Why do progressives win the message and lose the vote? Zoom Registration: Ask Egberto Anything.
Many are in a panic about losing 2022. I am optimistic about winning it because the values & policies that we stand for are the ones Americans say that they want.
In this Issue:
How to win Election 2022
Register: Ask Egberto Anything
Matthew Dowd on what Republicans think about their voters: They don’t think you matter (He will be my guest on Politics Done Right on Thursday).
Worthwhile Reads
How to win Election 2022
Why do progressives win the message and lose the vote? I am a storyteller, so hear me out. I cannot remember what program I was watching. But it gave me pause. They spoke about how effective the Right was in ensuring their blogs and articles (e.g., lies) are always near the top in searches on the internet.
I used to believe that the internet would be the great equalizer. In fact, when my daughter was in elementary/middle/high school, she was a member of Jack & Jill. This group was a predominantly black organization that many parents with kids who attend mostly white schools in predominantly white neighborhoods would join to ensure their kids remained centered, understanding that the education they got required some reality-based context.
As a software developer writing communication device software, I had many computers sitting around. One of their projects involved me giving them a class on the internet. This was back in the late 90s. I remember being excited. You see, I told them that the internet would become the great equalizer. It no longer mattered what you looked like, your hue, or any other attributes. Nobody will see you, and your work determined your success.
I have told similar stories to other groups, specifically activist groups, political groups, and others. I was wrong. I gave the impression that we only needed to do our work and use the internet for dissemination. It is a lot deeper than that. I treated the internet as a passive transporter of information. Unfortunately, while its core is, its operation isn’t. Search engines and social media algorithms are its brains. And its brain is both self-learning as well as programmed by humans with all their biases.
Search engines and social media can be manipulated by many. Donald Trump’s team became masters at it as Hillary Clinton ran a more traditional campaign. And it played a significant role in his pseudo-win.
Democrats almost lost the House of Representatives because of gerrymandering. Interestingly, more people voted on the right-wing side than in the previous election cycle. Had the progressive side not overperformed, the 2020 outcome would have been disastrous.
States will be redrawing U. S. Representative districts this year. It is clear Republicans are aiming for maximal advantage from gerrymandering. We should not hold any hopes that there will be any success from the courts or the Federal Government to curtail gerrymandering or voter suppression effectively. It is all up to us. Individuals, activists, and organizations must overperform. We must peel off some of their voters who continue to vote against their own interests.
So how do we accomplish this?
We must be proactive and intentional.
We must engage EVERYONE wherever you are, whether it is the grocery store, bakery, coffee shop, church, or anywhere else. Don’t worry that their ideology may not be yours. You share more in common than you think. Remember always to be civil and respectful even if you are boiling internally from things that may drive you crazy.
We must be ready to tolerate those who would rebuff us, knowing that we will plant seeds in some and even change enough to make a difference.
We must actively use every social media platform we use to “enlighten” with truthful stories told in a manner that speaks to folks’ wants and needs.
Share the stories and work of others and social media to increase its coverage.
Support progressive independent media with the wherewithal to tell the full story and information without the corporate filter, partially responsible for the misinformed populace [I know, this one is self-serving, but we do the work.]
Join voter registration groups and find out how best to register voters in your state. Most importantly, learn how to keep them registered.
Start working on a plan in your state to multiply your vote by being willing to get people to the polls.
Use every personal email you send as a billboard with a positive message that informs and warmly direct.
Here is the deal. Many are in a panic about losing 2022. I am optimistic about winning it because the values & policies that we stand for are what Americans say they want. So let’s engage using the internet, social media, and email correctly. And now that the pandemic may be on its way out, there is nothing like talking face to face with a hug every so often.
So what are we doing with this medium?
We work hard to make sure we are doing our part. We post three to five blogs, videos, and articles every day to ensure that we are doing our part to populate the internet with our messages, ideas, information, and advice. The search engines shoot out what they believe is relevant and fresh. We promote organizations that are moving us forward. We make sure we interview people who make a difference by doing the work, as they inspire and empower.
We will win both the message and the war. So let’s do more than claim it. Let’s do it.
Register: Ask Egberto Anything
Ask me anything. And I mean anything. Do you have suggestions or advice? Let’s do it on the first Saturdays of every month at 11:00 AM Central/12 Noon Eastern/9 AM Pacific. Here is the Zoom registration for the next one. Please be sure to use the email address you used here.’
Hi there,
You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Jul 3, 2021 11:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpf-2tpj8sGNecW3Gxm6KNWQrUfT57DqSc
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Matthew Dowd on what Republicans think about their voters: They don’t think you matter
Matthew Dowd was not pulling any punches. He went all out to tell an unfortunate truth. One hopes that enough Republicans listen to his prose before it is too late. The indoctrination must end. One must take their heads out of the sand.
Matthew Dowd has a message every Republican politician supporter should heed. Make sure to tell your Conservative and Republican friends. You may want to have some appropriate examples as you either share this with them or tell them how valued they are to the Republican Establishment.
"I think fundamentally what this is about," Matthew Dowd said. "The President and the Republican leaders have no respect for their own voters. Think about this. They are willing to say, 'Those are just rubes over there. We can tell them anything, and they are going to believe it. They have no respect for their voters. It's a used car salesman with a dancing bear and someone in a clown outfit and selling people cars that are going to break down, and you need brake jobs, and it could be dangerous to people."
Dowd was not done.
"The fundamental thing here is, "Dowd continued. "And I say this to Republicans who support Republicans today and people that support Donald Trump. They are willing to lie and drum up these things because they don't think you matter. That's fundamentally what it is. They don't think you matter. And they are going to treat you like that. That's the problem."
Many believe that one cannot get to the Trump sycophants or those who have already gone down the rabbit hole. The truth is, sometimes giving them a place to land is most effective.
Worthwhile Reads
The following three books, culminating in my latest, “How to Make America Utopia,” IMHO presents our economy, politics, and socialization in a context that frees us from the indoctrination inflicted on us from birth through our schools, churches, and media.
My books and/or your subscriptions allow us to keep telling the progressive narrative in a form in which the mainstream media cannot because they are funded by those they must somewhat appease. To effect change, people must be respected and informed truthfully & civilly.
PS: Last night, Audible released the AudioBook version of “How to make America Utopia: Take away the economy from those who rigged it.” Please get it here or here.
While my newsletter and podcasts are free with no advertisements, you can support our work by upgrading to a full subscription.
Ask Egberto Anything: Meet with Egberto and other paid subscribers via Zoom at 11 AM Central on the first Saturday of every month. You can tell me anything, ask me anything, give me suggestions for articles you want me to research. We can even discuss a topic you command for which you want us to interview you on our radio/video show Politics Done Right.
And remember, your subscription is more than support for our work specifically, but for our movement to make a better America. BTW, to ensure a troll-less and spam-less zone, only our paid subscribers can post comments.