Thread by @mattsheffield

How can we as a society overcome a GOP that cynically embraces insanity?

By using grace to educate the mistaken while never enabling the malicious.

It won't be easy, but there is no other way.

What does this mean in practice? 1) Reformed defamation laws that contract the definition of a public figure so that liars can be sued. 2) Actively debunking extremist figures as they make their lies and hate. 3) Getting people to read more instead of using TV and radio.

4) Talking & taking action about racial injustice as matters of inclusion rather than exclusion. 5) Exposing how ignorant & emotional that right wing pundits are. 6) Helping conservative Christians see that a better faith community exists outside the GOP & would love to have them

7) Ending affirmative action for conservatives in media who have nothing of value to say. 8) Forcing GOP elites to talk about their policies (which are hated) rather than distractions. 9) Help post-faith people find community.

10) Expose just how much more radical GOP elites and donors are than their voters. 11) Understand that fundamentalism is what should concern us, not faith. 12) Welcome those who learn their lesson but don't enable grifters just switching for convenience.

13) Helping President Biden and other top Democrats understand that outreach to the GOP should be to the people, not to bad-faith politicians like McConnell. 14) Increase media access and coverage of the vast majority of people who don't live between Boston and DC.

15) Encouraging centrist billionaires to focus their money and attention on building up moderate Republicans rather than flushing money on useless TV ads or vainglorious Dem campaigns. Moderate Republicans exist but they have no power or money.

16) Help conservatives in your family or friend circles develop critical thinking and compassion in areas that don't trigger their political defense mechanisms. 17) Don't spread fake news yourself. Vet the things you share.

18) Expose the many Republicans who arrogantly think that they are God's instruments and their actions are his actions. 19) Make critical thinking part of every school curriculum and Philosophy 101 a mandatory college class.

And finally 20) Get journalism to shift to non-profit or community-funded models so that it can survive and thrive everywhere, not just in NYC and DC.

21) Realize that not everyone is reachable, at least right now. These beliefs aren't rational and for many people they're core to their sense of self. Sadly, many people can't be argued out of delusion, they have to see their way out. Don't mistreat people who are otherwise good.

You don't have to tolerate abuse or mistreatment of yourself. You can't adequately help others until you begin looking out for yourself.

Thanks for reading! I'm trying to start a conversation about this so if you found the thread interesting, please retweet the first one so we can spread the word. Thank you very much!