to voters if we are going to defend democracy and defeat fascism. Anand Giridharadas’ essay is full of good ideas.
Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We have to be more strategic about what matters most to voters if we are going to defend democracy and defeat fascism. Anand Giridharadas’ essay is full of good ideas.
ACTION THREE: Good Trouble.
GOOD TROUBLE: Below are opportunities to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, go make some “good trouble.”
Get involved with Extinction Rebellion or another group working for climate change. For more information, click here.
Fridays at 4 - Letter and Postcard Writing — Indivisible Oregon.
Learn about persuasive language and communication research at the Zoom ASO Movement Briefings every second Wednesday. (DELAYED THIS AUGUST. WATCH THE WEBSITE FOR UPDATES.)
Join the campaign to hold the House and Senate at GiveNoGround.org
Work to protect democracy in the House by electing Democrats Val Hoyle in District 4, Jamie McLeod-Skinner in District 5, and Andrea Salinas in Oregon’s new Congressional District 6.
Check out the Poor People's Campaign Readies 'Massive, Nonviolent' Effort to Save Democracy
Outside of Portland? Check out COIN Oregon.
