(Thread) How Fairness Wins
This question⤵️ was in response to my thread on hierarchy and fairness.
How do Democrats overcome the GOP’s baked-in advantages?
Spoiler: Democrats win by being the party of fairness.
It isn't easy, but Democrats have numbers on their side.
This question⤵️ was in response to my thread on hierarchy and fairness.
How do Democrats overcome the GOP’s baked-in advantages?
Spoiler: Democrats win by being the party of fairness.
It isn't easy, but Democrats have numbers on their side.
1/ A variation of the question👇
The GOP, by it’s very nature, has baked-in advantages.
That’s why a small group on the right wing fringes (who have been called right-wing-authoritarians or RWAs) have always exerted power beyond their numbers in the US.
The GOP, by it’s very nature, has baked-in advantages.
That’s why a small group on the right wing fringes (who have been called right-wing-authoritarians or RWAs) have always exerted power beyond their numbers in the US.
2/ RWAs were the driving force behind slavery and Jim Crow. They killed the ERA.
(They like hierarchical, patriarchal systems).
Even when only white men could vote, the pro-slavery folks often had trouble cobbling together a majority.
There was always vigorous opposition.
(They like hierarchical, patriarchal systems).
Even when only white men could vote, the pro-slavery folks often had trouble cobbling together a majority.
There was always vigorous opposition.
3/ RWAs fall in line. They like to move in lockstep. They even like uniforms. (Red MAGA hats, anyone?)
They will give up their individuality for the sake of the group.
Heck, they’re even willing to die for the sake of the group.
Check this out ⤵️
They will give up their individuality for the sake of the group.
Heck, they’re even willing to die for the sake of the group.
Check this out ⤵️
4/ He repeats the GOP talking point that we have to toughen up, die like soldiers for the sake of the economy, and accept that “there will be deaths.”
(Of course, it's a false dilemma: There’s another option. Help people through this. Get protective equipment and testing first.)
(Of course, it's a false dilemma: There’s another option. Help people through this. Get protective equipment and testing first.)
5/ The side willing to lie, spread disinformation, and cheat always has an advantage.
In @MaxBoot‘s mea culpa, he explains how, in the name of unity, those on the right will overlook all kinds of evils:
Prior to the Civil Rights movement, RWAs were spread between both parties.
In @MaxBoot‘s mea culpa, he explains how, in the name of unity, those on the right will overlook all kinds of evils:
Prior to the Civil Rights movement, RWAs were spread between both parties.
6/ Now the RWAs are not only concentrated in the GOP, they have taken over the GOP.
This makes the Republican Party very dangerous.
For more on how the shift occurred, see:
OK, so what does the party of fairness do?
This makes the Republican Party very dangerous.
For more on how the shift occurred, see:
OK, so what does the party of fairness do?
7/ First understand why the GOP is so desperate.
The Fox viewership is aging. The GOP demographics are shrinking.
Democrats won the midterms by 8 points.
Since the midterms, demographics continue to shift in favor of the Democrats, which is why they've been winning elections.
The Fox viewership is aging. The GOP demographics are shrinking.
Democrats won the midterms by 8 points.
Since the midterms, demographics continue to shift in favor of the Democrats, which is why they've been winning elections.
8/ They can see that their medium and long term prospects are dismal. The Democrats (the Fairness Party of intellectuals, urban and minority communities) owns the future.
Meanwhile, how do Democrats win?
First, fight for fairness and present themselves as the party of fairness.
Meanwhile, how do Democrats win?
First, fight for fairness and present themselves as the party of fairness.
9/ Before you say that Dems are terrible at messaging, listen to Adam Schiff’s closing arguments at the Senate trial all the way to the end.
Lies fit well into a soundbite.
The truth is nuanced and complex.
This also gives liars an advantage.
Lies fit well into a soundbite.
The truth is nuanced and complex.
This also gives liars an advantage.
10/ However, most people would rather align with honest people than liars and cheats.
That’s why the Democrats have been winning elections.
A characteristic of cheaters is that they don’t think fairness is possible.
They think everyone cheats. It's a dark, ugly world view.
That’s why the Democrats have been winning elections.
A characteristic of cheaters is that they don’t think fairness is possible.
They think everyone cheats. It's a dark, ugly world view.
