I like and respect Mollie and Ben but I strongly disagree on this: Republican voters *thirst* for policy.
The words every Republican officeholder needs to engrave on their office wall in letters that are four feet high and also *on fire,* is “ACTUAL MATERIAL LOSS.”
The words every Republican officeholder needs to engrave on their office wall in letters that are four feet high and also *on fire,* is “ACTUAL MATERIAL LOSS.”
Hard Lefties understand that if you want someone to change their behavior, you have to be able to inflict *actual material loss* on them.
Not arguments.
Not status.
Actual. Material. Loss.
For politicians, this means votes. For others, this usually means money.
Not arguments.
Not status.
Actual. Material. Loss.
For politicians, this means votes. For others, this usually means money.
For example: the reason you don’t see pro-life protestors peacefully occupying abortion clinics is the FACE Act, which made using that tactic against abortion clinics a federal felony.
That’s actual material loss!
That’s actual material loss!
The Republicans had the House, the Senate, and the Presidency for two years, and not only could they not defund Planned Parenthood, they didn’t even think of repealing the FACE act to empower their allies, or amending it to prevent Wisconsin-union-style shenanigans.
By contrast, the Dems aren’t even back in power and they’re making noises about repealing Taft-Hartley.
Among other things, Taft-Hartley prevents unions from using secondary boycotts.
A secondary boycott is what Sleeping Giants does.
Among other things, Taft-Hartley prevents unions from using secondary boycotts.
A secondary boycott is what Sleeping Giants does.
Republican voters don’t want hot air, they don’t want YouTube videos, they don’t want pugnacious tweets, and they don’t want empty words of support. If they do, they can produce those on their own, after all.
What Republican voters want is material effect.
What Republican voters want is material effect.
One part of the job of Republican officeholders is to pass legislation that *materially* help their allies and *materially* hurt their enemies, like the Dems planning to repeal Taft-Hartley.
We don’t need their words.
We don’t need their words.
The flip side: this is also on us randos. You can’t build a community from Facebook and your couch; you have to talk to people and go build your own stuff so *you* can learn to inflict actual material loss.
Think of it as nonviolent military science, folks. That’s what it is.
Think of it as nonviolent military science, folks. That’s what it is.
And as @ShidelerK and @davereaboi were talking about yesterday, the donor ecosystem needs to change too.
You don’t fix this with rubber chicken dinners and TV ads. It takes work and time. Lots and lots of time.
But you do have to want to change.
You don’t fix this with rubber chicken dinners and TV ads. It takes work and time. Lots and lots of time.
But you do have to want to change.
/fin
