1/* I'd have to see if they're actually engaged in learning; learning about the issues, the opponents, the political levers of power, how to communicate and effectively leverage social media.
You think I'm applauding what side they're on. Understandable, but wrong.
You think I'm applauding what side they're on. Understandable, but wrong.
2/* Consider Dianne Feinstein. She's even older than I am. Even older than my mother would be. Oldest in the Senate. Been advocating for better gun control her entire career. Knows a thing or two about politics.
3/* Feinstein even has some accomplishments, such as an assault weapons ban (that wasn't renewed).
But we have strong widespread majority support for universal background checks. She supports them. Has for decades.
Do we have them?
But we have strong widespread majority support for universal background checks. She supports them. Has for decades.
Do we have them?
4/* Yet in a matter of days, these kids sized up the political situation, their position in the media, and the opportunity in front of them.
They knew what they wanted to accomplish, and their best strategy to accomplish it. They made some mistakes, learned, & continue to learn.
They knew what they wanted to accomplish, and their best strategy to accomplish it. They made some mistakes, learned, & continue to learn.
5/* On the other side, the NRA has had success at selling guns, spreading the "Obama wants to take away our guns" narrative, and yet, unlike the NRA of my youth, which very actively pushed gun regulations & safety, has done nothing to reduce actual gun violence.
6/* They've yelled the "good guy with a gun" mantra, while we watch good guys with guns not being able to stop madmen until AFTER they kill a lot of people, if at all. They put all their political efforts into radicalizing their core political base and turning out votes. And so..
7/* The NRA has failed to build *broad* support, and have made THEMSELVES and their political donations into a political issue.
A situation which these kids have sized up, leveraged, and set off a viral chain reaction, that is having an impact that no politician has had on this.
A situation which these kids have sized up, leveraged, and set off a viral chain reaction, that is having an impact that no politician has had on this.
8/* So if you show me someone on the other side, with the savvy to leverage the ferver on the other side to REPLACE the NRA , with an organization more akin to the NRA of my youth, responsive to membership, supportive of safety and reducing violence, and more....
9/* able to accomplish the goals of the membership through transparent messaging, educating the public rather than hectoring those they disagree with (Loesch!) and working through the democratic process rather than backroom dealings with politicians, that would be something new.
10/11 And then I could say, yes, I could say the same about someone with an opposing stance on the issue.
Instead, I see attacks on their youth and short-but-relevant experience. I see the same arguments presented even louder, with more desperation. I see "crisis actor" claims.
Instead, I see attacks on their youth and short-but-relevant experience. I see the same arguments presented even louder, with more desperation. I see "crisis actor" claims.
11/11 In short: I have yet to see any learning happening on the other side.
Or either side, except for these kids showing the way.
Or either side, except for these kids showing the way.