11/ ICYM my thread on hierarchy and fairness, see ⤵️
If you feel yourself falling into the worldview that cheating will win because there isn’t enough integrity in the world, there's a simple antidote: Enough people need to hold on to their principles.
If you feel yourself falling into the worldview that cheating will win because there isn’t enough integrity in the world, there's a simple antidote: Enough people need to hold on to their principles.
12/ Second, Democrats must resist the urge to fight like Republicans because:
🔹They’ll never do it as well (you can’t out-Herod Herod)
🔹Nobody will be left to claim the high road
🔹The "bothsides are the same" argument will be proven right
🔹Ugly cynicism will take over.
🔹They’ll never do it as well (you can’t out-Herod Herod)
🔹Nobody will be left to claim the high road
🔹The "bothsides are the same" argument will be proven right
🔹Ugly cynicism will take over.
13/ Cynicism will kill democracy faster than Trump. For why, read my FAQS:
terikanefield-blog.com/faq/
I welcome Never Trumpers to our side in the fight to get an autocrat out of office.
Finding common ground, however, doesn't mean adopting the tactics that created the current GOP.
terikanefield-blog.com/faq/
I welcome Never Trumpers to our side in the fight to get an autocrat out of office.
Finding common ground, however, doesn't mean adopting the tactics that created the current GOP.
14/ Third, fight for fairness.
To take one example: Remember those voting machines in Georgia that allowed for all that cheating?
Voter rights groups went to court, and secured a court order for Georgia to buy machines that met fairness guidelines.
apnews.com/abd2949881514e…
To take one example: Remember those voting machines in Georgia that allowed for all that cheating?
Voter rights groups went to court, and secured a court order for Georgia to buy machines that met fairness guidelines.
apnews.com/abd2949881514e…
15/ There are multiple oversight groups right now conducting litigation and bringing about changes.
Obama explained how to win. More "citizenship." ⤵️
The way to save democracy is with more democracy.
The way to beat fascism is with the truth.
Obama explained how to win. More "citizenship." ⤵️
The way to save democracy is with more democracy.
The way to beat fascism is with the truth.
16/ A solid win in November will allow for rapid changes, but the fight never ends.
When Trump loses in Nov. his supporters aren't going to close up shop and learn to love liberal democracy⤵️
🎶 They'll be back, like before 🎶
But they won’t win until enough of us give up.
When Trump loses in Nov. his supporters aren't going to close up shop and learn to love liberal democracy⤵️
🎶 They'll be back, like before 🎶
But they won’t win until enough of us give up.
17/ Did someone say, “What can I personally do to help?”
I’m SO glad you asked.
Here’s my list ⤵️ terikanefield-blog.com/things-to-do/
(I haven’t updated it since the pandemic started.)
I’m SO glad you asked.
Here’s my list ⤵️ terikanefield-blog.com/things-to-do/
(I haven’t updated it since the pandemic started.)
I wrestle with what to do about the mean comments I get from people who follow me.
The MAGA people who call me idiots are easy to shrug off.
Try to remember that there is a human being behind these threads. . .
The MAGA people who call me idiots are easy to shrug off.
Try to remember that there is a human being behind these threads. . .
. . . so when you tell me I'm living in a fantasy land, or that you "despise" or "hate" a word I used, consider this: I try to read comments because I like to answer questions, so I'm likely to see it.
(I don't see them all, though. Sometimes my mentions get jammed) . . .
(I don't see them all, though. Sometimes my mentions get jammed) . . .
. . . if I think people are learning, I don't want to block.
I block MAGA and people who trash the Democrats because, well, you see, I am a Democrat.
Sometimes, though, I get testy and respond, which is always a bad idea . . .
I block MAGA and people who trash the Democrats because, well, you see, I am a Democrat.
Sometimes, though, I get testy and respond, which is always a bad idea . . .
The best is probably just to mute.
That way I'll never spend a few hours answering a question from someone who spoke rudely to me.
That way I'll never spend a few hours answering a question from someone who spoke rudely to me.
I should add that what the other thing that makes me very testy are the doomsayers.
I got one yesterday who demanded that I explain why anyone should bother because look how hard people worked (insert example) and then the cheaters won anyway, so what's the point?
I got one yesterday who demanded that I explain why anyone should bother because look how hard people worked (insert example) and then the cheaters won anyway, so what's the point?
Here is this thread as a blog post. terikanefield-blog.com/how-fairness-w…
